I am a cat owner and always on the lookout for quality products to improve my cats' health and longevity. One of the best products I have found on the market today is Natural Balance Cat Food. My cats love the taste, and I love the ingredients and the company behind the product. Dick Van Patten, the actor, started this company in 1989, with the idea of creating the healthiest pet food around, not just for pets, but for zoo animals as well. He wanted it to be made from quality ingredients, and without using animal testing.
I found out about this cat food by way of a free sample at a pet supply store that I frequent. I brought the bag home, and gave the sample to my cats, who all went nuts over it. After seeing this, I kept the bag so that I could research the product, and I looked up more information at www.naturalbalanceinc.com. The thing I liked the most was the ingredient list. When you compare the ingredient list on a bag of Natural Balance, to the ingredient list on a bag of other leading store brand cat food, such as Friskies, you will see quite a difference. For example, the first five ingredients of the Natural Balance food are Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Duck and Lamb Meal. This sounds pretty good to me. This is the type of thing that I want to feed my cats. Natural Balance contains no preservatives or by-products, and is relatively high in protein.
To get further research besides reading the biased information on the Natural Balance web site, I also did a search for reviews on the food on the web. Everything I read about Natural Balance was positive. Consumers claimed that their cats had visible health improvement, such as a healthier looking coat, increased activity and other positive things. After I started feeding this food to my cats regularly, I noticed improvements as well, and I don't think it was a coincidence. Basically, just like humans, when you eat healthy, quality food, your health and quality of life improves. I saw this happening with my cats. One particular thing I noticed was a lot less random vomiting, hairballs, etc. I am sure that being on a diet of Natural Balance was the reason for this positive change.
Natural Balance Dry Cat Food is available in three different formulas. The formulas are Ultra Premium, Venison & Green Pea, and Reduced Calorie. I have tried each of these formulas on my cats, and they have all been met with great enthusiasm, with the Reduced Calorie being the least favorite. However, I have noticed this is always the case with any reduced calorie cat food of any brand, so I don't consider it a negative against the brand. I usually purchase the 6.6 pound bag of Natural Balance. This cat food can be a little pricey, but I feel that the improved health of my cats is worth it. I have now been using this food for around two years, and I will continue to use it as long as it is being made.
I would absolutely recommend Natural Balance Dry Cat Food to any cat owner. After feeding a cat this food for a few weeks, you will notice the health benefits and positive changes. This is good, quality cat food without chemicals or by-products, and the company does not support animal testing. Natural Balance also regularly contributes to animal charities to help abused and neglected animals. It makes me feel good to support a pet food company that involves themselves in these kind of activities. Therefore, I can justify the higher price because of all the good that goes into the product, and all the good that comes from using this product. For more information about Natural Balance pet food, visit their web site at www.naturalbalanceinc.com.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/147761/product_review_natural_balance_dry.html
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Top Secret Information About Cat Food
Greetings cat companion owners.
I just wanted to share with you some TOP SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD FOR CATS. Our cats out here on the farm, in North Carolina have the best of both worlds. Free to run around and catch small prey and have a specially prepared diet, which promotes good health and is kind to their digestive system. We feel by far this food type, and/or method of feeding cats is the best thing on Earth since catnip.
TOP SECRET #1
There is a food you can feed your cat that will keep their teeth clean and gums healthy that with the exception from your yearly check up you may never have to pay for to have another dental cleaning. There is a food you can feed your cat that will make their stools/poops virtually odor free. For some reason fleas and little critters that run around on their skin, disappear.
TOP SECRET #2
Our cat companion is is known as a, obligate carnivore, That their digestive system is not set up absorb most of the ingredients found in manufactured (aka Kibble) foods? Nature intended for animals to basically eat what they catch. There is a food you can feed your cat that contains no artificial ingredients and/or animal by products, and is so natural, that cats all over the world have been eating it for years? Now if nature intended for them to eat what they catch, would it not seem true that the prey they catch has the needed ingredients in it for them to live in a healthy form?
TOP SECRET #4
There is a food that has been pr oven to virtually eliminate and/or reduce things like allergies,urinary tract problems, kidney disease, obesity, IBD, diabetes and
cancer. Did you know that the reason so many people are looking to learn about this very healthy, fresh, natural kind of food, is because they're realizing that commercial cat "food", AKA KIBBLE is made from processed ingredients that are left over from the human food industry, and animal by-products.
What is this food you ask? It's know by several names, RMB, BARF, etc.
I have attempted to share some information here that a lot of companion owners know and others do not. Our information here comes from many years of personal and farm experience. As there is a wealth of information out on both types of feeding programs, some similarities may seem to appear. Any similarity to any published information is unintentional.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/170649/top_secret_information_about_cat_food.html
I just wanted to share with you some TOP SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD FOR CATS. Our cats out here on the farm, in North Carolina have the best of both worlds. Free to run around and catch small prey and have a specially prepared diet, which promotes good health and is kind to their digestive system. We feel by far this food type, and/or method of feeding cats is the best thing on Earth since catnip.
TOP SECRET #1
There is a food you can feed your cat that will keep their teeth clean and gums healthy that with the exception from your yearly check up you may never have to pay for to have another dental cleaning. There is a food you can feed your cat that will make their stools/poops virtually odor free. For some reason fleas and little critters that run around on their skin, disappear.
TOP SECRET #2
Our cat companion is is known as a, obligate carnivore, That their digestive system is not set up absorb most of the ingredients found in manufactured (aka Kibble) foods? Nature intended for animals to basically eat what they catch. There is a food you can feed your cat that contains no artificial ingredients and/or animal by products, and is so natural, that cats all over the world have been eating it for years? Now if nature intended for them to eat what they catch, would it not seem true that the prey they catch has the needed ingredients in it for them to live in a healthy form?
TOP SECRET #4
There is a food that has been pr oven to virtually eliminate and/or reduce things like allergies,urinary tract problems, kidney disease, obesity, IBD, diabetes and
cancer. Did you know that the reason so many people are looking to learn about this very healthy, fresh, natural kind of food, is because they're realizing that commercial cat "food", AKA KIBBLE is made from processed ingredients that are left over from the human food industry, and animal by-products.
What is this food you ask? It's know by several names, RMB, BARF, etc.
I have attempted to share some information here that a lot of companion owners know and others do not. Our information here comes from many years of personal and farm experience. As there is a wealth of information out on both types of feeding programs, some similarities may seem to appear. Any similarity to any published information is unintentional.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/170649/top_secret_information_about_cat_food.html
Friday, May 29, 2009
Cat & Dog Food Recall
The recall of cat and dog foods of some 80 brands have been linked to kidney failure, says the Food and Drug Administration. These Companies outsource
the the production and packaging of their wet or canned food, which is the affected type. This is the suspected reason of 10 confirmed deaths across the northern half of the U.S. Dry food is more nutritious and contains less fat than canned food.
So next time you are in the supermarket to buy your loved one food, pause and think...the easy, good tasting stuff is usually the worst for them. Plus, dry food promotes healthy teeth and gums. Yumm Yumm. Per ounce, thats an expensive taste, and my opinion is that the dry food tastes better anyway. I couldn't bring myself to try the canned food, it reminds me of a hang over morning, I ate a cold left over plate of Salisbury Steak with Gravy!
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/186527/cat_dog_food_recall.html
the the production and packaging of their wet or canned food, which is the affected type. This is the suspected reason of 10 confirmed deaths across the northern half of the U.S. Dry food is more nutritious and contains less fat than canned food.
So next time you are in the supermarket to buy your loved one food, pause and think...the easy, good tasting stuff is usually the worst for them. Plus, dry food promotes healthy teeth and gums. Yumm Yumm. Per ounce, thats an expensive taste, and my opinion is that the dry food tastes better anyway. I couldn't bring myself to try the canned food, it reminds me of a hang over morning, I ate a cold left over plate of Salisbury Steak with Gravy!
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/186527/cat_dog_food_recall.html
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Worried About Pet Food Recalls? See If Homemade Cat Food is for You
With all the talk of pet food recalls going on in the news, I've taken a step back to look at my cats' diet. I started quite some time ago cooking at home for the family, but have never seemed to get away from commerical foods for my pets.
Wanting my cats' to be healthy is important to me, so I set out to see what I could find about making my cats' food at home. I found it's not that difficult to make cat food, and the benefit is that you know what you're putting into their stomachs, so you can dispell some of the concern about contamination.
To make your own cat food, you simply need to follow these steps:
1.Know what to feed, and what not to. Don't feed your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork, bacon, raw fish, raw eggs, milk or bones. Each one of those things can have an unsatisfactory effect on cats. Also, don't feed your cat dog food! Cats require more protein than dogs do, so dog food will not meet your cats' nutritional needs.
2.Limit the tuna fish intake. Tuna fish can be an enjoyable treat for cats, but don't go overboard. There are mercury levels in tuna fish, and has risks that are associated with overfeeding.
3.Feed liver in moderation. Vitamin A exists in liver. If you are giving your cat a supplement, skip the liver portion of their diets. An overdose on Vitamin A is deadly.
4.Search the internet. All of us cat lovers know that cats can be finicky. There are a wide range of recipes online so do a search and find recipes with ingredients that your cats love. Some recipe books also have cat food recipes included. Look for recipes that are high in protein.
5.Include vegetables. A healthy meal might consist of something along the lines of: 1 pound of ground turkey, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of brewer's yeast. Another yummy meal might be 4 ounces of meat, two eggs, 1 tablespoon carrots, 1 tablespoon cottage cheese and 1 tablespoon sunflower oil. Make sure you cook all meat before serving it.
6.Adding flavors such as garlic and kelp powder can make the meal more tasty. Small amounts of dairy are fine, but don't overdo the milk. You can also use a lactose free milk.
7.Don't go 100% right away. Your cat will have to adjust to your new food slowly as to not upset his or her stomach. Start by adding small amounts of your new food with the old commercial food and build up gradually.
8.Don't keep cat food too long. Three days is the maximum amount of time you should keep your newly prepared food, so don't cook too much and plan on keeping it for convenience later.
It can be a lot of work to have more meals to prepare, especially if you're family isn't interested in sharing a kelp flavored meal. Overall, it's not difficult if you can set aside the time to prepare a good meal for your cat. As always, it's a wise idea to consult with your vet before starting any kind of new dietary routine for your pet.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/186312/worried_about_pet_food_recalls_see.html
Wanting my cats' to be healthy is important to me, so I set out to see what I could find about making my cats' food at home. I found it's not that difficult to make cat food, and the benefit is that you know what you're putting into their stomachs, so you can dispell some of the concern about contamination.
To make your own cat food, you simply need to follow these steps:
1.Know what to feed, and what not to. Don't feed your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork, bacon, raw fish, raw eggs, milk or bones. Each one of those things can have an unsatisfactory effect on cats. Also, don't feed your cat dog food! Cats require more protein than dogs do, so dog food will not meet your cats' nutritional needs.
2.Limit the tuna fish intake. Tuna fish can be an enjoyable treat for cats, but don't go overboard. There are mercury levels in tuna fish, and has risks that are associated with overfeeding.
3.Feed liver in moderation. Vitamin A exists in liver. If you are giving your cat a supplement, skip the liver portion of their diets. An overdose on Vitamin A is deadly.
4.Search the internet. All of us cat lovers know that cats can be finicky. There are a wide range of recipes online so do a search and find recipes with ingredients that your cats love. Some recipe books also have cat food recipes included. Look for recipes that are high in protein.
5.Include vegetables. A healthy meal might consist of something along the lines of: 1 pound of ground turkey, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of brewer's yeast. Another yummy meal might be 4 ounces of meat, two eggs, 1 tablespoon carrots, 1 tablespoon cottage cheese and 1 tablespoon sunflower oil. Make sure you cook all meat before serving it.
6.Adding flavors such as garlic and kelp powder can make the meal more tasty. Small amounts of dairy are fine, but don't overdo the milk. You can also use a lactose free milk.
7.Don't go 100% right away. Your cat will have to adjust to your new food slowly as to not upset his or her stomach. Start by adding small amounts of your new food with the old commercial food and build up gradually.
8.Don't keep cat food too long. Three days is the maximum amount of time you should keep your newly prepared food, so don't cook too much and plan on keeping it for convenience later.
It can be a lot of work to have more meals to prepare, especially if you're family isn't interested in sharing a kelp flavored meal. Overall, it's not difficult if you can set aside the time to prepare a good meal for your cat. As always, it's a wise idea to consult with your vet before starting any kind of new dietary routine for your pet.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/186312/worried_about_pet_food_recalls_see.html
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Iams Weight Control Dry Cat Food is the Cat's Meow
How do you write a product review about a cat food? You could rate it based on whether your cat eats it, but won't a cat eat pretty much anything if it's hungry enough? Especially if the cat food you're trying to rate is all you feed it? I have a better solution. I interviewed our cat, Pearl for this product review. She has been eating Iams dry cat food since kittenhood. She began on Iams Kitten™ formula, moved up to the adult formula, Iams Original™ and when she started to look a bit pudgy, settled in with Iams Weight Control™ formula. So, Pearl is somewhat of an expert on Iams dry cat foods. She is more qualified than I am to rate Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food. She will tell you it's the cat's meow! But, let's hear the product review in her words.
CG- Pearl, what do you think of Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food?
PG- Meooooooooooooooow. [Is it time to eat?]
(From here onward, I will translate Pearl's answers to reduce the incidence of the word "Meow," in this product review.)
CG- How does Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food compare to the other Iams dry cat food you've tried?
PG- Iams Kitten™ formula was the most delectable, but eating too much of it is how I ended up on Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food. I still chase my tail now and then, but not enough to use up those extra calories in kitten food, I guess.
CG- How does Iams Weight Control dry cat food compare to canned cat food?
PG- I have never been a fan of canned cat food. It comes in two varieties, mushy and gooey. Yuck. I like some crunch in my food.
CG- Is Iams Weight Control™dry cat food better tasting than other brands of dry cat food?
PG- The vet said it's the best. Why would I try another brand?
CG- Iams Weight Control™ does cost a little more than some common brands of dry cat food, right? $7 or $8 for a 4 pound bag?
PG- I'm worth every cent.
CG- Did the recent recalls of cat food scare you?
PG- Sure did. I checked the bag myself to make sure none of that tainted wheat gluten was in there. Then I heard there were other bad things in dry cat foods like BHA and BHT, ethoxyquin and propylene glycol. I gave that ingredients list the cat's eye. Not one of those dangerous ingredients is in my Iams Weight Control™cat food, I'm relieved to say.
CG- Now, an important question in this product review is whether Iams Weight Control™ formula helped you to manage your weight?
PG- I'm a cat. When someone is pouring cat food in my bowl, I bump up against them as hard as I can, hoping they'll spill the whole container right smack into my food bowl.
CG- So your weight...
PG- One time, the cover fell off that plastic container we store my cat food in. What a bonanza that was. I had to eat off the floor though.
CG- Pearl, can you tell me whether Iams Weight Control™formula dry cat food has actually brought your weight down?
PG- I weigh a measly 9 pounds, these days. The vet says that's healthy. So maybe I can have seconds tonight?
CG- We'll discuss it. Is there anything else you think it's important for cat owners to know about Iams Weight Control™dry cat food?
PG- It comes in a pretty turquiose bag. A strong bag that cats can't claw open. And those little cat food nuggets, they sound like a rainforest rhythm stick when they pour into my little ceramic cat bowl. C'mon over to my house and pour some so you can see for yourself.
It appears that Pearl has found the purr-fect nutrition for her needs, Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food.
If you found this article informative, you might also like to read some of my other articles on pets. Read about rabbits or turtles by clicking on the highlighted words in this sentence.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/198115/iams_weight_control_dry_cat_food_is.html
CG- Pearl, what do you think of Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food?
PG- Meooooooooooooooow. [Is it time to eat?]
(From here onward, I will translate Pearl's answers to reduce the incidence of the word "Meow," in this product review.)
CG- How does Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food compare to the other Iams dry cat food you've tried?
PG- Iams Kitten™ formula was the most delectable, but eating too much of it is how I ended up on Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food. I still chase my tail now and then, but not enough to use up those extra calories in kitten food, I guess.
CG- How does Iams Weight Control dry cat food compare to canned cat food?
PG- I have never been a fan of canned cat food. It comes in two varieties, mushy and gooey. Yuck. I like some crunch in my food.
CG- Is Iams Weight Control™dry cat food better tasting than other brands of dry cat food?
PG- The vet said it's the best. Why would I try another brand?
CG- Iams Weight Control™ does cost a little more than some common brands of dry cat food, right? $7 or $8 for a 4 pound bag?
PG- I'm worth every cent.
CG- Did the recent recalls of cat food scare you?
PG- Sure did. I checked the bag myself to make sure none of that tainted wheat gluten was in there. Then I heard there were other bad things in dry cat foods like BHA and BHT, ethoxyquin and propylene glycol. I gave that ingredients list the cat's eye. Not one of those dangerous ingredients is in my Iams Weight Control™cat food, I'm relieved to say.
CG- Now, an important question in this product review is whether Iams Weight Control™ formula helped you to manage your weight?
PG- I'm a cat. When someone is pouring cat food in my bowl, I bump up against them as hard as I can, hoping they'll spill the whole container right smack into my food bowl.
