This is the fourth and final installation in my four-part series on the health problems caused by feeding cats a typical dry food diet. You may want to read the introduction (Name That Food!) first.
Many, many cats fed a diet of commercial dry food are terribly overweight. Even one extra pound on an animal as small as a cat can lead to major health problems, from additional strain on joints to heart conditions and diabetes. With the high carbohydrate content in many dry foods, it's no wonder that cats are putting on weight. Cats DO NOT need carbohydrates. They don't process them well and regular consumption often leads to weight gain.
I've had many customers who were afraid to switch to canned food because they thought it would be more fattening than dry food. The truth is that dry foods contain much more fat than moist foods (feel free to compare the government-regulated "Guaranteed Analysis" panels that are printed on all pet foods). Besides, it's the carbohydrates in the rice and corn they're being fed (rather than dietary fat) that leads to weight gain. Put your kitty on an Adkin's diet! For goodness' sake, it's what she should be eating anyway!
I would recommend feeding an overweight cat a grain-free canned or raw food (which gets its bulk from essential moisture rather than unnecessary carbs) and watch the excess weight melt off. Keep in mind that your cat will need a smaller quantity of a high quality food to get the nutrients she needs. That means that you must be sure to follow the feeding guidelines on the package, adjusting them to match your cat's lifestyle (an active kitty may need more than the can suggests... a lazy one may need less). Also, if your cat expects treats throughout the day, remember to switch over to grain-free, protein-based snacks as well.
The "diet" I am suggesting is great for underweight cats as well. It's not a fad or a strict weight-loss regime like so many (ineffective) human diets. My goal is to get your cat eating the way felines are meant to eat... and since they don't make canned mice, grain-free canned or raw foods are the next-best thing. On a moist, grain-free diet, thin cats that won't eat much are sure to get more nutrients out of what they do acquiesce to eat (besides the fact that they are likely to eat more because this type of food is much more appetizing to a cat), and fat cats will lose weight because carbohydrates are so limited.
I would recommend the same (or a similar) diet for cats of all ages and weights, with quantity being the only variable factor.
Next up: Myth Busters!
Monday, January 26, 2009
#3: Diabetes
This is number three in my four-part series on the health problems caused by feeding cats a typical dry food diet. You may want to read the introduction (Name That Food!) first.
I once had a customer whose cat was diabetic and went to the vet every week for an insulin shot. The poor woman was upset because it was so stressful for her cat and so expensive for her, but she wasn't ready to give up on her kitty just yet. She wanted to know if I had any suggestions that might improve the situation. I asked what she was feeding her cat, and she told me. I walked her over to the bags on the shelf and showed her the ingredients (I can't remember which food it was, but it was a pretty typical "premium" dry food like the one used in the example). Like most people, she had never read the ingredient panel and was shocked to see that the food was mostly comprised of grains... especially because she was paying extra for a "premium" food that she believed would help her sick kitty.
I reminded her that the first thing human diabetics are told is to limit carbohydrates in their diets because they disrupt their blood-sugar levels and make their symptoms worse. As far as grains go, corn contains quite a bit of fructose, which is why it's so tasty and sweet... and so very bad for your cat.
Remember: Cats have NO metabolic need for carbohydrates of any kind, especially simple ones like sugar (the fructose in corn)! In some cats, excess consumption of these unnecessary grains CAN lead to devastating health problems, like diabetes.
Also, I can only imagine how much the chronic dehydration caused by a diet of dry food exacerbated the cat's diabetes.
I suggested that my customer try a grain free canned food for a few weeks, just to see what would happen. It cost a little more than her regular diet, but not by much, and the vet bills were so extravagant that it was definitely worth a shot. She came back in a month later and told me that her vet sent his blood glucose meter in to be checked because her cat tested normal for the first time and, when she told him it was because of the new food, he said that he didn't believe that the cat food would make a difference. We both laughed about that ridiculous statement. If you think about it, many humans are able to control diabetes by regulating the amount of carbohydrates they eat, so why should cats, which shouldn't eat grains or sugars to begin with, be any different?
