Blue Spa Select for Adult Cats Chicken and Brown Rice Cat Food Review

High Quality Protein

Cats love to dine on our tasty chicken, and it provides the essential amino acids and vital nutrients they need every day.

Wholesome Whole Grains

Hearty whole grains like brown rice, barley and oats will keep your cat supplied with the complex carbohydrates needed for energy.

Healthy Garden Veggies & Fruit

Whole Carrots, sweet potatoes, parsley and cranberries contain phytonutrients that help your cat stay healthy.

Naturally healthy and highly digestable, Spa Select is a delicious way to provide your cat with the complete and balanced nutrition he needs every day.

Our unique LifeSource Bits are formulated and processed to do exactly what their name implies. A precise blend of nutrients and antioxidants selected to strengthen your cat's immune system, help offset the negative impact of environmental toxins and provide support for specific life stage requirements.

Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Cat Food Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, Whole Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, Taurine, L-Lysine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Salmon Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Black Malted Barley, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Salt, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium.

Crude Protein34.0% min Crude Fat18.0% min Crude Fiber3.5% max Moisture 10.0% max Ash6.0% max Magnesium0.10% max Taurine0.15% min Omega 3 Fatty Acids*0.8% min Omega 6 Fatty Acids*3.5% min

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

Blue Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Spa Select for Adults Cat Food Review

Animal Digest - Plus 1 point = No Animal Digest

Corn - Plus 1 point = no corn

Wheat - Plus 1 point = No Wheat

Soy - Plus 1 point = no soy

Gluten - Plus 1 point = No gluten

Extra Goodies - Minus 1 point = Natural Chicken Flavor

By-Products - Plus 1 point = No Meat by-products

Animal Fat - Minus 1 point = Chicken Fat

Pet Food Recalls - Minus 1 point = Recalls Blue Cat Food

Class Action - Minus 1 point = Class Action against Blue Cat Food

Cat Food Rating for BLUE Spa Select Formula with LifeSource Bits Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe

Total Score = 6/10

Ask Susan Peters Cat Food Review for BLUE Spa Select Chicken and Brown Rice Cat Food Review

This company has a history of cat food recalls and has a class action lawsuit filed against it for the deaths of cats and dogs.

Class action filed against Blue Spa Select Mature Cat Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food.

Pet food recalls against Blue Spa Select Mature Cat Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food.

Use of corn, wheat, or soy which cause skin irritation, hair loss, fever, ear infections, kidney failure, liver failure. Dental disease, Obesity, Chronic digestive problems, Bloat, Heart disease, Hyperthyroidism, and Seizures.

Because manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods have a long shelf life (typically 12 months) to remain edible through shipping and storage, fats used in pet foods are preserved with either synthetic or "natural" preservatives. Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin.

Use of by-products. By-products are ingredients used which are not fit for human consumption. By-products are often floor sweepings from a rendering plant. "Animal by-product" is rendered product from animal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices." Pet food labels contain the words "meal" or "byproduct" on the ingredient label. Inedible byproducts such as bone, fat, heads, hair, feet and condemned offal are used in commercial pet food. These materials are sent to a rendering plant for processing into pet food products.

"Meat" is often rendered dogs and cats as well as other animals such as road-kill. When the source of the meat is known it will be listed as beef, poultry, chicken, turkey, etc. If the source of the meat is not known it is simply called "meat.

Rather than the wholesome pictures shown on the pet food packaging, rendering companies dispose of millions pounds of inedible waste each day including, heads, feet, stomachs, intestines, spinal cords, tails, restaurant grease, feathers, bones and dead or diseased animals rejected from slaughterhouses for use in manufacturing pet food. Amazingly, animals from research laboratories may be rendered into pet food as well.

Total Score = Ol' Roy dog food, which is considered one of the poorest quality dog foods on the market, scored 5 out of 10 Blue Spa Select Mature Cat Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food scored 6 out of 10.

The life span of your pet should be at least 20 years. Your pet's diet strongly influences your pet's life expectancy. Always look for a quality pet food which scores 10 out of 10.

Blue Spa Select Mature Cat Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food I consider to be a poor choice in pet foods.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/597373/blue_spa_select_for_adult_cats_chicken.html

Where to Find Vegan, Vegetarian Dog and Cat Food

Going vegan or vegetarian isn't just for humans anymore. Nowadays more people are following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and they are having their dogs and cats do the same.

What exactly is the difference between vegan and vegetarian?

Vegan is a stricter version of being vegetarian. Being vegan means you only eat products that are plant life. Vegans do not eat dairy, meat, fish, honey, eggs and anything else that has an animal origin. The basic definition of being a vegetarian is that there is no meat, poultry or seafood or any kind of animal flesh in the persons diet.

If you are thinking of starting your dog or cat on a vegetarian diet, here are some places to find vegan and vegetarian dog and cat food.

V-dog crunch nuggets with rice, vegetables, and pasta has been developed with absolutely no animal testing and has been approved by The Vegetarian Society. The company also only uses recyclable materials for its packaging and uses only recycled paper for its marketing materials. A 33 pound bag of dog food is currently $49.00 including shipping and a 5.5 pound bag of dog food is currently $13.00 including shipping. All the ingredients found in their dog food can be found on their site.

Evolution Diet has been in business since 1989 and offers a wide array of vegetarian food for your dog and cat. They carry such types of food as Mock Duck, Gourmet Pasta Kibble and Vegetable Skallops. Gourmet Pasta Ferret Kibble is also available. Since they have a selection to choose from, prices vary according to the quantity and weight of the products and how much you order. They offer both canned and dry food. A 20 pound bag of Gourmet Pasta Cat Kibble is currently $42.45 and a 20 pound bag of Gourmet Pasta Dog Kibble is currently $39.95, those prices not including shipping. All ingredients included in their food can be found on the site.

Vegancats.com has been in business since 1999 and all products are made 100% vegan. They offer products for both dogs and cats. They currently offer two flavors of canned cat and dog food. A Gourmet Entrée 13 ounce can is currently $3.00. The original formula of the Evolution Cat Kibble is currently $3.00 for a one pound bag and is also available for dogs. The Natural Balance Dog Kibble is currently $9.95 for a 5 pound bag and Natural Life Dog Kibble is currently $7.95 for a 4 pound bag. Other sizes of the dog and cat kibble are also available. They also offer starter packs for both cats and dogs. There are also products available if you make your own dog or cat food at home.

If you decide that a vegan or vegetarian diet is best for your dog or cat, consult a veterinarian for their opinion.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/602959/where_to_find_vegan_vegetarian_dog.html

Pet Food Review: Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food with Lamb and Rice

I like to buy a wide variety of different brands and types of dry cat food for my cats. I recently came across Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice at my local grocery store. I have never tried this particular flavor out on my cats but, they do like the regular Iams dry cat food. I decided to see if this flavor might be more pleasing to my favorite feline friends. Here is what I discovered.

Most cats usually have hairball problems at some time in their life. I have tried several different brands of hair ball remedy cat food, also hair ball relieving formulas. Some worked but, not very well. My cats usually end up not eating the special food and get tired of it. Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice has an advanced fiber system for healthier digestion. I thought this dry cat food may help my cats and I was right.

Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice is vet recommended and I know why. My cats immediately loved this dry cat food and I had no trouble with them eating it. This dry cat food is recommended for cats one year older and above. This cat food has added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. My cats have never had lamb before but, this lamb and rice formula really pleased them and cut out their hair ball problem. I could tell after feeding my cats this dry cat food for one week, that this product was a winner. The cats enjoyed it and they look healthier and have better digestion.

Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice costs around eight dollars for a three and one half pound bag. It contains chicken by product meal, corn grits, corn meal, animal fat, brewers rice, lamb, dried beef pulp, dried egg product, natural chicken flavor, sodium bisulfate, fish oil, potassium chloride, chicken meal, dl-methionine, brewers dried yeast, fructooligosaccharides, choline chloride, vitamins, vitamin E supplement, niacin, ascorbic acid, vitamin A acetate, calcium pantothenate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, inositol, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, minerals, calcium carbonate, salt and rosemary extract. Many of these ingredients are names for vitamin ingredients.

I really think this cat food is great and the cats seemed to enjoy it and get health benefits from eating it. I rate Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice four stars out of five stars. I think that this is a high quality pet food. Iams Digestive Care Dry Cat Food With Lamb And Rice is made in the USA. I highly recommend this cat food and have made it regular meal choice for my cats.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/620077/pet_food_review_iams_digestive_care.html

PetCo P.A.L.S. Program Offers Free Cat and Dog Food: Pet Lover's Should Try It

Is your pet food budget out of control? Would you like some free cat or dog food? You can earn free premium cat and dog food simply by shopping at PetCo for your pet food needs. I save over $70 per year on my dog food grocery bill with an animal lover's savings program at my local PetCo store, and you should too!

PetCo Animal Supplies stores across the nation offer a program called P.A.L.S. that allows frequent shoppers the chance to earn free bags of premium cat or dog food! Just by doing your cat and dog pet food shopping at PetCo, you will be on your way to earning free pet food.

How Do I Join this Savings Club?