CG- So your weight...
PG- One time, the cover fell off that plastic container we store my cat food in. What a bonanza that was. I had to eat off the floor though.
CG- Pearl, can you tell me whether Iams Weight Control™formula dry cat food has actually brought your weight down?
PG- I weigh a measly 9 pounds, these days. The vet says that's healthy. So maybe I can have seconds tonight?
CG- We'll discuss it. Is there anything else you think it's important for cat owners to know about Iams Weight Control™dry cat food?
PG- It comes in a pretty turquiose bag. A strong bag that cats can't claw open. And those little cat food nuggets, they sound like a rainforest rhythm stick when they pour into my little ceramic cat bowl. C'mon over to my house and pour some so you can see for yourself.
It appears that Pearl has found the purr-fect nutrition for her needs, Iams Weight Control™ dry cat food.
If you found this article informative, you might also like to read some of my other articles on pets. Read about rabbits or turtles by clicking on the highlighted words in this sentence.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/198115/iams_weight_control_dry_cat_food_is.html
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Concerned About What's in Your Commercial Pet Food? Try These Homemade Cat Food and Treat Recipes
Every day lately, it seems there is another pet food recall, warning dog and cat owners not to feed their pets different brands of foods. This is getting scary. Who knows which pet food will be recalled next. Though I am still using the kibble my cats normally eat, I am now supplementing my pets with a few homemade recipes. These are not meant for feeding your pets forever, since I"m not a vet or nutritionist but they are good for filling their furry tummies while we wait out the lowdown on the canned foods, which seem most affected by these pet food recalls. Here are the basic recipes I am using, don't add other ingredients unless you know for sure that they don't hurt your pets. We all know chocolate is off-limits to pets, as are other foods such as onions. Stick with these ingredients, which seem to be pet safe, according to pet experts I've read about.
Homemade Cat Food
2 cups ground chicken, lean beef or turkey, thoroughly cooked and diced;
4 cups rice, cooked in chicken or beef broth;
1/2 cup potatoes, ground;
1/4 cup spinach or carrots, ground;
1/4 cup green beans, ground;
2 tbsp melted butter;
dash of garlic powder
Mix everything together in large pot or bowl. Make sure it is completely cool before feeding to your cat. Store in covered container in refrigerator.
Homemade Cat Treats
1 1/2 cup oats, ground;
1/4 cup butter;
1/2 cup flour;
1/2 cup chicken broth;
1/4 cup cubed or shredded American or mild cheddar cheese -or- shredded chicken
Mix all ingredients together, form small cookies and bake on greased cookie sheet until done at 350 degrees. Roughly 25 minutes but check as ovens vary. Do not overcook.
Our pets deserve food that is safe, so hopefully, this current pet food crisis will alert the authorities to make sure they buy quality products and be more careful of what they put in their pet food recipes. Cats have specific nutritional needs so don't feed them any of these recipes on a long term basis, as I do not know the breakdown of nutritional value for them. But, by using fresh, healthful ingredients, cooking the meat thoroughly and storing the food you make in the refrigerator, it can help to tie your kitty over until it is safe to go buy food at the store again. Enjoy.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/206961/concerned_about_whats_in_your_commercial.html
Homemade Cat Food
2 cups ground chicken, lean beef or turkey, thoroughly cooked and diced;
4 cups rice, cooked in chicken or beef broth;
1/2 cup potatoes, ground;
1/4 cup spinach or carrots, ground;
1/4 cup green beans, ground;
2 tbsp melted butter;
dash of garlic powder
Mix everything together in large pot or bowl. Make sure it is completely cool before feeding to your cat. Store in covered container in refrigerator.
Homemade Cat Treats
1 1/2 cup oats, ground;
1/4 cup butter;
1/2 cup flour;
1/2 cup chicken broth;
1/4 cup cubed or shredded American or mild cheddar cheese -or- shredded chicken
Mix all ingredients together, form small cookies and bake on greased cookie sheet until done at 350 degrees. Roughly 25 minutes but check as ovens vary. Do not overcook.
Our pets deserve food that is safe, so hopefully, this current pet food crisis will alert the authorities to make sure they buy quality products and be more careful of what they put in their pet food recipes. Cats have specific nutritional needs so don't feed them any of these recipes on a long term basis, as I do not know the breakdown of nutritional value for them. But, by using fresh, healthful ingredients, cooking the meat thoroughly and storing the food you make in the refrigerator, it can help to tie your kitty over until it is safe to go buy food at the store again. Enjoy.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/206961/concerned_about_whats_in_your_commercial.html
Monday, May 25, 2009
Friskies Cat Food: The Best for My Cats, Especially Now
"Friskies" has always been a favorite with my cats. Over at Yahoo in one of the cat chats, pet owners are understandably frantic over the massive pet food recall initiated by Menu Foods in March (2007) and followed in early April by an extensive Purina Brands recall. Is Friskies canned cat food on the recall list? I did discover it is manufactured by Nestle Purina Pet Care Co., but, nope, I'm happy to report, Friskies is not on a recall list.
As a lifetime cat-companion (to claim cat ownership is novice-speak), I credit myself with nearly fifty years of cat maintenance, top to bottom, as it were. And when it comes to food, I've always headed straight for the Friskies aisle. Both dry food and wet. It doesn't surprise me that Friskies is not on the recall list, but I'm relieved, to be sure.
From my first childhood cat, Blackie, who hopped around with casts on both hind legs, (a bit of bad driving by Mom), to Huckle, the calico who grew with my kids and lived to be 18 human years, to my current duo of fur-shedding furniture-shredders (say that ten times), I've never had a cat who walked away from Friskies. For cats, the traditional picky-eaters, that's saying something.
Kroger grocery chain (also Fry's out west) runs a seemingly open-ended "sale" on Friskies® canned food in nearly all varieties. My cats recommend Ocean Whitefish and Tuna prepared as a loaf, although shredded salmon is always a nice change of pace. At $.29 per can and sometimes 4/$1.00,there's a significant value-added feature to the name-brand Friskies® product.
Proceeding cautiously through a puzzling time of pet food recalls, as the list grows longer than Santa's, I tried to feed my cats table scraps (no thanks!) and then I offered a store-brand tuna meant for humans. Yet even the tuna was shunned like an iPod in Amish Acres.
I wouldn't neglect my cats' need for fiber, certainly, and Friskies is again the go-to brand. Specifically, Friskies Dry Ocean Whitefish Flavor is a must in our home.
The Pet Food Industry has done well owning up to the recent disturbing news regarding poisonous wheat gluten.
By the way, for a list of non-Friskie tainted brands, check your cupboards and toss the many cat foods from Menu brands, (Among those on the Menu Brands list are variations of Americas Choice, Preferred Pets, Authority, Best Choice, Companion,Compliments, Demoulas Market Basket, Eukanuba, Fine Feline Cat, Food Lion, Foodtown,Giant Companion, Hannaford,Hill country Fare,Hy-Vee, Iams, Key Food,Laura Lynn, Li'l Red, Loving Meals, Main Choice, Nutriplan, Nutro Max Gourmet Classics,Nutro NaturalChoice, Paws, Pet Pride, Presidents Choice, Price Chopper, Priority, Save-A-Lot, Schnucks, Sophisticat, Special Kitty Canada, Special Kitty US, Springfield Prize, Sprout, Total Pet, My True Friend, Wegmans, Western Family, White Rose, Winn Dixie.)
Also on the recall list is Science Diet. I'm not sure whether or not Menu Foods makes Science Diet.
(Their recall affects only 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans of Kitten Savory Cuts Ocean Fish; 5.5-ounce cans of Feline Adult Savory Cuts Beef, Chicken and Ocean Fish, and 5.5-ounce cans of Feline Senior Savory Cuts Chicken.)
I'm not certain which other brands will pop up on the list of shame, however, it is now several weeks past the initial scare; I'm guessing Friskies is still in the clear!
In the event you have a loud, slobbery but loveable mutt, there's some info on tainted dog food as well. CNN has been on top of the pet food recall lists from the beginning and is a reliable source for the latest recalls. Here is the CNN recall list from March 31, 2007.
Nestle Purina announced on its web site it is "confident that the contaminated wheat gluten has been isolated to this limited production quantity of ALPO Prime Cuts canned products" for dogs. None of its dry food is damaged. Purina (and thus Friskies) cat food consumers are safe - let's hope it stays that way!
I would have a big hole in my heart if I didn't have a cat around. And since my cats can't seem to live without Friskies brand, then neither can I. And that, as I often hear my cats mumble before they tell me to get outta their faces, is that.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/203560/friskies_cat_food_the_best_for_my_cats.html
As a lifetime cat-companion (to claim cat ownership is novice-speak), I credit myself with nearly fifty years of cat maintenance, top to bottom, as it were. And when it comes to food, I've always headed straight for the Friskies aisle. Both dry food and wet. It doesn't surprise me that Friskies is not on the recall list, but I'm relieved, to be sure.
From my first childhood cat, Blackie, who hopped around with casts on both hind legs, (a bit of bad driving by Mom), to Huckle, the calico who grew with my kids and lived to be 18 human years, to my current duo of fur-shedding furniture-shredders (say that ten times), I've never had a cat who walked away from Friskies. For cats, the traditional picky-eaters, that's saying something.
Kroger grocery chain (also Fry's out west) runs a seemingly open-ended "sale" on Friskies® canned food in nearly all varieties. My cats recommend Ocean Whitefish and Tuna prepared as a loaf, although shredded salmon is always a nice change of pace. At $.29 per can and sometimes 4/$1.00,there's a significant value-added feature to the name-brand Friskies® product.
Proceeding cautiously through a puzzling time of pet food recalls, as the list grows longer than Santa's, I tried to feed my cats table scraps (no thanks!) and then I offered a store-brand tuna meant for humans. Yet even the tuna was shunned like an iPod in Amish Acres.
I wouldn't neglect my cats' need for fiber, certainly, and Friskies is again the go-to brand. Specifically, Friskies Dry Ocean Whitefish Flavor is a must in our home.
The Pet Food Industry has done well owning up to the recent disturbing news regarding poisonous wheat gluten.
By the way, for a list of non-Friskie tainted brands, check your cupboards and toss the many cat foods from Menu brands, (Among those on the Menu Brands list are variations of Americas Choice, Preferred Pets, Authority, Best Choice, Companion,Compliments, Demoulas Market Basket, Eukanuba, Fine Feline Cat, Food Lion, Foodtown,Giant Companion, Hannaford,Hill country Fare,Hy-Vee, Iams, Key Food,Laura Lynn, Li'l Red, Loving Meals, Main Choice, Nutriplan, Nutro Max Gourmet Classics,Nutro NaturalChoice, Paws, Pet Pride, Presidents Choice, Price Chopper, Priority, Save-A-Lot, Schnucks, Sophisticat, Special Kitty Canada, Special Kitty US, Springfield Prize, Sprout, Total Pet, My True Friend, Wegmans, Western Family, White Rose, Winn Dixie.)
Also on the recall list is Science Diet. I'm not sure whether or not Menu Foods makes Science Diet.
(Their recall affects only 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans of Kitten Savory Cuts Ocean Fish; 5.5-ounce cans of Feline Adult Savory Cuts Beef, Chicken and Ocean Fish, and 5.5-ounce cans of Feline Senior Savory Cuts Chicken.)
I'm not certain which other brands will pop up on the list of shame, however, it is now several weeks past the initial scare; I'm guessing Friskies is still in the clear!
In the event you have a loud, slobbery but loveable mutt, there's some info on tainted dog food as well. CNN has been on top of the pet food recall lists from the beginning and is a reliable source for the latest recalls. Here is the CNN recall list from March 31, 2007.
Nestle Purina announced on its web site it is "confident that the contaminated wheat gluten has been isolated to this limited production quantity of ALPO Prime Cuts canned products" for dogs. None of its dry food is damaged. Purina (and thus Friskies) cat food consumers are safe - let's hope it stays that way!
I would have a big hole in my heart if I didn't have a cat around. And since my cats can't seem to live without Friskies brand, then neither can I. And that, as I often hear my cats mumble before they tell me to get outta their faces, is that.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/203560/friskies_cat_food_the_best_for_my_cats.html
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Natural Balance Organic Cat Food: The Best Affordable Organic Cat Food
After the Menu Foods pet food scare I started looking for a new canned food that I could feel safe feeding to my cat. I wanted to find an organic food that was not associated with Menu Foods but wasn't terribly expensive and wasn't available only at fancy pet shops. After doing research I found out about Natural Balance, an organic but reasonably priced and easy to find canned food.
My cat is very fussy about her food, so I bought a couple 3 oz individual meal sized cans at 80 cents apiece at Petco. I originally bought the Chicken and Liver pate flavor and the Venison and Green Pea flavor. The 3 oz cans have "easy open" pull tabs so no can opener is necessary. The first thing I noticed when I opened the can was that this food doesn't reek like some canned foods do. All the flavors I've given my cat seem to have a uniform "pate" texture which is easy for cats to eat. My cat is a Snowshoe Siamese, and has a very flat face, so the shape and texture of what she eats is important and she has no trouble with the Natural Balance food.
When I gave my cat the Chicken and Liver I expected her to turn up her nose and walk away but she ate the entire can! The next day I gave her the Venison and Green Pea and she ate that entire can as well. Even though you should always switch cat foods slowly to avoid stomach upset I switched her canned food without the recommended mixing of old and new foods because her old food was the tainted Nutro pouch food. Even with the quick food switch she had no stomach upset or vomiting from the new food, it was very gentle on her stomach. Now she begs for her Natural Balance food each morning. The Ultra flavor seems to be her favorite of all the flavors.
There was a variety of flavors to choose from: Chicken and Liver Pate, Ultra Formula, Indoor Cat Formula, Venison and Green Pea, Salmon, Turkey and Giblets, and another seafood formula. Venison and Green Pea is a great food for pets with skin allergies or food sensitivities. There is a line of prescription diets that is prescribed for animals with those problems but is very expensive, so for a cat with those sensitivities Natural Balance makes an affordable alternative. Most Petco's carry Natural Balance canned and dry food, but I have not found it in any other major pet food store.
After feeding her Natural Balance for a few days I noticed changes in my cat. She looks leaner, and her coat is much shinier and softer. She isn't shedding as much. Her eyes are bright and shiny and she tons of energy. Her litter box isn't quite so unpleasant to scoop out each day. Natural Balance is a very high quality, affordable, all organic food and my cat won't eat anything else from now on. I recommend Natural Balance to any pet owners who would like to give their pets a high quality organic diet but don't have the time to run around to specialty stores and don't have the money to pay the higher prices of "boutique" organic brands like Wellness.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/204426/natural_balance_organic_cat_food_the.html
My cat is very fussy about her food, so I bought a couple 3 oz individual meal sized cans at 80 cents apiece at Petco. I originally bought the Chicken and Liver pate flavor and the Venison and Green Pea flavor. The 3 oz cans have "easy open" pull tabs so no can opener is necessary. The first thing I noticed when I opened the can was that this food doesn't reek like some canned foods do. All the flavors I've given my cat seem to have a uniform "pate" texture which is easy for cats to eat. My cat is a Snowshoe Siamese, and has a very flat face, so the shape and texture of what she eats is important and she has no trouble with the Natural Balance food.
When I gave my cat the Chicken and Liver I expected her to turn up her nose and walk away but she ate the entire can! The next day I gave her the Venison and Green Pea and she ate that entire can as well. Even though you should always switch cat foods slowly to avoid stomach upset I switched her canned food without the recommended mixing of old and new foods because her old food was the tainted Nutro pouch food. Even with the quick food switch she had no stomach upset or vomiting from the new food, it was very gentle on her stomach. Now she begs for her Natural Balance food each morning. The Ultra flavor seems to be her favorite of all the flavors.
There was a variety of flavors to choose from: Chicken and Liver Pate, Ultra Formula, Indoor Cat Formula, Venison and Green Pea, Salmon, Turkey and Giblets, and another seafood formula. Venison and Green Pea is a great food for pets with skin allergies or food sensitivities. There is a line of prescription diets that is prescribed for animals with those problems but is very expensive, so for a cat with those sensitivities Natural Balance makes an affordable alternative. Most Petco's carry Natural Balance canned and dry food, but I have not found it in any other major pet food store.
After feeding her Natural Balance for a few days I noticed changes in my cat. She looks leaner, and her coat is much shinier and softer. She isn't shedding as much. Her eyes are bright and shiny and she tons of energy. Her litter box isn't quite so unpleasant to scoop out each day. Natural Balance is a very high quality, affordable, all organic food and my cat won't eat anything else from now on. I recommend Natural Balance to any pet owners who would like to give their pets a high quality organic diet but don't have the time to run around to specialty stores and don't have the money to pay the higher prices of "boutique" organic brands like Wellness.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/204426/natural_balance_organic_cat_food_the.html
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Royal Canin Persian Cat Food
Like many concerned pet owners I searched for a long time to find the "right" dry food for my cat. I feed my cat canned food once a day but I leave dry food out for her to graze on all the time. I don't mind paying for quality food but I don't want to spend more on her food than I spend on my own. Royal Canin is a high quality food with several great formulas. It's a bit more expensive than some quality brands but to me it's worth every penny.
