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"Best by" dates

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---MIKE--- - 05 Jul 2004 23:18 GMT
I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
them to a shelter?

                 ---MIKE---
Dave - 06 Jul 2004 00:07 GMT
>I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
>been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
>all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
>them to a shelter?

Why don't you eat them?

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m. L. Briggs - 06 Jul 2004 00:53 GMT
>>I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
>>been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
>>all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
>>them to a shelter?
>
>Why don't you eat them?

When we have food drives here, we are also asked for pet food.  They
suggest to give outdated food also if we have any.
Cat Protector - 06 Jul 2004 01:33 GMT
A bad practice. There is a reason they put dates on cans and packages. I
certainly wouldn't donate outdated packages of cat food to a shelter as I'd
hate to be responsible for causing illness for the felines.

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> When we have food drives here, we are also asked for pet food.  They
> suggest to give outdated food also if we have any.
icarus - 06 Jul 2004 01:58 GMT
> A bad practice. There is a reason they put dates on cans and packages. I
> certainly wouldn't donate outdated packages of cat food to a shelter as I'd
> hate to be responsible for causing illness for the felines.

true but cats are very good at detecting a problem with food. they don't
detect poison (i.e. rat/mice poison ) but do detect when its off.  This
should be fine to use.
Cat Protector - 06 Jul 2004 02:04 GMT
I would not risk it.

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> true but cats are very good at detecting a problem with food. they don't
> detect poison (i.e. rat/mice poison ) but do detect when its off.  This
> should be fine to use.
m. L. Briggs - 06 Jul 2004 05:59 GMT
>A bad practice. There is a reason they put dates on cans and packages. I
>certainly wouldn't donate outdated packages of cat food to a shelter as I'd
>hate to be responsible for causing illness for the felines.

I ALWAYS check cans to see that they have no bulges or leaks.  If
there is any doubt, I throw it out.  I don't store large amounts, so
if one should be outdated, it is probably by months and not
years.Packaged goods are also safe beyond expiration date, although
they probably lack some quality.
Cat Protector - 06 Jul 2004 07:15 GMT
If you want to eat food past the expiration date then go ahead but I don't
think it is great to put a cat's health at risk by giving him/her bad food.

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> I ALWAYS check cans to see that they have no bulges or leaks.  If
> there is any doubt, I throw it out.  I don't store large amounts, so
> if one should be outdated, it is probably by months and not
> years.Packaged goods are also safe beyond expiration date, although
> they probably lack some quality.
Sherry - 06 Jul 2004 07:31 GMT
>f you want to eat food past the expiration date then go ahead but I don't
>think it is great to put a cat's health at risk by giving him/her bad food.

That's not what she said. She said, "if there is doubt, throw it out."
She didn't say it was "great" to feed bad food.

Sherry
m. L. Briggs - 06 Jul 2004 21:56 GMT
>If you want to eat food past the expiration date then go ahead but I don't
>think it is great to put a cat's health at risk by giving him/her bad food.

I've never fed her bad food yet.  
She eats Iams light + hairball and Some Fancy Feast for treats.My
message was that when we have "food drives" here, we are asked to
empty our cupboards of outdated food.   (Did not say I had any)  The
only thing that seems to get outdated in my cupboard is dry spaghetti.
I buy it but never seem to get around to cooking it --
Cat Protector - 06 Jul 2004 00:17 GMT
Throw them away. Would you give your own cats spoiled or expired food?

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> I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
> been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
> all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
> them to a shelter?
>
>                   ---MIKE---
Steve Crane - 06 Jul 2004 17:03 GMT
> I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
> been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
> all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
> them to a shelter?
>
>                   ---MIKE---

Mike,
  The food is probably fine. The only changes in cat food over time
of any consequence is a drop in palatability. If the cans are exposed
to changing temperature cycles or freezing you can get what is called
synerisis where the water separates from the loaf of food and then
palatability will decline more rapidly. There is certainly nothing
harmful about expired cans. (assuming of course the seal is still
intact and there is no "bulge" in the can lids)
Cat Protector - 06 Jul 2004 17:58 GMT
Are you willing to bet a cat's life on that? They put dates on the cans for
a reason.

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> Mike,
>    The food is probably fine. The only changes in cat food over time
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> harmful about expired cans. (assuming of course the seal is still
> intact and there is no "bulge" in the can lids)
---MIKE--- - 06 Jul 2004 18:08 GMT
Cat protector, I would think that Steve Crane knows what he is talking
about since he works for a pet food company.  I will give the cans to a
shelter and let them decide whether the food is safe or not.

                 ---MIKE---
Cathy Friedmann - 06 Jul 2004 18:25 GMT
Uh... Steve knows that the cans have "sell by" dates & how they work; he
works for Hills.

Cathy

> Are you willing to bet a cat's life on that? They put dates on the cans for
> a reason.

> > Mike,
> >    The food is probably fine. The only changes in cat food over time
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > harmful about expired cans. (assuming of course the seal is still
> > intact and there is no "bulge" in the can lids)
Sherry - 06 Jul 2004 18:38 GMT
>Uh... Steve knows that the cans have "sell by" dates & how they work; he
>works for Hills.
>
>Cathy

Sorry to piggyback, I lost Steve's original post and I wondered if he might
know the answer to this...On pet food. Is the "sell by" date the same as the
"use by" date? I was wondering because a pet food mill here gives us tons of
cat food that's near the "sell by" date. For instance, what we got this month
is "Sell byOctober". Apparently that's too short a time frame to get the food
distributed and for stores to sell it.
Steve Crane - 08 Jul 2004 00:39 GMT
> >Uh... Steve knows that the cans have "sell by" dates & how they work; he
> >works for Hills.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> is "Sell byOctober". Apparently that's too short a time frame to get the food
> distributed and for stores to sell it.