My customer was thrilled with the food and said that her cat was more active and playful that it had been in years... and she was saving oodles of money by avoiding frequent veterinary appointments. She actually thanked me for "saving" her cat with my suggestion. Isn't it amazing that a young pet store clerk with a little common sense can correct health problems more efficiently than a vet?
I once had a customer whose cat was diabetic and went to the vet every week for an insulin shot. The poor woman was upset because it was so stressful for her cat and so expensive for her, but she wasn't ready to give up on her kitty just yet. She wanted to know if I had any suggestions that might improve the situation. I asked what she was feeding her cat, and she told me. I walked her over to the bags on the shelf and showed her the ingredients (I can't remember which food it was, but it was a pretty typical "premium" dry food like the one used in the example). Like most people, she had never read the ingredient panel and was shocked to see that the food was mostly comprised of grains... especially because she was paying extra for a "premium" food that she believed would help her sick kitty.
I reminded her that the first thing human diabetics are told is to limit carbohydrates in their diets because they disrupt their blood-sugar levels and make their symptoms worse. As far as grains go, corn contains quite a bit of fructose, which is why it's so tasty and sweet... and so very bad for your cat.
Remember: Cats have NO metabolic need for carbohydrates of any kind, especially simple ones like sugar (the fructose in corn)! In some cats, excess consumption of these unnecessary grains CAN lead to devastating health problems, like diabetes.
Also, I can only imagine how much the chronic dehydration caused by a diet of dry food exacerbated the cat's diabetes.
I suggested that my customer try a grain free canned food for a few weeks, just to see what would happen. It cost a little more than her regular diet, but not by much, and the vet bills were so extravagant that it was definitely worth a shot. She came back in a month later and told me that her vet sent his blood glucose meter in to be checked because her cat tested normal for the first time and, when she told him it was because of the new food, he said that he didn't believe that the cat food would make a difference. We both laughed about that ridiculous statement. If you think about it, many humans are able to control diabetes by regulating the amount of carbohydrates they eat, so why should cats, which shouldn't eat grains or sugars to begin with, be any different?
My customer was thrilled with the food and said that her cat was more active and playful that it had been in years... and she was saving oodles of money by avoiding frequent veterinary appointments. She actually thanked me for "saving" her cat with my suggestion. Isn't it amazing that a young pet store clerk with a little common sense can correct health problems more efficiently than a vet?
#2: Allergies
This is number two in my four-part series on the health problems caused by feeding cats a typical dry food diet. You may want to read the introduction (Name That Food!) first.
Excess shedding, itching, rashes, and other skin irritations are all symptoms of allergies. Just like humans, felines can grow into allergies over time, so they may begin showing allergy symptoms even though you have not changed their food. Both cats and dogs are commonly allergic to: corn, wheat, soy, and occasionally chicken and beef... and most dry cat foods seem to contain corn.
If you suspect that your cat may have allergies, switch her over to an "allergy" or "limited ingredient" diet that does not contain any of those ingredients (you will have to actually read the ingredient panel, as many so-called sensitive skin formulas still contain many of these items... particularly corn). If the symptoms improve after 3-4 weeks on the new food, then you know that they were caused by a food allergy and you can experiment with different foods to isolate the problem ingredient. I suggest experimenting because I'd hate for you to avoid chicken forever if your cat is actually only allergic to corn (which seems to be the most common allergen and the ingredient most consistently found in dry foods). *Important* Do not give your cat treats during your testing phase because if the treats contain the allergen, the symptoms will remain and you won't discover what is causing the problem.
I've had customers with cats and dogs that received monthly cortisone shots for allergies. Once they switched to a limited ingredient food, most no longer needed shots at all! Not only that, but the symptoms, which the shot only controlled (and not very well), disappeared completely!
Excess shedding, itching, rashes, and other skin irritations are all symptoms of allergies. Just like humans, felines can grow into allergies over time, so they may begin showing allergy symptoms even though you have not changed their food. Both cats and dogs are commonly allergic to: corn, wheat, soy, and occasionally chicken and beef... and most dry cat foods seem to contain corn.
