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IT'S NOT WHAT'S EATING YOUR CAT....
IT'S WHAT'S YOUR CAT EATING?
What are you feeding your fussy felines? Is what were feeding our cats good and nutritious?
Until now there has been more research conducted on dog food than on cat food, but that trend seems to have changed in the past few years. After all, there are more pet cats than pet dogs in the country now.
So, in view of that fact, cat food companies are starting to care more about and even change their feline food formulas. Cat food his now better and more nutritious, and hopefully more delicious, than it has ever been. Even the process of the manufacturinghas changed. And that's good news for cats and the cat-owned.
Even in human diets, what we eat can go a long way to determine what our life expectancy will be. People who eat a balanced diet, in general, can look forward
to living a longer life. And so, the same is true forour cats.
Research revealed that cat food had a deficiency of the mineral copper. Copper is essential for growth and reproduction. When you cat suffers a copper deficiency her hair can turn a lighter color or look "washed out: and faded.
At the conclusion of the research and study, the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) found that there were several vitamins and minerals missing from a cat's diet. AAFCO recommended to the cat food companies that they add these vitamins and minerals to their products.
Then it was up to the cat food companies to come up with new methods to produce their foods. Certain methods of processing foods can sometimes destroy certain essential vitamins. This has brought on an evolution in the processing of your cat's food. Most of the major cat food producers had to invest millions of dollars to test their new products and upgrade their mechanical processing equipment.
Not only was there a change in production, there was a change in the shape of the food itself. Food companies wanted something that had mouth appeal for your cat and came up with what is called a "kibble."
It is amazing that today just one cat food company can run a production line that produces 30 tons of dry food an hour. That comes out to 375 tons per day for one
8-hour shift. Wow! that's a lot of kibble!
In 1999, pet owners purchased more dry food than canned food. A pet owner survey found that 93 percent of these owners bought dry food. In the next 12 months after this survey was taken, another survey was taken and it found
that of the 93 percent, 63 percent bought canned food and 22 percent purchased semi-moist food to supplement with the dry food.
With today's cat food and the newer ways of production, you can now feel more comfortable knowing that you have good nutritional benefits with just about any of your choices. The trick is to find a food that your cat likes. If you are having problems finding something that your little furry darling likes, then attend one of your local cat shows. A lot of times, cat food companies will have booths set up and will distribute small samples for you (or rather, your cat) to try. This way you can shop around with out having to spend a bunch of money on a five-pound bag that your sweetie-puss might not like.
In all, cat food and cat food companies have come a long way in just four years. Their expertise has given us the rewards of keeping our cats healthy and the benefit of longer life for our companions.
We commend you, cat food companies, and encourage you to to keep up the good work. Keep on with your research and keep on producing the best products that you can. We and our cats thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Of all the toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it makes a sound when you jump on it.
~Stephen Baker
Keep an accurate record of your kitten or cat's medical history. This can be useful in an emergency or when your regular veterinarian is not available. This list should include dates and types of vaccinations, dates of surgery or serious illness, and other health-related information. If you move to another city, such a record is extremely helpful to the new veterinarian. It is also a good idea to obtain the cat's medical file from her veterinarian before moving.