I have an adopted Snowshoe Siamese cat. A Snowshoe Siamese is a cross breed, it's an Exotic crossed with a Siamese to produce Siamese coloring with four white feet. They also tend to have the flat face of an Exotic or Persian, some more pronounced than others. My cat has a very flat face, so normal kibble can be very difficult for her to eat. It never occurred to me that the shape of her food was important until I watched her struggle to eat her kibble one day and it dawned on me that she wasn't physically able to eat it without difficulty. I did some research and found that Royal Canin makes breed specific dry foods for cats and dogs. They make unique formulas for Persians, Siamese, and Maine Coone cats as well as a host of other formulas for cats who have allergies, cats who have hairball problems and other conditions of concern for pet owners. I bought the Persian formula and was very pleased with it. At about $20 per 3 lb bag it's not cheap, but if you have a Persian or a Persian family breed this kibble is the best. My cat has no trouble with the shape of the kibble, and she really likes the taste. I feel comfortable giving her Royal Canin because it's a high quality food. Since she has been eating Royal Canin in combination with her Natural Balance canned food her coat is softer and shinier, she has more energy, and is healthier than she's ever been.
Royal Canin is a French company that has been in business for over thirty years. They also make some high quality prescription pet food diets and are considered a leader in the pet food industry. They work continuously with vets, breeders and other animal professionals to continue to develop quality food that puts the needs of the pet first. You can find Royal Canin at any major pet store like Petco or Petsmart, although not all stores carry all the Royal Canin formulas. While Royal Canin is a bit more expensive than some other dry cat foods, keep in mind you get what you pay for. Royal Canin is a quality cat food that is worth the extra cost.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/204816/royal_canin_persian_cat_food.html
I have an adopted Snowshoe Siamese cat. A Snowshoe Siamese is a cross breed, it's an Exotic crossed with a Siamese to produce Siamese coloring with four white feet. They also tend to have the flat face of an Exotic or Persian, some more pronounced than others. My cat has a very flat face, so normal kibble can be very difficult for her to eat. It never occurred to me that the shape of her food was important until I watched her struggle to eat her kibble one day and it dawned on me that she wasn't physically able to eat it without difficulty. I did some research and found that Royal Canin makes breed specific dry foods for cats and dogs. They make unique formulas for Persians, Siamese, and Maine Coone cats as well as a host of other formulas for cats who have allergies, cats who have hairball problems and other conditions of concern for pet owners. I bought the Persian formula and was very pleased with it. At about $20 per 3 lb bag it's not cheap, but if you have a Persian or a Persian family breed this kibble is the best. My cat has no trouble with the shape of the kibble, and she really likes the taste. I feel comfortable giving her Royal Canin because it's a high quality food. Since she has been eating Royal Canin in combination with her Natural Balance canned food her coat is softer and shinier, she has more energy, and is healthier than she's ever been.
Royal Canin is a French company that has been in business for over thirty years. They also make some high quality prescription pet food diets and are considered a leader in the pet food industry. They work continuously with vets, breeders and other animal professionals to continue to develop quality food that puts the needs of the pet first. You can find Royal Canin at any major pet store like Petco or Petsmart, although not all stores carry all the Royal Canin formulas. While Royal Canin is a bit more expensive than some other dry cat foods, keep in mind you get what you pay for. Royal Canin is a quality cat food that is worth the extra cost.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/204816/royal_canin_persian_cat_food.html
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tainted Cat Food? Not If You Make it Yourself
Recent concerns over tainted wheat gluten have left many cat owners worrying about the safety of the cat foods they have been purchasing. At present, dozens of pouched and canned foods have been recalled, and the list is growing with the recall of some dry foods as well. Major pet food companies including Hills Science Diet, Nutro, and Iams are now listed as being recalled. For the safety of your pet, you may seriously want to consider making your own cat food and treats.
When looking at the nutritional needs of any cat, protein and water will be at the top of the list. The protein must be from another animal, fish, beef, poultry, etc. Too many vegetarians feel their pets can safely follow a vegetarian diet and the truth is that the protein in vegetables is hard for a feline's digestive system. Feeding cats a meat-free diet is detrimental to their health.
Take a look at the dietary needs of a cat:
Calcium-Found in dairy products and sardines.
Choline-Found in eggs, milk, and wheat germ.
Copper-Found in organ meats, meat, seafood, and wheat bran.
Essential Fatty Acids-Found in seafood.
Folic Acid-Found in wheat germ, liver, and peas.
Iodine-Found in saltwater fish and shellfish.
Iron-Found in leafy green vegetables and beef.
Magnesium-Found in nuts, peas, and grains.
Manganese-Found in grains.
Niacin-Found in fish, poultry, pork, and liver.
Pantothenic Acid-Found in eggs, fish, poultry, and organ meats.
Phosphorus-Found in eggs, meat, and dairy products
Potassium-Found in milk, yogurt, and peas.
Protein-Only from an animal source
Riboflavin-Found in eggs, milk products, and organ meats.
Selenium-Found in seafood, eggs, and poultry.
Sodium-Found in saltwater seafood.
Vitamins A (Found in eggs and milk), B Complex (Found in grains, seafood, and yeast), D (Found in milk products), E (Found in eggs and sardines), K (Found in liver and pork)
Zinc-Found in meats, fish, and dairy products.
Much like humans, cats dietary needs are easily met by mixing a few food sources together. Many times a diet of seafood, rice, and perhaps peas, if your cat enjoys them, will meet all needs. Cats require only a few hundred calories per day, so their portions should be sized accordingly. Cats should be fed twice a day and usually ½ cup of food will suffice at each meal. Add in some dry kibble to help break up tartar and plaque that can form on their teeth.
Moist Food Recipes:
Use this format as a guideline and then mix and match the proteins to offer a variety.
1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
2 egg whites, whipped to stiff peaks
2 egg yolks, cooked thoroughly.
2 cups cooked, ground proteins (poultry, fish, liver, beef, pork, etc.)
1 tbsp wheat germ
½ cup cooked brown rice
¼ cup canned peas (If desired.)
Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until well mixed. You can refrigerate this mixture for a few days. If your cat enjoys his or her food at room temperature, simply heat it in the microwave for thirty seconds and then stir to avoid hot spots. Serve ½ cup twice a day.
Dry Kibble Recipe:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups ground protein (liver, kidneys, heart, poultry, beef, pork, and tuna work well.)
2 eggs
¼ cup wheat germ
1 tsp yeast
Mix the ingredients in a food processor and add just enough water to make the mixture into a thick dough. Roll out and cut into bite-sized squares. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 325 for an hour. Allow to cool and place in an air-tight container. Serve this food between meals to allow the cat access to dry food that can break up tartar and plaque.
Many cats will quickly adapt to a change in diet. Providing you use animal proteins that capture the animal's sense of smell, you will find that the cat will happily make a switch from store bought foods to homemade foods. Not only will you save money by creating cat foods that suit your budget, but you also control exactly what foods are going into your cherished pet's system. Both you and your pet will be safe and satisfied.
Additional Resources:
Author Unknown, "Healthy Active: Vitamins and Minerals." Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. URL: http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/Content/vitamins-minerals
Author Unknown, "Pet Food Recall." U.S. Food & Drug Administration. URL: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
Donald Bietz et al., "Your Cat's Nutritional Needs." National Research Council of the National Academies. URL: http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/cat_nutrition_final.pdf
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/207271/tainted_cat_food_not_if_you_make_it.html
When looking at the nutritional needs of any cat, protein and water will be at the top of the list. The protein must be from another animal, fish, beef, poultry, etc. Too many vegetarians feel their pets can safely follow a vegetarian diet and the truth is that the protein in vegetables is hard for a feline's digestive system. Feeding cats a meat-free diet is detrimental to their health.
Take a look at the dietary needs of a cat:
Calcium-Found in dairy products and sardines.
Choline-Found in eggs, milk, and wheat germ.
Copper-Found in organ meats, meat, seafood, and wheat bran.
Essential Fatty Acids-Found in seafood.
Folic Acid-Found in wheat germ, liver, and peas.
Iodine-Found in saltwater fish and shellfish.
Iron-Found in leafy green vegetables and beef.
Magnesium-Found in nuts, peas, and grains.
Manganese-Found in grains.
Niacin-Found in fish, poultry, pork, and liver.
Pantothenic Acid-Found in eggs, fish, poultry, and organ meats.
Phosphorus-Found in eggs, meat, and dairy products
Potassium-Found in milk, yogurt, and peas.
Protein-Only from an animal source
Riboflavin-Found in eggs, milk products, and organ meats.
Selenium-Found in seafood, eggs, and poultry.
Sodium-Found in saltwater seafood.
Vitamins A (Found in eggs and milk), B Complex (Found in grains, seafood, and yeast), D (Found in milk products), E (Found in eggs and sardines), K (Found in liver and pork)
Zinc-Found in meats, fish, and dairy products.
Much like humans, cats dietary needs are easily met by mixing a few food sources together. Many times a diet of seafood, rice, and perhaps peas, if your cat enjoys them, will meet all needs. Cats require only a few hundred calories per day, so their portions should be sized accordingly. Cats should be fed twice a day and usually ½ cup of food will suffice at each meal. Add in some dry kibble to help break up tartar and plaque that can form on their teeth.
Moist Food Recipes:
Use this format as a guideline and then mix and match the proteins to offer a variety.
1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
2 egg whites, whipped to stiff peaks
2 egg yolks, cooked thoroughly.
2 cups cooked, ground proteins (poultry, fish, liver, beef, pork, etc.)
1 tbsp wheat germ
½ cup cooked brown rice
¼ cup canned peas (If desired.)
Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until well mixed. You can refrigerate this mixture for a few days. If your cat enjoys his or her food at room temperature, simply heat it in the microwave for thirty seconds and then stir to avoid hot spots. Serve ½ cup twice a day.
Dry Kibble Recipe:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups ground protein (liver, kidneys, heart, poultry, beef, pork, and tuna work well.)
2 eggs
¼ cup wheat germ
1 tsp yeast
Mix the ingredients in a food processor and add just enough water to make the mixture into a thick dough. Roll out and cut into bite-sized squares. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 325 for an hour. Allow to cool and place in an air-tight container. Serve this food between meals to allow the cat access to dry food that can break up tartar and plaque.
Many cats will quickly adapt to a change in diet. Providing you use animal proteins that capture the animal's sense of smell, you will find that the cat will happily make a switch from store bought foods to homemade foods. Not only will you save money by creating cat foods that suit your budget, but you also control exactly what foods are going into your cherished pet's system. Both you and your pet will be safe and satisfied.
Additional Resources:
Author Unknown, "Healthy Active: Vitamins and Minerals." Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. URL: http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/Content/vitamins-minerals
Author Unknown, "Pet Food Recall." U.S. Food & Drug Administration. URL: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
Donald Bietz et al., "Your Cat's Nutritional Needs." National Research Council of the National Academies. URL: http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/cat_nutrition_final.pdf
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/207271/tainted_cat_food_not_if_you_make_it.html
Thursday, May 21, 2009
How to Make Homemade Cat Food
With the recent recall of pet food, my partner and I became very concerned about the welfare of our cat. Squidward is a 2 year, 9 month old Maine Coon, who enjoys his perception of himself as king of our household. He occasionally enjoys the can of wet food, but finds that his heart desires nothing more than his daily dose of kitty crunchies. Dry food has always been Squid's favorite, so our decision to try the homemade food route is not going over well at all. Read on to learn the facts about making your own cat food.
As pet owner's, our first mistake was leaving food out for Squid at all times. We created a monster who likes to munch throughout the day, and with our recent foray into making our own cat food, this has caused a huge problem; because his new food can easily spoil, we can only leave it out for about thirty minutes at a time.
My first action on this journey was to thoroughly research what nutrients my cat would require for good health, and what types of food were acceptable for him to eat. After determining that a cat vitamin each day, along with powdered calcium would be more than enough to sustain our cat, I called the veterinarian, who confirmed that our plan was a safe and healthy one for Squidward, I stated planning the menu for the first day.
I decided to keep it simple, and following the advice of the veterinarian, I cooked one cup of rice, and thawed a piece of frozen fish. Placing it in the blender, I ground the mixture into small pieces, added the crushed cat vitamin, and another supplement. I then placed the food in the usual spot. my cat to eat. Knowing that he must be hungry, I left it out for the recommended thirty minutes. In this space of time the cat did only three things: First, he sniffed the dish of food, turning his nose up immediately. Next, he gave me a filthy look, accompanied by a tail flick. Lastly he took a nap. As you can see none of these things involved any eating.
The veterinarian had told me this would happen, so I wasn't really surprised that it had happened. As hard as it was, when the thirty minutes had passed, I placed Squiward's food into the refrigerator. Now it had been almost twelve hours since my poor boy had eaten, and my own mother was telling me that I was mean. However, this time the advice of my mother-in-law resonated the loudest with me: He would eat when he got hungry enough.
Three hours later, I placed the food out for Squidward again, and this time he seemed a little more interested, taking a bite or two, when I suddenly remembered an idea that I had read in a news article. It was time to lace the new food with the old stuff that Squidward. Placing about a handful of dry food on top of the homemade food, I mixed it throughly with a fork, and gave it back to the cat. He visited his plate several times in those next few minutes, eating his fill. Still accustomed to eating several times throughout the day, we had to feed him pretty much whenever he wanted for the first few days.
It didn't take long for Squidward to learn that whenever he was hungry, we would feed him, which was something that we didn't want to become a habit. Loving the cat as a family member is one thing, but waiting on him hand and foot is quite another. He was going to have to learn to eat just twice a day.
We soon learned that rice was filling him up quickly, but wasn't substantial enough to last him from one meal to the next, so the rice had to go. I now found myself going to lengths that I never imagined possible out of concern for my little buddy. I had to go back to the grocery store, prepared to stay until I found all of the things I needed to make Squidward's new diet work for all of us.
Finding the correct type of baby food was very important because many contain onion powder, and onions aren't healthy for felines. Next, I headed to the meat department in search of some ground turkey, which I found to be inexpensive. Finally, I found some fresh spinach leaves and a couple of organic carrots. The next two days proved interesting as I continued down this path toward madness...
At the next feeding time, I carefully sliced bits of spinach leaves and carrot into very tiny pieces, and set them aside. I then I boiled a pan of water. I took a half pound of ground turkey into the water for a couple of minutes to kill any bacteria, as well as moisten it, which gives the food a gravy-like appeal. Straining the excess water, I carefully mixed the vegetable throughout the meat, sprinkled on the vitamin and the supplement, and served it to the cat.
This was meant with far less disdain than the last time, but Squidward still wasn't terribly enthusiastic. However, he was starting to adjust to the new feed schedule, which was making our lives a bit more manageable again. I continued feeding Squidward this new concoction through the next day. You can keep the cat's leftovers for the same amount of time you would keep your own.
The next batch of food was Squidward's favorite: Boiled ground turkey, cooled exactly to room temperature, with one heaping tablespoon of vegetarian baby food stirred in. (And of course, his nutrients.)
There are those who think that I'm insane, and some days, I think that I'm insane. However, I also think that I learned a lesson from all of this: Animals have basic rights too, and if we keep them as pets, it seems reasonable that we should try and treat them as cherished family members. The quality of care that they receive should reflect the love of their owners.
If you decide to take your own journey through the maze of changing your pet's diet, I wish you much success, and advise you to consult your own veterinarian when planning the menu for your cat.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/218805/how_to_make_homemade_cat_food.html
As pet owner's, our first mistake was leaving food out for Squid at all times. We created a monster who likes to munch throughout the day, and with our recent foray into making our own cat food, this has caused a huge problem; because his new food can easily spoil, we can only leave it out for about thirty minutes at a time.
My first action on this journey was to thoroughly research what nutrients my cat would require for good health, and what types of food were acceptable for him to eat. After determining that a cat vitamin each day, along with powdered calcium would be more than enough to sustain our cat, I called the veterinarian, who confirmed that our plan was a safe and healthy one for Squidward, I stated planning the menu for the first day.
I decided to keep it simple, and following the advice of the veterinarian, I cooked one cup of rice, and thawed a piece of frozen fish. Placing it in the blender, I ground the mixture into small pieces, added the crushed cat vitamin, and another supplement. I then placed the food in the usual spot. my cat to eat. Knowing that he must be hungry, I left it out for the recommended thirty minutes. In this space of time the cat did only three things: First, he sniffed the dish of food, turning his nose up immediately. Next, he gave me a filthy look, accompanied by a tail flick. Lastly he took a nap. As you can see none of these things involved any eating.
The veterinarian had told me this would happen, so I wasn't really surprised that it had happened. As hard as it was, when the thirty minutes had passed, I placed Squiward's food into the refrigerator. Now it had been almost twelve hours since my poor boy had eaten, and my own mother was telling me that I was mean. However, this time the advice of my mother-in-law resonated the loudest with me: He would eat when he got hungry enough.