If you suspect that your cat may have allergies, switch her over to an "allergy" or "limited ingredient" diet that does not contain any of those ingredients (you will have to actually read the ingredient panel, as many so-called sensitive skin formulas still contain many of these items... particularly corn). If the symptoms improve after 3-4 weeks on the new food, then you know that they were caused by a food allergy and you can experiment with different foods to isolate the problem ingredient. I suggest experimenting because I'd hate for you to avoid chicken forever if your cat is actually only allergic to corn (which seems to be the most common allergen and the ingredient most consistently found in dry foods). *Important* Do not give your cat treats during your testing phase because if the treats contain the allergen, the symptoms will remain and you won't discover what is causing the problem.
I've had customers with cats and dogs that received monthly cortisone shots for allergies. Once they switched to a limited ingredient food, most no longer needed shots at all! Not only that, but the symptoms, which the shot only controlled (and not very well), disappeared completely!
#1: Urinary Tract Crystals
This is number one in my four-part series on the health problems caused by feeding cats a typical dry food diet. You may want to read the introduction (Name That Food!) first.
As explained in previous blogs, cats have a low thirst drive and a very acidic digestive system. Because cats naturally get most of their moisture from food, they don't drink much water. This means that dry food (which obviously contains less moisture than, say, a mouse) leaves many cats in a state of chronic dehydration, leading to more concentrated (and more smelly) urine. Also, the bulk of most dry foods is comprised of grain products (ie: the ground whole corn, brewers rice, and corn gluten meal in the example). Grains tend to make a cat's urine more alkaline (the opposite of acidic) and that, coupled with the concentrated urine, leads to crystals.
If you've ever had a cat that suffered from urinary tract crystals, you know how painful it is for the cat, and how expensive it is to correct (it may even require surgery). Urinary tract health dry foods are an exercise in futility because half of the problem is caused by the fact that the food is dry. The addition of cranberries is laughable because they do NOT reduce the cat's pH and, unlike a human suffering from a urinary tract infection, a cat will not benefit from the fruit's antibacterial properties. Simply switching to a grain-free, moist diet (canned or raw) prevents this condition... and can sometimes correct a current problem.
As explained in previous blogs, cats have a low thirst drive and a very acidic digestive system. Because cats naturally get most of their moisture from food, they don't drink much water. This means that dry food (which obviously contains less moisture than, say, a mouse) leaves many cats in a state of chronic dehydration, leading to more concentrated (and more smelly) urine. Also, the bulk of most dry foods is comprised of grain products (ie: the ground whole corn, brewers rice, and corn gluten meal in the example). Grains tend to make a cat's urine more alkaline (the opposite of acidic) and that, coupled with the concentrated urine, leads to crystals.
If you've ever had a cat that suffered from urinary tract crystals, you know how painful it is for the cat, and how expensive it is to correct (it may even require surgery). Urinary tract health dry foods are an exercise in futility because half of the problem is caused by the fact that the food is dry. The addition of cranberries is laughable because they do NOT reduce the cat's pH and, unlike a human suffering from a urinary tract infection, a cat will not benefit from the fruit's antibacterial properties. Simply switching to a grain-free, moist diet (canned or raw) prevents this condition... and can sometimes correct a current problem.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Name That Food!
What type of food do you think this is, based on the ingredients?
(the answer can be found at the end of the blog)
Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Powdered Cellulose (10.5% source of fiber), Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Glyceryl Monostearate, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Please note that this is NOT a cheapo grocery store brand food. This is a "premium," top-selling, "vet recommended" food that can only be purchased in pet stores (and it's expensive... a 3.5 pound bag is $13.99 on petsmart.com as of 1/26/2009). Now, tell me why on earth three of the top four ingredients this "premium" brand cat food are inexpensive grain products... and why two of them are just different ways of saying corn?
Cats have no metabolic need for carbohydrates. Don't take my word for it... feel free to look it up. Any grain product in a cat food (particularly in the first few ingredients) is a cheap "filler" intended to bulk up the food, fill up your cat, and pad the wallets of the food's manufacturer.
Precious little about the food listed above is good for your cat... and yet it's more expensive than some foods that really are high quality! If you don't know anything about the ingredients (which I'll cover in another blog), it just sounds unappetizing (and it is... that's why the manufacturers have to spray it with fat to get your cat to eat it). If you do know something about the ingredients, then you know that by-product meal isn't a high quality protein source and that the excessive use of grains can lead to a host of health problems.