To get a PetCo P.A.L.S card, simply ask the cashier for an application. It takes less than two minutes to fill out the application that includes name, address, email, phone number and a few questions about your pets. The free card will also give you savings on hundreds of items in the store. Just look for the P.A.L.S stickers hanging off the price tags. You will only receive those sale prices by showing the cashier your P.A.L.S card.

Each time you purchase premium cat or dog food at your local PetCo store, show the cashier your PetCo P.A.L.S card and your purchase will automatically go on a tally towards earning your free bag of pet food. The best part of the program is that you do not need to save receipts, UPC codes or bag labels for this program. Your purchases are electronically tallied at the cash register for your convenience!

When Do I Get My Free Cat and Dog Food?

Approximately 4-6 weeks after you have purchased 10 bags of the same brand, type and size of pet food, you will receive a letter in the mail from PetCo that includes a coupon for a free bag of the food you have been feeding your cat or dog! Your 10 bags of food need to be purchased within 12 months of your first bag purchased, to be eligible for the free pet food program.

With my two large breed dogs, we go through approximately one 40lb. bag of dog food every two weeks, so we tend to earn a free bag every 5 months with the PetCo P.A.L.S program. That adds up to over $70 of savings each year on my pet grocery bill!

What Cat and Dog Foods are Free?

The premium cat and dog foods included in the P.A.L.S program are:

Bil Jac Dry Dog Food

Bil Jac Dry Cat Food

Breeder's Choice Avo-Diet Dry Dog Food

Breeder's Choice Avo-Diet Dry Cat Food

Castor & Pollux Dry Dog Food

Castor & Pollux Dry Cat Food

Diamond Dry Dog Food

Diamond Dry Cat Food

Eukanuba Dry Dog Food

Eukanuba Dry Cat Food

Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food

Iams Dry Dog Food

Iams Dry Cat Food

Natural Balance Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance Dry Cat Food

Natural Blend Dry Dog Food

Nature's Recipe Dry Dog Food

Nature's Recipe Dry Cat Food

Neura Dry Dog Food

Nutro Dry Dog Food

Nutro Dry Cat Food

Pet Gold Masters Dry Dog Food

Pet Gold Masters Dry Cat Food

Pet Promise Dry Dog Food

Pet Promise Dry Cat Food

Pro Plan Dry Dog Food

Pro Plan Dry Cat Food

Pro Plan Select Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Dry Cat Food

Sensible Choice Dry Dog Food

Sensible Choice Dry Cat Food

Solid Gold Dry Dog Food

Solid Gold Dry Cat Food

Vitarx Dry Cat Food

Well Pet Dry Dog Food

Well Pet Dry Cat Food

Wysong Dry Cat Food

Wysong Dry Dog Food

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/621289/petco_pals_program_offers_free_cat.html

Is Indoor Formula Cat Food Better for Your Indoor Cat?

The ads for indoor formula cat food are all over the media today. These ads say that your cat will be healthier, thinner, and will keep their litter cleaner if you chose their indoor formula cat food. Every major brand, as well as many store brands, is now available in an indoor formula. Is the hype true? Are these cat foods really better for the indoor cat? Let's look at the claims and the facts.

First, let's look at how the indoor formulas actually differ from the regular formulas. The differences vary some from brand to brand, but in general, the major difference is that indoor formulas have fewer calories per cup than regular formulas. Usually regular dry cat foods have between 400 and 500 calories per cup, and indoor formulas have between 300 and 400. This is accomplished by removing meat in favor of high fiber vegetable components. This lowers the amount of protein and fat per cup of the indoor formulas. Some indoor formulas also have also added more of the nutrients that your cat would get outside if they were eating grass.

In the wild, felines live primarily on the animals they catch. Their diet is mostly meat, supplemented by the small amount of vegetable matter in the prey's stomach and occasional nibbles of grass. It makes sense that cat food with more protein would be the best for your cat. Most experts agree that the more natural meat based protein in your cat food the better it will be for your pet. Therefore a cat food that substitutes fiber for protein would not be the best choice. If your cat has a weight problem, a better solution would be limiting access to food and using high quality meat based canned food to make sure that all of their nutritional needs are being met on a lower calorie diet. It is also a good idea to make sure that you cat has plenty of opportunities to exercise. Engage your cat in active play each day.

As far as adding extra nutrients found in grass, all cat foods sold in the United States are required to contain the vitamins and minerals that have been found necessary to cats. Of course, there may be other nutrients that are needed that we don't know about. If you are worried that your cat doesn't eat grass and might be missing something in its diet, there are kits you can buy to grow "cat friendly" grass for your pet to nibble on inside.

In my personal experience, indoor cat food was on sale one week, and I decided to give it a try. I bought a large bag of the size that would usually last for two weeks with our three cats. I was so surprised to find that I was out of cat food after one week! Obviously my cats were making up for the reduced calories by eating more food. Matter of fact, they were eating more calories than they did with their regular food. My guess is that they were not finding the food satisfying.

In conclusion, indoor cat food is not a better food for your indoor cat. If you are worried that you indoor cat is overweight or not getting all of the nutrients that it needs, there are better solutions than choosing indoor formula cat foods.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/715943/is_indoor_formula_cat_food_better_for.html

Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food Review

As a kid growing up, we most always fed our cats Purina® Cat Chow. So I was surprised when, as an adult, my cats didn't like the same food. But, that ended up to be okay. Because we've come a long way, kitty! Purina makes a variety of cat food now. Read this Purina Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys Gourmet Cat Food Review and find out all about this product!

Price and Availability

I know Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food is available at Wal-Mart and Petco. I'm not sure where else it's available. It retails for 79 cents for a 3-ounce can. There are several different flavors of the Purina Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys. Each flavor is a combination of tender white meat chicken, wild salmon, yellowfin tuna or lean turkey, in a succulent broth, sauce or soufflé, with garden greens. I tried the White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor out on my cats.

Product Ingredients

Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food- White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor contains Poultry Broth, Chicken, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Turkey, Corn Starch-Modified Egg Whites, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Spinach, Egg Product, Soy Flour, Soy Protein Concentrate, Calcium Phosphate, Added Color, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Choline Chloride and Vitamin E Supplement. Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food- White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor also contains Zinc Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide and Biotin.

Product Description and Taste Test

Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys Gourmet Cat Food is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. According to the company, this product was inspired by elegant menus in upscale restaurants. Every recipe is a combination of three foods cats love.

The first thing you'll notice when you open a can of Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food - White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor, is, it doesn't stink to high heaven. Some of the flavors of canned food my cats love best (I usually buy 9 Lives brand) absolutely reek. This product doesn't. The next thing you'll notice is, it looks appealing. The White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor looks whitish with flecks of green in it.

I placed two cans of Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food - White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor on their platter, and my herd went wild over it! It must really taste as good as the ingredients sound.

Conclusion

I highly recommend buying Purina Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys™ Gourmet Cat Food - White Meat Chicken and Whipped Egg Soufflé with Garden Greens flavor for your cats too. I'm totally impressed with the ingredients, the appealing appearance and the pleasant smell. Of course, I love the fact that my cats dig into this canned cat food whenever I serve it to them. I bet they would enjoy the other flavors too.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/715975/purina_fancy_feast_elegant_medleys.html

Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness™ Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley

After I saw a TV commercial for Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley, I immediately put it on my shopping list. I'm always watching for new brands and kinds of cat food to feed my herd of 6. My cats have always loved regular Meow Mix. This new product sounded like it may be even healthier, so I decided to give it a whirl. Read this Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley product review and find out everything you need to know about it!

Price and Availability

I purchased a 6-pound bag of Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food at Kroger for around 6 bucks. This product is also available at Wal-Mart and Target. It's also available in wet entrees.

Product Description

This dry cat food is small pellet-type pieces. My veterinarian recommends that I feed my older cats food that's little in size. He says it's easier for them to chew, and digest as well. So, the size of Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley is a plus in my book.

This product claims to be special because it contains "only real ingredients that cats crave", according to the bag. It contains chicken, tuna, veggies, and rice & barley. There are no artificial colors or preservatives in this dry cat food, which is another good thing.

Ingredients

The ingredients in Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley are: Whole Ground Corn, Chicken Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Tallow, Chicken, Tuna, Brewers Rice, Barley, Natural Flavor, Green Beans, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Tomato Powder, Choline Chloride, Beet Powder, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, and Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1).

Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food also contains Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate (Source of Iron), Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Taurine and Mixed Tocopherols.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley is:

Crude Protein (Min) - 32.0%

Crude Fat (Min) - 12.0%

Crude Fiber (Max) - 3.0%

Moisture (Max) - 12.0%

Calcium (Min) - 1.20%

Phosphorus (Min) - 1.00%

Taste Test and Conclusion

As far as the taste of Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Dry Cat Food, my cats think it's fine. They dig right into it, just like most any other dry food I give them.

As for the healthiness of this product- it's made with real chicken and tuna, which are excellent sources of protein for your cat. Brewers Rice, green beans, carrots, beet powder, the vitamins, et cetera, in this product are also good for your cats.

