Thanks for your reply Tracy.  I had no idea about the buy out.  I guess I can mark this one off my list.

My pet food store has recently started carrying the Breeders Choice products.  I picked up some sample dry cat food today, but haven't tested it yet.  My cats only like chicken flavors--any hint of fish smell and they won't touch it, for example Wellness Core.  Any thoughts on the Avoderm dry foods?

Also saw on their website that they have wet cat food.  I was especially interested in their cuts and gravy variety--my older cat hates the loaf foods.  I know they are made by Menu but so is Natura and everyone seems to be using it anyway.  Has anybody tried their canned?

I have a one and a half year old cat that has tested negative for these diseases.  I have recently added a kitten to the mix.  I had the kitten, about 8 weeks old, tested at my vet, but now I have read an article saying cats under 6 months old cannot be tested or the viruses cannot be detected in cats under 6 months.  Does anyone know which to believe--my vet or this article?

Well I am happy to report that my cat Pippi and kitten Ozzy love the Merrick Southern Delight, but not Turducken or Grammy's Pot Pie.  I am so glad for this break through.  Has anyone heard anything about a Dry cat food from Merrick?

I am wondering in general how to figure out the carbs in dry food?
Also, what are the better percentage ranges for protein, fiber, and fat, especially if I want my kitty to maintain her weight?

I too have tried Sheba and my cat loved it.  She begs for it and it is so hard to give her tough love.  I am a natural push over.  I agree that the ingredient list looks wonderful and when I opened the can, I actually thought it looked like human food.  She prefers the chicken and chicken/duck dinners too.  I am a little concerned about the Thailand issue, but I read in one post somewhere that Thailand has very clean facilities?!?!  Not sure how believable that one is--guess about as believable as the US has clean facilities.

Thanks guys.  I will head back to the store tomorrow for the distilled water.  Good idea on the water fountain too because Pippi loves to play in the water, wherever she finds it.

I ordered my KumpiKat today and I can hardly wait till it gets here.  It sounds like a wonderful food except for the high carbs thing.  We are already a couple of pounds overweight    Meanwhile, we are just doing a mix of anything she'll eat that's safe.  I think I will try the baby food idea with the Honest Kitchen I have because she wouldn't touch that--by itself or mixed in a food she liked.

I ordered my Evangers today on the phone and they were actually there on a Saturday.  Wow!  They were very nice and answered my questions readily.  They offered to send me a variety pack of their foods because I had no idea which ones to try.  My cat generally likes chicken, but after reading some of the posts, I was afraid to just order that one. 

I also talked to a real person at Bil Jac this week and they too have sent me a sample pack of dry food.  We tried it for the first time tonight without much luck.  She liked the smell of it and wanted to eat it, but it had a very peculiar shape--like rabbit feed--cylindrical.  I'll keep trying because it seems like a good company.

I'll be rushing out to the store tomorrow to get more bottled water--not sure what kind is right for cats--I know I read some blogs about using spring water maybe   Yesterday I noticed my cat was not drinking her water.  I put out several new bowls and no luck.  Today I did the same and even tried to coax her into drinking by patting some around her lips.  She wouldn't have it.  I grabbed some bottled water I had for the storm season and she lapped it right up, thank goodness.  Perhaps she noticed a subtle change in our tap water, which has always been drinkable, and I did not.  Either way, it's scary to think that "THEY" have ruined our pet foods, our human foods, and now maybe our drinking water.  What if the bottled water isn't safe? 

Also my parents live in a more rural area than I do, if that's possible, and they have access to artesian wells.  Does anyone know if that is good for cats.  I know people like it there as an alternative to store bought water or tap water.

Great stories about the bug hunting kitties.  I have one that does that as well.  I am terrified of bugs, especially the big brown ones, don't even like to say their name.  Pippi loves to chase them and wear them down so I can kill them without fear.  I don't usually let her eat them, if I see her when she's searching.  I am afraid the bug might already have some pesticide on it and may pass it on to Pipppi.  I am also going to try this soap idea; it sounds enviromentally safe too.