During my years in retail pet supply sales, I've learned that people who buy "premium" foods are paying extra for what they have been lead to believe is a quality pet food. However, all too often they are not getting what they pay for. In the next four blogs, I will illustrate how a diet comprised only of a typical "premium" dry cat food can cause and/or complicate a number of common (but often serious) feline health problems.
And please stick with me, because there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
The ingredients I listed above are for Hill's Science Diet Adult indoor Cat food. You can see for yourself on their website.
(the answer can be found at the end of the blog)
Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Powdered Cellulose (10.5% source of fiber), Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Glyceryl Monostearate, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Please note that this is NOT a cheapo grocery store brand food. This is a "premium," top-selling, "vet recommended" food that can only be purchased in pet stores (and it's expensive... a 3.5 pound bag is $13.99 on petsmart.com as of 1/26/2009). Now, tell me why on earth three of the top four ingredients this "premium" brand cat food are inexpensive grain products... and why two of them are just different ways of saying corn?
Cats have no metabolic need for carbohydrates. Don't take my word for it... feel free to look it up. Any grain product in a cat food (particularly in the first few ingredients) is a cheap "filler" intended to bulk up the food, fill up your cat, and pad the wallets of the food's manufacturer.
Precious little about the food listed above is good for your cat... and yet it's more expensive than some foods that really are high quality! If you don't know anything about the ingredients (which I'll cover in another blog), it just sounds unappetizing (and it is... that's why the manufacturers have to spray it with fat to get your cat to eat it). If you do know something about the ingredients, then you know that by-product meal isn't a high quality protein source and that the excessive use of grains can lead to a host of health problems.
During my years in retail pet supply sales, I've learned that people who buy "premium" foods are paying extra for what they have been lead to believe is a quality pet food. However, all too often they are not getting what they pay for. In the next four blogs, I will illustrate how a diet comprised only of a typical "premium" dry cat food can cause and/or complicate a number of common (but often serious) feline health problems.
And please stick with me, because there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
The ingredients I listed above are for Hill's Science Diet Adult indoor Cat food. You can see for yourself on their website.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Don't be Afraid to Question Your Veterinarian!
While I honestly believe that most veterinarians have your pets best interests at heart, I also believe that many of them have been mislead by the big pet food manufacturers that fund everything from their textbooks and education all the way up to (and including) the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Don't believe me? Elsevier, one of the main publishers of medical and veterinary textbooks, has a page on their website inviting corporations to advertise in their publications. You can view this page here. That means that the research done by pet food manufacturers, which obviously have a pretty specific agenda, becomes cannon educational material for veterinary students.
One of the most popular, expensive and, in my opinion, worst "premium" foods on the market is overwhelmingly recommended by veterinarians... and not because of the food's outstanding quality or health giving properties. Why? Well, just by browsing their website, you'll learn that they make regular and large donations to veterinary scholarship programs, universities, "research" labs, and to the AVMA itself (their support of the AVMA can be found here, but if you look around their site, you'll see that they have their fingers in many different pots). It may seem charitable, but in reality, it's a shameless advertising campaign targeted straight at the animal health care providers we have been taught to trust.
I left the company's name out of my writing so as to avoid accusations of slander. However, I have provided links for you to follow so that you can view their gimmicks and pseudo-science for yourself. I prefer to let them dig their own grave, so to speak.
It's all about money, folks. They make a lousy product out of inexpensive grains and animal by-products (read the ingredient panels, like this one), then convince vets that it's top-of-the line (or offer them perks for recommending the food, just like drug reps do with human doctors) and then they make unbelievable profits because they can charge an arm and a leg for this "vet recommended" food.
I used one specific brand as an example because of their focus on the vets, rather than the consumers themselves. Most people are automatically suspicious of advertisements, but trust their pet's doctor and that's why I find this particular strategy so offensive. However, please understand that most of the giants in the pet food industry do the same thing to one degree or another.