However, looking at the list of ingredients in Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness Cat Food With Chicken, Tuna & Vegetable Medley, it doesn't appear to be any more "wholesome" than other name brand cat foods.

Will I buy it again? Most likely, especially since I have some $2 coupons for it. Do I recommend it? Yes, it's okay. I don't see any real negatives about this product. It's as good as other dry cat foods on the market, but I don't see that it's really any better.

*All Products Mentioned Are Trademarked by Their Respective Companies

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/828735/meow_mix_wholesome_goodness_dry_cat.html

Product Review of the Sheba Premium Tuna Fillet and Egg Wet Cat Food

Sheba has recently started focusing more on providing top-notch ingredients to its customers, rather than just packaging anything and trying to pawn it off as great cat food. This is a stark change in an industry that is always looking to cut corners in order to provide cheap cat food options to consumers. With their new line of Premium Cut cat foods, the Sheba cat food company has taken a great step towards giving customers something they will be happy to feed their felines.

One of the options in their new wet cat food line is the Premium Cut Tuna Fillet and Egg. What this does is blend two things that cats really love into a wet food that will also be easy for them to consume. The presentation of the food is almost good enough to serve to a human, but the food is of course geared specifically to appeal to your cat's pallet. The ingredients are very precise, not succumbing to all the fillers that you might find in some other brands, and the entire ingredients list consists of Water, Tuna Fillet, Egg, Tapioca Starch, and Guar Gum. Those last two ingredients are used to keep the food together and fresh, so I am able to overlook them.

Even when you are giving your cats the best ingredients, the ultimate test comes down to whether or not your feline friends are actually going to enjoy eating it. Well I put it to the test with the three cats that live in our house, and I have to say that the end result was a pretty positive one. They were all very excited to be getting what they felt was a treat, and they all make quick work of the Sheba wet food when I offer it up. The whole pieces of tuna and eggs mixed in really hit their taste-buds the right way, and they have no problem cleaning up the bowls (and licking up any drops that may have been left behind). It's not only something that they enjoy, but I don't have to feel guilty about possibly serving them bad ingredients.

The Sheba Premium Cut Tuna Fillet and Egg sells for just over $1.19 per can, and it is a little costly because you are paying for some very good ingredients. Each of the cans comes with 2.8 ounces of the fresh food, and is preserved in a nice little pop-top "dome" that makes it very easy to serve them their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I have become a quick fan of this particular branch of the new Sheba cat foods, and I think that it is a great option for homes with any cats that love fish entrees. This is a highly recommended food choice because of the taste tests it passed as well as the high quality ingredients, and because of that I can look past the cost.

The Ingredients from the Package:

Water, Tuna Fillet, Egg, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/864009/product_review_of_the_sheba_premium.html

Does Your Cat Barf? Why Commercial Pet Food Might Cause Your Feline to Vomit Frequently

You wake up in the morning ready to start your day. You shuffle down the hall to the restroom only to feel your bare foot stepping in something gross and slimy. After flipping on the light switch, you notice that your cat barfed during the night. Again.

If your cat seems to vomit on a regular basis, particularly after eating, then you may need to research your pet's commercial food a bit more carefully.

Based partially on my own personal experience with my cats, advice from vets, and research, this article describes how a low animal-protein diet, often found in commercially available cat foods, may be a contributing factor to repeat cat vomiting and other health problems.

Obligatory note: Be sure to consult with your cat's vet before making any drastic diet changes.

What Cats Need in Their Diet: Animal Proteins

Cats are obligate carnivores. What does that mean exactly? According to About.com, it means that your furry feline must consume meat to maintain optimal health. They can eat some vegetables and grains, but they need meat as the primary component of their diet. Cats don't do well as vegetarians.

Watch a cat while it is hunting. The basic need for meat is clear whether you observe your little house cat chase down a mouse or watch a National Geographic special on lions hunting. When was the last time you saw your cat chow down some wild vegetables? Chances are you've only seen your cat nibble on grass or catnip on occasion.

How Does Commercial Cat Food Cause Vomiting?

The pet food that you buy in the store often contains too many carbohydrates for cats and not enough animal proteins. Vegetable proteins are not enough to sustain cats in most circumstances.

Feeding your cat a low animal-based protein diet and a high carbohydrate diet may be the underlying cause for many feline health problems including repeat vomiting.

What Commercial Cat Foods Are Good?

Check the label on your cat's food - whether it is dry food or canned food. If it doesn't contain high quality animal proteins and contains too many grain products, then you might want to consider switching to a healthier food. Animal by-products may not be the best source of protein. Look for whole animal protein sources such as chicken or fish.

The following brands have good high quality, high animal protein food for your cat: Wellness, Nature's Variety, Innova EVO, and Castor & Pollux Organix Feline formula.

Testimonial: How My Cats Reacted to a High Animal-Protein Diet

I switched my cats to a blend of the Organix Feline adult dry formula mixed with the Wellness brand wet canned cat food several months ago. The results have been amazing. No more nightly cat vomiting! My three cats have become naturally leaner and have more energy. Their fur is softer. They are eating less at each meal as compared to when they ate the poor quality, low-animal protein commercial cat food. My vet did full blood panels on my cats, and their health is optimal for their various age groups.

What About a Raw Meat Diet?

You can prepare raw meat diets at home for your cat for optimal health. This type of cat food may be too time consuming or expensive for some people. You can also buy commercially prepared raw food from natural food stores. Look for Feline's Pride or Nature's Variety in a freezer case near the pet food aisle.

A raw meat diet does contain a few other ingredients such as taurine, vitamins, fish oil, and bones.

If you do choose a raw meat diet for your cat, be sure to introduce the new diet slowly.

Sources:

Personal experience

Cat Nutrition

About

Cat Info

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/854841/does_your_cat_barf_why_commercial_pet.html

What is the Best Canned Cat Food?

What is the best canned cat food?

I can answer that question in five words --- there is no such thing.

I have four cats. Three of them (Charlie, Charlotte and Mickey) will guzzle up anything I put in front of them, but Chanel --- Chanel is an entirely different matter.

When I first adopted her, I tried just about anything. From canned food that the veterinarian recommended to store brand. Chanel looked at it, sniffed it, and walked away.

I traveled to pet stores, known to keep a large variety of pet food and bought a can of this and a can of that. I got no joy.

I spoke to other cat owners and asked what their cat liked.

What others raved about, Chanel disapproved of.

I even bought her Merrick, supposedly top of the line cat food.

Charlie, Charlotte and Mickey loved it. They loved it so much, they all but ate the plate Merrick was served on, but Chanel was not impressed.

While the others looked at me for more, Chanel ate some dry nibbles.

"It's good," I told her. "It's from a family owned business. Look how delicious it is."

Chanel gazed at me with a face that seemed to say "Fine, then you eat it."

It got me so desperate that I briefly considered giving Chanel what we were eating, but when I did some research, home cooked food for cats turned out to be a bad idea. Apparently human food is not rich enough on vitamins and minerals and cats can go blind if not fed proper cat food.

Not to mention that feeding scraps off the table holds a serious risk. A piece of meat can easily get lodged in the cat's throat and she can choke.

And then the poisoned pet food scare hit and all that was left in the stores was Whiskas and Fancy Feast from Purina.

I asked the sales person if the food was safe. She assured me that it was.

Back home I went on the websites of both Whiskas and Purina to make very sure that their food was safe during these scary times. A message on their front page assured pet owners that it was.

And guess what --- my lot loved the food. They loved the beef, they loved the chicken, the fish, they loved everything.

We were not quite out of the woods yet though. After a while I noticed that Charlie, Charlotte, Mickey and Chanel ate with less enthusiasm than when I first started buying the brands.

The problem is rather simple --- they were sick of beef, chicken and whitefish.

So I started mixing their diet. They not only got beef, chicken and whitefish, I introduced salmon, tuna, shrimp and liver to their daily dinner. I even noticed cans that have liver mixed with beef and chicken mixed with turkey.

Now Charlie, Charlotte, Mickey and Chanel get something different every day. I stock the cans in the refrigerator in such a way that, if I am not around to make their food, my son knows exactly what to give them.

In many ways pets are like humans. There are food items that we like and there are items that we dislike. And even if we like something, that does not mean we want this or that all the time. Keep in mind that variety is the spice of life.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/897129/what_is_the_best_canned_cat_food.html

Why Diabetic Cats Should Only Be Fed Canned Cat Food

When special diets were first being created by pet food companies, diets for diabetic cats were modeled after the recommended diet for a diabetic human, one high in fiber. More recent research has shown, however, that a low carbohydrate, high protein diet is the very best option for a diabetic cat's diet. The very best way to feed your cat a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is to feed canned cat food.

What's wrong with dry cat food?

The problem with dry cat food for diabetic cats is it's inherent high level of carbohydrates. Cats are exclusively meat eaters. According to Lisa Pierson, DVM, only 3 to 5 percent of a cat's diet would be carbohydrates if they were hunting on their own in the wild. Yet most commercially made dry cat kibbles contain over 30 percent carbohydrates. There is increasing evidence that due to a long evolution of eating a low carbohydrate diet in the wild, cats don't metabolize carbohydrates well, especially in high volumes.