Three hours later, I placed the food out for Squidward again, and this time he seemed a little more interested, taking a bite or two, when I suddenly remembered an idea that I had read in a news article. It was time to lace the new food with the old stuff that Squidward. Placing about a handful of dry food on top of the homemade food, I mixed it throughly with a fork, and gave it back to the cat. He visited his plate several times in those next few minutes, eating his fill. Still accustomed to eating several times throughout the day, we had to feed him pretty much whenever he wanted for the first few days.
It didn't take long for Squidward to learn that whenever he was hungry, we would feed him, which was something that we didn't want to become a habit. Loving the cat as a family member is one thing, but waiting on him hand and foot is quite another. He was going to have to learn to eat just twice a day.
We soon learned that rice was filling him up quickly, but wasn't substantial enough to last him from one meal to the next, so the rice had to go. I now found myself going to lengths that I never imagined possible out of concern for my little buddy. I had to go back to the grocery store, prepared to stay until I found all of the things I needed to make Squidward's new diet work for all of us.
Finding the correct type of baby food was very important because many contain onion powder, and onions aren't healthy for felines. Next, I headed to the meat department in search of some ground turkey, which I found to be inexpensive. Finally, I found some fresh spinach leaves and a couple of organic carrots. The next two days proved interesting as I continued down this path toward madness...
At the next feeding time, I carefully sliced bits of spinach leaves and carrot into very tiny pieces, and set them aside. I then I boiled a pan of water. I took a half pound of ground turkey into the water for a couple of minutes to kill any bacteria, as well as moisten it, which gives the food a gravy-like appeal. Straining the excess water, I carefully mixed the vegetable throughout the meat, sprinkled on the vitamin and the supplement, and served it to the cat.
This was meant with far less disdain than the last time, but Squidward still wasn't terribly enthusiastic. However, he was starting to adjust to the new feed schedule, which was making our lives a bit more manageable again. I continued feeding Squidward this new concoction through the next day. You can keep the cat's leftovers for the same amount of time you would keep your own.
The next batch of food was Squidward's favorite: Boiled ground turkey, cooled exactly to room temperature, with one heaping tablespoon of vegetarian baby food stirred in. (And of course, his nutrients.)
There are those who think that I'm insane, and some days, I think that I'm insane. However, I also think that I learned a lesson from all of this: Animals have basic rights too, and if we keep them as pets, it seems reasonable that we should try and treat them as cherished family members. The quality of care that they receive should reflect the love of their owners.
If you decide to take your own journey through the maze of changing your pet's diet, I wish you much success, and advise you to consult your own veterinarian when planning the menu for your cat.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/218805/how_to_make_homemade_cat_food.html
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Homemade Cat Food for Overweight Cats
Store-bought cat food is suppose to be wholesome and safe for the pets we dearly love, but unless you give your feline homemade meals prepared in your kitchen, you never really know what you're feeding your pet. Although the majority of store-bought pet food is safe, commercially manufactured food has caused serious and even fatal health problems for dogs and cats alike.
Homemade cat food is a great alternative to store-bought meals, and when searching online for homemade cat food recipes you'll find a variety of fantastic choices. Although homemade cat food recipes are readily available, homemade meals for overweight felines aren't easy to find. The following homemade recipe is a delicious alternative to store-bought cat food, and it's especially for overweight cats. Give your pleasantly plump kitty a sample of this homemade cat food, and watch him gobble it down. He'll never know this homemade chow is especially for overweight cats, and even the most finicky overweight pet will enjoy this easy-to-prepare homemade cuisine.
Ingredients and Supplies
To make approximately 4 ½ cups of homemade chow for your overweight cat you'll need a 2-quart baking dish and small freezer containers for single servings. You'll also need ½ cup finely shredded carrots, ¾ pound of lean ground chicken or turkey, one large egg, 3 slices of whole wheat bread, and 1 teaspoon of ground eggshell for calcium. In addition, you'll need ½ cup of oat bran, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, 1,000 I.U. of vitamin A, 100 I.U. of vitamin E, and a small amount of water to improve the consistency.
Preparation
Begin preparing this recipe for your overweight cat by drying the bread and grating it into fine crumbs. Beat the egg, and combine all of the remaining ingredients. If necessary, add a little water to improve the consistency of the mixture. Pat the mixture into a lightly greased baking dish, and bake it at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until done. Allow it to cool before serving or freezing in individual serving-size freezer containers.
Feeding Suggestions
Typically, a cat that should weigh10 pounds should be fed approximately 1 ¼ cup of food each day. This amount will vary according to your cat's size and nutritional requirements. Consult your veterinarian to determine the correct amount of homemade cat food to feed your overweight pet.
Cats appreciate warm food, so instead of giving your overweight kitty a bowl of cold homemade chow, warm it up in the microwave, and stir it well to alleviate any hot spots. Add a little extra garlic powder for added flavor if your overweight pet tends to be finicky. Your favorite overweight cat will surely love this tasty, nutritional homemade cat food.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/225163/homemade_cat_food_for_overweight_cats.html
Homemade cat food is a great alternative to store-bought meals, and when searching online for homemade cat food recipes you'll find a variety of fantastic choices. Although homemade cat food recipes are readily available, homemade meals for overweight felines aren't easy to find. The following homemade recipe is a delicious alternative to store-bought cat food, and it's especially for overweight cats. Give your pleasantly plump kitty a sample of this homemade cat food, and watch him gobble it down. He'll never know this homemade chow is especially for overweight cats, and even the most finicky overweight pet will enjoy this easy-to-prepare homemade cuisine.
Ingredients and Supplies
To make approximately 4 ½ cups of homemade chow for your overweight cat you'll need a 2-quart baking dish and small freezer containers for single servings. You'll also need ½ cup finely shredded carrots, ¾ pound of lean ground chicken or turkey, one large egg, 3 slices of whole wheat bread, and 1 teaspoon of ground eggshell for calcium. In addition, you'll need ½ cup of oat bran, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, 1,000 I.U. of vitamin A, 100 I.U. of vitamin E, and a small amount of water to improve the consistency.
Preparation
Begin preparing this recipe for your overweight cat by drying the bread and grating it into fine crumbs. Beat the egg, and combine all of the remaining ingredients. If necessary, add a little water to improve the consistency of the mixture. Pat the mixture into a lightly greased baking dish, and bake it at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until done. Allow it to cool before serving or freezing in individual serving-size freezer containers.
Feeding Suggestions
Typically, a cat that should weigh10 pounds should be fed approximately 1 ¼ cup of food each day. This amount will vary according to your cat's size and nutritional requirements. Consult your veterinarian to determine the correct amount of homemade cat food to feed your overweight pet.
Cats appreciate warm food, so instead of giving your overweight kitty a bowl of cold homemade chow, warm it up in the microwave, and stir it well to alleviate any hot spots. Add a little extra garlic powder for added flavor if your overweight pet tends to be finicky. Your favorite overweight cat will surely love this tasty, nutritional homemade cat food.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/225163/homemade_cat_food_for_overweight_cats.html
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Meow Mix Vs Alley Cat Feline Food
I would feed my cats a raw diet, but they won't eat anything but dry cat food. It's what they've been conditioned to eat since they were born, and it seems a bit too late to change it. My male cat is overweight, so for the longest time, I was feeding him weight control pet food. It didn't help. I then decided to try some cheaper brands, just to see if I noticed any changes--if I could get away with it. For the longest time I used Meow Mix, but then I discovered Alley Cat. In weeks I saw an improvement in my cats' health.
Meow Mix has a great jingle that everyone loves. Right now the song is playing in your head, isn't it? You're singing along. "Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow..." Alley Cat doesn't have a catchy jingle. In fact, I rarely see any commercials for it. Maybe one of the reasons why they are able to sell their food for such a low price is that they don't spend money on advertising. They should. Everyone should know about Alley Cat. It is a great, affordable alternative to Meow Mix and has helped my cats with their unique health problems.
Meow Mix has several types of dry cat food. I have tried all of them except the kitten version. My cats have always had issues with hairballs, which leaves unsightly vomit stains on my once-beautiful carpet. The first type I tried was the Indoor Formula, which they ate for many months. The hairballs became more of a problem, so I tried Hairball Control. My cats ate this formula for a few months, but it only seemed to worsen the problem. I therefore just began buying whichever formula was cheapest, deciding they may as well have some variety in their diet.
One day at the commissary, I noticed that while Meow Mix was about $3.50, the Alley Cat was only $1.69 or so. I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn't hurt. I was right. Not only did I save money, but my cats stopped coughing up hairballs. Every now and then, one of them will have a small one, but that happens very rarely. Not only that, my fat male cat appears to have lost weight on this new Alley Cat diet. Who would have thought that the cheapest brand would be the best brand for my cats' health?
I can't compare the tastes of the two, because I don't eat them. My cats love both Meow Mix and Alley Cat. The flavors of Meow Mix vary from formula to formula. Their Original Choice, Indoor Formula, and Hairball Control types contain chicken, turkey, salmon, and oceanfish. The Seafood Medley is a blend of tuna, shrimp, crab, and trout--which sounds appealing to me, being that I love the fruits of the sea. Alley Cat flavors include chicken and tuna and oceanfish and tuna, so there's not as much a variety as with the Meow Mix brand. I think they may favor the Meow Mix over the Alley Cat just a tad.
Their Indoor Formula is supposed to better meet the nutritional needs and wants of house cats. I think my fat cat actually gained a little weight on this, though he may have just been eating more because it tasted better. The Hairball Control food is supposed to help move hair though a cat's digestive tract. It didn't make a difference for my cats. In fact, it seemed to aggravate the problem. Alley Cat is not specially formulated for indoor cats or those with hairball problems, and yet I saw an improvement in those areas once my cats had been eating it a few weeks.
Ironically enough, Alley Cat is marketed by the same company. It doesn't blend as many flavors or have as many types of formula as Meow Mix. They also do not spend as much on advertising. This is probably why it is so much cheaper than Meow Mix. It is weird that there is such a difference between these two products, which are made by the same company. My cats have thrived on Alley Cat, while they merely survived on Meow Mix. Their ingredients may be only slightly different, but it has made a huge difference for my cats. Weeks of Alley Cat did what months of Meow Mix had failed to do.
If your main concern is flavor, you may want to go with Meow Mix. It may taste better, being that there's more of a variety of ingredients. It will meet your cat's needs. If, however, you have a cat who needs to watch his weight or who throws up hairballs, I really recommend Alley Cat. My cats seem to enjoy it just as much, and I have noticed a difference in their health. Best of all, I'm saving a lot of money, because Alley Cat is half the cost of Meow Mix. I don't know why Alley Cat helps with my cat's health issues, but for some reason, it does. We're all benefiting from it.
Meow Mix also makes wet pouches and cups and feline treats. Alley Cat does not. I would recommend these products. I have only tried the wet brands a few times, and the feline members of my family aren't really into them. However, cats that I have owned in the past have loved the wet pouches. All cats I've ever owned enjoy the treats they make. These treats and wet foods have even more flavors, so if you want variety for your cat, check these out. I have not evaluated their effects on weight or hairball control, though. Meow Mix is definitely a flavorful choice for your feline friend.
A raw diet is probably best, but if your cat can't or won't eat meat, then I would recommend either of these products. While Alley Cat better meets the needs of my cats--and my pocketbook--Meow Mix is a wonderful choice as well. Meow Mix cat food has a wide variety of flavors and types, so there is something for every cat to meet her individual needs. I chose Alley Cat to control big fat Neelix's weight and keep his and dainty princess Odette's hairballs in check. But, I do think they enjoy the flavor of Meow Mix. And every now and then, I treat them to it. If you're looking for flavor, Meow Mix is the brand for you. But if your cats have the issues that mine have, give Alley Cat a chance.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237912/meow_mix_vs_alley_cat_feline_food.html
Meow Mix has a great jingle that everyone loves. Right now the song is playing in your head, isn't it? You're singing along. "Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow..." Alley Cat doesn't have a catchy jingle. In fact, I rarely see any commercials for it. Maybe one of the reasons why they are able to sell their food for such a low price is that they don't spend money on advertising. They should. Everyone should know about Alley Cat. It is a great, affordable alternative to Meow Mix and has helped my cats with their unique health problems.
Meow Mix has several types of dry cat food. I have tried all of them except the kitten version. My cats have always had issues with hairballs, which leaves unsightly vomit stains on my once-beautiful carpet. The first type I tried was the Indoor Formula, which they ate for many months. The hairballs became more of a problem, so I tried Hairball Control. My cats ate this formula for a few months, but it only seemed to worsen the problem. I therefore just began buying whichever formula was cheapest, deciding they may as well have some variety in their diet.
One day at the commissary, I noticed that while Meow Mix was about $3.50, the Alley Cat was only $1.69 or so. I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn't hurt. I was right. Not only did I save money, but my cats stopped coughing up hairballs. Every now and then, one of them will have a small one, but that happens very rarely. Not only that, my fat male cat appears to have lost weight on this new Alley Cat diet. Who would have thought that the cheapest brand would be the best brand for my cats' health?
I can't compare the tastes of the two, because I don't eat them. My cats love both Meow Mix and Alley Cat. The flavors of Meow Mix vary from formula to formula. Their Original Choice, Indoor Formula, and Hairball Control types contain chicken, turkey, salmon, and oceanfish. The Seafood Medley is a blend of tuna, shrimp, crab, and trout--which sounds appealing to me, being that I love the fruits of the sea. Alley Cat flavors include chicken and tuna and oceanfish and tuna, so there's not as much a variety as with the Meow Mix brand. I think they may favor the Meow Mix over the Alley Cat just a tad.
Their Indoor Formula is supposed to better meet the nutritional needs and wants of house cats. I think my fat cat actually gained a little weight on this, though he may have just been eating more because it tasted better. The Hairball Control food is supposed to help move hair though a cat's digestive tract. It didn't make a difference for my cats. In fact, it seemed to aggravate the problem. Alley Cat is not specially formulated for indoor cats or those with hairball problems, and yet I saw an improvement in those areas once my cats had been eating it a few weeks.
Ironically enough, Alley Cat is marketed by the same company. It doesn't blend as many flavors or have as many types of formula as Meow Mix. They also do not spend as much on advertising. This is probably why it is so much cheaper than Meow Mix. It is weird that there is such a difference between these two products, which are made by the same company. My cats have thrived on Alley Cat, while they merely survived on Meow Mix. Their ingredients may be only slightly different, but it has made a huge difference for my cats. Weeks of Alley Cat did what months of Meow Mix had failed to do.
If your main concern is flavor, you may want to go with Meow Mix. It may taste better, being that there's more of a variety of ingredients. It will meet your cat's needs. If, however, you have a cat who needs to watch his weight or who throws up hairballs, I really recommend Alley Cat. My cats seem to enjoy it just as much, and I have noticed a difference in their health. Best of all, I'm saving a lot of money, because Alley Cat is half the cost of Meow Mix. I don't know why Alley Cat helps with my cat's health issues, but for some reason, it does. We're all benefiting from it.
Meow Mix also makes wet pouches and cups and feline treats. Alley Cat does not. I would recommend these products. I have only tried the wet brands a few times, and the feline members of my family aren't really into them. However, cats that I have owned in the past have loved the wet pouches. All cats I've ever owned enjoy the treats they make. These treats and wet foods have even more flavors, so if you want variety for your cat, check these out. I have not evaluated their effects on weight or hairball control, though. Meow Mix is definitely a flavorful choice for your feline friend.
A raw diet is probably best, but if your cat can't or won't eat meat, then I would recommend either of these products. While Alley Cat better meets the needs of my cats--and my pocketbook--Meow Mix is a wonderful choice as well. Meow Mix cat food has a wide variety of flavors and types, so there is something for every cat to meet her individual needs. I chose Alley Cat to control big fat Neelix's weight and keep his and dainty princess Odette's hairballs in check. But, I do think they enjoy the flavor of Meow Mix. And every now and then, I treat them to it. If you're looking for flavor, Meow Mix is the brand for you. But if your cats have the issues that mine have, give Alley Cat a chance.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237912/meow_mix_vs_alley_cat_feline_food.html
Monday, May 18, 2009
Friskies Feline Favorites Cat Food Versus Innova Senior Dry Cat Food
Like most pet owners, with the recent rash of pet food recalls I became concerned about the food I was giving to my cat. Because, I wanted to make sure Fluffy was getting a healthy diet, I began to research brands of organic dog food and compared them to the Friskies Feline Favorites I was feeding her.
Based on the advice of my veterinarian, I learned in comparing cat foods, one of the first things you should look at is the first three ingredients listed on the package. In an ideal food, at least two of these ingredients should come from a meat source. Cats are by nature carnivores and need protein before they need carbohydrates. Well, the first three ingredients in Friskies Feline Favorites were: ground yellow corn, Brewer's rice and chicken by-product meal. Hmmmm .... Not good. In comparison, the first three ingredients in Innova Senior Dry Cat Food: turkey, chicken and chicken meal. My vet agreed these ingredients were much closer to the type of food my cat would find in a 'raw' or 100% natural diet. In fact, further research showed me Innova Senior Dry Cat Food was almost 38% protein! Since my cat does not have a medical intolerance to protein, the vet said this would be very beneficial to her muscular and immune systems.