Sherry,
 That will depend upon the manufacturer. Most manufacturers have gone
to a "Best if used by" dating which gives the consumer a hard date to
follow. The dating on foods is more critical in dry foods and foods
with high fat content. A Light food with low fat content may very well
be fine a month or so after the "Best if Used By" dating. A puppy food
or a growth food with much higher fat levels would be more at risk for
having gone rancid.
 I'm sorry I can't give you a hard fast answer, but you would really
need to ask the specific manufacturer how to handle food that is past
the "Sell By" dating.
 Dating on foods has really changed a lot in the 20 years I've been
around the industry. 20 years ago it took 3 days to change a
manufacturing line from one product to another. Automation and better
equipment has radically changed that. Now it takes about 13 minutes.
Thus in the "old" days a manufacturer might produce one type of food
for several weeks and build up a large supply. Today most
manufacturers build only enough food to last a few days at best. This
has big advantages to the consumer. 20 years ago you might have
purchased food that was warehoused for several months and approaching
its expiration. Today that's difficult to do. Most foods for sale in
pet stores and veterinary clinics is extremely fresh, often only a few
days to a couple weeks old at most.
Steve Crane - 08 Jul 2004 00:28 GMT
> Are you willing to bet a cat's life on that? They put dates on the cans for
> a reason.

Most certainly - Since I have examined and tested canned foods that
are many many years past the expiration date I know whereof I speak.
Some years ago, (I won't bother to admit it has been multiple decades)
I was fed C-rations by the US Government that had been packaged over
20 years earlier in canned form. They tasted horrible - but they were
perfectly safe. My bet is they tasted horrible the day they were
canned so nothing much had really changed.

I have reviewed analyticals on canned foods that were over a decade
old, well beyond any expiration date. The nutrient values remained
within 10% of the original canning product. I have access to a
"library" of canned products going back to the early 50's. Unless the
seal is broken and some bacteria gets into the can, something you will
note in a "bulged" can lid and likely smell immediately when you open
it, the chance of any harm at all is extremely remote.
Cat Protector - 08 Jul 2004 00:39 GMT
How can you simply bet a cat's life on this. You may not think much of your
life but I don't think cats should be made to suffer because you insist on
putting their lives at risk. They put expiration dates on cans for a reason
but this seems to be lost on you.

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> Most certainly - Since I have examined and tested canned foods that
> are many many years past the expiration date I know whereof I speak.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> note in a "bulged" can lid and likely smell immediately when you open
> it, the chance of any harm at all is extremely remote.
Cathy Friedmann - 08 Jul 2004 01:27 GMT
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Cathy

> How can you simply bet a cat's life on this. You may not think much of your
> life but I don't think cats should be made to suffer because you insist on
> putting their lives at risk. They put expiration dates on cans for a reason
> but this seems to be lost on you.

> > Most certainly - Since I have examined and tested canned foods that
> > are many many years past the expiration date I know whereof I speak.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> > note in a "bulged" can lid and likely smell immediately when you open
> > it, the chance of any harm at all is extremely remote.
Sherry - 08 Jul 2004 02:01 GMT
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Sherry

>> How can you simply bet a cat's life on this. You may not think much of
>your
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> > note in a "bulged" can lid and likely smell immediately when you open
>> > it, the chance of any harm at all is extremely remote.
jamie - 08 Jul 2004 05:27 GMT
> How can you simply bet a cat's life on this. You may not think much of your
> life but I don't think cats should be made to suffer because you insist on
> putting their lives at risk. They put expiration dates on cans for a reason
> but this seems to be lost on you.

Are you the same weenie that was afraid your copier or scanner would
radiate your cat?

You can mention risking cats' lives 15 or 20 more times, but that
won't make it true with regard to canning.  The expiration date is
for taste quality, not safety.  The canned food would be safe for
years beyond the expiration date, it just won't taste as good.

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Sherry - 08 Jul 2004 06:19 GMT
>You can mention risking cats' lives 15 or 20 more times, but that
>won't make it true with regard to canning.  The expiration date is
>for taste quality, not safety.  The canned food would be safe for
>years beyond the expiration date, it just won't taste as good.

Yes, that would be the same weenie. The same one who feeds his cats Special
Kitty. That's the real irony. Expired premium food is probably less harmful
than Special Kitty.

Sherry
KellyH - 08 Jul 2004 15:44 GMT
> Yes, that would be the same weenie. The same one who feeds his cats Special
> Kitty. That's the real irony. Expired premium food is probably less harmful
> than Special Kitty.
>
> Sherry

Haha!  What you said is sad, but true.  At the shelter a local feed store
donated some Wellness canned food that was past it's "best by" date, and we
kept that.  Whenever someone donates Special Kitty or other crappy foods, we
give those to the feral trappers to use as bait.

CP, I'm being totally serious here:  You keep talking about "risking cat's
lives".  In all honesty, *you* are risking your cats' lives by feeding them
crap like Special Kitty.  They are young now and may appear healthy, but I
bet they are going to end up having health problems when they are older.
Get off the wallet and buy them some decent food, if you love them so much.

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Cat Protector - 08 Jul 2004 16:25 GMT
What does the great food debate have to do with spoiled food? BTW, there is
nothing wrong with feeding cats store bought brands. Both my cats are
perfectly healthy and fine.

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> Haha!  What you said is sad, but true.  At the shelter a local feed store
> donated some Wellness canned food that was past it's "best by" date, and we
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> bet they are going to end up having health problems when they are older.
> Get off the wallet and buy them some decent food, if you love them so much.
KellyH - 08 Jul 2004 16:57 GMT
> What does the great food debate have to do with spoiled food? BTW, there is
> nothing wrong with feeding cats store bought brands. Both my cats are
> perfectly healthy and fine.

The comparison is being made that slightly past its prime Wellness or Innova
is superior food to within-its-best-by-date Special Kitty.

Yes there is something wrong with feeding cats store brand cat food.  Do you
even read some of the information that is posted on here?  Since you're apt
to compare cats to children think about this:  Feeding your cat Special
Kitty every day is the same as feeding your child McDonald's and Twinkies
every day.  Sure, they may be fine for a while, but the stuff will kill
them.  I'm looking at a can of Wellness right now.  The first several
ingredients are: Turkey, Chicken Liver, Whitefish, Turkey Broth, Salmon,
Sweet Potatoes, Carrots.  What are the first ingredients in a can of Special
Kitty?

