Whats actually in Cat Food?

[catslave]

In response to Elismom's "dangers of raw feeding" thread and other comments by others as well, I thought I would post my feelings and research on mass produced cat food. I quite agree with Candes that people should have all the facts so here are some from the other side of the fence. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is mine.NB. I strongly advise not reading this thead whilst eating, and if you have a weak stomach a bowl or bucket may be useful.The advertisments and packaging show fresh plump chickens, juicy steaks and fresh caught fish; unfortunately none of these are likely to end up in the tin. One pet food manufacturer actually claimed it was better than others as its food was based on poultry carcuses whilst its competitors used feathers. In fact cat food contains all the icky bits of animals that have been passed fit for human consumption, ie. all meat is removed then what's left becomes cat food, eyes, brain, stomach etc. There is nothing wrong with the icky bits of the animal. Offal contains vital nutrients. In the wild cats will eat the skin, eyes and stomache of its prey. Humans often eat these icky bits as well, cleverly disguised in sausages, burgers, pies etc. It is not unheard of for diseased animals and spoilt unsold meat to end up in cat food, although this normally only happens in countries with lesser controls. Cat food has to have the nutritional value of one mouse per can, icky bits included.In some places ground up cats and dogs can end up in cat food as well as road kill. Rendering these carcuses is an efficient and environmental friendly means of disposal. Sanimal in Quebec use mainly pig and chicken carcusses but also use 18000 kg of cat and dog flesh a week. This meat protein product is then sold on to the pet food industry to be manufactured into cat and dog food. In reality that tin of food you fed your cat this morning could well have contained the meat of a dead cat. Erm isn't that canibalism? There are also genuine health concerns about feeding meat products back to their own species.Every one, at least in England, will remember the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease a few years ago. This outbreak of BSE was caused by feeding cattle by products back to cattle. The causative agent (a prion) survived rendering. In humans vCJD is caused by eating BSE infected beef, the feline version FSE is caused by cat food.The Waltham Book of Dog and Cat Nutrients is a fantastic source of information on what is actually in cat food and what is vital and missing from it.Most pet food comes from large international companies that also deal in human food. This allows them to profit from what is effectively waste products by turning them into pet food. This process starts by rendering the animal carcusses to remove fat and fluid. This is then mixed with the skin, organs, brain, stomaches etc. It is possible for the euthanasia drug pentobarbital to still be present in these. Condemned slaughter house waste, including animals who have died and reason unknown, heads, hooves, more internal organs, and all meat unfit for human consuption. Before leaving the slaughterhouse this meat is denatured to prevent it ending up in the human food chain. In Canada the denaturing chemical is Birkolene B (composition of which is secret). In the USA they use any of the following, carbolic acid (corrosive, disinfectant, toxic), creosote (wood preservative, disinfectant, toxic), fuel oil, kerosene or citronella (insect repellent made from lemon grass). In the UK it is dyed blue or green. These all end up in cat food.Animals breed as a food source are routinely given antibiotics due to the increased infections of cramped accomodation and walking about in there own mess. The later causes e-coli. Both are passed into the food chain and into pet food. (As my battery is about to die I will charge it and continue as a reply)