Why, Oh, Why Are Pet Food Companies Like This? How To Switch To Raw?
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Jan 29th, 2010 |
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When I was feeding my cats this morning, I noticed something unusual in the can. Veggies! Like, chunks of potato, tomato and peas.
Cats are obligate carnivores and are not designed to eat fruits and veggies, but yet it’s in every bag of food out there. When will the companies get that cats need lots of meat and no fruits and veggies?
Also, anyone have experience with switching a cat to a raw diet? Thanks!
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I have successfully converted one cat to raw. The other one is having some issues but I’ll get her yet.
Here’s my blog on converting to raw. I’ve covered most things I think: http://runeamok.multiply.com/journal/ite…
Back to commercial food….it bugs me too. I’d rather see veg/fruit than grains but I’d also prefer to see neither. At the moment, the only canned foods that don’t add something objectionable are not complete and balanced (I don’t think…..) – I’m referring to Wysong’s Au Jus line and to Evo’s 95% Meat. I think the Evo might be balanced but I know Wysong’s isn’t. So you can buy cat food that is nothing but processed meat but then you have to fiddle with a supplement.
I do think commercial foods have a long way to go but at least there are some brands that aren’t completely hideous. That’s not saying much but maybe in time….
Some veggies are beneficial to digestion. Squash and pumpkin are good for cats, but not in huge amounts. Tomatoes are really of no benefit to a cat and can actually be harmful in great quantity. I see no reason to put potatoes in a cat food, other than filler to make it a little cheaper to manufacture. Potatoes offer no necessary nutrient in a cat’s diet as they get plenty of fiber from meat.
I, too, would rather see veggies than grains, but I try to find canned foods that have neither. A small amount of veggies are just fine, however, and most premium canned foods only use small amounts, but one thing I would prefer to never see in cat food is garlic. Yet, even some high quality brands have it even though there is no reason for garlic to be in cat food, not even in small harmless amounts. My take on this is if it is of no benefit, it should not be there.
Raw is the best you can feed a cat, barring any genetic or other health issues that would prohibit raw feeding. But those are rare exceptions and most cats are going to do extremely well on a raw diet. First, do some research to be sure you know how to offer a balanced diet complete with appropriate supplements.
Many good sites are available to answer questions. One example: http://www.catinfo.org
Cats are hard to switch to raw diets and the balance can be really tricky as they can be finicky and want change.
Some veggies are good for cats. They do eat veg in the wild, grasses and in the intestines of killed prey. It depends on what those veggies are that makes the difference. Potatoes and tomatoes, no.
Skeebo, please consider not feeding your cat tuna. It contains a chemical in it that rips Vitamin E out of a cat’s system. Even supplementing with Vit E doesn’t really help much. Try using smaller fish like sardines etc. It is better for them. Cheers!
Try a different brand of canned if this is really bothering you. Even the premium foods will contain veg. though.
“Obligate carnivore” does not mean that a cat can not or should not eat vegetable matter. What it means is that a cat MUST eat meat. There’s a difference.
In fact, a cat does need vegetable matter. On its own it would get that from eating a bit of plants intentionally and from undigested particles in the intestines of its prey.
Some vegetables are good for cats and it is believed that they would eat that as well in the wild. Take a look at Taste of the Wild – the formulas were developed off of what dogs and cats would eat in the wild.http://tasteofthewildpetfood.com/product…http://tasteofthewildpetfood.com/product…
Years of domestication have turned your pets from fierce predator to best friends. However, modern science proves that your dog or cat still share the DNA of the wolf or wild cat. Taste of the Wild™ Brand Dog and Cat food offers your pet a diet dictated by his genes. It provides your pet with the kind of natural, balanced diet that he could find “in the wild.”
Now you can satisfy your dog or cat’s instinctual cravings with Taste of the Wild. Choose from High Prairie Canine with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison, Pacific Stream Canine with Smoked Salmon, Wetlands Canine with Roasted Wild Fowl and Rocky Mountain Feline with Roasted Venison & Smoked Salmon.
Made with real roasted meats and supplemented with fruits and vegetables, these grain-free formulas provide a superior taste sensation, highly digestible energy and natural antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and overall health. Your pets crave a taste of the wild. Go ahead and give them one.
You change to raw the same way you would change from 1 food to another. You do it slowly by replacing some of the old with the new each day. Do you know how to pepare raw? Have tried a of raw chicken by itself to see if they may go for it easily?http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htmhttp://www.mousabilities.com/cats/food/h…http://www.catnutrition.org/pictorial.ph…
Never switched to raw but I feed him mostly dry and seldom chicken and tuna. The food that I give him is naturally made on a farm and have heard testimonies that is assisted ones with digestive problems. The place is called Flint River. Look on-line and review. My cat is VERY healthy.
I haven’t used a raw diet for my cat, but I’m sure he would love it! I haven’t seen those ingredients in my cat’s dry food, but his canned food has rice and “garden greens.” I would guess the veggies are used to give the cat more fiber.
You have to transition your cats very slowly to raw.
Here are some helpful websites on raw feeding.http://rawfedcats.org/ http://rawfed.com/myths/cats.html