Plus, you don't even take your cats to a regular vet, where they can take
the time to thoroughly examine the cats and keep a record of their health.
You just take them for the low-cost Humane Society vaccines.  Do they keep
health records of your cats?  That's very important for noticing trends in
weight loss/gain, bloodwork values, etc.

In general, I think you are a good-hearted, well-intentioned person.  I
think you really want to do the best for your cats.  I'm just trying to
point out that there are some basic things you can do so that you can help
your cats live long, healthy, lives.

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Mary - 08 Jul 2004 18:40 GMT
"Sherry " <sriddles@aol.comkitty> wrote:>

> Yes, that would be the same weenie.

Oh, now, I don't think we are allowed to call him a "weenie." How friendly
is that? After all, as long as he is doing SOMETHING good for cats, he's
okay in "L's" book. Feeding Special Kitty must be better than nothing at
all, right?
Cat Protector - 08 Jul 2004 06:41 GMT
I am not willing to bet my cats or another's health on that one. They put
dates on the cans for a reason. If canned food was safe for years beyond the
experation date then food companies would not put dates on them. Would you
give someone expired milk despite knowing it'd make them sick? If you are so
sure that the food will safe and are willing to ignore the dates then eat it
yourself instead of putting your cats at risk.

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> Are you the same weenie that was afraid your copier or scanner would
> radiate your cat?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> for taste quality, not safety.  The canned food would be safe for
> years beyond the expiration date, it just won't taste as good.
zuzu22@webtv.net - 08 Jul 2004 07:29 GMT
>If canned food was safe for years beyond
>the experation date then food companies
>would not put dates on them.

The dates put on the cans being discussed are NOT expiration dates. They
are "best used by" dates. The two terms are entirely different in their
meanings. When you continue to insist something is true without offering
any proof to back up your claim, and when the facts say otherwise, you
only succeed in looking like an idiot. This article excerpt might help
you see through the persistent fog that clouds your brain (and make sure
to note the sentence that says "Canned food as old as 100 years has been
found in sunken ships and it is still microbiologically safe!"):

One of the most frequently asked questions about canned food is its
shelf life and "use-by" dates. The codes that are stamped on canned food
are manufacturers' codes that usually designate the date the product was
packaged. The codes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and usually
include coding for time and place of canning. Most manufacturers offer a
toll-free number to call for questions about canned food expiration
dates.

Remember, the code stamped on the can is when it was packaged. The
general rule of thumb is that canned food has a shelf life of at least
two years from the date of purchase. It is recommended that all canned
food be stored in moderate temperatures (75° F and below).
Many canned products now have a "for best quality use by" date stamped
on the top or bottom of the can. "Expiration" dates are rarely found on
canned food.
Canned food has a shelf life of at least two years from the date of
processing.

Canned food retains its safety and nutritional value well beyond two
years, but it may have some variation in quality, such as a change of
color and texture. Canning is a high-heat process that renders the food
commercially sterile. Food safety is not an issue in products kept on
the shelf or in the pantry for long periods of time. In fact, canned
food has an almost indefinite shelf life at moderate temperatures (75°
F and below). Canned food as old as 100 years has been found in sunken
ships and it is still microbiologically safe! We don't recommend keeping
canned food for 100 years, but if the can is intact, not dented or
bulging, it is edible.

Megan

                                   
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Karen Chuplis - 08 Jul 2004 12:17 GMT
Why do you guys even try?? It's a lost cause.
Rona Yuthasastrakosol - 08 Jul 2004 12:59 GMT
> Why do you guys even try?? It's a lost cause.

It's probably in the hopes that he'll kf everyone in the group, and thereby
prevent himself from participating.

rona

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dgk - 08 Jul 2004 15:12 GMT
>I am not willing to bet my cats or another's health on that one. They put
>dates on the cans for a reason. If canned food was safe for years beyond the
>experation date then food companies would not put dates on them. Would you
>give someone expired milk despite knowing it'd make them sick? If you are so
>sure that the food will safe and are willing to ignore the dates then eat it
>yourself instead of putting your cats at risk.

Maybe they put dates on the cans so we'll throw away perfectly good
food and buy new cans? Just playing devil's advocate.

Which was the beer that stopped putting "best by" and started putting
"born on" dates? That was clever marketing if you can get the stuff on
the shelves quickly enough. Now it's up the you if you think it's
fresh enough.
disgruntled hamster - 08 Jul 2004 16:58 GMT
There is a very real difference between drinking expired milk and
eating canned food that happens to be a couple months past the sell-by
date. Namely that milk has an extremely short shelf life and is very
quick to spoil under even the most favorable conditions- which isn't
the case with canned items. Milk (unless it happens to be *canned*
milk, in which case the spoilage wouldn't be an issue) is processed,
packaged, stored, and sold in an entirely different manner than canned
goods. The two aren't even comparable.

That's like attempting to liken a can of tuna that's a month past its
sell by to a piece of fresh tuna left sitting on the kitchen counter
for a month. There's no comparison.

Donated slightly outdated premium foods make it possible for shelters
to provide their cats with optimum nutrition at an affordable cost.
Obviously we disagree on the matter, but personally, I would much
rather see these cats receiving a perfectly fine high-quality food
that happens to be a few months past the sell-by than subsisting on an
inexpensive less nutritious, sub-par low-quality food to keep costs
down. I would *gladly* feed my own cats a slightly outdated can of
Innova or Nutro before I'd hit the Job Lot and buy them a case of
"fresh" generic low-quality filler.

Seriously, even if you like to be on the safe side, manufacturers are
always going to err well on the side of caution in selecting a best if
used by date for their food, because they don't want to take even the
slim chance of somebody purchasing an off product. The food isn't
going to magically undergo some radical change from being perfectly
fine on March 24 to being completely inedible the next day, March 25,
just because that happens to be the sell by date.
Steve Crane - 08 Jul 2004 15:52 GMT
> How can you simply bet a cat's life on this. You may not think much of your
> life but I don't think cats should be made to suffer because you insist on
> putting their lives at risk. They put expiration dates on cans for a reason
> but this seems to be lost on you.