While some canned cat foods also have carbohydrate levels higher than 5 percent, they are, on average, much lower than any dry cat food. They are also much higher in water, and many cats, even healthy ones, don't naturally drink as much as they should, and the extra fluids can be very beneficial to overall health.

Even dry prescription diets that are formulated specifically for diabetic cats and sold through veterinary offices are not as healthy for diabetic cats as almost any canned cat food is. The problem is that in order to make a cat food into a dry kibble, carbohydrates have to be added. It's just how dry cat food is made. So while a dry diabetic prescription cat food is better than a dry over the counter cat food, almost any non-prescription canned cat food is even better yet in regards to carbohydrate content.

How to switch your diabetic cat to canned food.

Any diet change should happen gradually. If your diabetic cat has eaten a dry kibble her whole life, she may not want to switch to canned. Keep offering it, while gradually reducing the amount of dry food offered. Try different brands to find the one she likes best.

A prescription canned cat food formulated for diabetic cats is usually a good choice, but if your cat refuses to eat it, then another brand is better. It is better for your cat to refuse the fancy prescription food, and eat an over the counter canned food, than for your diabetic cat not to eat anything at all. Always watch you cat to make sure she's getting enough to eat during the transition.

You will need to sty in contact with your veterinarian over the course of the food transition, and for the following few weeks, or months. Many diabetic cats, when moved on to a canned cat food diet will greatly reduce their insulin need. Some cats, like mine, were able to give up insulin altogether and be purely treated with diet alone. According to Prof. Dr. Claudia Reusch " In previous years, when we did not limit the type of food our remission rate was 15%-25%. We were able to increase the remission rate to 50-70% by using a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet. (Remission refers to no further need for insulin.)"

You'll want to watch for signs of too much insulin. Your veterinarian may want to check your cat's blood sugar levels often, and you can ask for glucose testing strips that you can put in your cat's litter box. They are nice because, as you gradually reduce your cat's insulin dosage under your veterinarian's supervision, you can make sure there is no glucose in your cat's urine. It's an easy, and inexpensive way to monitor your diabetic cat at home.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/947485/why_diabetic_cats_should_only_be_fed.html

Cat Food

No matter where she is, no matter how fast asleep she is, as soon as my cat, Chanel, hears the pop of a lid being lifted off a can of Fancy Feast, she comes running to the kitchen. She knows the sound of that little tin being opened and meows in eager anticipation. As I scoop the meat morsels onto her plate she licks her lips.

As I move away from the kitchen counter and walk to her feeding place, she follows me, her eyes like lasers on the plate. What will it be today? Beef, chicken, tuna? Not that it matters to Chanel, she gobbles it all up until there is nothing left, not even a drop of gravy.

Manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, based in St. Louis, USA, Fancy Feast is more than cat food in a tin, it is a gourmet meal. I know it and cat owners around the world know it. Our furry friends and companions can be notoriously fussy with what they eat; but when it comes to Fancy Feast, they seem to be quite pleased with what appears on their plate.

With a variety of grilled, sliced, marinated, minced, gourmet, roasted, flaked and chunky meats or fish, there is something for everybody. The fifty different varieties mean that cats never have to grow bored of their dinner as each meal can be different. But meat or fish, with or without gravy, is not all Fancy Feast has to offer, there is also a selection of soufflés.

Whether it is tender turkey, yellow fin tuna, white meat chicken, wild salmon or seafood and egg, each dish is guaranteed purrrrfect satisfaction. In addition to wet food, Fancy Feast also offers three varieties of dry food: Filet Mignon flavour with real Seafood & Shrimp, Ocean Fish & Salmon and Savoury Chicken & turkey.

Like packaging of all wet and dry products, Fancy Feast provides a full list of ingredients and advises how much to feed a cat per weight. They also advise the introduction of new foods gradually as to not upset sensitive stomachs. Also stressed is the importance of fresh water on a daily basis.

During the recent contaminated pet food scandal, Fancy Feast remained free and clear of any harmful substances in their pet food. A message on the home page of their website stated that all pet owners could shop with complete confidence.

I admit that in an attempt to provide Chanel with the best food possible, I have slipped away and tried other brands--from supermarket brand food, to top of the line pet store brands. In the process I forked out quite a bit of money. I could have saved myself the trouble and the expense. Chanel took one whiff at the new food and walked away. Some cats like variety and some do not.

My Chanel gives the Fancy Feast cat food product an enthusiastic two paws up!

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/976448/cat_food.html

Cat Food: Save Money by Making Homemade Cat Food

These days we are all looking for ways to save money. If you own a cat or several cats, buying commercial processed cat foods is expensive. Homemade cat food is very economical to cook and is cheaper than buying it whether it is dry kibble, pouches, or cans. Cats need lots of protein, and specifically meats, fish and poultry. Blindness and death can occur in cats who do not eat these proteins, because of a deficiency of the amino acid, taurine. Vegetable proteins such as tofu are not sufficient to prevent taurine deficiency in cats. Cats are classified as Carnivores, and require only meats, fish or poultry and water for optimum nutrition. Cats even make their own Vitamin C, and so they are immune to Scurvy (deficiency of Vitamin C resulting in bruising, bleeding, and death), a handy trait for cats in ages past on long sea voyages.

Cats have been domesticated and have lived with people for about 5000 years and they are accustomed to eating scraps of foods from our dinner tables. Most of these table scraps are cooked foods, and our domesticated cats digest cooked foods better than raw ones. The improved digestibility of cooked table foods results in better nutrition for our pet cats. Unlike wild cats, such as Tigers and Lions, our domesticated pet cats thrive on cooked foods, and have illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, and food poisoning from eating raw meats, fish or poultry. The feeding of raw meats, fish or poultry is problematical in our pet cats. Raw meats often contain bacteria such as Salmonella, raw fish often contain bacteria, and thiaminase, causing vitamin deficiency and illness, and raw poultry often contains bacteria such as Salmonella, resulting in food poisoning in our pet cats.

You can cook for your cat safely by using cooked fresh ingredients and storing the prepared cat food properly in air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days. Homemade cat food can also be frozen in Seal-a-meal vacuum sealed bags, thawed overnight in the refrigerator, and rewarmed in the microwave on the warm cycle before feeding. Following is a recipe that you can make in less than thirty minutes. For larger quantities, just double or triple the stated ingredient amounts. This recipe can also be fed to kittens. Give your cat or kitten a daily vitamin mineral supplement in addition to the homemade cat food. Please enjoy this recipe for wholesome cat food. Yields 15 meals (feed one meal twice daily) for one adult cat, or enough for one week of meals.

TUNA PATE

Recipe by Dr. Amy L. Cousino

Ingredient List:

#5 x 6 oz. cans chunk light Tuna, drained, (opt. use 20 oz. fresh tuna that you have poached, cooled, and deboned)

5 Eggs, hard boiled, cooled, peeled

5 T Olive Oil, extra virgin

Preparation:

Put all ingredients into a food processor. Process until cat food is very smooth.

Divide this recipe into seven clean, dry, small air-tight plastic containers, or seal-a-meal bags (vacuum seal the bags). Keep up to three days of meals

in the refrigerator. Freeze the remainder (thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the next day feeding). Kitten feeding guide: feed 1/2 to one ounce

3-5 times daily. To keep food cool for feeding you may fill a small bowl with ice cubes, and lay the plate with the food on top of the bowl.

The bowl and plate should be about the same size so that they nest well. Pick up and discard leftover food after two hours. Always feed fresh food at each meal.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/854211/cat_food_save_money_by_making_homemade.html

Wellness Complete Health Cat Food: A Product Review

A balanced diet is necessary to our health, wellness and longevity. I make a point of trying to provide proper nutrition for my family, which, of course, includes my pets.

I started using Wellness Complete Health cat food about three years ago on the recommendation of my daughter. She had a pair of young cats that she had started on Wellness cat food and they were growing beautifully with shiny, thick fur, bright eyes and loads of energy.

At that time, I had a 12-year-old cat, Skeeter, who had chronic problems with his skin and fur and had developed a bad attitude because of it. He had been eating a low-magnesium food recommended by our vet but it didn't seem to be doing his overall health any good. I switched him to Wellness Complete Health cat food in the salmon flavor and he absolutely loved it. After about a month of the new food, the skin problems he had endured for most of his life improved to the point where he no longer needed to take prednisone. His fur became thicker and silkier and best of all, his mood and energy level improved dramatically. My senior kitty started to enjoy going outside again and playing with his toys in the house.

Three years have passed. My daughter's kitties now live with me and my then 12-year old furry fella is now over 15. I directly attribute Skeeter's good health and the fact that he is still with me to making the switch to Wellness Complete Health cat food.

During the pet food recall in 2007, which was precipitated by contaminated wheat gluten, I was thrilled to see a large, bold sign displayed at my pet food shop stating that Wellness pet foods were not included in the recall. Wellness is a pure food and only human-grade ingredients go into its manufacture. Absolutely no meat byproducts, wheat gluten, or unsourced ingredients make its way into the food. The main ingredient in the dry cat food is protein, about 35% of the product, which is close to a cat's natural diet. Rice, vegetables, and fruits along with Omega-3 oils are also present - all human grade - to complete the nutritional balance.

