Creatures Comfort

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

PLEASE review the ingredients on all animal food and supplements given to your pets.  Avoid the foods (even if they say they are "natural", "holistic", "human-grade", etc. if they contain:  "by-products of any kind, BHT, BTA, mixed tocopherols, glycol derivative ingredients, etc. because companies are misleading the consumers.  That's why there have been so many recalls recently.  Plus, most companies outsource the ingredients, manufacture, processing overseas where the food quality is not controlled and labor is cheaper.  More money for the corporations - less quality for the consumer.  Raw is best!  In Australia, dogs are given raw organic whole chickens  chopped into pieces and they eat skin, bones, fat, organs, meat and all.  We've been brainwashed into thinking that raw is bad for our animals but it is what they would eat in the wild.  Their stomach acids are designed to break down bones and other animal components that we would not be able to tolerate.  Even the "good, expensive foods" are having problems because of the above reasons.  Protect your pets - read the labels of everything!  ("Distributed in America" or "Manufactured for the Company" DOES NOT mean the food is "MADE IN AMERICA" using American ingredients or subject to guidelines or inspections!  See more below!

October 2011

The Latest Recall List & It Is LONG!

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/

Should Natura Pet/Innova recall pet foods??  What on earth is going on with the pet food industry??  I am going out on a limb and possibly incurring the wrath of the pet-food industry by voicing my personal opinions here but, I believe that "corporate greed" is responsible for the tainting of once-quality pet products.  Proctor & Gamble bought out Innova and I have been experiencing a decline in my animals' (9 kitties) health in the last 6 months.  I feel the problems  may be coming from the once-quality brands:  Evo & California Natural.  Why do I feel that way?  Because I changed brands and they are doing so much better!  If P&G has been experimenting/changing those recipes, I hope that P&G will take responsibility before too many dogs and cats are harmed.  If they aren't changing the recipes - my apologies - however, P&G should investigate why animals aren't thriving with their products any more as I am not the only one who has noticed the negative impact on my cats.

I highly recommend going raw and preparing foods at home.  For those who just can't (and I am one of you a lot of the time) - I've been trying Rad Cat frozen raw products (which includes ground up bones, organs, etc).  I also  provide finely chopped frozen chicken tenders; and am trying Halo Spots Stew canned and Wild Buffalo dry cat food as treats as I'm working to going to mostly raw.  My cats are reviving and displaying more energy and happiness with the change in foods.  Please always check ingredients faithfully and know that products "distributed  in America" or "made FOR" formerly good manufacturers are being labeled that way to disguise the fact that the food is being made in other countries with less restrictions/guidelines/quality control and with inferior ingredients and then sent to the USA for distribution to unsuspecting consumers under the once-quality oriented brand names.  You are paying more for substandard products - again - my opinion only!   Consumer be warned and educate yourselves!  So, why do I believe corporate greed is responsible?  Corporations reap more profits if they cut corners by using substandard ingredients and have products made overseas.   Judge for yourself!

October 2011

Once again, Blue Buffalo is on the list of recalled foods.  Regardless whether they are voluntarily RECALLING certain pet foods - perhaps they need to consider WHY these recalls are even occurring!!

August 2010

Recently, I received a shipment of California Natural Cat food.  I was shocked and dismayed when I found a piece of blue plastic in one can of food and another can had exploded during shipment.  Natura was quick to respond and my money was reimbursed by PetfoodDirect for all cans in the shipment and I submitted the plastic piece and other product identifying materials to Natura to investigate.  After a couple of months, I followed up with Natura to learn that they had no other complaints from that particular lot number, so, if they are to be believed (which I'm not sure I do) this incident is being closed without further consideration. 

I've been receiving emails from other animal communicators regarding Proctor & Gamble's purchase of the Natura company and I personally no longer feel comfortable with their products.  I know American corporations are out-sourcing ingredients and manufacturing for their  products to countries where the quality controls are not as stringent and labor is cheap so the corporation will gain more in profits at the expense and risk of our animals' health. 

I advise everyone to be vigilant and diligent and to check labels carefully.  If the label states, "Distributed in the USA" - it no doubt means the ingredients are purchased overseas, manufactured overseas and returned to America to be sold in America.  It is getting more and more difficult to "buy American".   

What to do?  I recently purchased a Ninja Food Processor/Blender for $99 and ground up some chicken wings (bones, skin and all) for my cats.  That's become very difficult for me to continue so now I'm trying RAD CAT frozen raw cat-food.  Actually, I love RAD CAT.  It's easy to keep in the freezer, defrost and portion out into a bowl over 2-3 days times.  I try to give them some raw every day.  

Many of my cats love Dr. Jones Cat Supplement (powdered) and will lick it off a plate or bowl.  No need to mix with food, though some of the more finicky ones may benefit from mixing.  

You may order it by going to:  

 http://www.thecatsupplement.com/cmd.php?af=983896                            

or order his Dog Supplement at: 

http://www.thedogsupplement.com/cmd.php?af=983896

Yes, unfortunately, I  still use some canned products:  Halo, Ziwi Peak and Tiki Cat (as I now have 9 kitties to feed) and I still offer a some dry (Wild Buffalo) but I will continue to work toward getting them on a completely raw diet as I know how much better it is for them.    It does take time and patience and I realize not everyone has that luxury.  Though I often wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper in the long-run - not only with better health, coats, teeth, odor, etc. but with less canned food waste.  My friends in Australia feed raw organic whole chicken parts, raw eggs, etc. to their cats and dogs - bones, meat and skin without any problems. Their dogs do not get "doggy breath" or smelly coats and their cats have better breath and healthier teeth and gums too.  In America, we've been conditioned (brainwashed by marketing ploys) into thinking that raw would be bad for our animals yet isn't that what would they live on in the wild?

If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know and I will share them on this page. 

Meanwhile, we can only do the best we can to become educated animal lovers and consumers for the health and well-being of our beloved animals who DEPEND ON US  to keep them healthy and happy.

-- Kathi