Sigh,
 I'm sure this is a waste of time but I would suggest you think about
the difference between the terms Probability and Possibility. It is
extremely, grotesquely, remotely, POSSIBLE that a canned food past
it's expiration may have botulism, have a massively bulged can and a
very ignorant pet owner who feeds something that smells putrid anyway.
That's a POSSIBILITY but not even a remote PROBABILITY. IF you choose
to live in a world of fear of all the POSSIBILITIES that's your
choice. Chicken Little liked that world as well and spent her life in
fear of the sky falling, which turned out not to be exactly a major
PROBABILITY either.
Cat Protector - 08 Jul 2004 16:26 GMT
I guess it is a waste of time because it is obvious that I don't wish to put
a cat's life at risk by giving them spoiled food.

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> Sigh,
>   I'm sure this is a waste of time but I would suggest you think about
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> fear of the sky falling, which turned out not to be exactly a major
> PROBABILITY either.
Sherry - 08 Jul 2004 16:31 GMT
>I guess it is a waste of time because it is obvious that I don't wish to put
>a cat's life at risk by giving them spoiled food.

Ever wonder what's in Special Kitty?

Sherry
Cathy Friedmann - 08 Jul 2004 16:40 GMT
> I guess it is a waste of time because it is obvious that I don't wish to put
> a cat's life at risk by giving them spoiled food.

The point is that it won't be spoiled.  The processing used for canning
being the reason.

This isn't a good analogy, but it's what I'm coming up with at the moment:

Imagine leaving some saltines on the counter for an hour or so on a humid
day, sans their wrapping.  They won't taste quite as good after an hour
because they won't be as crisp as they were before left out on the counter.
But are they spoiled?  Will they make you sick?  No & no.

Cathy

> > Sigh,
> >   I'm sure this is a waste of time but I would suggest you think about
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> > fear of the sky falling, which turned out not to be exactly a major
> > PROBABILITY either.
KellyH - 08 Jul 2004 16:45 GMT
> I guess it is a waste of time because it is obvious that I don't wish to put
> a cat's life at risk by giving them spoiled food.

Did you even read any of the stuff Megan or Steve posted?  Canned food that
is past its "best if used by" date is NOT SPOILED!!!  It's just not at it's
"best", not as tasty.  The food is not rancid or spoiled.  If the can is
bulging and the food smells putrid, then yes it is, but that can also happen
while a can is still in its "best by" time frame.  The above goes for human
food as well as cat food.
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jamie - 09 Jul 2004 18:52 GMT
> I guess it is a waste of time because it is obvious that I don't wish to put
> a cat's life at risk by giving them spoiled food.

Sure, you'd rather put them at risk by feeding them a diet of
meat-flavored corn meal, than high quality food that you mistakenly
think is spoiled.

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Cat Protector - 09 Jul 2004 19:49 GMT
Do you see me questioning what you feed your cats? I find it interesting how
some of you lable someone the bad guy simply because they don't feed their
cats the same brands you do. It is a bit snobbish if you ask me. My cats are
in oerfectly good health and are given lots of love, plenty of food and are
well cared for.

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> Sure, you'd rather put them at risk by feeding them a diet of
> meat-flavored corn meal, than high quality food that you mistakenly
> think is spoiled.
Sherry - 09 Jul 2004 20:22 GMT
I find it interesting how
>some of you lable someone the bad guy simply because they don't feed their
>cats the same brands you do. It is a bit snobbish if you ask me. My cats are
>in oerfectly good health and are given lots of love, plenty of food and are
>well cared for.

Nobody's labeling you a bad guy. Just a misinformed one who refuses to accept
the fact that nutrition is *highly* important to a cat's longevity and
long-time good health. If saving a few cents is worth more to you than having
Isis around till she's twenty, hey, that's your decision.

Sherry

>> Sure, you'd rather put them at risk by feeding them a diet of
>> meat-flavored corn meal, than high quality food that you mistakenly
>> think is spoiled.
PawsForThought - 09 Jul 2004 23:06 GMT
>From: "Cat Protector" catprotector@cox.net

>Do you see me questioning what you feed your cats? I find it interesting how
>some of you lable someone the bad guy simply because they don't feed their
>cats the same brands you do.

It's not about you.  It's about feeding your cats a good diet.  Why don't you
put your ego aside, and try feeding your kitties a higher quality food.  I know
you love your cats and want to do the very best you can for them.  

Lauren
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dgk - 12 Jul 2004 20:19 GMT
>>From: "Cat Protector" catprotector@cox.net
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Lauren

I'm trying to feed my cats a high quality diet and they simply walk
away. I'm finally going to get a chance to try some Petguard Premium
Feast which some kind soul recommended last week. But frankly, if they
won't eat that, then I'm going to try Friskees or 9 Lives. Several of
my friends have reasonably elderly cats (15 up to 20) that have eaten
that sh.t all their lives. Me, I fed my previous four cats good food
(they were a LOT less picky than the current generation) and only one
lived to 16. Two died by the age of 10, one from Heart Disease and the
other from Diabetes. This is just anecdotal of course, but I am really
getting pissed off throwing away expensive food after getting that
look from the boys."What, you expect us to eat this crap?"

And it isn't like I've been offering them the real crap. For all I
know they're going to turn it down also (they have all the dry food
they want, which IS Science Diet or Eukanuba or Nutra or something -
that stuff they eat).

Let's say that quality food extends my cats lives by 6 months. That is
significant when you only live 18 years or so at a maxiumum. Still, if
they really enjoy McDonalds and they hate Quality Nutrition, should I
deny them that their whole lives? What is quality of life if not
enjoying food? It isn't like they have sex. Hmm. Come to think of it,
I should start eating at McDonalds.

(I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).
Karen - 12 Jul 2004 20:36 GMT
I threw away a LOT of food until I got to Petguard. The three flavors my
picky eaters like are Premium Feast, Chicken Stew lite, Turkey Lite with
Barley, and Beef w/Barley. Still, I have seen starving strays turn away from
9 lives which makes me wonder what is in THAT!

> I'm trying to feed my cats a high quality diet and they simply walk
> away. I'm finally going to get a chance to try some Petguard Premium
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> (I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).
Cat Protector - 12 Jul 2004 21:19 GMT
Karen,

It is all about choice. Just like us, cats can choose not to eat certain
foods. I brought home a bag of Iams once and my cats wouldn't even touch it.
Right now they get Special Kitty and Friskies canned and they love it.

