Whats actually in Cat Food?

[catslave]

I really should have put this as the start of the thread but I am not posting this to try and get everyone to raw feed, I am posting it as information that is not easy to come by so people can make informed choices and draw their own conclusions.

[candes]

Fats are a very important part of your cats diet. Strictly lean meats and fish are to be avoided. And if feeding commercial, you need to assure a decent fat content. Especially for developing kittens. I also suggest a diet that contains Omega 3 fatty acids. When someone calls you a fat head you shoud take it as a compliment. Since a brain is comprised mainly of fat. A developing kitten without enough fat in their diet will not have proper brain development. I am actually relieved that I can look on the back of a can and be assured my baby is getting enough fat.

This sort of reminds me of my motehr in law trying to feed my daughter skim milk as a toddler. Against my wishes. Heck has no fury as a ticked off mother.

[candes]

I really should have put this as the start of the thread but I am not posting this to try and get everyone to raw feed, I am posting it as information that is not easy to come by so people can make informed choices and draw their own conclusions.

Actually this is a good way to condense everything we have learned over much trial and error and investigation. Folks can make their own conclusions. I am definately against the poor quality commercial cat foods out there! And the more the word gets out the better. Choose your cat food brand wisely.

[catslave]

Candes I appreciate your input and agree you too have done your homework and made your own ddecisions. I really am not trying to start an arguement, as above this thread is for information that took me many years to find. Both the kibbles that you recommend contain chicken meal / turkey meal. These are the rendered bits that I mentioned earlier. Out of curiosity I will e-mail both companies and ask them for details of the "meal" and the proccessing of it, or have you already done this during your own research? Again not wishing to argue just want info as if these are manufactured in a different way I would give consideration to using them.

[candes]

These are the rendered bits that I mentioned earlier. Out of curiosity I will e-mail both companies and ask them for details of the "meal" and the proccessing of it, or have you already done this during your own research? Again not wishing to argue just want info as if these are manufactured in a different way I would give consideration to using them.

This thread has been going quite well. Please lets not crap this post up with fallacies. Where did you get this information? Anyways this was also researched. No 2 brands are equal.

Turkey Meal

Turkey meal is the clean combination of the flesh and skin of turkey (with the moisture removed). Our high quality turkey meal is an excellent source of highly digestible, lean meat protein, and never contains added growth hormones. Turkey meal is also rich in essential amino acids, such as tryptophan. Turkey proteins are NOT considered to be cross-reactive with chicken proteins. In other words, pets with allergies to chicken should NOT have an allergic reaction when they eat turkey.

[candes]

Now let me remind you that the meal is just in the kibble. Something has to hold it together in nice little pieces.


Here are Teddies favorite moist or canned foods. He likes the moist packets of food vs the more dry heavy meaty cans.

Avoderm canned

Sardine, Fish Broth, Shrimp, Crab, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Carrageenan.

Natures variety platefulls

Fish Broth, Cod, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Sole, Peas, Shrimp, Dried Egg Whites, Carrots, Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Guar Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Sodium Carbonate, Ground Flaxseed, Spinach, Parsley, Dried Kelp, DL-Methionine, Cranberry Meal, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplements, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

This is the toxin analysis from his last opened packet of Natural Balance food in the fridge:


Report Number: 11-123-C1143-66

Test Date: 2011-05-03

Formula: cat: Platefulls™ Chicken & Salmon Formula in Gravy- 3oz Cat Pouch

Best By Date: 2013-04-18

Tested For
Analysis
Method
Verified By
Tested By


Aflatoxin
Levels below FDA Guideline
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

DON (Vomitoxin)
Levels below FDA Guideline
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Melamine
Non-Detect
LC-MS
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Cyanuric Acid
Non-Detect
LC-MS
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.


Ochratoxin
Levels below EU Guideline
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Fumonison 10/10
Levels below FDA Guideline
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Zearalenone
Levels below EU Guideline
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

E-Coli O157:H7
Non-Detect
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Salmonella
Non-Detect
ELISA
SS
Midwest Laboratories, Inc

[candes]

So what they are basically saying is: they process the meat to such an extent that they need to add lost nutrients.
Or they use so little meat that they need to add nutrients that weren’t there in the first place.

Wouldn’t it be simpler to just feed the cat the … ehmmm… meat?

Actually everytime you cook food, even human food, nutrients are lost. But once again cooking is benneficial since it removes pathogens. Also, I can guarantee that the best homemade diet, be it raw or cooked, does not provide all the required nutrients. And supplementation is necessary. A good tip off that your cat is not getting enough nutrients, is lack of spunk, dull ratty coat, stunted growth, and dull eyes. Sometimes even neurological symptoms may manifest. I can spot a malnourished cat from a mile away. Unfortunately I encounter many on the net every day and their owners are clueless. But who wants to be rude and say something?

Here is a fine healthy specimen at age 12 months. And still a lot of growing going on. ;)

[catslave]

Cats evolved to eat bacteria. They dig about in soil etc. Also they have a nasty habit of grooming themselves, including their bottoms, and occasionally other cats bottoms; I don't care how clean your cat is, its going to get bacteria from there.

There are a number of factors that prevent pathogenic bacteria from taking a foothold in thecat’s body. The first defense is saliva which kills bacteria entering with the food. Saliva is often referred to as a gatekeeper because of its protective role against harmful pathogens.

The stomach is highly acid (pH 1-2) and contains strong hydrochloric acid (HCL). HCL creates the right pH for enzymes to work efficiently and it kills bacteria that have escaped the protective enzymes in the saliva. Bacteria that survive the high acid content of the stomach then pass into the small intestine. Compared to the stomach, the small intestine is a relatively hospitable environment. The first section of the small intestine is called the duodenum. The pancreas and liver deposit their digestive enzymes, bicarbonate and bile salts, respectively, in this part of the small intestine.

The digestive enzymes from the pancreas digest the cells walls of harmful bacteria. The bile salts from the liver are primarily used for fat digestion and transportation and also potent antimicrobial agents. In addition, lysozyme is secreted by cells that line the digestive tract. Lysozyme is a potent enzyme that attacks bacterial cell walls, and is believed to be another primary control preventing bacterial overgrowth in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Bacteria that are able to survive need to be able to stick to the lining of the intestinal wall. To hold on they must contain adhering proteins, have their own means of locomotion, and be able to multiply rapidly enough to overcome the forward peristaltic movements of the small intestine. Bacteria that fail to meet the criteria for attachment, motility and propagation will pass on into the fecal matter and into the large intestine. The large intestine collects and processes undigested material that passes through the small intestine. The bacterial population of the large intestines is much greater than that found in the small intestine, with a higher number of gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria are very important to normal large intestinal physiology.

[dave]

Enough already !!!!!!!!!

[Helen & John]

Thanks, this thread is balanced and has lots of factual info instead of hysterics. Both Catslave & Candes apear to have a good grounding in both factual info and research.
It shows both sides in a non emotional discussion giving info in a easy to read way (once Catslave was on a laptop!).

Edit: I have now discovered that this is a cleaned up thread (for want of a better phrase) I know this is an emotive subject but each to their own..........everyone is allowed to hold their own ideas and if it works for you fine but please don't be too forcefull when getting your point across..............