| If you've ever felt confused about how to
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| | and veggies provide an excellent source
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| choose the healthiest cat food for your
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| | of fiber plus natural occurring vitamins
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| feline companion, you're not alone. The
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| | and minerals.
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| pet food recall in the spring of 2007
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| | AVOID: Vegetable proteins and gluten,
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| sent many spinning. Most pet owners are
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| | which are indigestible and cause
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| aware that pet food manufacturers are
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| | allergies for cats, are made from refined
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| required by law to list all of the
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| | flours, wheat, mill runs, brewer's rice,
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| product ingredients in order of weight.
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| | etc. Also watch out for processed fruits
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| While that is helpful, an organized
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| | and vegetables like dehydrated potatoes,
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| checklist is more useful to take
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| | tomato pumice and alfalfa meal.
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| shopping. Here are some guidelines from
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| | REASON? Vegetable proteins, especially
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| top animal food experts.
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| | soybean meal protein, have become
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| Cat Food Ingredients in Order of
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| | favorites of pet food manufacturers
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| Importance
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| | because they are cheap sources of
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| 1. Proteins
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| | protein, giving them bigger profits and
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| LOOK FOR: Meat or fish named on the label
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| | making it appear that cats are getting
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| with words like--chicken, turkey, lamb,
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| | good protein. Glutens made from flours
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| beef, herring, salmon, etc. Also
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| | are merely cheap binders or "glue" in pet
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| acceptable are concentrated named meat
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| | foods. Both sources can result in severe
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| proteins like--chicken meal, turkey meal,
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| | nutritional deficiencies.
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| lamb meal, herring meal, etc.
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| | 3. Fats, Oils and Preservatives
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| WHY? Cats are what scientists call
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| | LOOK FOR: Named fats from quality sources
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| "obligate carnivores". This means that
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| | like--chicken fat, lamb fat, sunflower
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| they are designed to eat a meat diet.
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| | oil, herring oil, etc. Natural
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| When you're choosing a food for your cat,
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| | preservatives like mixed tocopeherols and
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| you want it to have all the available
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| | Vitamin E from whole foods are
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| nutrients to provide for good energy,
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| | preferable.
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| strong muscle tone and a stable immune
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| | WHY? Fats and oils from named, nutritious
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| system so the meat protein source should
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| | animals and plants provide a rich source
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| be primary.
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| | of essential fatty acids that help
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| AVOID: Unnamed food ingredients with
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| | produce healthy skin and lustrous coats.
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| words like--poultry by products, meat and
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| | The natural quality preservatives in
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| bone meal, meat meal, poultry meal,
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| | proper balance to your cat's foods ensure
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| animal digest, etc. Also avoid protein
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| | they get all the necessary nutrients for
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| fillers like--corn gluten meal, wheat
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| | life and good health every day.
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| gluten, egg product meal, soybean meal,
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| | AVOID: Fats from non-specific sources
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| wheat germ meal.
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| | like--animal fat, poultry fat, vegetable
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| TIP: If you look at a cat food label and
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| | oil. Also stay away from synthetic
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| group all the grain ingredients together,
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| | preservatives like BHA, BHT and
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| they are often more primary than the meat
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| | ethoxyquin.
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| pictured by manufacturers. This disguises
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| | REASON? Because the standards for pet
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| protein ingredients that are inferior,
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| | foods are much less than for human food,
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| portraying them as nutritious. Quality
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| | pet food manufacturers are allowed to use
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| meat is a MUST.
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| | rendered animal fat, vegetable fats and
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| REASON? Cat foods containing by-products,
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| | oils that have been rejected as inedible
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| meat and bone meal or non-specific,
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| | for humans. They can include rancid oils
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| generic meat meals are often rejected
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| | and fats or used restaurant grease, which
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| leftovers from the human food chain. That
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| | have been disguised with flavor enhancers
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| means they can contain "4-D"
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| | made from processed by-products. Plus
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| nutrient-deficient animal protein sources
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| | synthetic preservatives like butylated
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| such as:
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| | hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated
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| * Dead animals (including meat with
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| | hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ethoxyquin can
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| sodium pentobarbital, the most common
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| | cause liver and kidney damage or even
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| euthanasia drug though industry sources
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| | cancer. They are used solely for a longer
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| deny they use dead dogs and cats, however
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| | shelf life, not nutrition.
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| there are no laws or regulations against
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| | 4. Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements
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| it).
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| | LOOK FOR: Antioxidants from natural
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| * Dying animals (including those that FDA
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| | sources like fruits and vegetables.
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| meat inspectors reject for the human food
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| | Vitamins like Ascorbic Acid, Beta
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| chain plus dying animals from zoos and
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| | Carotene, Biotin, etc. Chelated minerals
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| pet farms).
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| | may also be added like iron proteinate,
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| * Diseased animals (according to federal
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| | manganese proteinate, etc.
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| meat inspection regulations, fuel oil,
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| | WHY? These are all natural or food
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| kerosene, crude carbolic acid, and
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| | sources of quality nutrition and
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| citronella can be used to denature
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| | supplements ensuring your cat stays
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| diseased meat before rendering).
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| | healthy and lives longer.
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| * Disabled animals (including those who
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| | AVOID: Artificial flavors and colors.
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| are too weak to walk due to disease or
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| | Another common additive is propylene
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| malnutrition).
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| | glycol, a less toxic version of
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| 2. Carbohydrates and Vegetables
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| | antifreeze used in cars.
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| LOOK FOR: Whole grains like brown rice
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| | REASON? The flavors and colors are added
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| and barley or starches like whole
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| | by the manufacturers to make them look
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| potatoes or sweet potatoes. Whole fruits
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| | more appealing to pet owners and taste
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| and vegetables like carrots, tomatoes,
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| | more appealing to cats (and dogs). While
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| alfalfa, apples, cranberries, etc.
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| | propylene glycol adds a sweet taste to
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| WHY? These whole grains and starches are
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| | the food, it should NOT be part of your
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| actually digestible by cats providing a
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| | cat's daily food fare.
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| good source of energy. The whole fruits
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|