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> I threw away a LOT of food until I got to Petguard. The three flavors my
> picky eaters like are Premium Feast, Chicken Stew lite, Turkey Lite with
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> >
> > (I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).
kaeli - 12 Jul 2004 21:34 GMT
> Karen,
>
> It is all about choice. Just like us, cats can choose not to eat certain
> foods. I brought home a bag of Iams once and my cats wouldn't even touch it.
> Right now they get Special Kitty and Friskies canned and they love it.

So, if your kid refuses to eat anything but McDonalds, do you just let
them do that, or do you figure that when they get hungry enough, they'll
eat their veggies? Or maybe they prefer corn instead of broccoli.

My cats don't like SD or IAMS either, but they *will* eat Royal Canin,
Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, and Nutro. They usually get RC or PP.
Sometimes they get PO or Nutro as a treat. Very occasionally they get
their favorite crap, which is that "kibbles and bits" for cats junk (I
forget the name).

Compromise. Don't just settle for utter junk. My cats get Fancy Feast,
too, but they also get higher-quality dry food. They only get so much
junk. Just like children. You don't let your kids fill up on ice cream
and candy every day, do you? I don't let my cats fill up on crap any
more than I would let my kids do so (well, if I HAD any kids *LOL*).
They get the FF, but not enough to fill them up. If they're still hungry
(and they will be), they have the high-quality there to eat.

If you love something, you do what's best for them. That includes
discipline and a proper diet as well as all the fun stuff.

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KellyH - 12 Jul 2004 22:52 GMT
> Karen,
>
> It is all about choice. Just like us, cats can choose not to eat certain
> foods. I brought home a bag of Iams once and my cats wouldn't even touch it.
> Right now they get Special Kitty and Friskies canned and they love it.

So you tried to feed them Iams *once* and they wouldn't eat it.  Did you
ever try anything else?  Believe it or not CP, I, and I'm sure others on
here, CARE about your cats.  I just don't understand how someone who always
wants to do the best for their cats can't even spend a little more money to
feed them quality food.  I don't care if it's the same brand as the food I
feed, just something that isn't crap.  Like I said before, at the shelter,
where every donation counts, we won't even keep Special Kitty or other
store-brand food.  It goes for feral trap bait.  We do keep Fancy Feast
because every so often we get a cat that will only eat that.  Sometimes I
think they put crack in FF.
It's one thing if your cats absolutely refuse to eat anything else, but it's
another if you don't even try.  One of the things that won me over about
Wellness canned food is the way it smells.  It doesn't stink!  Also, the
ingredients are human-grade and there is no by-product of anything.  Have
you ever wondered what a by-product is?  That means the crap that is left
over from processing every usable morsel of the cow or chicken.  And when it
says "meat" by-products, uh, can we be more specific?  What type of meat?
I'll probably be opening up a whole can of worms with this one, but I've
never found a satisfactory answer one way or the other about rendered pets
in commercial pet food.  So, I tend to err on the side of caution and I'll
stick with a cat food that I'm certain has no renderings in it.

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PawsForThought - 13 Jul 2004 01:34 GMT
>From: "KellyH" Kelly@whatever.com

>Like I said before, at the shelter,
>where every donation counts, we won't even keep Special Kitty or other
>store-brand food.  

What exactly is Special Kitty?  I never heard of it until CP posted about it.
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KellyH - 13 Jul 2004 01:38 GMT
> >From: "KellyH" Kelly@whatever.com
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> What exactly is Special Kitty?  I never heard of it until CP posted about it.
> ________

It's the Wal-Mart brand cat food.  Bleh.

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Cheryl - 13 Jul 2004 02:09 GMT
In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.health+behav", "KellyH"
<Kelly@whatever.com> artfully composed this message within
<news:4aGIc.63685$a24.3583@attbi_s03> on 12 Jul 2004:

>> >From: "KellyH" Kelly@whatever.com
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> It's the Wal-Mart brand cat food.  Bleh.

It makes me think of Special K. Cereal for Kitties.

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PawsForThought - 14 Jul 2004 02:34 GMT
>From: "KellyH" Kelly@whatever.com

>> >From: "KellyH" Kelly@whatever.com
>>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>It's the Wal-Mart brand cat food.  Bleh.

Thanks, Kelly.  Ugh, it sounds wonderful.  I have no problem with someone
feeding a food like this if that's all they could possibly afford, but I think
CP can do better.

Lauren

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GAUBSTER2 - 16 Jul 2004 15:37 GMT
> One of the things that won me over about
>Wellness canned food is the way it smells.  It doesn't stink!  Also, the
>ingredients are human-grade and there is no by-product of anything.  Have
>you ever wondered what a by-product is?  

Kelly, anybody can make the claim that their food is "human-grade".  There is
no definition for what that term means and it isn't regulated.  It is just a
emotional marketing tool.

By-product is not neccessarily a bad thing either.  Do you ever eat jello or
ever had beef bouillon?  Those are by-products, too.  Depending on the quality
of "by-product", it might be a desirable ingredient.  Cats eat things in the
wild that are considered "by-product".  Internal organs are considered
by-product, btw.  Vitamin E is a by-product.  Why do you think that
"by-product" is such a bad thing.  It is simply an industry term that
encompasses a wide range of ingredients.  Some are good and some are bad.

>That means the crap that is left
>over from processing every usable morsel of the cow or chicken.

No, that's not what it means.

>I'll probably be opening up a whole can of worms with this one, but I've
>never found a satisfactory answer one way or the other about rendered pets
>in commercial pet food.

That is an outright myth.  "Rendered pets" aren't found in commercial pet
foods, just bone meal for gardens.  The FDA did a pair of studies a couple of
summers ago testing for the presence of cat and dog DNA in commercial pet foods
and there was absolutely ZERO EVIDENCE.  None, nada, zip, zilch.

> So, I tend to err on the side of caution and I'll
>stick with a cat food that I'm certain has no renderings in it.

