Is there anything more disconcerting than lovingly preparing a pet a healthy organic meal, only to have her approach the bowl, sniff, and walk away with a soft whine?
The fact is: they put "pet-crack" in the major brand pet foods – especially the "wet food" – and once they eat that stuff they're hooked. It thus becomes hard to switch the dear animal(s) to the "natural stuff."
As a dog or cat, would you prefer the lovely aroma-rich glistening sauce of an Alpo or Fancy Feast, or carrots and rice?
Hey, I think feeding my cats food with actual chunks of carrots in it is awesome. I'm not so sure they share my enthusiasm, though.
But in a house with three cats and a dog, this is what usually happens: dog eats the cats's food, and cats eat the dog's food. Grass is always greener.
Dog is a picky eater, and so I'm glad she's eating something. But I wonder if there are any health risks? Like, could there be vital nutrients each species is missing?
I just know this whole issue would just be settled if I bought the dog the cheapest can of Alpo I could find, gave the cats Fancy Feast, and be done with it. But dammit, these animals are gonna thank me one day for all that carrots and rice!
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Never owning a dog I can't offer advice there, but my cat eats Science Diet hard food and Natural Balance wet food. Specifically the Ocean Fish, and Venison varieties.
Much healthier than the big name foods, actually recommended by the vet, and my finicky little queen of the household loves it.
Because my dogs get horrible gas when they steal the cats' food, I've trained my cats to eat from on top of the furniture out of the dogs' reach (one cat eats on the kitchen table, one on the living room entertainment center, and the last on my bedroom dresser).
[My cats can't be weaned from their Friskies cans, I'm afraid -- and I've been mixing green beans and baby carrots with the dogs' Alpo and Pedigree cans (mostly in an effort to get my oldest dog's weight down -- so far with little success *sigh* -- at least they usually eat it all, though...)]
While I understand the desire to have pets eat healthier, why do you want to feed carrots to carnivores?
The last family dog got dry food. Sometimes we'd add some special doggie condiment, but otherwise he scarfed it down in one setting.
Save money. Buy the dry stuff. (It's cheaper and lasts longer.) If they don't eat, tough cookies. If you want to encourage them, mix some ketchup in with the food. Ketchup makes everything taste better!
Jim's right. Cats don't need any vegetables in their diets. Dogs need a little, but cats are full-blown carnivores. That said, we have a cat that likes to chew carrots. I wouldn't say he actually eats them, he just shreds them.
Yeah there's a question.
Why do so many pet food companies seem hell-bent on putting veggies in cat food when the cats are carnivores?
My gut answer would be expense. Veggies are cheaper and good filler for pet food.
That said, I'd say you're still better off with smaller name foods. Basically anything you CAN'T buy at the local supermarket... (Our stuff comes via our local pet food store.)
Remember as well that pet food is increasing aimed at the sensibilities of the (sometimes dumb) owners.
"I'm a vegetarian, so I want my dog to be one, too."
"If veggies are important for me to eat, then my pet should eat them, too. He needs a balanced diet just like me."
"Ooo, doesn't that cat food look yummy. And it even smells good!"
What pets really want is stuff that smells good to *them*. Give them stuff that's chunky and gooey and stinks to high heaven and they will be all over it. Give them stuff that has delicate seasoning and looks good to humans and, well, they'll probably eat it, but only because it's what's offered.
(Of course, humans are kind of the same way. We train ourselves to like haute cuisine and stuff, but give us a juicy burger, gooey mac-n-cheese, a perfectly ripe peach, and we're *there*.)
And then there's my cats. They like to chew on and even bite off pieces of cardboard and paper.
Most housecats are closer to being *omnivores* than carnivores, but I'm not certain if that's from centuries of contact with humans or a trait they've always had.
We have a cat who was born feral, so maybe my perspective is wrong here...but she eats green peppers, she loves chewing on olives (and olive juice drives her crazy just like catnip)...she doesn't *need* fruits or veggies, but she doesn't turn up her nose at them, either.
Hysan,
Why do you say cats are omnivores. They have the same straight digestive tract as other carnivores such as dogs.
Cats and dogs may eat vegetables, but they get very little nutrition from them.
I thought I explained it pretty clearly in the last post...don't take my comment as expert in any way. :)
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