Next, I compared artificial colors and dyes. According to my vet, both of these can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive animals. My cat has a very sensitive stomach and as I read the long list of artificial colors, dyes and flavors on the bag of Friskies Feline Favorites, I began to wonder if they may be the reason for Fluffy's frequent bouts of vomiting. Innova Senior Dry Cat Food listed only natural flavors and no artificial dyes and/or colors. Innova Senior Dry Cat Food also had no artificial preservatives, while the list of preservatives I read on the in Friskies Feline Favorites bag seemed to be a mile long.
Innova Senior Dry Cat Food had a magnesium level of 0.11%, which made my vet happy. Magnesium is a concern when considering the urinary tract health of your feline. Friskies Feline Favorites is available in a low magnesium brand, but my cat would not eat it. I also found it interesting that Friskies Feline Favorites contained salt but Innova Senior Dry Cat Food did not. My vet was not clear if salt could have caused any medical problems in my cat, but he did say it was better for her not to have it as she was an older cat.
After gradually introducing into Innova Senior Dry Cat Food my cat's diet, I have had her solely eating it for about three weeks. At first I did not notice much of a change, but recently, my 10 year old feline friend has shown more energy and playfulness. She has had fewer stomach problems and my vet commented that her coat and skin have been looking much better! While Fluffy is still a bit pudgy she has lost a few pounds. Her blood levels have also improved and her heart rate sounds better.
As far as customer service, I cannot say enough great things about Innova. They have a great selection of products including both wet and dry foods for cats and kittens. You can visit their website to learn which retail outlets carries their products.
So, overall, I am very pleased I switched from Friskies Feline Favorites to Innova Senior Dry Cat Food. While it may cost a little more in the short term, I am happy knowing my cat is receiving a healthy diet. It is a great feeling seeing looking better and acting younger. If you have an interest in trying Innova Senior Dry Cat Food with your cat, I would suggest visiting their website. After reading their information, I would print it out and take it in to your veterinarian for their opinion as well.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/241062/friskies_feline_favorites_cat_food.html
Based on the advice of my veterinarian, I learned in comparing cat foods, one of the first things you should look at is the first three ingredients listed on the package. In an ideal food, at least two of these ingredients should come from a meat source. Cats are by nature carnivores and need protein before they need carbohydrates. Well, the first three ingredients in Friskies Feline Favorites were: ground yellow corn, Brewer's rice and chicken by-product meal. Hmmmm .... Not good. In comparison, the first three ingredients in Innova Senior Dry Cat Food: turkey, chicken and chicken meal. My vet agreed these ingredients were much closer to the type of food my cat would find in a 'raw' or 100% natural diet. In fact, further research showed me Innova Senior Dry Cat Food was almost 38% protein! Since my cat does not have a medical intolerance to protein, the vet said this would be very beneficial to her muscular and immune systems.
Next, I compared artificial colors and dyes. According to my vet, both of these can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive animals. My cat has a very sensitive stomach and as I read the long list of artificial colors, dyes and flavors on the bag of Friskies Feline Favorites, I began to wonder if they may be the reason for Fluffy's frequent bouts of vomiting. Innova Senior Dry Cat Food listed only natural flavors and no artificial dyes and/or colors. Innova Senior Dry Cat Food also had no artificial preservatives, while the list of preservatives I read on the in Friskies Feline Favorites bag seemed to be a mile long.
Innova Senior Dry Cat Food had a magnesium level of 0.11%, which made my vet happy. Magnesium is a concern when considering the urinary tract health of your feline. Friskies Feline Favorites is available in a low magnesium brand, but my cat would not eat it. I also found it interesting that Friskies Feline Favorites contained salt but Innova Senior Dry Cat Food did not. My vet was not clear if salt could have caused any medical problems in my cat, but he did say it was better for her not to have it as she was an older cat.
After gradually introducing into Innova Senior Dry Cat Food my cat's diet, I have had her solely eating it for about three weeks. At first I did not notice much of a change, but recently, my 10 year old feline friend has shown more energy and playfulness. She has had fewer stomach problems and my vet commented that her coat and skin have been looking much better! While Fluffy is still a bit pudgy she has lost a few pounds. Her blood levels have also improved and her heart rate sounds better.
As far as customer service, I cannot say enough great things about Innova. They have a great selection of products including both wet and dry foods for cats and kittens. You can visit their website to learn which retail outlets carries their products.
So, overall, I am very pleased I switched from Friskies Feline Favorites to Innova Senior Dry Cat Food. While it may cost a little more in the short term, I am happy knowing my cat is receiving a healthy diet. It is a great feeling seeing looking better and acting younger. If you have an interest in trying Innova Senior Dry Cat Food with your cat, I would suggest visiting their website. After reading their information, I would print it out and take it in to your veterinarian for their opinion as well.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/241062/friskies_feline_favorites_cat_food.html
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula VS. Hill's Prescription Diet C/D Feline Dry Cat Food
I have two cats. Arthur is 7 years old and Tanner is 2. Both are indoor cats. Since Arthur was beginning to gain too much weight, it was time to make a change in his diet so he could lose some of his unwanted bulge. Because Tanner is more active and younger than Arthur, he doesn't necessarily need weight management.
I wanted to find the proper diet that both of the cats could eat. I went to a pet store and talked with an associate about my feline dietary concerns. After careful consideration and deliberation, I chose Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula.
When I think of a natural balance, I think of everything working together in harmony. This food did not leave my cats' digestive systems working harmoniously. It left their bowels working overtime. They were pooping like a Christmas goose and stinking to high heaven. Being awoken in the middle of the night due to this smell was not good for my night's sleep either. Cleaning the litter box several times a day to rid the house of the rancid waste coming from both cats became an unpleasant chore.
Arthur had never had a problem with bladder/urinary tract infections in his life. After eating Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula for only a short time, Arthur not only now had what I would imagine a sore rear end from his increased bowel movements, he now had a bladder/urinary tract infection. For anyone who does not know this, a male cat can die in a short time due to this because of the crystals in the urine causing a blockage in the penis. This inability to urinate will cause an untimely death. I took Arthur to the vet and after three bottles of combiotics, he got well.
To avoid any further problems with the cat's health, I obviously discontinued feeding them the Natural Balance cat food. At the suggestion of the vet, I switched to Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline. Not only does this food help maintain a healthy weight in both of the cats, it does not give them nasty potty habits or infections. Much to my relief, it was not included in the recent pet food recall either.
Although Arthur gets perturbed with Tanner's antics and often growls and hisses at him, they are the best of buddies much of the time. Tanner helps keep Arthur young. After many months of consuming the Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline, both cats are happy and healthy.
The only down-side to this food is that the cats love it so much that they become obsessed with their next scheduled feeding time. They are fed at 7:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and again at 9:00 PM. About an hour before it's time to eat they are underfoot, pacing maniacs. They want to be fed NOW! They even fight when it's almost time to eat and they feel I'm ignoring them. The intelligence of animals is amazing to me at times. Perhaps Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline boosts their brain power as well? At least the hungry part.
I strongly advise you to use caution if you feed your cat Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula. Pay attention to your feline's bathroom habits. Arthur's unfortunate illness caused him pain and suffering. My pain and suffering was in the form of having to shampoo my carpets twice because of his squatting and peeing in various locations throughout my house. He had given up on trying to get to the litter box at his every urge to urinate. Poor fella.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/240929/dick_van_pattens_natural_balance_ultra.html
I wanted to find the proper diet that both of the cats could eat. I went to a pet store and talked with an associate about my feline dietary concerns. After careful consideration and deliberation, I chose Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula.
When I think of a natural balance, I think of everything working together in harmony. This food did not leave my cats' digestive systems working harmoniously. It left their bowels working overtime. They were pooping like a Christmas goose and stinking to high heaven. Being awoken in the middle of the night due to this smell was not good for my night's sleep either. Cleaning the litter box several times a day to rid the house of the rancid waste coming from both cats became an unpleasant chore.
Arthur had never had a problem with bladder/urinary tract infections in his life. After eating Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula for only a short time, Arthur not only now had what I would imagine a sore rear end from his increased bowel movements, he now had a bladder/urinary tract infection. For anyone who does not know this, a male cat can die in a short time due to this because of the crystals in the urine causing a blockage in the penis. This inability to urinate will cause an untimely death. I took Arthur to the vet and after three bottles of combiotics, he got well.
To avoid any further problems with the cat's health, I obviously discontinued feeding them the Natural Balance cat food. At the suggestion of the vet, I switched to Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline. Not only does this food help maintain a healthy weight in both of the cats, it does not give them nasty potty habits or infections. Much to my relief, it was not included in the recent pet food recall either.
Although Arthur gets perturbed with Tanner's antics and often growls and hisses at him, they are the best of buddies much of the time. Tanner helps keep Arthur young. After many months of consuming the Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline, both cats are happy and healthy.
The only down-side to this food is that the cats love it so much that they become obsessed with their next scheduled feeding time. They are fed at 7:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and again at 9:00 PM. About an hour before it's time to eat they are underfoot, pacing maniacs. They want to be fed NOW! They even fight when it's almost time to eat and they feel I'm ignoring them. The intelligence of animals is amazing to me at times. Perhaps Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Feline boosts their brain power as well? At least the hungry part.
I strongly advise you to use caution if you feed your cat Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Formula. Pay attention to your feline's bathroom habits. Arthur's unfortunate illness caused him pain and suffering. My pain and suffering was in the form of having to shampoo my carpets twice because of his squatting and peeing in various locations throughout my house. He had given up on trying to get to the litter box at his every urge to urinate. Poor fella.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/240929/dick_van_pattens_natural_balance_ultra.html
Friday, May 15, 2009
Cat Food: Friskies VS. Iams
My girls are the proud owners of an orange cat named Pebbles. Pebbles is a healthy cat in general, but has acid reflux disease for cats. We tested many brands to find the right one for her. This article will review 2 of the brands and tell you which was perfect for our cat.
Price: We know cat food comes in dry and canned. This article will only be reviewing the dry food since it is what we buy the most often. First, I should tell you that they don't sell dry food in the same sizes. Friskies has 50.40-oz dry bags and 3.15-lb bags for $4.49 on sale for $3.15. Iams has 64-oz bag of dry food for $8.59 on sale for $7.49. The only way I can show you that Friskies is cheaper is to tell you that Friskies sells a 288-oz bag for $11.49 on sale for $8.99. The sale price is almost the same as Iams 64-oz regular price of $859. The thing is you get 224 oz more. That is a big difference.
Variety: Friskies has 4 major categories of dry food with numerous flavors within each group. The first group is called Friskies Seafood Sensations. It includes an ocean of flavors including ocean fish, albacore tuna, salmon, yellow fin tuna and crab, plus a touch of seaweed. The second group is called Friskies Indoor Delights. This helps control hairballs and maintain a healthy weight with delicious chicken, beef, turkey, cheese flavors and a touch garden greens. The third group is called Friskies Signature Blend. This blend is for cats that want it all, seven tantalizing flavors: chicken, beef, tuna, turkey, salmon, cheese and egg. The fourth and final group is called Friskies Feline Favorite. Variety-loving cats will love the chicken, seafood and liver flavors with Real Carnation Milk. Iams offers 9 different kinds of dry cat food for adult cats. They include the following: Weight Control, Original with Chicken, Original with Ocean Fish and Rice, Indoor Weight & Hairball Care, Original with Lamb & Rice, Hairball Care, Multi-Cat with Chicken, Multi-Cat with Chicken & Salmon, Original with Tuna.
Taste Test: Really what good is a variety of cat food flavors and a good sale price if your cat doesn't like the taste of the food. That is where my cat comes in. Pebbles got to do the taste testing (I know I wasn't going to do it). To be fair we gave Pebbles the Ocean flavors of each brand. Friskies Ocean flavor was an instant hit. My cat gobbled it up in one day. I gave my cat the same amount of Iams Ocean flavor. She took two days to eat it. That is twice as long as the Friskies. My cat is a picky eater and I am guessing it is because Iams used rice in their Ocean flavor.
Websites: I must admit that I am impressed with Iams website more than I am with Friskies. Both did include nutritional information, but I found Friskies harder to navigate. I kept getting sent back to this one page that didn't tell me anything except that their products weren't affected by the recall. I would have to do another search to get back to more information. Iams had articles I could read about cats as well as a newsletter, pet poll, and fit tips. The site was easy to use and navigate.
Despite Friskies annoying website, I have to go with them. My cat loved their food and it it cost me a whole lot less. I will, however, visit Iams website more often to learn more about how to better car for my cat.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/241399/cat_food_friskies_vs_iams.html
Price: We know cat food comes in dry and canned. This article will only be reviewing the dry food since it is what we buy the most often. First, I should tell you that they don't sell dry food in the same sizes. Friskies has 50.40-oz dry bags and 3.15-lb bags for $4.49 on sale for $3.15. Iams has 64-oz bag of dry food for $8.59 on sale for $7.49. The only way I can show you that Friskies is cheaper is to tell you that Friskies sells a 288-oz bag for $11.49 on sale for $8.99. The sale price is almost the same as Iams 64-oz regular price of $859. The thing is you get 224 oz more. That is a big difference.
Variety: Friskies has 4 major categories of dry food with numerous flavors within each group. The first group is called Friskies Seafood Sensations. It includes an ocean of flavors including ocean fish, albacore tuna, salmon, yellow fin tuna and crab, plus a touch of seaweed. The second group is called Friskies Indoor Delights. This helps control hairballs and maintain a healthy weight with delicious chicken, beef, turkey, cheese flavors and a touch garden greens. The third group is called Friskies Signature Blend. This blend is for cats that want it all, seven tantalizing flavors: chicken, beef, tuna, turkey, salmon, cheese and egg. The fourth and final group is called Friskies Feline Favorite. Variety-loving cats will love the chicken, seafood and liver flavors with Real Carnation Milk. Iams offers 9 different kinds of dry cat food for adult cats. They include the following: Weight Control, Original with Chicken, Original with Ocean Fish and Rice, Indoor Weight & Hairball Care, Original with Lamb & Rice, Hairball Care, Multi-Cat with Chicken, Multi-Cat with Chicken & Salmon, Original with Tuna.
Taste Test: Really what good is a variety of cat food flavors and a good sale price if your cat doesn't like the taste of the food. That is where my cat comes in. Pebbles got to do the taste testing (I know I wasn't going to do it). To be fair we gave Pebbles the Ocean flavors of each brand. Friskies Ocean flavor was an instant hit. My cat gobbled it up in one day. I gave my cat the same amount of Iams Ocean flavor. She took two days to eat it. That is twice as long as the Friskies. My cat is a picky eater and I am guessing it is because Iams used rice in their Ocean flavor.
Websites: I must admit that I am impressed with Iams website more than I am with Friskies. Both did include nutritional information, but I found Friskies harder to navigate. I kept getting sent back to this one page that didn't tell me anything except that their products weren't affected by the recall. I would have to do another search to get back to more information. Iams had articles I could read about cats as well as a newsletter, pet poll, and fit tips. The site was easy to use and navigate.
Despite Friskies annoying website, I have to go with them. My cat loved their food and it it cost me a whole lot less. I will, however, visit Iams website more often to learn more about how to better car for my cat.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/241399/cat_food_friskies_vs_iams.html
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Naturals - Plus Vitamins and Minerals Cat Food - Wow!
I have three wonderful cats. They are a delight but, they can be so finicky at times. They like a cat food with something different. I found this quality in Purina Naturals cat food. Naturals has a variety that pleases all of my cats. That was something special to find!
Naturals is an exciting new product from Purina. My cats were eating another brand and had grown tired of it, when I decided to try this product. The lovely green bag with a design of a lady holding a cat, on the bag, caught my eye. This product did not look like the normal Purina cat chow. I decided to take a chance and try it out on my cats. They absolutely loved it. My cats have been eating this cat food for a few months now and will not eat any other dry brand, at this time. Purina Naturals passed the cats taste test wonderfully!
Naturals is a blend of real meat, whole grains and garden vegetables. This cat food has real chicken, for protein and muscle mass. It has salmon, for omega fatty acids that help promote shiny coats and healthy skin. Naturals is made with whole grains, to maintain your cat's energy level. Naturals has spinach and parsley. Cats need greens, too! My cats are eating healthier than I am and I couldn't be more pleased. My cats seem to love the taste, texture and smell of this product. Naturals is a bit smaller, in food size, than the usual brand my cats had been eating. They seem to eat less of Naturals and they are looking better. This cat food seems to be a winner and won all of my cats vote of approval. That is great!
I can tell Naturals is a great food when I look at the empty cat food bowls, every morning. That means my cats love it. Naturals is one hundred percent balanced and is for adult cats. This great pet food seems to have everything. It is safe and my cats thrive on it. Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals has a formula that is designed to control hairballs. This really has worked, with my cats! This product uses a natural fiber blend that has this effect. No hairballs and no mess. That fact, alone, is worth trying this product. Purina Naturals has no added artificial flavors or preservatives! That is why Purina calls this product Naturals. It is unique and healthy. This product has given all three of my cats excellent health benefits. They have more energy, softer coats and healthier skin. This cat food also has Vitamin E in it. I am sure that gives my cats the extra skin and coat healthiness.
