The Reason I Never Buy Cat Food At The Super Market
You’re at home relaxing, watching your tv, and a commercial for cat foods comes on. A woman (it’s usually a woman because for some reason it doesn’t make sense for a man to take care about animals I guess) opens a can of cat food, and the feline companion immediately comes running. After devouring the contents of the box with passion, it purrs and carefully cleans its fur to show satisfaction. Because everyone (well almost everyone) who owns a cat wants their fur baby to be happy you want to try the brand.
Later the same day you might be in the supermarket doing some shopping. You’re walking past the pet food aisle; you see products of the same brand that was in the ad you watched earlier. You stop, look at the packaging and reach for the product. In this situation, I would recommend that you put your hand back on the trolley handle and proceed walking. Why might you ask? Because cat food sold in supermarkets are crap and might hurt your cat.
The reason supermarket cat food is bad for your cat comes down to how the producers use three specific ingredients. These are; salt, fat and cereal, and by working with them, companies can make their food cheaper and tastier. Being cheap and delicious makes them attractive to a buyer. Attractiveness is what makes the different brands stand out in the harsh competition on the shelves. But it’s not going to be what’s best for your cat.
Let’s have a look at each one of the ingredients and why they are unhealthy if not used in the right way.
Salt
It’s common for brands to use too much salt, which can be harmful to your cat. The reason producers are putting a lot of salt in it is because it makes the food taste better. Better taste equals happier cat (at least in the short term), which equals higher sales. Too much salt though can tip the electrolyte balance of your cats’ blood. Worst case it make your pet sick and even cause it to go into a coma.
Fat
Fat in cat food works very much like salt; it makes the food tastier. Unfortunately, too much fat in your cats’ diet increases the risk of obesity. On the other hand, some brands will use too little fat. The reason why some don’t put enough in is because they replace it with cheaper ingredients. Too low-fat percentages can cause issues as well, like lowering the quality of the coat.
Cereal
Because animal protein is expensive, some brands try to use as little of it as possible. Instead, some use grain to replace parts of the animal protein. It will result in a lower price. The problem is that cereals contain carbohydrates which might make your cat fat. Additionally, the ingredient can cause allergies. The truth is that your cat doesn’t need carbs at all.
You have finished your shopping. Let’s say you followed my advice about not getting cat food at the supermarket, but your furry friends at home are hungry. I would recommend that your next stop is either the pet store or even better, the veterinary clinic. If you get your cat food at the pet store or the vet, I can almost certainly guarantee it has a high quality. The fellas working in these places knows a lot about proper nutrition. They will not put things on their shelves that make your kitty sick.
At the end of the day, you’re doing some household work. The TV is on in the background. The same ad you watched earlier about cat food starts to play. You think: “This is not the brand I’m looking for”.