How can you be so certain about Old Mother Hubbard??  A company that misleads
the consumer with labels that have no meaning such as "human grade ingredients"
and insinuating that by-products are bad by "not" having them in a food they
make....can you really trust them?  How many nutritionists work for them?  Do
they stick to a "fixed formula"?  Do they "outsource" the production of their
foods?  Have you even asked yourself any of these questions?  ;)
---MIKE--- - 16 Jul 2004 23:36 GMT
Kelly, you should be aware that Gaubster2, while she doesn't actually
work for Hills, is a great promoter of their products.  Almost anything
else is inferior in her eyes

                 ---MIKE---
-L. : - 13 Jul 2004 07:37 GMT
> Karen,
>
> It is all about choice. Just like us, cats can choose not to eat certain
> foods. I brought home a bag of Iams once and my cats wouldn't even touch it.
> Right now they get Special Kitty and Friskies canned and they love it.

I have incredibly finicky cats as well - the two brands of dry catfood
they will eat reliably are Nutro and Royal Canin (I mix them).  Have
you ever tried Nutro?  Most cats I have encountered will eat it.  My
cats still eat Friskie's canned, but I don't feel so bad about it
because they get a decent chow.  They won't eat any other canned
variety and I have tried them all. (Except for Purina DM, and I feed
that as much as I can.)

Yes, there is a lot of hype about feeding higher-quality foods - and
rightly so, I think.  But the truth is, thousands of cats eat
Friskies, Purina and other store brands, and live into their late
teens and early 20's.  No, it may not be the best diet they *could*
have, but they do live long lives.  Personally, I don't think it's
*that* big of a deal, and if the choice is to feed high-priced foods
and then not be able to afford adequate vet care, or feed
grocery-store brands and get adequate vet care, I'd rather see a
client do the latter.

However, I would never feed Special Kitty or some other brands - Meow
Mix, for example.

-L.
Cat Protector - 13 Jul 2004 18:56 GMT
Yes there are hyped up feelings but they have gone into downright attacks on
people who don't follow some of the others who press for so-called "high
quality foods." My cats like Special Kitty and Friskies. They are quite
healthy and you are quite right, plenty of cats live into their teens and
even their 20's on normal store bought brands. I'd rather have my cats eat
than not eat.

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> I have incredibly finicky cats as well - the two brands of dry catfood
> they will eat reliably are Nutro and Royal Canin (I mix them).  Have
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> -L.
dgk - 13 Jul 2004 19:55 GMT
>Yes there are hyped up feelings but they have gone into downright attacks on
>people who don't follow some of the others who press for so-called "high
>quality foods." My cats like Special Kitty and Friskies. They are quite
>healthy and you are quite right, plenty of cats live into their teens and
>even their 20's on normal store bought brands. I'd rather have my cats eat
>than not eat.

Well, truth to tell, neither of the boys are in imminent danger of
starving to death. One is 10 lbs and the other is 16. They do eat the
dry stuff.
Cat Protector - 14 Jul 2004 04:04 GMT
So do mine. My cats get dry food regularly and canned is fed only a couple
of times a day.

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>
> >Yes there are hyped up feelings but they have gone into downright attacks on
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> starving to death. One is 10 lbs and the other is 16. They do eat the
> dry stuff.
-L. : - 13 Jul 2004 23:12 GMT
> Yes there are hyped up feelings but they have gone into downright attacks on
> people who don't follow some of the others who press for so-called "high
> quality foods." My cats like Special Kitty and Friskies. They are quite
> healthy and you are quite right, plenty of cats live into their teens and
> even their 20's on normal store bought brands. I'd rather have my cats eat
> than not eat.

Yeah, well, there are those who think if you don't carry your kitty
around on a guilded pillow, that you are abusive...

-L.
Cat Protector - 14 Jul 2004 04:17 GMT
I have not yet done that. Isis nor Jade have required it.

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> Yeah, well, there are those who think if you don't carry your kitty
> around on a guilded pillow, that you are abusive...
>
> -L.
jamie - 14 Jul 2004 03:33 GMT
> Yes there are hyped up feelings but they have gone into downright attacks on
> people who don't follow some of the others who press for so-called "high
> quality foods." My cats like Special Kitty and Friskies. They are quite
> healthy and you are quite right, plenty of cats live into their teens and
> even their 20's on normal store bought brands. I'd rather have my cats eat
> than not eat.

Plenty may live to a ripe old age on store bought brands, but plenty
of storebought brands are better than Special Kitty. I question the
ability to live a long healthy life, raised on the shittiest brand
of flavored corn meal on the market.  Cats and people can live some
years on lousy nutrition before the problems of poor nutrition actually
show up.

Back in the 60s and 70s, I knew plenty of people who fed their
cats the flavored Play-dough sold as Tender Vittles, but the
cats didn't usually live past 12.

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PawsForThought - 14 Jul 2004 13:32 GMT
>From: jamie@spam-me-silly.net  (jamie)

>Back in the 60s and 70s, I knew plenty of people who fed their
>cats the flavored Play-dough sold as Tender Vittles, but the
>cats didn't usually live past 12.

I've read where Tender Vittles is compared to plastic.  
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PawsForThought - 13 Jul 2004 01:32 GMT
>From: "Karen" kchuplis@nospamalltel.net

>> I'm trying to feed my cats a high quality diet and they simply walk
>> away. I'm finally going to get a chance to try some Petguard Premium
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>>
>> (I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).

>I threw away a LOT of food until I got to Petguard. The three flavors my
>picky eaters like are Premium Feast, Chicken Stew lite, Turkey Lite with
>Barley, and Beef w/Barley. Still, I have seen starving strays turn away from
>9 lives which makes me wonder what is in THAT!

I fed my last cats mostly Fancy Feast, Friskies and Pukarina, I mean Purina.
Most cats are hard to switch once they've eaten a certain food for a while.
That's why I think it's good when a cat is young to start him out on a variety
of foods, in order to avoid a finicky cat later.  Before I started my present
cats on a homemade diet, I fed them Petguard along with a couple other brands.
They always liked the Petguard.  I also think it's important when introducing a
new food to not just put it down for the cat.  I think switching is usually
more successful when the new food is mixed in with the old food, a little at a
time.  