Wellness Complete Health cat food is available in several formulas including kitten, indoor, and a weight watchers' blend. This food does cost more than cat foods available in the grocery store or at mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart. A 12# bag of Complete Health salmon flavor runs $37.99 at my local Doolittles pet store. I have also seen it at Whole Foods in the smaller 5# 14 oz. for $14.99.

Wellness also has a line of wet canned cat food that comes in a variety of flavors. The canned food is completely grain free and costs about $1.40 for a 5.5 oz can. Pouch food, treats, and nutritional supplements for cats and a line of dog food are also in the Wellness product line.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/998654/wellness_complete_health_cat_food_a.html

Friskies Indoor Delights Cat Food with Garden Greens

Purina seems to enjoy teasing the public with advertising promoting its food as healthy and nutritious diets and this one also falls into that boat. It also has a misleading name. Consumers should make a habit of reading the ingredient labels on pet food and comparing that with the company's claims. Read on and you will see what I mean!

Purina Friskies Indoor Delights Dry Cat Food, 6.3 lb.

This cat food comes in a green bag weighing 6.3 lbs. and retailing for around $8.99 a bag. It has a cat on the front with a paw up in the air above the logo and name of the cat food. Beneath the name you see the advertisement that this food contains "chicken, beef, turkey & cheese and flavors with a touch of garden greens".

Sounds good, right?

The kibble or cat food is different shapes and colors including triangles, oblong and one that resembles a deformed bone, all green, red, light tan and dark brown in color.

My Thoughts on Purina Friskies Indoor Delights Cat Food

I have to admit that our cats did take to this food and obviously enjoyed it. We have a new adopted outdoor cat that was abandoned by neighbors that moved several years ago and Garfield looks like he is staying at my house. He has wandered from house to house for years, but recently he appears to be homesteading at our place. That's ok! I love animals and would never let this kitty starve. He gets the same food our other cats do!

I was a bit disappointed to find that all the meat (protein) that is advertised on the front of the package are all in the form of meals, by-products and flavors. Don't get me wrong, chicken meal or beef meal is a lot better than by-products but when I see beef, turkey, chicken advertised as an ingredient, then that is what I expect to see in the ingredient listing.

As for the "greens", it contains parsley. I don't see anything else that could be considered a "green". This is supposed to help with hairballs. Since we only used one bag of this, I can't comment on this aspect.

Purina is famous for these advertising gimmicks in most of their pet foods. I encourage you to read the ingredient labels. A lot of this food is not "premium" pet food, but you are paying the premium price.

Our cats did enjoy this food, so it obviously has a good flavor but I don't see myself buying this again and encouraging this company to keep up it's tactics of leering people into buying their products with false claims.

It's not the worst cat food on the market, but it is also not the best! Read your labels!

Ingredients

Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn germ meal, soybean meal, turkey by-product meal, brewers dried yeast, phosphoric acid, animal digest, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, potassium chloride, salt, dried chicken liver, added color (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 2 and other color), choline chloride, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate.

Analysis

Crude Protein-Min: 30%

Crude Fat-Min: 10%

Crude Fiber-Max: 6%

Moisture-max: 12%

Recommendation

Purchase this at your own discretion. I won't be buying it again. It's just an average cat food and I don't like the claims of chicken, beef and turkey when these ingredients are actually in the form of a "meal". I give Purina Friskies Indoor Delights Dry Cat Food, 6.3 lb. a big thumbs DOWN and I apologize for the rant!

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1026232/friskies_indoor_delights_cat_food_with.html

Is it Normal for a Cat to Regurgitate Their Food?

Anyone who owns a cat or knows someone who does, has likely seen or heard of the infamous regurgitation. This is the rather disgusting habit of cats, and sometimes dogs, of eating their food and then promptly vomiting it back up. Technically, it's not vomit, though, but regurgitation. Regurgitation is when the food doesn't actually make it into the stomach and is brought back up right away.

Sometimes cats will regurgitate their food because they gulp it down too quickly. And perhaps even more disgusting, they'll usually start eating it again. This isn't as bad as it sounds because the food hasn't gone into the stomach where the digestive acids are. But, it's still pretty nasty to watch. This type of regurgitation is normal. Almost all cats will regurgitate, but if it's more than a couple times a month, there might be a problem.

If the cat has been regurgitating their food frequently, losing weight and their coat is dull, then it likely signifies that they're not getting sufficient nutrition due to the vomiting or regurgitating. There's a condition called megaesophagus that has these symptoms. It's when the esophagus, the hose-like tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach, has nerve damage and doesn't force the food down to the stomach. The food basically just gathers in the esophagus and doesn't move any further. This causes the regurgitation response to push the food from the system.

Because megaesophagus doesn't allow the food to get to the stomach and therefore get digested, it can be dangerous for the animal. If megaesophagus is suspected, the cat should be taken to the vet right away for tests. If the diagnosis if made, then the vet might prescribe various medications to help the esophagus pass the food into the stomach. A vet might also suggest that the owner feed the pet by placing the food on a platform that forces the cat, or dog, to stand up on its hind legs to reach the food bowl. This helps the food to slide down into the stomach. Another somewhat extreme procedure is to feed the pet a high nutrition liquid diet since dry food is the main culprit that causes the regurgitation.

Unfortunately, if you have a pet that regurgitates frequently, but doesn't have megaesophagus, like I do, you will just have to feed the pet small portions more often. I have to make sure not to give my cat a big meal or he will certainly regurgitate it right back up. So, I give him a spoonful of wet food, wait a while and then give him some dry kibble. It's been working so far, although not perfectly. It's also strange that if he regurgitates and I don't get there fast enough, he'll eat the regurgitated food and for some reason, it stays down the second time. I'm not sure why, but perhaps his esophagus relaxes after he regurgitates the first time. Luckily, he's pretty healthy at this point, but I still have to monitor his weight and health.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1060746/is_it_normal_for_a_cat_to_regurgitate.html

Special Tips About Cat Food and Feeding Your Cat

About Cat Food

Always read the label to make sure you know the ingredients. By knowing ingredients, you can control which nutrition you should give to your cat. And pay attention about their formula.because there are different formula for adult cats, kitten, aging cats, and many more cat type. You really don't want to give kitten food to aging cats, am i right ?

About Feeding a cat

Your problem didn't end there. after choosing cat food, there some matters that occur, when to feed, where to feed, how much you should give to them. and many more questions will follow.

Where to feed your cat

Find some quite place to feed your cat. Cat hates place where there are noisy things around it. Cat can't eat well in that kind of place. After you decide that place, stick with it. Don't change the place, cat can't deal well with that kind of changing places.

When first time decide the place, always keep in mind that sometimes cat become mess source. Get the min place where easy to clean, because cat really like clean place.

When to feed your cat

To make your cat healthy, make schedule for them, habit can make your cat healthy. Give them food just like people eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner. No matter how much you give them food, just give them good habit about eating time, if you are not sure how much to give each time, you can copy the feeding instruction

What to feed

There are so many cat food out there. Every cat food are good for them, just make sure you find good formula for each cat phase. always give kitten a kitten food. Don't give your cat a bone. This is number 1 rules by cat expert. Bones can damage their throat, and it makes the hurt.

Also don't give your cat leftover food from table, this can make you cat abandon their cat food.

Milk. Avoid milk too, all people say about give your cat a milk is a lie. Milk can cause diarrhea to your cat.

Feeding Kitten

There are so many difference between kitten and a grown cat. In human form, kitten is like a baby, they need more nutrition. They have to eat right formula to make strong bones, muscles and many more object inside kitten body. If you give them same food as grown cat, you will waste money, because they kitten need more supplement and vitamin to support their grow.

There always time where kitten didn't really want to eat, this behavior is normal, sometimes they do this because of grown teeth, and many more factor. Also always check their behavior. after one year, kitten will become grown cat and its time to change their food.

For the last word, id you don't sure what to feed to your cat or kitten, you can consult with veterinarian about your cat. Their advice will make your cat optimized because they had been already expert in this industry.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1081053/special_tips_about_cat_food_and_feeding.html

Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin Cat Food is Hypoallergenic

Recently my wife 's and my cat developed a food allergy to the food he had been using for a long time. The food allergy caused symptoms such as itching and biting his own skin and chewing on his own tail due to the itchy rash the food was causing. To combat these food allergies, we switched our cat's food to Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin recipe cat food. The switch to the hypoallergenic Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food was effective in eliminating our cat's food allergy and subsequent skin irritation.

Blue Buffalo pet food is famous for using high quality human-food grade ingredients in its cat food. The sensitive skin recipe is specially designed to be hypoallergenic for your feline friend, reducing the chances of complications due to food allergies and skin irritations. Just as using all-natural ingredients in human food preparation can have positive skin benefits for humans, so too can all-natural ingredients be used in cat food to ensure that your pet cat has healthy skin that is free from allergic reactions.

The Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food has whole grains and real vegetables to promote healthy digestions. Our cat had also developed a habit of throwing up his food, which is another sign of a food allergy in cats. Since we began feeding Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food to our cat, our cat has stopped throwing up entirely and he is most satisfied with his new food blend without having to worry about throwing up his meal every other day.

In addition to whole grains, the Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food also has avocado oil and a collection of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat of fur. In these respects the Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food does not fall short, as evidenced by our own cat's shinier coat and smoother, healthier-looking skin. Our cat had been licking certain spits such as his nipples and tail red and raw before the switch to Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food, but since the switch his raw patches have returned to normal and his reddened skin is back to its normal pink hue.

In conclusion, if your cat is suffering from symptoms of food allergy such as itching, biting, and scratching, it is possible that your cat has a food allergy to his current food. Even if your cat has been eating the same food for a long time, an allergy can still develop. Try switching your cat food to Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food, which is hypoallergenic and full of all the essential vitamins and nutrients your cat needs to function well. Do not neglect to take your cat to the veterinarian, since it is a good idea to rule out any other cause of your cat's symptoms than food allergy. But if the cause of your cat's symptoms is truly a food allergy, then a premium and all-natural cat food like Blue Buffalo Sensitive Skin cat food recipe may be just the answer your cat needs.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1135752/blue_buffalo_sensitive_skin_cat_food.html

Cat Food Recipes

Cats are carnivores and should be fed as such. They evolved to process raw meat, and this is a recipe for a balanced raw meat diet. Nothing is optional-not the bones, not the supplements, not the organs-believe me, if I could, I would cut stuff from this recipe, too. Simply put, though, cats have strange metabolic requirements and must process animal protein. The recipe below is what I make up once a month for my cat Shadow. It costs about $20 a month for everything (the supplements last a long time), and she is obnoxiously healthy for it.

5 lbs chicken legs, trimmed, with no skins

1 lb chicken heart

1/2 lb chicken liver

3 Vitamin B 100 complex vitamins

5 capsules of salmon oil

1 capsule of kelp

1 cup of cooked brown rice (I don't like to feed rice, but it really helps with the hairballs)

2-5 egg yolks

This recipe is loosely based on the recipe found on www.catnutrition.org. I've basically translated everything into pounds, rounded to the nearest easy-to-remember number, and juggled the supplements a bit, since Shadow is a young and healthy cat and doesn't need as much by way of preventive medicine.

And basically, I send everything through a grinder. Chicken legs, complete with bones, the heart, the liver, the rice-all of it gets ground up into a pink sludge. I sprinkle in the contents of the vitamin capsules, dump in the egg yolks, add enough water to make it easier to mix, and stir.

If you've only just decided to transition your cat to raw, don't go out and buy all of this stuff right away; a grinder is expensive, and the supplements aren't cheap, either. You will probably want to buy a bit of chicken and cut off little pieces, and offer them to your cat-how well it's accepted will be an indication as to how easy the transition can be. The website www.catnutrition.org contains a lot of information about how to transition your cat, why feeding raw is the best, and how to go about doing this.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1057635/cat_food_recipes.html

Feed Your Kitty Raw Cat Food for Less Vet Visits

Wild cats eat nothing but "raw meat" with few exceptions. So, what has changed in the last several thousands years? Are house cats any different than wild cats? Not really. Most cats have an easy time returning to the wild and their digestive systems are largely the same as their wild counterparts.

So, why are you feeding your kitty wheat and corn? Cats don´t eat grass seed. And it shows. Have you noticed that your kitty is overweight and often sickly? Hopefully your cat is the "mouse-catcher" around the house and it has been able to balance out its diet naturally. If not, your kitty may be sluggish and prone to sickness.

Research has shown that feeding your kitty raw cat food, can lead to less pet visits. The reason? Raw food is not the same as cooked food. Raw food contains natural enzymes that are still intact. Also, many vitamins are destroyed by cooking. Humans are the only creatures who cook their food. The rest of the animal kingdom eats it raw. And that is how cats have evolved. Their digestive systems are adapted to raw food.

Raw cat food is not difficult to prepare. It does take a little extra work. But, isn´t your kitty´s health worth it. You can prepare a weeks worth in an hour or so, then you can freeze it and it will stay fresh. The day before, you can take out a frozen packet and let it thaw in the fridge.

Do you have to worry about "food poisoning?" Well, do you think a lion gets food poisoning? No, not if they eat fresh meat. Actually, even humans can eat fresh meat - raw fish, even raw beef and other sea food are ok to eat raw as long as they´re fresh.

So, do you want to have less vet visits and better health for your kitty? Then try a raw diet. Your kitty will thank you.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1200148/feed_your_kitty_raw_cat_food_for_less.html

Review: Friskies Select Indoor Premium Cat Food

As a pet owner, I understand my cat is part of the family. And, I'm always trying to find him the best nutritional products available at my local stores.

Recently, we had a coupon for Friskies Select Indoor Premium canned cat food. Since he is primarily an indoor cat, the food was specifically formulated for his needs and he's always like the Friskies brand, we decided we would give it a try.

What a big waste of money that was.

Like many cats, our cat is somewhat picky when it comes to eating. But, we recently bought a bag of dry cat food (from a different brand) that was meant for indoor cats and he devoured it. Plus, like I said before, he eats Friskies canned food all the time. So, buying this variety of the same brand shouldn't have been much different. Unfortunately, it was.

I have, on occasion, switched brands of canned food on my cat; simply in an effort to save money. While he's always preferred his regular brand, he would eventually eat the different brand. He might have waited until he was starving before he tried it; but he still ate it.

That is not the case with the Friskies Select Indoor cat food. There is something about this brand he absolutely hates. When we bought this, we made the mistake of not buying at least a can or two of his regular food. I ended up having to run back to the store for that very reason because he simply would not eat this. It sat in his bowl all day and, because he was starving, he would walk over, look at it and even sniff it. But, he would walk away. I think he would have starved himself to death before eating this.

And, to be honest, looking at the food, I can kind of understand why. I can't remember the exact flavor I was looking at but, mixed in the meat I could have sworn I saw green things that looked like peas. They probably weren't peas but they were definitely some sort of garden vegetable. I can't remember my cat ever eating a salad before so I really have to question the thought process behind putting garden greens in his food.

The food also smells terrible. Most canned food has a nasty odor to it; especially when you first open the can. But, this was bad enough to make you want to gag. I imagine that wasn't helping his appetite either.

Maybe there's a cat somewhere that might actually enjoy this variety of cat food. But, from my experience with it, I can honestly say I won't be buying this for my cat ever again.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1209177/review_friskies_select_indoor_premium.html

How to Recycle and Reuse Empty Cat Food Cans

Are you looking for some great ways to recycle and reuse cat food cans? In many areas they can be put out with other recyclable items, but here are a few creative ways you can reuse them as well.

Cat food cans can be made into candles. Be sure to make them with two or three wicks so that they wax burns evenly. This will also make the candles brighter which makes them excellent to use as emergency candles or camping candles. Standing wicks with metal bases can be purchased at your local craft store by the bagful. The finished candles will be stackable.

If you would like to give these candles as gifts in gift baskets or sell them with your other handmade crafts, decorate them by gluing a piece of one inch wide lace or ribbon around the outside. These candles are also a great accent for an outdoor party or barbecue.

Cat food cans are great for organizing a desk drawer. They are larger and more useful than the plastic drawer organizers you can buy in stores. Cat food cans are large enough to hold full packages of supplies such as thumb tacks, rubber bands and paper clips. Just set a few cans down inside the drawer along the front or along one side.

Cat food cans can also be used to organize your craft supplies. They can hold small items such as beads, buttons, sequins, or other items. The cans are also stackable, so you can stack them several cans deep on a shelf. Use a sharpie to write the contents on the side so that you don't have to go searching through them for supplies.

Are you throwing a barbecue or large party? Save several cat food cans to set out to be used as ashtrays. Be sure to have many available so that no one will be tempted to throw their cigarette butts on your lawn.

Empty cat food cans can also be made into pin cushions. Fill the can with batting or scrap fabric. Lay another piece of fabric over the top and tuck it into the can all around the sides so that it makes a sort of cushion over the top. Squeeze hot glue down around the inside edge of the can to hold the piece of cloth in place. If you want to decorate the outside of the pin cushion, glue a piece of 1" wide ribbon or lace around the can. Glued-on buttons are also a nice touch!

Empty cat food cans are great containers to use as a portable paint palette. Just squeeze your paint out in the bottom of the can and use a reusable plastic can lid to cover it and keep your paint from drying. You can also use the can lid to mix colors.

You can create a great organizer for your shop using cat food cans. Place the cans onto a square of plywood and nail them down to the board using a nail through the bottom of each can. Be sure that the nails are not too long or they will go straight through the wood and come out the other side. If you do not have nails small enough, you can glue the cans to the board using heavy duty glue or hot glue. Use the cans to sort out your screws, bolts, nails, screwdriver bits, and other small items.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1219493/how_to_recycle_and_reuse_empty_cat.html

What to Do when Your Cat Develops Food Allergies

Cats make marvelous companions. It is so easy to become attached to them. But when they become ill, it is heart breaking. When a cat first show signs that it has developed a food allergy, it is hard to know what is wrong with them. They scratch themselves to the point of scratching off their fur and they develop skin problems.

