Along with veterinary care, a nutritious diet is critical to your cat's health and longevity. Learn why the right food plays such an important role in responsible cat care. You'll find covered here material on the history of commercial cat food, the story behind the recent revolution in cat food manufacturing, and reasons why you need to be very selective in choosing the kinds of food that make up your cat's diet.
Why all the Fuss About Cat Food?
Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
Food Pets Die For, by Ann N. Martin - Review
Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
It's possible that you will consider leaving this particular book unread. On the other hand, you couldn't perform a more loving act on behalf of the cats and dogs who share your home and trust you to do what is right for them, than to read this book and take to heart its admonishments.
Mad Cow Disease: Are Cats at Risk?
Pet food is still legally made from meat and bone meal, although its use has been discontinued in ruminant feed. As a result, over 100 cats in Great Britain have died from feline spongiform encephalopathy, or FSE, the feline equivalent of Mad Cow Disease.An article written by Jean Hofve, DVM, for The Whole Cat Journal, points out that in the past ten years, the USDA has only tested the brains of about 12,000 cattle total, of the more than 300 million slaughtered. Dr. Hofve goes on to point out that the "Downers" can still be legally slaughtered and their meat sold for both human and pet food. She believes cats to be more sensitive to the prions than are humans.
Pet Food Recall
If any future good can be found in the tragic pet food recall in 2007, it will be twofold:- Consumers who buy commercial cat and dog foods will become better informed as to the kinds of ingredients included in their pet food purchases, and will insist on only the safest, highest quality ingredients.
- Lawmakers will set politics aside and create new, stronger laws governing the USDA activities, both in setting the standards for acceptable ingredients in pet foods, and for enforcing those standards with inspections of U.S. pet food manufacturing facilities and rigid enforcement and inspection of imported ingredients intended for pet foods.
Law suits have already been filed to the latter purpose.