One important factor to understand is that vets are not nutritionists. Just as many human doctors accept a drug rep's claims because the doctor is not a chemist, vets often believe what they are told about food rather than doing additional research for themselves. Also, unfortunately, they make more money by repeatedly treating "chronic" conditions than from suggesting simple dietary changes that would render their treatments unnecessary. I am in no way saying that they are all horrible and greedy but, for whatever reason, I have found that there are precious few that are aware of how essential proper nutrition is for a feline's health... or what proper nutrition is for a cat.
I'm really not a conspiracy theorist... the evidence isn't hidden or confidential. It's right on the manufacturer's own website, on the food ingredient labels, and on the shelves at your vets office. A little understanding of corporate motivations and human nature is all it takes to put the pieces together.
Next up: The dangers of dry food.
Don't believe me? Elsevier, one of the main publishers of medical and veterinary textbooks, has a page on their website inviting corporations to advertise in their publications. You can view this page here. That means that the research done by pet food manufacturers, which obviously have a pretty specific agenda, becomes cannon educational material for veterinary students.
One of the most popular, expensive and, in my opinion, worst "premium" foods on the market is overwhelmingly recommended by veterinarians... and not because of the food's outstanding quality or health giving properties. Why? Well, just by browsing their website, you'll learn that they make regular and large donations to veterinary scholarship programs, universities, "research" labs, and to the AVMA itself (their support of the AVMA can be found here, but if you look around their site, you'll see that they have their fingers in many different pots). It may seem charitable, but in reality, it's a shameless advertising campaign targeted straight at the animal health care providers we have been taught to trust.
I left the company's name out of my writing so as to avoid accusations of slander. However, I have provided links for you to follow so that you can view their gimmicks and pseudo-science for yourself. I prefer to let them dig their own grave, so to speak.
It's all about money, folks. They make a lousy product out of inexpensive grains and animal by-products (read the ingredient panels, like this one), then convince vets that it's top-of-the line (or offer them perks for recommending the food, just like drug reps do with human doctors) and then they make unbelievable profits because they can charge an arm and a leg for this "vet recommended" food.
I used one specific brand as an example because of their focus on the vets, rather than the consumers themselves. Most people are automatically suspicious of advertisements, but trust their pet's doctor and that's why I find this particular strategy so offensive. However, please understand that most of the giants in the pet food industry do the same thing to one degree or another.
One important factor to understand is that vets are not nutritionists. Just as many human doctors accept a drug rep's claims because the doctor is not a chemist, vets often believe what they are told about food rather than doing additional research for themselves. Also, unfortunately, they make more money by repeatedly treating "chronic" conditions than from suggesting simple dietary changes that would render their treatments unnecessary. I am in no way saying that they are all horrible and greedy but, for whatever reason, I have found that there are precious few that are aware of how essential proper nutrition is for a feline's health... or what proper nutrition is for a cat.
I'm really not a conspiracy theorist... the evidence isn't hidden or confidential. It's right on the manufacturer's own website, on the food ingredient labels, and on the shelves at your vets office. A little understanding of corporate motivations and human nature is all it takes to put the pieces together.
Next up: The dangers of dry food.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Feline Biology Primer (It's short and sweet, I promise!)
A bit of basic biology:
All felines, as I'm sure you know, are carnivores. More specifically, though, they belong to a special group known as obligate carnivores, which means that they cannot survive on a diet that does not contain a certain quantity of animal protein. In this regard, they differ from canines, which can survive on a vegetarian diet (though I certainly wouldn't recommend it).
The house cats we have today evolved from a domesticated version of small desert felines in northern Africa. As desert creatures, cats developed only a minimal thirst drive because they derived most of their necessary fluids from prey animals.
A cat's digestive system is short and very acidic (as compared to a human's). This protects them from many of the pathogens that can, potentially, be present in the raw meat their ancestral diets consisted of. It is also sensitive to changes in pH and it is an abnormally alkaline (high pH) urinary tract that leads to the dangerous crystals our pets can be prone to.
Now that we've established what most people probably already knew, that a cat's biology is designed for a very specific type of nutrition (raw meat), later blogs will be dedicated to exploring why on earth so many humans have decided that the healthiest cat food is a dry, cereal-like, grain-based product. But next, I want to clear up some issues regarding "veterinarian-recommended" foods.