Lauren
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dgk - 13 Jul 2004 14:28 GMT
>I threw away a LOT of food until I got to Petguard. The three flavors my
>picky eaters like are Premium Feast, Chicken Stew lite, Turkey Lite with
>Barley, and Beef w/Barley. Still, I have seen starving strays turn away from
>9 lives which makes me wonder what is in THAT!

I finally got to the pet store that has Petguard. They didn't have
your favorites but there were quite a few and I'm trying those. They
also had lots of other brands that I'd never heard of. All I can
remember at the moment is Evolve.

Nipsy seems to like the new ones a bit, Jackie will eat almost
anything. Espy actually ate a few bites of the Petguard Beef (I
think). I need to make a chart.
PawsForThought - 14 Jul 2004 02:38 GMT
>From: dgk sonicechoes-spamless@hot-nospamp-mail.com

>Nipsy seems to like the new ones a bit, Jackie will eat almost
>anything. Espy actually ate a few bites of the Petguard Beef (I
>think). I need to make a chart.

You might want to take their regular dry food and smash it up into a powder.
Then take a small amount and mix it into the new canned food.  This may help
them to adapt to the new food easier.  
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Cat Protector - 12 Jul 2004 21:17 GMT
The problem we have on this group is you get labled the bad guy if you don't
feed your cats the same food as some of the others on this group. Never mind
if your cats are healthy, well cared for or even well loved. Some of the
bullies on this group simply can't accept that you feed your cats foods that
they don't. People like Lauren say "put your ego aside" when it is not about
ego. Forgive me if I don't join your crusade against others who may feed
their cats food that you wouldn't feed yours. My cats are just fine with the
diet they are on. Even the vet says they are healthy and has no problem with
my feeding them their normal cat food. Their quality of life is very good
and they are happy.

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"dgk" <sonicechoes-spamless@hot-nospamp-mail.com> wrote in message

> >It's not about you.  It's about feeding your cats a good diet.  Why don't you
> >put your ego aside, and try feeding your kitties a higher quality food.  I know
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> (I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).
Ray Ban - 13 Jul 2004 20:38 GMT
CP, the problem is you are stupid or just plain annoying like a troll.
Ten people kept telling you that the date on the canned food IS NOT
expiration date, that canned food passed the stamped date IS NOT
spoiled, yet you still insisted that canned food passed the stamped
data IS spoiled. As one poster pointed out, canned food does not
magically spoil overnight passed the stamped date.

Yes, I have nothing better to do that's why I'm posting this even
though I know you are too stupid to comprehend it.

FWIW, I have no problem with Friskies. I don't buy the McDonald's
analogy.

Bye. I'll check back in a couple of months.

RB

> The problem we have on this group is you get labled the bad guy if you don't
> feed your cats the same food as some of the others on this group. Never mind
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> >
> > (I haven't eaten at McDonalds or Burger King since 1970).
zuzu22@webtv.net - 12 Jul 2004 21:39 GMT
>And it isn't like I've been offering them
>the real crap. For all I know they're going
>to turn it down also (they have all the dry
>food they want, which IS Science Diet or
>Eukanuba or Nutra or something - that
>stuff they eat).

This is your problem right here and a mistake many people make. When
cats have food available all day and are constantly snacking, it doesn't
make much difference what other food you offer them, they likely won't
care to eat much, if any at all. Ideally you should feed your cats a
variety of canned foods on a schedule (every 12 hours is optimal) and
don't leave food out in between. Not only is it healther for them, but
it changes their attitude towards food and they learn to understand that
it's "now or 12 hours from now." It is also wise to feed scheduled meals
because it lessens the likelihood of the cat overeating and getting fat,
and also will make you aware of illness faster as you'll know exactly
when and how much you cat is eating and will quickly notice if it goes
off of its food. Most cases of hepatic lipidosis develop because the
cats are free fed and it is *days* before an issue is noticed.
Sure, leaving dry food out is convenient *for the owner,* but there is a
much larger price to pay for that convenience that, AFAIC, makes it not
even remotely worthwhile.

Megan

                                   
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dgk - 13 Jul 2004 01:23 GMT
>>And it isn't like I've been offering them
>>the real crap. For all I know they're going
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
>                                    

That's an interesting point and I thank you. But I've read elsewhere
that it is a good idea to leave out dry food and let them snack since
many small meals is preferable to a few large ones. Every time I learn
something someone comes along and reverses it.

It isn't like they're eating crappy dry food. Ok, I'm open to
suggestions. Dry food as desired or make them eat the wet food 12
hours apart.

One more thing. Jackie (the new old girl) is supposed to eat many
small meals around the clock since she needs to gain weight but has
diarrhea and shouldn't eat a lot at one time. That is the doctor's
orders. Of course, I don't think she eats much of the dry stuff at
all. I never see her do so and I suspect her teeth and gums don't
really allow it, thus it may be a red herring. Still, that makes it
very difficult to leave food out for her and not for the others.

Oh well, who said it would be easy.
Mary - 13 Jul 2004 01:49 GMT
"dgk" <sonicechoes-spamless@zero-spam-hotmail.com> wrote > >

> That's an interesting point and I thank you. But I've read elsewhere that
it is a good idea to leave out dry food and let them snack since  many small
meals is preferable to a few large ones.

A compromise might help. We limit Buddha's dry food to a small amount--maybe
1/3 cup a day. We used to keep her bown full. We found that once she started
on the canned food she lost interest in the dry to the point that there were
days when she would not empty the dry bowl. (She is a real chow hound.) Now
she looks forward to her canned food (begs for it every time I go to the
kitchen) and "rations" out her small amount of dry to last the day. She has
lost weight since I made canned food her primary food.

> Oh well, who said it would be easy.
-L. : - 15 Jul 2004 09:42 GMT
> That's an interesting point and I thank you. But I've read elsewhere
> that it is a good idea to leave out dry food and let them snack since
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggestions. Dry food as desired or make them eat the wet food 12
> hours apart.

I do both.  My cats free-feed chow and get canned AM and PM.  We (our
family) have always fed that way, and will continue to always feed
that way.  Have never had a diabetic cat, nor a cat with any chronic
health issues (not that doing so prevents such problems, just that so
far, haven't had any adverse problems).  Have had prolly 10-12
permanent cats between us over the last 40 years.

