For the "home cooked" meal (feline, diet, natural)

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Kittymom4

Now there is a pleasant thought - you have just reaffirmed why I do not eat pork. Yuck.

Well, the other thing it affirms is just what a large amount of pet food made from other animals comes from: the parts of those animals humans wouldn't eat.

[foxywench]

i was told by an animal dietician (not a vet a nutrtionalist) that a tiny bit of garlic (not alot for a cat no more than 1/4 a clove a day) is a great additional to entice a picky cat to try less "scented" foods. cats go by smell, the stronger scented foods (ie fish based) are prefered so chicken is realy bland and unappealing...
you cna also add any culinary herbs except onion powder (basil, orgegano, thyme, rosemary ect) to the food with no ill effects to "increase the smell" just avoid onion and salt, (and garlic in large amounts up to 1/4 a clove is fine for the nirmal sized pet cat)

[Kittymom4]

I've heard that garlic is ok too in small amounts - maybe not even every day. Some people actually use it for a natural flea preventative.

Have you had any luck with any of the herbs in particular? I have a small garden in my back yard and I know when I trim my basil but especially my oregano or rosemary my cats smell it on me and love to lick me So I wonder if they would like it in the food.

Maybe I'll try something tonight in the chicken meal - thanks for the input

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by Kittymom4

Now there is a pleasant thought - you have just reaffirmed why I do not eat pork. Yuck.

We very VERY seldom eat coldcuts. We know what's in it besides all the dyes, fats, salt and preservatives. We do eat pork but not the processed kind. I buy the loins and chops and parts that don't contain "processed" body parts. Those parts are "clean" and don't contain scraps and entrails. They're no different than steaks or chicken parts.

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by greg42

Well, the other thing it affirms is just what a large amount of pet food made from other animals comes from: the parts of those animals humans wouldn't eat.

And when it says "Meat meal" you can be sure there are ground up body parts from all kinds of slaughter house animals, from chickens to pigs to sheep to cattle - and more. I don't believe for one minute the hearts, any animal's lungs, the sweetbreads, cow tongues etc are tossed in the trash for the town dump. These either go into cold cuts and other processed meats for human consumption and the really nasty stuff goes for pet food. In any case processed meats should be avoided by people but what can we do for our pets when they refuse home made diets? Or when we can't afford to feed our cats or dogs an all meat diet from the grocer?

[catsmom21]

Originally Posted by greg42

Well, the other thing it affirms is just what a large amount of pet food made from other animals comes from: the parts of those animals humans wouldn't eat.

Well, cats being obligate carnivores, they do eat many parts of animals a human would not eat, anyway. It would be about quality of the meat and offal, in that case

[Kittymom4]

Well the addition of garlic and rosemary was not a hit. bummer

[greg42]

Originally Posted by catsmom21

Well, cats being obligate carnivores, they do eat many parts of animals a human would not eat, anyway. It would be about quality of the meat and offal, in that case

Heh, well, that is true. Although I don't think they would prefer to eat only those bits. Eh, but it's all in what they're used to. Mine prefers to eat dry crunchy stuff...made with a lot of meat at least in this case but still a rather unnatural way to eat it. 12 years of habit and conditioning overcomes millennia of instinct, at least in some ways.

[Red On The Noodle]

This is what I feed my cat. It is a dehydrated mix that you add your own meat too. She loves it and has not eaten any commercial food whatsoever. Her coat is shiny, thick, lush, and she is SO full of energy -- even at 6 years old. She runs around the house like a young kitten.

Dehydrated Raw Cat Food | Natural Cat Food | Grain Free | The Honest Kitchen

[Kittymom4]

I looked into Honest Kitchen and Grandma Lucys brand deyhdrated food. They are really expensive though. I just could not fathom paying $40 for 12lbs of food!