Purina Naturals is very inexpensive. I can find a large bag for under four dollars. That is a very good bargain and an excellent value. With three cats, I need a bargain! You can find Naturals where you usually shop for pet food. I usually purchase this product at the grocery store. Purina has been around for seventy-five years so, I trust this company. I can speak for this product, since my pets have been eating it for many months. I notice that this particular food, Naturals, uses ground whole wheat. I found that fact to be a comfort. My cats found that this product is delicious! They can't get enough of it.
Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals Cat Food is a fantastic way for me to give my cats all that they need to be healthy and happy. This is an excellent product and my cats enjoy it. I love the money that I save and the cats love the taste. The cats that rule my house say that this product is great! I have to agree.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/256519/naturals_plus_vitamins_and_minerals.html
Naturals is an exciting new product from Purina. My cats were eating another brand and had grown tired of it, when I decided to try this product. The lovely green bag with a design of a lady holding a cat, on the bag, caught my eye. This product did not look like the normal Purina cat chow. I decided to take a chance and try it out on my cats. They absolutely loved it. My cats have been eating this cat food for a few months now and will not eat any other dry brand, at this time. Purina Naturals passed the cats taste test wonderfully!
Naturals is a blend of real meat, whole grains and garden vegetables. This cat food has real chicken, for protein and muscle mass. It has salmon, for omega fatty acids that help promote shiny coats and healthy skin. Naturals is made with whole grains, to maintain your cat's energy level. Naturals has spinach and parsley. Cats need greens, too! My cats are eating healthier than I am and I couldn't be more pleased. My cats seem to love the taste, texture and smell of this product. Naturals is a bit smaller, in food size, than the usual brand my cats had been eating. They seem to eat less of Naturals and they are looking better. This cat food seems to be a winner and won all of my cats vote of approval. That is great!
I can tell Naturals is a great food when I look at the empty cat food bowls, every morning. That means my cats love it. Naturals is one hundred percent balanced and is for adult cats. This great pet food seems to have everything. It is safe and my cats thrive on it. Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals has a formula that is designed to control hairballs. This really has worked, with my cats! This product uses a natural fiber blend that has this effect. No hairballs and no mess. That fact, alone, is worth trying this product. Purina Naturals has no added artificial flavors or preservatives! That is why Purina calls this product Naturals. It is unique and healthy. This product has given all three of my cats excellent health benefits. They have more energy, softer coats and healthier skin. This cat food also has Vitamin E in it. I am sure that gives my cats the extra skin and coat healthiness.
Purina Naturals is very inexpensive. I can find a large bag for under four dollars. That is a very good bargain and an excellent value. With three cats, I need a bargain! You can find Naturals where you usually shop for pet food. I usually purchase this product at the grocery store. Purina has been around for seventy-five years so, I trust this company. I can speak for this product, since my pets have been eating it for many months. I notice that this particular food, Naturals, uses ground whole wheat. I found that fact to be a comfort. My cats found that this product is delicious! They can't get enough of it.
Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals Cat Food is a fantastic way for me to give my cats all that they need to be healthy and happy. This is an excellent product and my cats enjoy it. I love the money that I save and the cats love the taste. The cats that rule my house say that this product is great! I have to agree.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/256519/naturals_plus_vitamins_and_minerals.html
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Rendering: From Roadkill to Cat Food
A pile of dead animals covers the floor of the rendering plant, covered with maggots. The humming of the flies swarming around the bodies is mere background noise as mini-bulldozers gather the carcasses for processing. As the bodies are dropped into a large pot for grinding, their bones, viscera, eyes, brains, and fur or feathers become a giant mixture of "meat product". After the raw product is cut and shredded, it is loaded into a large cooking pot and cooked for anywhere between twenty to ninety minutes. The grease, often called yellow fat or tallow, is skimmed from the top of the cooked mixture, and the cooked meat and bones are processed further, dehydrated, and made into meat meal or bone meal. Farmers rely on this industry to dispose of their livestock waste (down or dead cows, sheep, etc), and slaughterhouses rid themselves of parts considered inedible for humans (feathers, cow heads, hoofs, viscera, etc), diseased meat, scraps, and contaminated products. Dead zoo animals and roadkill can also be found in the mixture, as well as euthanized cats and dogs from vet clinics and animal shelters. It is the rendering business, and it is one of the most behind-the-scenes businesses in the food industry. It has progressed almost silently for many years, and many people have been unaware of its existence or influence - until recently. News about Mad Cow Disease and other health problems has hit the streets, and eyes are beginning to turn to the rendering business and the uses of its products.
Meat is the main part of a meal for many Americans, and this practice is promoted by the meat and poultry industries. But, unlike more traditional and Earthly cultures, Americans have an extreme attitude of consumerism and waste. Unlike other cultures that use every part of an animal that is killed for food (the hide, hooves, ears, meat - everything is either eaten or made into other tools or products), consumers in "first world" countries use only a limited portion of each animal (roughly half of each cow and one third of each pig is considered waste material). The rendering industry, however, takes care of this waste problem. They take animal waste, diseased or rotten meat, dead pets and zoo animals, restaurant scraps and grease and convert it into "usable" products. The finished products: tallow/grease and meat/bone meal. Their uses: candles, soaps, pharmaceuticals, gummy candies, lubricants, pet food, livestock food, and much more.
The rendering industry boasts that it is the "original recycler". This recycling industry is almost completely self-regulated (unregulated) and has helped reduce "waste" and the cost of pet food and livestock feed - but at what price?
Most people have heard at least something about Mad Cow Disease that has caused major controversy in Europe. The current theory of its cause is that the feed that was given to cattle is what made them sick - feed containing rendered parts of sheep with an enigmatic neurological disease called scrapie. The disease was theoretically passed on to the cows and then to human beings who ate the cow meat. While cows are vegeterian animals which should not be consuming meat products of any kind, farmers and ranchers have introduced it into their diets. Human beings are attempting to change the nature of a cow by feeding them meat and, at the same time, are poisoning them with dangerous "meat byproducts" that contain many questionable substances.
An estimated 100 million pounds of waste material are picked up every day by the rendering industry. Diseased, poisoned, and otherwise inedible livestock are freely put into the grinder without treatment - tags, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, intestinal waste, fur - nothing is left out. Dicarded meat and seafood from supermarket freezers are added, along with the plastic wrapping and styrofoam trays. Dogs and cats are shoveled into mix with their tags and flea collars intact. The resulting soup is a concoction of meat, pesticides, horomones, drugs (the chemicals used to euthanize dogs and cats do not break down in the rendering process), disease, plastic, metal, insecticides... This is what our pets are eating, and this is what is fed to chicken, hogs, and other livestock. Pigs are eating pigs, chickens are eating chickens, dogs are eating dogs, cats are eating cats....and humans are consuming the livestock that eat this filth.
Because the rendering industry is hugely self-regulated and secretive, there are many issues that are kept from public eye. Have you ever wondered what the hospital does with a mother's placenta after it carts it away shortly after delivery? Research shows that human placentas have been found within the mixture of rendering pots!
When an animal dies in nature, for whatever reason, its remains are either eaten by predator animals or are left to decompose. The decomposition of the animal fertilizes the Earth and replenishes necessary ingredients naturally. Today, the rendering industry capitalizes on the American craze for meat and poultry and perpetuates the system of excess and waste. It is time that we reconsider our dietary philosophy and the treatment of our livestock. The safety of our food supply and, in turn, our own health, is at risk.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257304/rendering_from_roadkill_to_cat_food.html
Meat is the main part of a meal for many Americans, and this practice is promoted by the meat and poultry industries. But, unlike more traditional and Earthly cultures, Americans have an extreme attitude of consumerism and waste. Unlike other cultures that use every part of an animal that is killed for food (the hide, hooves, ears, meat - everything is either eaten or made into other tools or products), consumers in "first world" countries use only a limited portion of each animal (roughly half of each cow and one third of each pig is considered waste material). The rendering industry, however, takes care of this waste problem. They take animal waste, diseased or rotten meat, dead pets and zoo animals, restaurant scraps and grease and convert it into "usable" products. The finished products: tallow/grease and meat/bone meal. Their uses: candles, soaps, pharmaceuticals, gummy candies, lubricants, pet food, livestock food, and much more.
The rendering industry boasts that it is the "original recycler". This recycling industry is almost completely self-regulated (unregulated) and has helped reduce "waste" and the cost of pet food and livestock feed - but at what price?
Most people have heard at least something about Mad Cow Disease that has caused major controversy in Europe. The current theory of its cause is that the feed that was given to cattle is what made them sick - feed containing rendered parts of sheep with an enigmatic neurological disease called scrapie. The disease was theoretically passed on to the cows and then to human beings who ate the cow meat. While cows are vegeterian animals which should not be consuming meat products of any kind, farmers and ranchers have introduced it into their diets. Human beings are attempting to change the nature of a cow by feeding them meat and, at the same time, are poisoning them with dangerous "meat byproducts" that contain many questionable substances.
An estimated 100 million pounds of waste material are picked up every day by the rendering industry. Diseased, poisoned, and otherwise inedible livestock are freely put into the grinder without treatment - tags, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, intestinal waste, fur - nothing is left out. Dicarded meat and seafood from supermarket freezers are added, along with the plastic wrapping and styrofoam trays. Dogs and cats are shoveled into mix with their tags and flea collars intact. The resulting soup is a concoction of meat, pesticides, horomones, drugs (the chemicals used to euthanize dogs and cats do not break down in the rendering process), disease, plastic, metal, insecticides... This is what our pets are eating, and this is what is fed to chicken, hogs, and other livestock. Pigs are eating pigs, chickens are eating chickens, dogs are eating dogs, cats are eating cats....and humans are consuming the livestock that eat this filth.
Because the rendering industry is hugely self-regulated and secretive, there are many issues that are kept from public eye. Have you ever wondered what the hospital does with a mother's placenta after it carts it away shortly after delivery? Research shows that human placentas have been found within the mixture of rendering pots!
When an animal dies in nature, for whatever reason, its remains are either eaten by predator animals or are left to decompose. The decomposition of the animal fertilizes the Earth and replenishes necessary ingredients naturally. Today, the rendering industry capitalizes on the American craze for meat and poultry and perpetuates the system of excess and waste. It is time that we reconsider our dietary philosophy and the treatment of our livestock. The safety of our food supply and, in turn, our own health, is at risk.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257304/rendering_from_roadkill_to_cat_food.html
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Why It's Worth More to Pay for Premium Cat Food: An Experiment
A few summers ago, we had a cat food crisis - we were out of cat food and the pet store was closed. That meant there was no food for supper or breakfast for the cats unless drastic measures were taken. So I decided to do a little experiment. I decided to buy my cats a bag of what I consider to be crappy food. I'm a pet food snob and normally only feed premium brands. Let me tell you about my experiment.
I firmly believe there are three grades of pet food - high, medium, and low. Your low quality food is your Farm and Fleet type food - the main ingredient is ground corn and corn and more corn - all totally filler with no nutritional value., Your medium grade stuff that you find at places like Wal-mart - brands like Iams and Purina that are more nutritious and have more meat and less filler. Your higher grade foods are the foods that you only find at pet stores and special order like Fromms and Canidae. Working at the animal shelter, I often witnessed first hand at what a huge difference the type of food could make in an animal as far as quality of coat, stool consistency, etc when you changed a dog or cat that had been eating low grade food to a medium grade food. The difference was always very noticiable within a week.
I went to K-mart and spent WAY too much time reading ingredients labels. I quickly decided that I was NOT going to spend $13 for an 8 lb bag of Iams food when I can buy the cats' usual food (Nutro) for $11 once the pet store opened. So after much debating, I decided that since this food was only NEEDED for two days, I should just buy something I normally wouldn't and not spend more than $6 on it. I couldn't bring myself to buy the brightly colored corn corn and corn based food for $2 either.
So I settled on a bag of food, brought it home, and the experiment began. I decided since it was "average" grade food and only 3.5 pounds worth that I would feed the cats just this for the duration of the bag to prove to myself that all the things that I've preached to people about pet food for years are true.
On their normal food, the cats get each 1/3 cup of food every morning and every night. On this food, the recommended serving is over triple that! So although I only paid $5 for my bag of food, having to feed three times as much meant they were going to go through it three times faster than they would their normal food. But what was worse was that you could not tell that they're getting any more food. While of course I couldn't see any weight difference in the short amount of time, I noticed that the cats acted just as hungry as they always did despite the amount of food they were eating.
There was one place where you COULD tell they were eating a lot more food. The litter box! The cats may not have acted like they were eating any more, but they were definitely pooping three times as much!! While it partially could have been the increase in the amount of feces, the litter box also smelled a lot worse and the consistency of the poop was not nearly as good as it was on their old food.
So let's do the math here. I paid about $6 less for this bag of food than I would pay for their regular food. Only, they're going through three as much in the same amount of time, so I would have to buy three bags of this food for every bag of the good stuff. So $11 for my premium food. Or $5 for the "average food" Times the three bags I'd have to buy in the same time period would equal $15. Reason 1 why the premium food ends up being better.
And, if there was still a small price difference in favor of the medium grade food, it was easily outweighed by the fact that the litter box needed to be cleaned at least twice as often. I will gladly pay the extra 50 cents to not have to scoop poop twice a day. They were eating more, yet still seemed as hungry. To me, if I eat something in large quantities and it doesn't fill me up, it's probably not very good for me and I'm thinking the same about this cat food! If these were not my cats and head just been random lab animals, I would be curious to see if over several more weeks, I would haved noticed a gain in weight (more food, higher calories, etc) and a loss of shine in their fuzzy coats. I am betting that we definitely would see a difference because generally when cat owners come over, they admire how smooth and soft my cats' coats are and say that they wish their cats coats were that good and when I ask them what they're feeding their cats, it's almost always junk.
Conclusion? When that bag of average grade cat food was gone, my cats went back to their old food. They seemed happier, I was able to feed them much less and scoop the litter box much less, which made me happy, so premium cat food it is!
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/267310/why_its_worth_more_to_pay_for_premium.html
I firmly believe there are three grades of pet food - high, medium, and low. Your low quality food is your Farm and Fleet type food - the main ingredient is ground corn and corn and more corn - all totally filler with no nutritional value., Your medium grade stuff that you find at places like Wal-mart - brands like Iams and Purina that are more nutritious and have more meat and less filler. Your higher grade foods are the foods that you only find at pet stores and special order like Fromms and Canidae. Working at the animal shelter, I often witnessed first hand at what a huge difference the type of food could make in an animal as far as quality of coat, stool consistency, etc when you changed a dog or cat that had been eating low grade food to a medium grade food. The difference was always very noticiable within a week.
I went to K-mart and spent WAY too much time reading ingredients labels. I quickly decided that I was NOT going to spend $13 for an 8 lb bag of Iams food when I can buy the cats' usual food (Nutro) for $11 once the pet store opened. So after much debating, I decided that since this food was only NEEDED for two days, I should just buy something I normally wouldn't and not spend more than $6 on it. I couldn't bring myself to buy the brightly colored corn corn and corn based food for $2 either.
So I settled on a bag of food, brought it home, and the experiment began. I decided since it was "average" grade food and only 3.5 pounds worth that I would feed the cats just this for the duration of the bag to prove to myself that all the things that I've preached to people about pet food for years are true.
On their normal food, the cats get each 1/3 cup of food every morning and every night. On this food, the recommended serving is over triple that! So although I only paid $5 for my bag of food, having to feed three times as much meant they were going to go through it three times faster than they would their normal food. But what was worse was that you could not tell that they're getting any more food. While of course I couldn't see any weight difference in the short amount of time, I noticed that the cats acted just as hungry as they always did despite the amount of food they were eating.
There was one place where you COULD tell they were eating a lot more food. The litter box! The cats may not have acted like they were eating any more, but they were definitely pooping three times as much!! While it partially could have been the increase in the amount of feces, the litter box also smelled a lot worse and the consistency of the poop was not nearly as good as it was on their old food.
So let's do the math here. I paid about $6 less for this bag of food than I would pay for their regular food. Only, they're going through three as much in the same amount of time, so I would have to buy three bags of this food for every bag of the good stuff. So $11 for my premium food. Or $5 for the "average food" Times the three bags I'd have to buy in the same time period would equal $15. Reason 1 why the premium food ends up being better.
And, if there was still a small price difference in favor of the medium grade food, it was easily outweighed by the fact that the litter box needed to be cleaned at least twice as often. I will gladly pay the extra 50 cents to not have to scoop poop twice a day. They were eating more, yet still seemed as hungry. To me, if I eat something in large quantities and it doesn't fill me up, it's probably not very good for me and I'm thinking the same about this cat food! If these were not my cats and head just been random lab animals, I would be curious to see if over several more weeks, I would haved noticed a gain in weight (more food, higher calories, etc) and a loss of shine in their fuzzy coats. I am betting that we definitely would see a difference because generally when cat owners come over, they admire how smooth and soft my cats' coats are and say that they wish their cats coats were that good and when I ask them what they're feeding their cats, it's almost always junk.
Conclusion? When that bag of average grade cat food was gone, my cats went back to their old food. They seemed happier, I was able to feed them much less and scoop the litter box much less, which made me happy, so premium cat food it is!
