Is there pet junk food?

Question

Does it really matter what food you buy your pet? We have two old cats. I feed them Purina One or other purina products. Some of the store brands are so much cheaper and I'm always tempted to try them. I don't want to compromise my pets health for a few bucks but wonder if the expensive food is just marketing.

Answer 1

Well, first of all, human food is animal junk food. Don't feed animals from the table, but you sound like you already know that. It does matter what you feed them, but expensive cat food is not necessarily going to extend a cats life or improve their quality of life. I had my cat since I was in elementary school and I've just recently graduated from college and she’s doing pretty good for nearly 15 years old. I think the most important thing for elderly cats is a consistent diet that focuses on urinary health. Cat kidneys are usually the first to go and you really need to look out for problems. Choose a cat food that highlights health and not taste. Choose something specifically meant for adult cats. I personally chose a store brand adult formula cat food for my old friend, cuz its formulated for older cats and it doesn’t make her feces smell as bad as some of the others. Then I give her some of the more healthy treats once and a while. If you’re going to change their diet, be gradual. Don’t shock their system with an abrupt switch. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

if you could rank all foods based on quality from 1 to 10 (with 1 being junk and 10 being the best) Purina would be about a 4...

none of the grocery store or Wal Mart foods would be above a 5
ALL use alot of filler and have very little nutrition

all use FAT as a way to make the cats eat more and as a way to fool the owners - fat = glossy coat so the owners think the cat is healthy and on a good food... FAT is addictive.. it tastes good... think of potato chips...

Cats are TRUE canrivours.. they need REAL MEAT - the cheap foods dont use any real meat - they use by-products (beaks feet feathers) and preserve the foods often with dangerous chemicals

CORN - is NOT very digestable and certainly isnt a MEAT of any kind that I know of.. yet look how close it appears to the top of the ingredient list


BETTER FOODS (and not all of the foods in pet stores are good) use CHICKEN MEAL as #1.. RIce or TUKEY MEAL as #2 and NEVER use By-Products...or corn
you feed LESS food when its a better food - have less poops too.. and over all save money ...

Answer 3

Actually it is the more expensive and better foods that do no national marketing and are usually not availble in grocery stores. Purine One is formulated with poultry by-product meat as the first ingredient, corn as the second and brewer's rice (rice that has all the nutritional part in the germ removed) as the third. That is a product with unwholesome meat treated with known carcinogens and declared unfit for human consumption and 2/3 of the product is grain from which the cat gets only "empty" calories and no good nutrition. It is also $1.72 per lb. For that same price you can get Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Solid Gold. CA Natural and Felidae are also good foods and ring in at over $2 per lb. None of those products do any national advertising and their money goes into wholesome meat sources as the first two ingredients and grains that are better for the cat.

You might want to go to www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article titled "Selecting a Good Commercial Pet Food" for guidlines in choosing the right food for your cat.

Answer 4

I really dont know about that, I have four cats all of various ages. I buy what I can afford and it does not seem to effect them in any way. Although if you have been told to put your cats on this food there must be a reason for it.

Otherwise you could try Friskies Dry Cat Food for Seniors. I use this brand for 3 of my cats and Friskies Kitten Dry food for the baby of the family.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck

Answer 5

Pet junk food is their treats. Like busciuts and other things that are not made to help them. Like helping their teeth.

Answer 6

There is pet junk food out there, it mostly contains artificial ingredients and doesn't help your cat's health, though, don't be tricked by big companies that want you to buy their food, they could be tricking you. There is cheap food out there for cats that ARE good for your cat. Although, you should treat your cat to luxury some times and buy them nice food.

Hope this answers your question!

Answer 7

Yes, there is. The cheaper the food, the more wheat, corn, and byproducts are in it. Purina One is an ok food, but still very full of fillers.

http://pets.families.com/blog/grade-your-dog-food

That's an easy "grading" system for dog foods. Some of the best brands out there are Innova, California Natural, Wellness, Solid Gold, and Blue.

Answer 8

Hamburgers

Answer 9

yes the pet treats
are not mean to be food but a treat for special times

Answer 10

Purina, Pedigree,or iams.with purina you cant go wrong it really is a good food.