It is best to consult your veterinarian when you notice something is wrong. To an untrained eye, there would be confusion as to what is wrong. Is it an allergy or intolerance to some kind of food substance? If it is a food intolerance, they vomit heavily and cry in so much pain It is quite scary for you and no doubt for the poor cat as well. The good news is that both are easy to deal with. All that is required is to find out what food is causing them problems and do a simple change in their diet.

Is your cat's itching caused by food or some reaction the skin is having to something your cat may have touch? The best way of knowing would be if the scratching does not stop with antihistamines or steroid treatments.

A veterinarian would be the best at making the distinction as to what the problem is. They will rule out flea bites, yeast infections and atopy. Once they are ruled out, trial an error on the food begins. Your vet will tell you what foods to try. Many of these foods you can get at the larger food stores, however, some of them you will have to buy from your vet. No table scraps (which you should not give them anyways) and no cat treats. Follow the vets instructions to the letter.

If this stops the problem, after 3 months, give you cat a little of their original food. This way you know for sure that this was the problem. If the problem comes back return to and keep the up with the new diet.

You can make homemade food for your cat. But this can be even more costly than what you get from the vet. That is a discussion and decision you have to make with your vet.

The overall goal here is to help your cat out. They cannot tell you when there is something wrong or what is wrong . You have to try and diagnosis what is wrong by knowing your cat. Once you have discovered what is wrong, the solution is easy and , although you cat may not be happy about the new diet at first, it will all work out.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1219101/what_to_do_when_your_cat_develops_food.html

Review: Purina Healthful Life Cat Food

My cat has a normal brand of dry cat food he absolutely loves. But, he was running low on that the other day and I had a sample bag of Purina Healthful Life cat food in our cupboard so I decided to give that particular brand a try with him.

Overall, it turned out not to be too bad of a product but I think I do still prefer his normal brand.

The Healthful Life brand, which is a variation of Purina Cat Chow, claims to offer the same great taste cats love but includes "a natural fiber blend" which apparently is meant to keep my cat's digestive tract healthy.

That is all well and good, but my biggest reason for trying this brand was to see if he would actually eat it. He's very picky and his regular brand of dry food is the first brand we were able to get him to eat on a regular basis so I was a bit skeptical, even though we did introduce him to this gradually.

After trying him with it a couple of weeks now, I will say he does eat it. So, I will give Purina points for that. The fact he's eating it means it must taste good; at least to him.

In terms of improving his health, I'm not convinced one way or another on that one. He's not a very active cat. He sleeps pretty much all day, except at meal times and when he wants to play for a few minutes before bed. I won't say the Healthful Life didn't improve his overall health. But, I will say I didn't notice any real changes in terms of his normal daily habits. In other words, it's not like he suddenly gained more energy or anything.

Really the biggest change I noticed after giving him this food for a few days is one that I'll admit isn't a change I liked. I'm trying to put this the most delicate and least gross way possible. But, after having this cat food for a few days I have noticed his litter boxes tend to stink a lot more. And, without going into any descriptive details, I will mention I have to scoop a lot more than I used to too. This might be a good thing because it means it's cleaning him out. But, as a person who really hates cleaning the litter box, I can't honestly say I'm a big fan of that reaction.

It's nice to know there's another brand of cat food my cat will eat in a pinch, especially if I find the Healthful Life on sale. But, I think I'm going to be going back to his regular brand the next time I get to the store.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1283924/review_purina_healthful_life_cat_food.html

Homemade Cat Food

As a cat lover and owner, you want the best for your cat. They're just like humans- the more nutrients and minerals they get from their food, the healthier they are. But cats can be picky eaters. Of all the store-bought brands of cat food on the market, one of my furry friends, Kermit, will only eat Meow Mix™, period. Fortunately, he will eat the homemade cat food recipes I make for him, so I know he's getting the foods he needs to keep him strong and healthy. Basically, cats prefer homemade cat food with meat, poultry, and dairy products. They don't know it, but they also need some vegetables in their daily diets as well. What they never need is onions, starchy vegetables, like peas and corn, salt, sugar, chocolate, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, caffeine, spices, peppers, and bones. Cats can usually chew up and digest soft, canned salmon bones, but they can't handle chicken and other hard, small bones.

Here's a healthy, homemade cat food recipe for Chicken Soup for Cats:

Boil a pound or two of chicken parts such as livers, hearts, and giblets in a pan of water on the stove. Or, use the same amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead. Either one works fine, but the latter is more expensive to buy.

Boil the chicken until it's tender and is cooked thoroughly. Then, stir in a cup of steamed green beans. Add the mixture to your food processor or blender. Grind it up or turn it into a puree, whichever your cat prefers. Then, add enough chicken broth to make a soup, and serve.

Store any leftover Chicken Soup or other homemade cat food in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week. None of my cats like cold food straight from the refrigerator, so I place a serving of the food on a microwave- safe paper plate. I then nuke it on medium power for approximately ten seconds. (The exact time will depend on the wattage of your microwave oven.) The homemade cat food isn't hot, but it isn't chilly anymore either.

My Tuna 'n Egg Kitty Casserole is one of Kermit's favorite feasts. The ingredients are one can of tuna fish in oil- don't drain it- and a scrambled egg or two, depending on their size. Then, simply mix the tuna fish in with the egg and mix it together well.

Note: Does your cat have a problem with Diarrhea? If so, simply mix a cup of cooked white or brown rice into any of these recipes. The rice will help to bind their bowels and stop the problem naturally without giving them drugs.

A little garlic powder sprinkled into a cat's homemade food can help deter bothersome fleas too.

Cheese and Macaroni Surprise is another recipe your cat will love, especially if they have a penchant for dairy products. Boil some macaroni (following the package directions to make a couple cups) until it is tender; drain. Melt a chunk of Velveeta™ cheese product in your microwave oven on low power. Then, mix the cheese into the macaroni. Add enough milk so it's smooth and not sticky. Then toss in a handful of any chopped or sliced meat or poultry food your cat likes. Grind it up and serve it to your feline.

Since most cats adore chicken, liver, turkey, fish, lamb, and veal, you can use any of these meats and poultry foods to make up your own homemade cat food recipes. Just remember to cook their food thoroughly. And, either cut the meats and poultry into small, thin slices, or grind or puree it in your food processor or blender.

And finally, remember to rotate your kitty's homemade food choices. If you feed him or her the same food every day, they tire of it quickly.



Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/28961/homemade_cat_food.html

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon Canned Cat Food Satisfies My Cats

Although I am not a cat, I have to say Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a fabulous product. My cats will devour a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food in a matter of mere seconds, so I think it is safe to speak for them and say that this is a great product. Fancy Feast canned cat food comes in a large selection of flavors and variety.

You can find Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food sliced, grilled, flaked and traditional mashed varieties. There are actually over fifty different varieties of Fancy feast canned cat food. There is a choice out there for every cat. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is of the flaked variety and the texture seems to appeal greatly to both of my cats. If I had to guess their favorite feature, I would have to say it is the flaked texture of this cat food. I have tried giving them chopped cat food and mashed cat food with no luck. The chopped pieces seem to be too large and are not so easily digestible. The mashed varieties of cat food don’t seem to be appealing at all. I guess they want to feel like they are chewing on something.

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a healthy and safe product to feed your cat. Fancy Feats is made by Purina, a well-known pet food company that has the health and well being of your pets as their number one goal. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food uses quality ingredients compared to other cheaper canned cat foods. Cheap canned cat foods can lead to urinary track infections and other health problems during the life of your cat. If you are going to invest in canned cat foods for your pets, you should take the time to read the labels and look for quality ingredients. It will save you time and money at the vet’s office.

Personally I could not live without Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food for a number of reasons. I work at home and it can often be a chore to get my overly affectionate and attention-seeking cats to leave me alone. If I feed them a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon caned cat food they are satisfied, full, and are soon lulled into a sleepy food coma that seems to resemble the one I achieve every year at Thanksgiving. I believe it is a true test of how good a feast was if it can create a great and wonderfully fulfilling nap!

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food can be found at the grocery store and almost every pet store I have every seen. A can cost upwards of $0.50, so try looking for the cases. This will definitely save you a little money. You can even find a variety pack of Fancy Feast canned cat food at Sam’s Club.



Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/41787/fancy_feast_savory_salmon_canned_cat.html

Homemade Cat Food

You’ve probably noticed that pets love people food, and cats have their own persuasive ways to get their owners to share. Why wouldn’t cats want to eat the same food their owners are eating? Cat food doesn’t look very appetizing, and if cat food tastes anything like it smells, of course cats prefer people food. People get tired of eating the same foods day after day, and cats are no exception.

If you want to give your kitty something to purr about, consider giving him the following homemade cat food. Cats love homemade cat food, and it’s no wonder why. Homemade cat food contains the meat cats crave, and considering the cost of small cans of cat food, homemade cat food really isn’t very expensive. Make your kitty a batch of homemade cat food, and watch his anticipation turn into delight when he finds out the food you’ve made is especially for him.

