| Don't confuse Holistic with Organic. There is a | | | | If you see corn or wheat or corn meal in the first 5 |
| distinction. Holistic means management of foods in an | | | | ingredients, find another cat food. It's no different |
| ecological manner above and beyond going back to | | | | than feeding your cat cereal. |
| simpler, more natural methodology. Organically | | | | *Note that even some of the prescription grade |
| managed food basically means the land and resources | | | | Science Diet has by-product in it! |
| are used in a more natural manner (grain fed, no | | | | Meat and poultry by-products are the unrendered |
| additives or pesticides etc). One might say Holistic is a | | | | parts of the animal left over after slaughter; |
| way of life, while organic is just a better diet. Either is | | | | everything deemed unfit for human consumption. In |
| much better than the typical grocery store brands | | | | cattle and sheep, this includes the brain, liver, kidneys, |
| (like Iams which also makes Eukaneuba, or Friskies | | | | spleen, lungs, blood, bones, fatty tissue, stomachs |
| and Whiskas). | | | | and intestines. The items on this list that would |
| When you put the word Organic on human food, you | | | | normally be consumed by humans, such as the liver, |
| can pretty much guarantee double the price. Of | | | | would have to be diseased or contaminated before |
| course things will vary for different countries. The | | | | they could be designated for pet food. Poultry |
| same can apply to holistic pet foods. Some are quite | | | | by-products include heads, feet, intestines, |
| expensive, but when you read further you may see | | | | undeveloped eggs, chicken feathers and egg shells. |
| why I personally feel that anything holistic rather than | | | | Why then, one may wonder, will pets even eat such |
| a grocery store brand is better. You do get what | | | | food? After that slurry pot of "meat" is processed, it |
| you pay for after all. | | | | is bound with wheat or grains. Then it is basted in fat. |
| Sure, some kitties will not eat anything BUT those | | | | The pet smells this glorious kibble basted in fat. No |
| low grade grocery store foods full of fillers. I have | | | | wonder he/she will eat it. |
| heard the argument that "My mom's cat ate BrandX | | | | The number one reason why I will always feed |
| cat food for years and never had problems" many, | | | | holistic is because the cats absorb MORE of the good |
| many times. Usually about animals that have long | | | | stuff that is in the food. They have improved skin |
| since passed on. Think on it though, 10-20 years ago | | | | and coat, increased vitality and increased energy, and |
| we did not have nearly as much toxin in our food, | | | | they pass less stool - much less stinky stool at that! |
| water and even the very air we breathe. Today, | | | | An even more interesting and 'pure' holistic food the |
| however, our bodies are being bombarded with so | | | | cats have tried and liked is Wysong. Wsyong's |
| innumerable things that break down and try to | | | | processing methods are what really interested me |
| destroy our natural immune systems. It becomes | | | | though. |
| increasingly important that we ensure that the food | | | | Since about 1979. Dr. Wysong began with clinical and |
| that sustains us is as good as it can be. AND be free | | | | surgical inventions, and branched into the various |
| of pesticides, additives and preservatives and all the | | | | facets you see today as his research demonstrated |
| other toxic man-made things that we really don't | | | | the problems in conventional medicine and the |
| even need. The same applies to our pets. That pet | | | | importance of prevention. One of his company's |
| food so and so's mom's cat ate 10-20 years ago was | | | | beliefs is that usual pet food processing (intense heat |
| fed to a cat that was intrinsically healthier because it | | | | to cook and preserve) destroys way too much of |
| lived in a healthier atmosphere to begin with. | | | | the essential nutrition required for balanced, healthy |
| Our pets can't speak for themselves. And certainly, | | | | diets. Wysong's processing and storage methods |
| as you may know, the pet food industry sure hasn't | | | | alone make them a leader in excellent quality holistic |
| been speaking for our pets either. The pet food | | | | pet food products. Definitely worth reading their |
| industry has been feeding (no pun intended) crap to | | | | numerous articles and documentation on their pet |
| our pets, to the media and therefor to us, the | | | | food products. |
| consumers, for decades! Pet food is not nearly as | | | | Now I'm not saying that Science Diet or Royal Canin |
| regulated as human food. Until last year, specifically | | | | are not good products. They are simply NOT holistic |
| with the pet food scare we had in 2007. The media | | | | brands. They are mid-grade quality cat foods while |
| put a huge spotlight on the pet food industry | | | | Whiskas and Friskies would be considered low grade |
| because of the pet food recalls last year. | | | | quality. |
| It's about time the pet food manufacturers were | | | | One product I always recommend for people wanting |
| held accountable for the quality of their food and | | | | to feed their pets better, but who may not be able |
| how it is produced! But did YOU know what is really | | | | to afford the high end holistic grade pet food, is by |
| in pet food? | | | | Nutro. Nutro has two levels of very decent cat food. |
| Let me introduce you to some of the holistic cat | | | | One is more grocery store priced (but not grocery |
| foods my cats have tried. Merrick's, Chicken Soup for | | | | store level), and the other is a bit better, but again |
| the Cat Lover's Soul, Natural Balance and Nutro. We | | | | not overly expensive. Try Nutro's Maxx Cat or their |
| now feed Wellness Core exclusively because of its | | | | higher end brand, Natural Choice. While not considered |
| quality at a reasonable price and, quite frankly, its | | | | Holistic, these brands have NO by-product and very |
| availability at our local pet store. | | | | little grain. Nutro has some excellent dog food as well |
| You surely recognize some of these brands. Next | | | | as a holistic brand. |
| time you are at the pet store, compare any of the | | | | There is one Canadian made holistic pet food that I |
| holistic pet foods to Whiskas or Iams, or even Royal | | | | am aware of. Orijen is made in Alberta with Canadian |
| Canin and Science Diet. What you are looking for is | | | | grown meat and fish, grains and produce. If Orijen |
| an absence of by-products and any type of wheat, | | | | was sold at my local Pet Valu, I'd be buying it! |
| corn or corn meal. Cats are obligate (true) carnivores, | | | | Learning to read cat food labels can be difficult. But |
| yet many commercial pet foods are composed | | | | with a little effort, you can learn to feed your |
| primarily of low-cost grains. These grains are fillers | | | | beloved cats the healthiest choices available. Your |
| and are not necessary to the diet of your cat at all. | | | | cats will thank you! And so will your pocketbook. |