All felines, as I'm sure you know, are carnivores. More specifically, though, they belong to a special group known as obligate carnivores, which means that they cannot survive on a diet that does not contain a certain quantity of animal protein. In this regard, they differ from canines, which can survive on a vegetarian diet (though I certainly wouldn't recommend it).
The house cats we have today evolved from a domesticated version of small desert felines in northern Africa. As desert creatures, cats developed only a minimal thirst drive because they derived most of their necessary fluids from prey animals.
Their dentition is is clearly that of a predator, as one can tell with but a glance at their long, sharp canines. Their molars follow the same pattern and are built for shearing meat off of bones rather than crushing and grinding (like a cow's or a human's are).
Now that we've established what most people probably already knew, that a cat's biology is designed for a very specific type of nutrition (raw meat), later blogs will be dedicated to exploring why on earth so many humans have decided that the healthiest cat food is a dry, cereal-like, grain-based product. But next, I want to clear up some issues regarding "veterinarian-recommended" foods.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Meet and Greet
Hello! My name is Karen and I decided to start writing "Feeding Felines and other Cat Care tips" because I've seen a lot of kitties and their humans really struggling with big problems that have very simple solutions. Even after spending ridiculous amounts of money at the vets for a battery of unnecessary testing, human and kitty are often both still just as (if not more) miserable and there is no reprieve in sight. Sometimes this leads to a lifetime of medication, to people giving up their pet, or worse, to putting kitty "to sleep" because they think it's the most humane thing to do. If this is where you are right now, please WAIT! I've got a few super cheap and easy things for you to try that just might solve your problems.
First, I am NOT a veterinarian. My degrees are in Literature and History, so I'm obviously not a biologist or a nutritionist either. What I HAVE done is worked in retail pet sales for three years, read extensively on feline nutrition (both on-line and in honest-to-goodness published books), and cared for two cats of my own.
Retail sales experience might not seem like much of a qualification, but our customers really depended on me and my co-workers to give them quality pet care advice and so we fielded every imaginable question, giving the best suggestions we could and learning from the feedback we received (as the store where I worked depended, mostly, on repeat customers). A number of customers came back to tell me that I had "saved" their cat, even after their vet told them that he or she was out of ideas. Examples of this will be described in subsequent blogs.
Second, I do NOT work for any pet food manufacturer and do not currently work for an animal products retailer. I may list some name brands from time to time so that it will be easy for you to find the type of food I recommend, but I will also give nutritional specifications to look for so that you can read the ingredients and decide for yourself.
So who am I? I'm just a person who really loves her cats and who did a lot of research to decide what food, litter, toys, etc would be best for them (and for me!). I've also spoken at length with many customers and acquaintances who were dealing with problems that my cats have not faced, and their feedback has certainly added to my bank of knowledge.
I encourage you to leave comments and ask questions so that your story can help other people. Even if your experience contradicts what I suggest, there may be some validity to it and I'd be interested in exploring that.
First, I am NOT a veterinarian. My degrees are in Literature and History, so I'm obviously not a biologist or a nutritionist either. What I HAVE done is worked in retail pet sales for three years, read extensively on feline nutrition (both on-line and in honest-to-goodness published books), and cared for two cats of my own.
Retail sales experience might not seem like much of a qualification, but our customers really depended on me and my co-workers to give them quality pet care advice and so we fielded every imaginable question, giving the best suggestions we could and learning from the feedback we received (as the store where I worked depended, mostly, on repeat customers). A number of customers came back to tell me that I had "saved" their cat, even after their vet told them that he or she was out of ideas. Examples of this will be described in subsequent blogs.
Second, I do NOT work for any pet food manufacturer and do not currently work for an animal products retailer. I may list some name brands from time to time so that it will be easy for you to find the type of food I recommend, but I will also give nutritional specifications to look for so that you can read the ingredients and decide for yourself.
So who am I? I'm just a person who really loves her cats and who did a lot of research to decide what food, litter, toys, etc would be best for them (and for me!). I've also spoken at length with many customers and acquaintances who were dealing with problems that my cats have not faced, and their feedback has certainly added to my bank of knowledge.
I encourage you to leave comments and ask questions so that your story can help other people. Even if your experience contradicts what I suggest, there may be some validity to it and I'd be interested in exploring that.
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