How green, ethical, animal friendly is CoOp cat food?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I know the CoOp pride themselves with their ethical policies, was wondering if anyone knew whether their friendly policies extended to their cat food range? If it does, I'll start buying their stock instead of the usual supermarket fodder.

Kitty_jc

Supermarket bought pet food rarely ticks the ethical box as you don't really know what goes into them. The terms "meat & animal derivatives" and "derivatives of vegetable origin", amongst others, are much used and can mean basically anything and are used to hide a multitude of things that you wouldn't feed to your worst enemy's cat, let alone your own cat.

If you really are concerned about the ethical nature of your pet food, have a look at the Campaign for Real Pet Food site: http://www.crpf.org.uk/

Although buying "real" pet food may seem expensive, it has so many more benefits - it eases your social conscience, you feed less as it's higher quality and everything in it has nutritional value, so it helps make a healthier pet.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Does it include wet food tho'? I will check it out.

Why has this natural cat food got veg in it? Cats are 100% carniverous by nature, they cannot digest veg. I know it unfortunatly comes in supermarket foods, but we all know it is of inferior quality anyway + I couldn't bring myself to feed dried food of any kind to my cat since she became diabetic.

Kitty_jc

It also includes wet food - I'm a label reader, and this includes my pet's food, and I haven't found a single super market brand which doesn't contain "derivatives".

We feed Burns food to our dogs, but I looked up their cat food and the only "veg" it contains is seaweed, which I would assume provides them with some nutritional benefit: http://www.shop.burnspet.com/acatalog/Food_For_Cats.html

Although cats by nature may be 100% carniverous, they would also eat the vast majority of any kill (offal, skin, hair etc) which in most cases will be a herbivore/omnivore so they would get additional nutrition this way. When we feed commercial pet food, we have to trust that the pet food company balances their food for us, and I don't believe that the majority do. Why else would the cover up what goes in?

I was appalled when I read what "meat and animal derivatives" can be a cover for. In truth, there is nothing stopping pet food manufacturers using these terms from adding cat or dog meat to the food, and given that they do eat cat & dog in places in the Far East, it's easily conceivable that they could also supply the Bristish pet food market.

Caterina

I buy the Bozita range, wet and dry, from Zooplus, as I order in bulk I always get the 5% discount (and also go through Quidco for a little cashback).

HTH

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Caterina wrote: »

I buy the Bozita range, wet and dry, from Zooplus, as I order in bulk I always get the 5% discount (and also go through Quidco for a little cashback).

HTH

Looks like it sells quality cat food at an affordable price. Thanks.

Kitty_jc

Take a look at the ingredients:

Contents: Scandinavian Arctic salmon, maize meal, rice, chicken meat meal, animal fat, dried Arctic fish, meat meal, minerals, vitamins, molasses yeast, methionine, taurine, chicken digest, whey protein, beet fibre, ß-1.3/1.6-glucanes, algae.

In particular, animal fat and meat meal - this could be ANYTHING. The fat can be from anything that was ever classed as an animal, and meat meal is like derivatives - could be any part of any dead animal.

Sorry to be negative about them - but just because they tell you it's natural, you need to still check the label.

~Chameleon~

If your cat is diabetic then you need to be looking at low carb/high protein diets and preferably one that can be fed ad lib. My choice of food would include either Hill's Prescription M/D or Royal Canin Feline Diabetic (veterinary diet).

Is she being closely monitored by your vet and do you regularly test/medicate her?

noahsarkfamily

Arden Grange and Burns are natuarl foods, and also Joe Inglis who is fronting the campaign for real pete food has his own range.
Don't Hill's test on animals Chamaeleon?

~Chameleon~

noahsarkfamily wrote: »

Arden Grange and Burns are natuarl foods, and also Joe Inglis who is fronting the campaign for real pete food has his own range.
Don't Hill's test on animals Chamaeleon?

Well it is "pet" food, designed for "animals" to eat :rotfl:

The OP's cat is diabetic and I'm not aware of either Arden Grange or Burns producing a diabetic diet. She would have to check the analysis for protein/carb content and discuss with her vet what is suitable to feed the cat.


Some more info about feline diabetes here ... http://www.diabetes.co.uk/info/CatsWithDiabetes.html

It's best if you can find a suitable diet and stick to it otherwise to keep changing it from one to another can cause problems with the diabetes. Just noticed in your OP that you mention feeding supermarket cat food. Do you mind if I ask which ones? I'm just wondering whether they would be suitable for your diabetic cat, but obviously I have no idea how advanced the disease is or whether she's insulin dependant as that would make a difference.

Anyway, even if her BG levels are only slightly raised you need to be feeding a low carb diet to prevent deterioration and onset of insulin-dependancy

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My cat is in remission, has been for nearly 12 months now. I monitor her BG by using a home testing kit.

Her BG levels are well within range & she no longer needs injections of insulin.

I have mainly been feeding her Felix & I regularly feed cooked chicken and fish. I have just bought to trays of cat food from Joe & Jills. Hoping she likes it.