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/267310/why_its_worth_more_to_pay_for_premium.html
Monday, May 11, 2009
How My Cat Baba Survived the Pet Food Recall
One day, I noticed my kitten Baba's litter box business was kinda dark greenish to black, versus the usual brown to dark brown. At first, I thought maybe she was chewing on toys or intaking some carpet on the side. after all, kittens are active, roam, and Baba will make a box, a bag, even the carpet her latest toy. Then stories came- PET FOOD RECALL. At first, I started thinking it was only dog food. I was thinking about all those fellow pet owners who had sick or dead pets. Then, it expanded to pet food. I went to the pet food recall website, and looked thru the brands. Low and behold, the cat food I bought Baba at Wal-Mart was on the list. I had been giving Baba a can of defective cat food a day, hence the cat poop of a different color. I gathered all the cans, all which had serial numbers that were part of the recall, and took them back to Wal-Mart and got a refund. What is a conscientious pet owner to do?
You try to make sure your little one is well. But my more immediate need was getting Baba to a healthy diet that would not kill her or make her sick. I replaced the meal times with the contaminated pet food, with different kinds of hard foods. Baba has taken a special fancy to the 'Fancy Feast' hard foods. Baba loves the seafood flavor and the turkey-chicken flavor.
So what did this pet owner do?
- Cook for my pet.
When I first got Baba, I used to cook her salmon fish and put it in a cupcake tin. She was a growing kitten, so the portion worked out to be about right.
- Camouflage hard pet food.
Sometimes, hard food camouflaged with a meaty looking gravy or broth makes your cat think they are eating wet food. However, if your cat is a finicky eater, they may not go for homemade gravy when their palette likes the brand you used to buy.
- Experiment with different kinds of hard food.
I bought a few different brands of hard food that came in different flavors and gave Baba cupcake tin sizes of multiple kinds of hard cat food at the same time. Usually, within a day, I saw what she liked to eat and what she did not. I used the hard foods to make up for the wet food meal she was getting from the contaminated cat food.
Other ideas, which I did not try, because my cat has more of a working class lifestyle, was to buy gourmet cat food from the local Pet Plus store. There is also a local eatery that caters to cats and dogs. But as Baba came over one evening as I ate lunch leftovers, I discovered something new she liked she had never eaten before--- mashed potatoes.
Whether it was deliberate, accidental, or just one of those things--- this pet owner felt sad. You love your little or big pet. You do your best to keep them safe and healthy. But to try and take care of them, and not even know that you may be hurting them hurts. Whether it be melamine or rat poison or whatever went wrong in the processing, you can never buy a can or box of pet food and feel the same way again. No matter the refund received for the contaminated food, what is lost is peace of mind that by selecting the best brand of pet food that you can, you are helping your pet to be healthy because the reality nowadays is that you just don't know. And in the current environment, we may never truly know.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/271760/how_my_cat_baba_survived_the_pet_food.html
You try to make sure your little one is well. But my more immediate need was getting Baba to a healthy diet that would not kill her or make her sick. I replaced the meal times with the contaminated pet food, with different kinds of hard foods. Baba has taken a special fancy to the 'Fancy Feast' hard foods. Baba loves the seafood flavor and the turkey-chicken flavor.
So what did this pet owner do?
- Cook for my pet.
When I first got Baba, I used to cook her salmon fish and put it in a cupcake tin. She was a growing kitten, so the portion worked out to be about right.
- Camouflage hard pet food.
Sometimes, hard food camouflaged with a meaty looking gravy or broth makes your cat think they are eating wet food. However, if your cat is a finicky eater, they may not go for homemade gravy when their palette likes the brand you used to buy.
- Experiment with different kinds of hard food.
I bought a few different brands of hard food that came in different flavors and gave Baba cupcake tin sizes of multiple kinds of hard cat food at the same time. Usually, within a day, I saw what she liked to eat and what she did not. I used the hard foods to make up for the wet food meal she was getting from the contaminated cat food.
Other ideas, which I did not try, because my cat has more of a working class lifestyle, was to buy gourmet cat food from the local Pet Plus store. There is also a local eatery that caters to cats and dogs. But as Baba came over one evening as I ate lunch leftovers, I discovered something new she liked she had never eaten before--- mashed potatoes.
Whether it was deliberate, accidental, or just one of those things--- this pet owner felt sad. You love your little or big pet. You do your best to keep them safe and healthy. But to try and take care of them, and not even know that you may be hurting them hurts. Whether it be melamine or rat poison or whatever went wrong in the processing, you can never buy a can or box of pet food and feel the same way again. No matter the refund received for the contaminated food, what is lost is peace of mind that by selecting the best brand of pet food that you can, you are helping your pet to be healthy because the reality nowadays is that you just don't know. And in the current environment, we may never truly know.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/271760/how_my_cat_baba_survived_the_pet_food.html
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Specifics of a Raw Food Cat Diet
While perhaps some people are aware of the numerous benefits of feeding your cat a raw food diet, many are frightened by the strict dietary needs which cats require. While dogs are omnivorous and some could be considered scavengers, cats are obligate carnivores and require a more specific food composition. This fact might make feeding your cat a raw diet a little more difficult, but it also means that your cat will reap the benefits of this diet much faster.
There are several options when feeding a raw diet. Cats who are not too old, are healthy, and are reasonably adventurous eaters might enjoy a whole raw diet, with chicken wings and other small bones fed intact. Some cats prefer the bones and organ meats chopped into find pieces, and some cats (particularly those with dental issues, those who have gotten used to wet or dry commercial cat food, or elderly or sick cats) do best with the food ground up. After feeding my cats a raw diet for some time, I also favor the ground option, simply because it enables me to mix a large batch once a month (then freeze in batches) and to blend supplements into the mix for easier feeding.
The first thing you'll need is an electric meat grinder which can be purchased for $50-$100. This is a slight investment but is well worth it when it comes to processing cat food (and you can make your own hamburger and sausage!). You'll also need the following for a few weeks' worth of cat food.
16lbs of whole chickens, gizzards intact
¾ lb vegetables- no onions or tomatoes. Broccoli, cauliflower, squash, kale, etc are good choices
6 egg yolks
4 tsp L-taurine powder (I prefer Source Naturals brand)
10,000 mg salmon oil (I like Carlson's brand)
80ml vitamin B complex
2 cups water
Process the vegetables in the blender or a food processor to puree them as much as possible. Grinding simulates digestion, and since cats in the wild get most vegetables from the stomach of prey, they handle pre-digested or blended vegetables more efficiently. Combine the vegetable mixture with the remaining ingredients, except for the chicken.
Chop the chicken coarsely with a meat cleaver into pieces which will fit into the grinder. Grind the chicken, gizzards and all, and combine it with the vegetable/supplement mixture.
After grinding, distribute this mixture into containers taking care not to put more than a few days worth of food into each since this is a raw recipe and you don't want it sitting in your fridge for longer than 2 days plus thawing time. Most cats eat several heaping tablespoons twice a day, so plan accordingly. Put the containers in the freezer and remove them as needed. For two cats who are large eaters, this recipe makes about a month's supply in my house.
A few weeks into this diet change, you'll notice your cats have more energy and their skin, coats, and eyes are brighter and healthier looking. For an hour a month, these changes are well worth it. Your cat will enjoy meal time so much more, and you'll feel better about feeding your cat a better quality diet.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/275961/the_specifics_of_a_raw_food_cat_diet.html
There are several options when feeding a raw diet. Cats who are not too old, are healthy, and are reasonably adventurous eaters might enjoy a whole raw diet, with chicken wings and other small bones fed intact. Some cats prefer the bones and organ meats chopped into find pieces, and some cats (particularly those with dental issues, those who have gotten used to wet or dry commercial cat food, or elderly or sick cats) do best with the food ground up. After feeding my cats a raw diet for some time, I also favor the ground option, simply because it enables me to mix a large batch once a month (then freeze in batches) and to blend supplements into the mix for easier feeding.
The first thing you'll need is an electric meat grinder which can be purchased for $50-$100. This is a slight investment but is well worth it when it comes to processing cat food (and you can make your own hamburger and sausage!). You'll also need the following for a few weeks' worth of cat food.
16lbs of whole chickens, gizzards intact
¾ lb vegetables- no onions or tomatoes. Broccoli, cauliflower, squash, kale, etc are good choices
6 egg yolks
4 tsp L-taurine powder (I prefer Source Naturals brand)
10,000 mg salmon oil (I like Carlson's brand)
80ml vitamin B complex
2 cups water
Process the vegetables in the blender or a food processor to puree them as much as possible. Grinding simulates digestion, and since cats in the wild get most vegetables from the stomach of prey, they handle pre-digested or blended vegetables more efficiently. Combine the vegetable mixture with the remaining ingredients, except for the chicken.
Chop the chicken coarsely with a meat cleaver into pieces which will fit into the grinder. Grind the chicken, gizzards and all, and combine it with the vegetable/supplement mixture.
After grinding, distribute this mixture into containers taking care not to put more than a few days worth of food into each since this is a raw recipe and you don't want it sitting in your fridge for longer than 2 days plus thawing time. Most cats eat several heaping tablespoons twice a day, so plan accordingly. Put the containers in the freezer and remove them as needed. For two cats who are large eaters, this recipe makes about a month's supply in my house.
A few weeks into this diet change, you'll notice your cats have more energy and their skin, coats, and eyes are brighter and healthier looking. For an hour a month, these changes are well worth it. Your cat will enjoy meal time so much more, and you'll feel better about feeding your cat a better quality diet.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/275961/the_specifics_of_a_raw_food_cat_diet.html
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Feeding Your Feline Homemade Cat Food
Cats need a lot of protein. In fact, at least two-thirds of their diet should be made up of protein. They do not do well on a vegetarian diet. Cats should not be fed dog food, because it is too low in protein. Dogs don't need nearly as much protein as cats do.
Cats should not be fed raw meat or eggs. Meat and eggs should always be cooked before being served to your cat.
Cats should be fed little or no milk, because they do not digest lactose well. Lactose-free milk, the kind made for lactose-intolerant people, can be used instead of regular milk.
If you choose to feed your cat a homemade diet, make sure to offer your cat a variety of foods. Do not prepare and serve the same recipe every day. Your cat will not get all of the necessary nutrients that way.
Food is best served to your cat at room temperature. Make sure any cooked food is cooled to room temperature before serving.
When feeding homemade food or food from a can, allow your cat to eat as much as he or she wants within a thirty-minute period, then refrigerate leftovers. Offer food two or three times a day. Dry food can be left out all day. Make sure fresh water is available to your cat at all times. Feed treats sparingly.
Do not make sudden changes in your cat's diet, unless advised by your vet. If you wish to change to a homemade diet for your cat, do so gradually. It is best to check with your vet about your cat's dietary needs, and to check with your vet before making changes to your cat's diet.
Recipes
Here are a couple of simple recipes you can use to fix healthy, homemade meals and treats for your cat.
Beef and Eggs
4 oz beef baby food
2 eggs, scrambled
1 tablespoon carrot, shredded
1 tablespoon cottage cheese
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Store leftovers in tightly sealed container in refrigerator.
Chicken and Rice Dinner
4 oz chicken-flavored baby food
½ cup cooked rice
2 tablespoons carrots and/or celery, cooked and mashed
Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Store leftovers in tightly sealed
container in refrigerator
Catnip Cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup soy flour
1 teaspoon catnip
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons wheat germ
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine dry ingredients in bowl, then add molasses, egg, oil, and milk. Roll out
flat and cut into small, cat bite-sized pieces. Bake 20 minutes. Cool before serving.
Store in tightly sealed container.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/284217/feeding_your_feline_homemade_cat_food.html
Cats should not be fed raw meat or eggs. Meat and eggs should always be cooked before being served to your cat.
Cats should be fed little or no milk, because they do not digest lactose well. Lactose-free milk, the kind made for lactose-intolerant people, can be used instead of regular milk.
If you choose to feed your cat a homemade diet, make sure to offer your cat a variety of foods. Do not prepare and serve the same recipe every day. Your cat will not get all of the necessary nutrients that way.
Food is best served to your cat at room temperature. Make sure any cooked food is cooled to room temperature before serving.
When feeding homemade food or food from a can, allow your cat to eat as much as he or she wants within a thirty-minute period, then refrigerate leftovers. Offer food two or three times a day. Dry food can be left out all day. Make sure fresh water is available to your cat at all times. Feed treats sparingly.
Do not make sudden changes in your cat's diet, unless advised by your vet. If you wish to change to a homemade diet for your cat, do so gradually. It is best to check with your vet about your cat's dietary needs, and to check with your vet before making changes to your cat's diet.
Recipes
Here are a couple of simple recipes you can use to fix healthy, homemade meals and treats for your cat.
Beef and Eggs
4 oz beef baby food
2 eggs, scrambled
1 tablespoon carrot, shredded
1 tablespoon cottage cheese
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Store leftovers in tightly sealed container in refrigerator.
Chicken and Rice Dinner
4 oz chicken-flavored baby food
½ cup cooked rice
2 tablespoons carrots and/or celery, cooked and mashed
Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Store leftovers in tightly sealed
container in refrigerator
Catnip Cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup soy flour
1 teaspoon catnip
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons wheat germ
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine dry ingredients in bowl, then add molasses, egg, oil, and milk. Roll out
flat and cut into small, cat bite-sized pieces. Bake 20 minutes. Cool before serving.
Store in tightly sealed container.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/284217/feeding_your_feline_homemade_cat_food.html
Friday, May 8, 2009
Purina Friskies Signature Blend Dry Cat Food Review
If you're a cat lover like I am, you want the best for your furry felines. Giving them "the best" means you want to choose the best cat food. This is more important than ever, in light of the recent pet food recalls. I decided to give my cats a new kind of food. To let you know what my cats and I think of it, here's my Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food review!
Pet Food Recall
According to Purina, "no Purina wet or dry cat foods and no Purina treats are included in this recall nor have been impacted by the contaminated wheat gluten." That makes me feel confident about buying the Purina brand for my cats.
The Flavors
Instead of containing only one or two flavors, Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food boasts "7 tantalizing flavors." They are chicken, beef, tuna, turkey, salmon, cheese and egg. All the tastes my felines love combined into one bag.
Health Benefits
According to the back of the bag, Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food is "100% complete and balanced for an ideal everyday meal that can help your cat live life to the fullest." It also states, "Healthy Skin & Coat promoted by essential fatty acids and zinc"- "Clear, Healthy Vision supported by Vitamin A and Taurine"- "A Healthy Immune System promoted by balanced nutrition with antioxidants" and "Strong, Lean Muscles supported by high-quality protein". I couldn't ask for a dry cat food to be much more beneficial for my cats. After I read on the front of the bag that this food is for cats of all ages, I thought of my felines who range from fifteen months to fifteen years in age. Perfect. I then checked the price and placed the bag in my grocery cart.
The Price
Since I was trying out a new type of dry cat food on my cats, I chose the smaller 3.15 pound bag of Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food. That way, in case they didn't like it, I wasn't out much. I didn't even check to see if the same flavor came in a twenty pound bag, which is the size I normally buy to feed my herd. The bag pretty much shot a five dollar bill. It wasn't the cheapest, but it certainly wasn't the most expensive dry cat food there either.
The Taste Test
I put dry cat food out into bowls so my felines can eat whenever they're hungry. Some of them seem to have insatiable appetites. Everytime I fill the bowls up, they come running to eat. But that doesn't mean they'll necessarily eat whatever food I have.
I'm happy to say, however, that after one week, all of my cats like the taste of the Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food. Ironically, some cat food like Purina Cat Chow upsets some of their digestive systems in one way or the other. They are eating the Signature Blend and getting along fine with it.
Will I buy it again? Probably. I can't find any cons with Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/328368/purina_friskies_signature_blend_dry.html
Pet Food Recall
According to Purina, "no Purina wet or dry cat foods and no Purina treats are included in this recall nor have been impacted by the contaminated wheat gluten." That makes me feel confident about buying the Purina brand for my cats.
The Flavors
Instead of containing only one or two flavors, Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food boasts "7 tantalizing flavors." They are chicken, beef, tuna, turkey, salmon, cheese and egg. All the tastes my felines love combined into one bag.
Health Benefits
According to the back of the bag, Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food is "100% complete and balanced for an ideal everyday meal that can help your cat live life to the fullest." It also states, "Healthy Skin & Coat promoted by essential fatty acids and zinc"- "Clear, Healthy Vision supported by Vitamin A and Taurine"- "A Healthy Immune System promoted by balanced nutrition with antioxidants" and "Strong, Lean Muscles supported by high-quality protein". I couldn't ask for a dry cat food to be much more beneficial for my cats. After I read on the front of the bag that this food is for cats of all ages, I thought of my felines who range from fifteen months to fifteen years in age. Perfect. I then checked the price and placed the bag in my grocery cart.
The Price
Since I was trying out a new type of dry cat food on my cats, I chose the smaller 3.15 pound bag of Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food. That way, in case they didn't like it, I wasn't out much. I didn't even check to see if the same flavor came in a twenty pound bag, which is the size I normally buy to feed my herd. The bag pretty much shot a five dollar bill. It wasn't the cheapest, but it certainly wasn't the most expensive dry cat food there either.
The Taste Test
I put dry cat food out into bowls so my felines can eat whenever they're hungry. Some of them seem to have insatiable appetites. Everytime I fill the bowls up, they come running to eat. But that doesn't mean they'll necessarily eat whatever food I have.