Beef and Liver Dinner

Your kitty is sure to love this homemade cat food, and it’s relatively cheap considering the quantity it makes. Unless you have several cats who are able to consume one and a half pounds of homemade cat food within three or four days, consider freezing individual portions. This homemade cat food recipe makes twelve two-ounce portions.

1 pound browned ground beef, drained

¼ pound liver, fully cooked and diced

1-cup cooked brown rice

1-teaspoon corn oil

1-teaspoon crushed antacid tablets

Blend all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve.

Turkey Special

This homemade turkey dinner for cats will become your favorite feline’s preferred cuisine. You won’t need to freeze this homemade cat food. Your kitty will finish this delicious turkey dinner within a few days of preparation. Refrigerate any unused portions until ready to serve.

1-cup browned ground turkey, drained

½-cup white rice

1/8-cup grated cooked carrots

2 teaspoons small curd cottage cheese

2 teaspoons corn oil

Blend all ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl, and refrigerate extra portions until ready to serve.

Purrfect Sardine Nibblers

Cats love sardines, and your kitty will think you’re the greatest hunter in the world when you give him this tasty sardine dinner. This homemade hard cat food is just what you’re kitty has been waiting for. Make sardine nibblers today, and store this homemade kitty cuisine in a tight-sealing container for up to two months.

1/8-cup wheat germ

1/8-cup wheat flour

1/8-cup soy drink mix

1/8-cup brewers yeast

½ can sardines, including liquid

1-½ tablespoons water

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and grease a baking sheet. Combine the wheat germ, wheat flour, soy drink mix, and yeast. Mash the sardines, and mix them with the water in a small bowl. Blend the sardines and water with the dry ingredients, and knead this mixture into dough. Roll the dough into quarter-inch balls, and place them on a greased baking sheet. Flatten them slightly, and bake them for approximately eight minutes, or until set. Let this homemade cat food cool on a wire rack before storing or serving.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/49989/homemade_cat_food.html

10 Reasons Why You Should Not Buy Cheap Cat Food

1. The cheaper the cat food the worse it is for your cat and the more it will cost you in the long run with vet bills and complicated health problems. Cost is relative. Feeding a better quality food means your cat eats less and since it is more digestible your cat is absorbing more nutrition, producing less waste, and higher priced, but more nutritionally sound food is far more cost effective.

2. It might be better for a cat to eat inferior and mediocre cat food instead of no food and starving, but if the food is so low quality, you really do end up starving your cat.

3. BHA and BHT are cancer causing chemicals and you can often see this listed as one of the first four or five ingredients on dozens of cheap cat food products. BHA and BHT are cheap preservatives in some foods.

4. Cheap cat food is not high in protein. Your cat may seem to like the cheap cat food just because they eat it and make frequent trips to their dry food bowl. But maybe when your cat keeps eating that cheap cat food it is because they are so darn hungry from not getting enough protein they keep going back to their only food bowl hoping to feed their hunger.

5. Cheap cat food also makes your cat load up their kitty litter box. According to Care 4 Cats at http://www.care-4-cats.com/cat-food.htm



"The very cheapest pet food has a lot of ash as a filler, and the animal has to eat a lot to get enough nutritive value, producing lots of excrement. Better to buy less of a more expensive brand and save on cat litter costs too!

6. Cheap cat foods put extra fat into their foods so if cats have a nice shiny coat of the owners who are uneducated on ingredients are fooled into thinking their pet is healthy. Remember the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Don't judge your cat simply because the fur looks good. If they are not eating an adequate diet, eventually that good looking fur will stop looking good and get in sync with the look of their unhealthy insides.



7. By-products are often listed as one of the first three ingredients, and sadly it is often the first ingredient listed in cheap cat food. By-products are products that would not even stand alone to be considered food. By-products are disgusting and imagine if the company had to list exactly what the by products were? They could be beaks and feet and feather and bones and guts and eyeballs and on and on. It is just not natural and it is horrible to think that the biggest ingredient in the food you feed your cat is a waste product and not fit for consumption. NEVER buy cat food where by-products are listed as one of the first 5 ingredients. It is difficult to digest and does nothing nutritionally for your cat's health.

8. Corn fillers. Corn isn't cat food; it is another cheap filler that is difficult to digest. It is another reason cheap cat food is high in carbohydrates and high carbohydrate diets often lead to diabetes, kidney failure, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, obesity and many other complications in cats. Grains such as corn, rice, wheat and so on, should be absent or only minimally present in your cat's diet.

9. When was the last time you heard a veterinarian recommend a cheap cat food? Never. There are no professional pet journal articles mentioning you should feed your cat cheap versions of cat food found in both dry and canned form.

10. Just because you see the word beef or chicken or liver or fish doesn't mean the cat food even contains any of those items! There are industry standards in naming products and consumers are often fooled because of it. There is a difference between Chick cat food, chicken flavored cat food, chicken dinner, etc. According to consumersearch.com

"Of great concern to many pet owners is the quality of ingredients in cat food, primarily the type of protein source in food. Just as for human food, there are regulations regarding the labeling of cat food that can help consumers assess the amount of meat in the food. If a product is labeled "Beef Dog Food", for example, 95% of its ingredients must be beef. If it says "Chicken Dinner" or "Lamb Formula", it must contain only 25% of the meat. If the packaging simply states "Chicken Flavor", the food merely needs to taste like chicken to the cat; it does not need to actually have any chicken in it."

See the full story here:

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/cat-food/fullstory.html 

According to Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, she says "In the wild, your cat would be eating a high protein, high-moisture content, meat-based diet, with a moderate level of fat and with only approximately 3-5 percent of her diet consisting of carbohydrates. The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrates. Some of the cheaper dry foods contain even higher levels."



Cats are carnivores. They don't crave dough and bread and corn muffins, what cats want is meat. So, feeding your cat a high carbohydrate cat food, whether it is dry food or canned food, is much like feeding it doughnut as its main meal with some corn meal gluten pie as dessert. Just because the cat food is shaped like cute little fish doesn't mean it has anything really to do with fish ingredients. What is also appalling is how often cheap cat food is colored with chemical ingredients proven to cause cancer, just because the color as to somehow be pleasing to our human eyes. You cat doesn't care what color its food is! Your cat eats to fuel its body and what fuels its body best is a high protein diet which is impossible to get from a cheap cat food.

So, do yourself a favor, and most importantly your cat, and stop buying cheap cat food and read the ingredients. Buy more than one kind of high quality cat food and let your cat have a varied diet that doesn't just consist of dry food, but a mixture of dry and wet food.

Be generous with your cat and let them experience deli cuts of meat, tuna fish packed in water, sardines packed in water, salmon and other high quality high protein foods. And for an extra special treat, wheat grass, also known as pet grass, is a favorite among cats to aid in their digestion. Make sure you only give them organic wheat grass to snack on too.

A good diet of high quality high protein cat food is the best way you can show your cat you love them and want them to be around for many many years.



Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/58569/10_reasons_why_you_should_not_buy_cheap.html

Feeding Your Cat People Food

It seems that every time the family sits down to dinner the cat is sitting on any perch it can find to get better view, a better sniff of the yummy looking and smelling people food. For most cat lovers, the temptation to give in and give their cat a treat is too overwhelming to completely quell. So, small bits of this and tiny bites of that are tossed on the floor or gently hand fed to the eager cat.

For the most part, that's just fine. Feeding cats people food, in general, is not bad for them if it is not done to the extent that the cat is no longer eating a healthy and balanced meal with the essential nutrients a cat needs to stay healthy.

Most of the foods that humans eat are perfectly safe for cats to eat, however, keep in mind that every time you allow Fluffy to eat some of your people food, you are also reinforcing bad habits that you may not be able reverse in the future.

There are some people foods that are bad for cats, toxic to be exact. If all you're feeding our cat from the table scraps are bits of meats and some a few vegetables you really have nothing to worry about.

With that being said, there are a few vegetables and fruits that one should be aware not to feed their cat. In most cases, if you are not sure whether a particular piece of people food is safe for your cat to eat, then play it safe and don't feed it to them.

We'll start out with good old-fashioned milk. While the actual drinking of milk is not going to cause any damage to your cat, the side effects can cause the problems. If a cat is already eating a healthy diet and drinks too much milk, the lactose in the milk can cause the cat to come down with upset and cramped stomach problems. To prevent this, only give the cat small portions of milk and only a few times a week.

Some other people foods you should avoid feeding your cat include onions and garlic that contain a toxin that can attack red blood cells and if bad enough, your cat can run the risk of contracting anemia. Tomatoes and raw potatoes are members of the Solanaceae family of plants (the same as the deadly Nightshade plant) and can cause extreme intestinal problems.

Grapes, raisins and chocolate are all deemed to be not healthy for cats to ingest. In fact, most veterinarians discourage allowing any pets to eat them and particularly dogs. These three items can be toxic to your pet and studies have shown that even the smallest amount can be detrimental.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/149239/feeding_your_cat_people_food.html