As anyone with a cat knows, they can be finicky when it comes to eating. They often even start out liking a particular brand, only to end up turning their nose up to it days or months down the line, when they grow bored of the same thing day in and day out. But there’s a secret in the pet food industry that most people are not aware of, and it’s one that is not only helping to keep millions of cats being picky eaters, but is also leading them down an unhealthy path.
“What people who have picky cats don’t realize is that taste chemicals are put into many commercial pet foods in order to get them to eat it,” explains Will Post, founder and CEO, Hound & Gatos Pet Foods Corporation. “The problem with this is that it may get the cat to eat that particular brand, but it’s essentially junk food. Then the cat becomes accustomed to eating this chemical-laced junk food, so that when they have healthy food in front of them they tend to turn their nose up to it.”
Post explains that this is similar to teenagers filling up on junk food, or parents having to hide or disguise the veggies to get kids to eat them. The cat’s palate has been tainted from artificial flavor enhancers in the food. The foods that have those artificial taste chemicals are appealing to the cats, but those tastes are covering up the fact that it’s unhealthy foods they are consuming. Once the cats do get the chance to taste some healthy foods that are devoid of these chemical taste agents, they turn their nose up to the food. It’s kind of like a teenager pushing away the plate filled with healthy protein and veggies, and opting instead for the cheese-laden pizza.
Consumers spend a great deal on pet foods each year, reaching over $21 billion annually, according to the Pet Food Institute. Yet most have no clue about what ingredients they should look for, what to bypass, and what healthy pet food actually looks like. They are also not aware of the taste chemicals that have been used in the foods, making their pet want those brands more than the healthier ones.
Some of the things to look for when selecting a cat food, which will help determine if it’s a healthy food or a “junk food,” include:
- Reading the ingredients labels. Opt for a food that has a short ingredient panel, which means there is less junk added to the meal. Cats are carnivores, so they should be 100 percent meat. Stick to feeding them pet foods that are meat, rather than loaded with artificial colors and flavors, as well as fillers and taste enhancers.
- Know the company. Pay attention to the reputation of the pet food company. Not what they are touting through their advertising, but what their reputation is with other consumers and in the industry as a whole. Investigate to see if they have had pet food recalls and where their ingredients are sourced from. Find out where the pet food is made. Learn as much as you can about the company, ensuring that they are an open and honest company that is forthcoming with information.
- Check the DNA. Especially in today’s pet food world when there are so many recalls and pets getting ill, it is important to know where the meat is coming from that is in the cat food. Some manufacturers bring it in from overseas, where they have lower standards and haphazard practices. Others use diseased animals (including euthanized dogs and cats), questionable fillers, grains, etc. in their pet foods. Such things are not only unethical, but can have a serious impact on the health of the cat consuming the food and lead to health problems and an early death. Hound & Gatos, for example, never uses euthanized cats and dogs in their pet foods, which most people are not even aware takes place in the industry.
“Consumers have to make a choice between feeding their cat they seem to like the taste of, or feeding them something that is healthy and going to help keep them living a longer and better quality life,” added Post. “It’s hard for healthier foods, such as ours, to compete with junk food that’s been doused with chemical taste agents. It shouldn’t be all about taste. It should be about keeping them healthy. Your kids may turn their nose up to healthy foods, too, if junk food is the other option. Feed your cats healthy foods and don’t give them the choice.”
Hound & Gatos Pet Foods Corporation is a leader in healthy pet foods, and three-time recipient of the “Most Trusted Pet Foods” award by TruthAboutPetFood.com. The company, uses only the best sourced ingredients, uses 100 percent meat with all ingredients originating in the USA, makes their pet food right in South Dakota, and offers complete DNA disclosure to show the source of the meat used in their foods. They never use things found in other popular pet foods, such as generic livers, carrageenan, chemicals, unidentifiable additives, and preservatives. They have also never had any of their food recalled.
Hound & Gatos Pet Foods strives to help owners obtain the best quality products for their pets, and they deliver with 100 percent animal protein with no fillers backed by an exceptional customer satisfaction guarantee. Visit www.HoundGatos.com and discover the difference of premium quality hypoallergenic pet food. The products are distributed through Animal Supply Co., and Pet Food Experts in the USA and Canada’s Global Pet Foods. The foods are also available in Canada, at PetOnly.ca.
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