I'm happy to say, however, that after one week, all of my cats like the taste of the Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food. Ironically, some cat food like Purina Cat Chow upsets some of their digestive systems in one way or the other. They are eating the Signature Blend and getting along fine with it.
Will I buy it again? Probably. I can't find any cons with Purina Friskies Signature Blend dry cat food.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/328368/purina_friskies_signature_blend_dry.html
Thursday, May 7, 2009
WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree Cat Food Review
As I've said before in other AC articles, I'm a cat owner/lover. I like to try out new products and give my cats different food from time to time so they don't get bored. Sometimes, it's my cat, not me, the owner, who decides when it's time to get another brand of cat food. My cat Sweet Pea is old, has very few teeth left and is very, very, finicky. She often gobbles down one brand of cat food for breakfast. Then, refuses it at lunchtime. When Sweet Pea refuses to eat cat food, I open up a can of tuna. She usually accepts that. That's why I was so excited to try this new food. Here's my WHISKAS® Purrfectly FISH™ Oceanfish Entree Cat Food Review!
The Cat Food Recall
Just like the Purina Friskies Signature Blend Dry Cat Food my felines and I recently reviewed, WHISKAS was not a part of the nationwide pet food recall a few months back. That made me feel better about the product right away.
Product Description
These WHISKAS entrees are single-serve pouches of wet cat food. I like the idea of not having to use a spoon to serve it. Although, you really need to use a spoon or roll the pouch down like a tube of toothpaste to get the remainder out. I also like the convenience of a pouch as opposed to a metal can I have to rinse, store and recycle.
I chose the Oceanfish Entree to start with. I was pleased to find out this product also comes in Tuna Entree, Tuna & Whitefish Entree, Oceanfish Entree and Sardine & Mackerel Entree. That way, my cats won't get bored with one flavor.
According to the back of each pouch, it reads, "WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance." Okay, that sounds good. This product is also described as being "cat-pleasing." It's "real food" that will make your cat "happy." So, I wondered, what's in this stuff that makes it so tasty and healthy for my felines? Without boring you with all the ingredients, I'll tell you what the first four ingredients are: "Sufficient Water for Processing, Sardines, Mackerel, Soy Oil." I was even more impressed.
The Price
At my local Kroger grocery, the WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree cat food is available in single packs or a ten-pack box. I think the singles were 59 or 69 cents each. The boxes cost $4.79 each; definitely more economical at 47.9 cents per pack.
The Taste Test
My finicky cat Sweet Pea prefers juicy wet-cat food instead of the drier types. I opened the pouch, looked inside and saw chunks of fish in a sauce. I placed some in her bowl, and she chowed it right down. Success! One pouch is considered a serving for the average adult cat. However, Sweet Pea eats only a half pouch of wet food at a time. So, I saved the rest for the next meal. Of course, she turned her nose up at it. That's how she is. So I tried the WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree cat food on the rest of my cats. They all slurped it down without hesitation. That proved it's a good flavor and a tasty winner.
Conclusion
Will I buy this product again for my felines? You bet! I couldn't find anything wrong with it.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/341107/whiskas_purrfectly_fish_oceanfish_entree.html
The Cat Food Recall
Just like the Purina Friskies Signature Blend Dry Cat Food my felines and I recently reviewed, WHISKAS was not a part of the nationwide pet food recall a few months back. That made me feel better about the product right away.
Product Description
These WHISKAS entrees are single-serve pouches of wet cat food. I like the idea of not having to use a spoon to serve it. Although, you really need to use a spoon or roll the pouch down like a tube of toothpaste to get the remainder out. I also like the convenience of a pouch as opposed to a metal can I have to rinse, store and recycle.
I chose the Oceanfish Entree to start with. I was pleased to find out this product also comes in Tuna Entree, Tuna & Whitefish Entree, Oceanfish Entree and Sardine & Mackerel Entree. That way, my cats won't get bored with one flavor.
According to the back of each pouch, it reads, "WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance." Okay, that sounds good. This product is also described as being "cat-pleasing." It's "real food" that will make your cat "happy." So, I wondered, what's in this stuff that makes it so tasty and healthy for my felines? Without boring you with all the ingredients, I'll tell you what the first four ingredients are: "Sufficient Water for Processing, Sardines, Mackerel, Soy Oil." I was even more impressed.
The Price
At my local Kroger grocery, the WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree cat food is available in single packs or a ten-pack box. I think the singles were 59 or 69 cents each. The boxes cost $4.79 each; definitely more economical at 47.9 cents per pack.
The Taste Test
My finicky cat Sweet Pea prefers juicy wet-cat food instead of the drier types. I opened the pouch, looked inside and saw chunks of fish in a sauce. I placed some in her bowl, and she chowed it right down. Success! One pouch is considered a serving for the average adult cat. However, Sweet Pea eats only a half pouch of wet food at a time. So, I saved the rest for the next meal. Of course, she turned her nose up at it. That's how she is. So I tried the WHISKAS Purrfectly FISH Oceanfish Entree cat food on the rest of my cats. They all slurped it down without hesitation. That proved it's a good flavor and a tasty winner.
Conclusion
Will I buy this product again for my felines? You bet! I couldn't find anything wrong with it.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/341107/whiskas_purrfectly_fish_oceanfish_entree.html
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Organix Feline Formula Made by Castor and Pollux: Organic Cat Food Review
Organix Feline formula made by Castor and Pollux seems to be a high quality cat food. I have become so disgusted with low quality pet food companies that I have begun to make my own pet food at home. Even so, I still like buying a commercial dry food to supplement with because it is so convenient. Organix feline formula is the result of searching for a better cat food. I found it at Whole Foods Market for $15.99 for a 6 lb. Bag. The bag is beige, black and orange. The logo says, "Castor & Pollux-Paw Made-We make stuff we like." It is made with organic chicken, brown rice and flax.
On side of bag it reads:
"As part of your family, your cat deserves the very best food available. And with Organix feline formula with organic ingredients, we've gone the extra step above any other cat food. This unique product qualifies under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National organic program as made with organic ingredients, meaning at least 70% of the content is organic."
All six of my cats love this food. I have one that is extremely picky, and he immediately started eating it as if it were the most delicious food in the world. I feel good about feeding this food to them, as I know it is nutritious. Suppliers for the meat and grain ingredients are required to be organic certified. Most of the cheaper suppliers used by many of the main pet food companies, would not be up to standard for Organix feline formula.
It says, "What does that mean to you and your cat? You can trust that the organic ingredients used in Organix meet or exceed strict state and federal regulations at every phase of production from the farm to the bowl. As part of the organic certification process, each and every ingredient in Organix is reviewed and approved for inclusion. Our manufacturing facility, the plant milling our organic grains, the poultry farm supplying our organic free-range chicken, the farmers growing our organic grains-all must be certified organic. This certification process is rigorous and demanding but is our commitment to you to provide a very special product for your favorite feline."
The first ingredient in this food is organic chicken. No meat by-products like you will find in most pet foods. Compare to Meow Mix, where the first ingredient is corn. This food is a little more expensive, but definitely worth the price.
Side label goes on to say, "Our organic ingredients have no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, bio-engineering, or by-products. The use of organic ingredients also enhances environmental quality because farmers and ranchers producing organic food use renewable resources and management techniques to help sustain our environment."
I wholeheartedly recommend this food to everyone. Your cat will love it, and it will be healthy food to eat!
Organix Feline Formula Ingredients:
Organic chicken, herring meal, organic peas, organic soybean meal, organic barley, organic brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tochopherols, rosemary and citric acid), organic extruded soybean seeds, natural liver flavor, dicalcium phosphate, organic flaxseed meal, salmon meal, salt, potassium chloride, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, vitamin e supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, niacin, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, ascorbic acid+, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin b12 supplement, thiamin mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin k), vitamin d3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, cobalt proteinate, biotin, dried fermentation products of saccharomyces cerevisia, lactobacillus acidophilus, aspergillus niger, enterococcus faecum, trichoderma longbrachiatum, and bacillus subtilis (sources of direct fed microbials and digestive enzymes).
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/352505/organix_feline_formula_made_by_castor.html
On side of bag it reads:
"As part of your family, your cat deserves the very best food available. And with Organix feline formula with organic ingredients, we've gone the extra step above any other cat food. This unique product qualifies under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National organic program as made with organic ingredients, meaning at least 70% of the content is organic."
All six of my cats love this food. I have one that is extremely picky, and he immediately started eating it as if it were the most delicious food in the world. I feel good about feeding this food to them, as I know it is nutritious. Suppliers for the meat and grain ingredients are required to be organic certified. Most of the cheaper suppliers used by many of the main pet food companies, would not be up to standard for Organix feline formula.
It says, "What does that mean to you and your cat? You can trust that the organic ingredients used in Organix meet or exceed strict state and federal regulations at every phase of production from the farm to the bowl. As part of the organic certification process, each and every ingredient in Organix is reviewed and approved for inclusion. Our manufacturing facility, the plant milling our organic grains, the poultry farm supplying our organic free-range chicken, the farmers growing our organic grains-all must be certified organic. This certification process is rigorous and demanding but is our commitment to you to provide a very special product for your favorite feline."
The first ingredient in this food is organic chicken. No meat by-products like you will find in most pet foods. Compare to Meow Mix, where the first ingredient is corn. This food is a little more expensive, but definitely worth the price.
Side label goes on to say, "Our organic ingredients have no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, bio-engineering, or by-products. The use of organic ingredients also enhances environmental quality because farmers and ranchers producing organic food use renewable resources and management techniques to help sustain our environment."
I wholeheartedly recommend this food to everyone. Your cat will love it, and it will be healthy food to eat!
Organix Feline Formula Ingredients:
Organic chicken, herring meal, organic peas, organic soybean meal, organic barley, organic brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tochopherols, rosemary and citric acid), organic extruded soybean seeds, natural liver flavor, dicalcium phosphate, organic flaxseed meal, salmon meal, salt, potassium chloride, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, vitamin e supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, niacin, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, ascorbic acid+, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin b12 supplement, thiamin mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin k), vitamin d3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, cobalt proteinate, biotin, dried fermentation products of saccharomyces cerevisia, lactobacillus acidophilus, aspergillus niger, enterococcus faecum, trichoderma longbrachiatum, and bacillus subtilis (sources of direct fed microbials and digestive enzymes).
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/352505/organix_feline_formula_made_by_castor.html
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wal-Mart is Reportedly Selling Previously Recalled Menu Cat and Dog Food Pouches
Just when you thought it might be safe to purchase one of the many brands of cat food that was recalled during the Menu pet foods scare back in the Spring of this year, Wal-Mart steps into the picture... and it isn't pretty. According to this web site, http://www.wsfa.com/global/story.asp?s=6976794 it seems that Menu Foods and Wal-Mart agreed to sell certain Special Kitty wet food pouches. These pouches, with the supposedly fresh, new, and un-contaminated food, are sold in the old pre-recall packaging with a sticker placed over the original UPC code. Menu has good reason for wanting to hide that UPC code. The UPC codes were what told consumers which foods were being recalled, based on a long list issued by Menu and posted in every store that sold pet food during the hellish days of the recall.
I would be very hesitant to buy any of this food. Just the fact that Menu and Wal-Mart cared so little about consumer's feelings is enough to make me want to never enter my local Wal-Mart again. Didn't they consider the fact that someone might be a bit squeamish about buying pet food still packaged in a pouch identified with an old UPC that pretty much stands for poisoned food? So what if they put a sticker over it? It still represents the death of many, many innocent cats. The food could be the best ever made for cats, but who could give it to their pet in absolute good faith? Not me. There would always be a hint of worry that something was wrong with the food. The scores of people who unfortunately fed Menu products to their beloved animals had no clue that these food were going to kill! Who's to say that these old packaging/new food combinations are perfectly safe? There's only one way to find out, and my pets are not going to be the guinea pigs for this company!
The canine aisle in Wal-Mart has been bombarded with the old packaging as well. Reports of Ol' Roy dog food with a new sticker over the old UPC code have been circulating the internet as well. Dog owners, beware! You'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth the risk to feed this food to your canine buddy.
These foods may be perfectly safe, but with the history behind this recall, who knows? I do think both Menu and Wal-Mart should have taken the time to think this thing through, and produced some new packaging to take the sting out of what happened earlier this year. I don't think any of us want to be reminded of the horror of those days. Many of my friends lost beloved pets because of this pet food recall. Many also had huge vet bills as well. It is irresponsible of Menu and Wal-Mart not to invest in whatever it would take to ease the minds of the pet owning public.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/368778/walmart_is_reportedly_selling_previously.html
I would be very hesitant to buy any of this food. Just the fact that Menu and Wal-Mart cared so little about consumer's feelings is enough to make me want to never enter my local Wal-Mart again. Didn't they consider the fact that someone might be a bit squeamish about buying pet food still packaged in a pouch identified with an old UPC that pretty much stands for poisoned food? So what if they put a sticker over it? It still represents the death of many, many innocent cats. The food could be the best ever made for cats, but who could give it to their pet in absolute good faith? Not me. There would always be a hint of worry that something was wrong with the food. The scores of people who unfortunately fed Menu products to their beloved animals had no clue that these food were going to kill! Who's to say that these old packaging/new food combinations are perfectly safe? There's only one way to find out, and my pets are not going to be the guinea pigs for this company!
The canine aisle in Wal-Mart has been bombarded with the old packaging as well. Reports of Ol' Roy dog food with a new sticker over the old UPC code have been circulating the internet as well. Dog owners, beware! You'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth the risk to feed this food to your canine buddy.
These foods may be perfectly safe, but with the history behind this recall, who knows? I do think both Menu and Wal-Mart should have taken the time to think this thing through, and produced some new packaging to take the sting out of what happened earlier this year. I don't think any of us want to be reminded of the horror of those days. Many of my friends lost beloved pets because of this pet food recall. Many also had huge vet bills as well. It is irresponsible of Menu and Wal-Mart not to invest in whatever it would take to ease the minds of the pet owning public.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/368778/walmart_is_reportedly_selling_previously.html
Monday, May 4, 2009
Is Your Cat Allergic to His Food? - Ingredients that Can Cause Life Threatening Illnesses
Most people don't think about their house cat having an allergy involving the pet's food but it is possible and it does occur. A Blue Gray Russian kitten was adopted from the Cedar Valley Humane Society in Waterloo, Iowa nearly five years ago and appeared to be the picture of health. After getting the kitten home and starting him on Purina kitten chow he seemed to grow and appear a healthly kitten. With in months his knew owners were living a nightmare. The kitten began losing weight and vomiting any food he ate. They took him to the veterinarian and were told to change his cat food and make sure he drank plenty of water. The kitten was given a shot and a prescription for an antibiotic. The kitten soon began gaining weight and seemed to be better when they came home one afternoon to find blood on the carpet and the kitten had lost weight again over just days. The kitten was returned to the veterinarian clinic again and this time they were told that he had a parasite problem in his intestines and that he was probably born with them. He was treated again and sent home but didn't get better this time. He was taken back to the clinic and this time test were ran for feline leukemia, diabetes and allergies. To his owners surprise their kitten was severely allergic to wheat and beef products that were in most cat foods. He was switched immediately to Purina ZD for a month to help build up his immunity and restore vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B's to rebuild his system. The kitten's health was fully restored and is now a heathly twenty-two pound adult neutered cat.
Shopping for cat food or treats that do not contain wheat or beef products can be a challenge but it is available at your pet supply stores, HyVee and even Walmart. Pet food companies are becoming aware of the now evident allergic problem involving small pets like cats and dogs. Most pet supply stores like Petsmart and Petco will explain to you the benefit of buying a quality pet food that offers your pet a better balanced ingredient list that is complete with vitamins and minerals. Try to stay away from pet foods that contain corn as the first ingredient as the product doesn't stay in your pet's digestive system long enough for your pet to absorb enough nutrients. The best advice is to use an indoor cat formula that does not contain wheat or beef products but contains vegetables, rice, poultry or lamb. HyVee carries it's own house brand of indoor formula for cats that digest very well and contains no wheat or beef product and Purina also carries an indoor formula and can be food at nearly any store that carries Purina products.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/409164/is_your_cat_allergic_to_his_food_ingredients.html
Shopping for cat food or treats that do not contain wheat or beef products can be a challenge but it is available at your pet supply stores, HyVee and even Walmart. Pet food companies are becoming aware of the now evident allergic problem involving small pets like cats and dogs. Most pet supply stores like Petsmart and Petco will explain to you the benefit of buying a quality pet food that offers your pet a better balanced ingredient list that is complete with vitamins and minerals. Try to stay away from pet foods that contain corn as the first ingredient as the product doesn't stay in your pet's digestive system long enough for your pet to absorb enough nutrients. The best advice is to use an indoor cat formula that does not contain wheat or beef products but contains vegetables, rice, poultry or lamb. HyVee carries it's own house brand of indoor formula for cats that digest very well and contains no wheat or beef product and Purina also carries an indoor formula and can be food at nearly any store that carries Purina products.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/409164/is_your_cat_allergic_to_his_food_ingredients.html
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