-L.
MaryL - 13 Jul 2004 16:14 GMT
> I'm trying to feed my cats a high quality diet and they simply walk
> away. I'm finally going to get a chance to try some Petguard Premium
> Feast which some kind soul recommended last week. But frankly, if they
> won't eat that, then I'm going to try Friskees or 9 Lives.
<snip> ...This is just anecdotal of course, but I am really
> getting pissed off throwing away expensive food after getting that
> look from the boys."What, you expect us to eat this crap?"
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> they want, which IS Science Diet or Eukanuba or Nutra or something -
> that stuff they eat).

It can take persistence and a considerable amount of time to modify a cat's
eating habits, but it is well worth it if you can change to a premium cat
food.  Holly had always been free-fed, and she looked and acted healthy.
However, I noticed a lot of dandruff (easily seen because she is a black
cat), and she had put on about a pound of extra weight over the previous
year (which is a significant percentage of a cat's weight).  I had just
adopted Duffy, and his coat was sad to behold.  At first, it was difficult
to convince these two to eat canned food, even though I was feeding
top-quality food -- Wellness and Felidae for Holly plus Innova for Duffy
because he was much too thin.  Both turned their noses up at the canned
food, but they would readily eat almost *any* dry food (especially Duffy,
who was used to donated dry food at the shelter).  I truly felt guilty as it
seemed that I was depriving them of a sense of enjoyment, and for awhile
they would simply leave their canned food untouched.  I stuck with it, and
they gradually adjusted to the new food.  The transformation has been
remarkable.  Holly's black fur is gorgeous, glossy, and has no dandruff.
She also easily lost the extra pound of weight and has remained steady at
her optimum weight.  Duffy has an incredibly gorgeous, fluffy fur coat, lots
of energy -- and in his case, gained on Innova (which is whas was needed)
but then held steady to his optimum weight on Wellness and Felidae.

Last summer, I had a petsitter for two weeks.  She is wonderful with my
twosome, but she misunderstood my instructions about dry food.  I keep a
small supply of Wellness dry and will give a very *small* amount of that to
Holly and Duffy every few days as a treat.  She gave them too much of the
dry food, and they had reverted to ignoring the canned while waiting for
more dry.  So, it was back to the drawing board.  This time, they were back
on schedule in just a few days; but this does show how important it is to
maintain a good schedule of feeding and to remove uneaten food after a
reasonable period of time (even if it does seem wasteful at first to remove
uneaten food).  I feed mine on a 12-hour schedule, or as close to that as
possible.

Is this cruel to "deprive" my cats of their preference for dry food?  No, I
think not.  They are active, happy, playful -- and clearly in better health
(even Holly, who I thought was pretty healthy before I started this).  They
no longer beg for dry food, but they always come bounding to the kitchen
with me when it is time for their regular meal.  One person I talked to when
I was worrying about depriving them of the food they clearly preferred
during the early stages made this analogy:  Can you imagine convincing a
teenager that he or she should prefer milk instead of a hot fudge sundae?
At the same time, would you just turn over the hot fudge to a kid who
insisted that was all he wanted?

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

Photos of Duffy and Holly:      >'o'<
http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly)
http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in")
PawsForThought - 14 Jul 2004 13:35 GMT
>From: "MaryL" carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER

>I truly felt guilty as it
>seemed that I was depriving them of a sense of enjoyment, and for awhile
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>of energy -- and in his case, gained on Innova (which is whas was needed)
>but then held steady to his optimum weight on Wellness and Felidae.

Tha'ts great, Mary :)  I think cats can surely exist on cheap and crappy pet
food.  But, as evidenced by your post, cats fed a better diet will surely be in
better condition.

Lauren
________
See my cats:  http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
icarus - 12 Jul 2004 01:50 GMT
> Do you see me questioning what you feed your cats? I find it interesting how
> some of you lable someone the bad guy simply because they don't feed their
> cats the same brands you do. It is a bit snobbish if you ask me. My cats are
> in oerfectly good health and are given lots of love, plenty of food and are
> well cared for.

CatPro,........

you are either......stupid, retarded or close to one of these. others have
expressed very rational and concise views.  I'll just ignore you I think.
Cat Protector - 12 Jul 2004 02:22 GMT
What is with a lot of you people. Is the only way you can argue your point
is to call others name? It is pretty sad to see have seen this newsgroup go
so downhill over the last few years because many of you have to act like
children. It makes me appreciate the message boards for cats that don't
resort to this. Some of you really need to grow up and get a life here. As
for you icarus it seems you are just in a long line of people who first
attack, name call then say they are just going to ignore. I for one have no
intention on playing these stupid childish games.

Signature

Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.panthertekit.com

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com

> you are either......stupid, retarded or close to one of these. others have
> expressed very rational and concise views.  I'll just ignore you I think.
Arjun Ray - 08 Jul 2004 16:57 GMT
| Sigh, I'm sure this is a waste of time

Most assuredly it is.  Please ignore our village idiot.
Cat Protector - 08 Jul 2004 17:09 GMT
Is name calling the best way you can make people hear you? Villiage idiot, I
think not. I prefer to be safer than sorry.

Signature

Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com

> Most assuredly it is.  Please ignore our village idiot.
Mary - 08 Jul 2004 19:01 GMT
>I think not.

Aha! You have isolated the main cause of the problem! I thought it was just
that you didn't think WELL.
PawsForThought - 06 Jul 2004 20:24 GMT
>From: twinmountain@webtv.net  (---MIKE---)

>I have several cans of cat food (Innova, Nutro, and Whiskas) that have
>been in the cupboard for quite a while (I now feed Wellness).  These are
>all well past the "best by" dates.  Should I throw them away or give
>them to a shelter?

Considering the high temps pet food is cooked at, it should probably be fine.
Ask the shelter if they would like it, and then they can ascertain whether or
not the food is spoiled.  I know with human food, if it smells bad, then I
throw it away.  But I'm sure this is different with pet food, lol.

Lauren
________
See my cats:  http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
 
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