Friends of the Animals

*Admin Note: Friends of the Animals would like to give a special ”thank you” to Mushi for taking time out of her busy schedule to forward her wise advice to us on this important issue.

Mushi’s Musings

By Mushi K. Tjaden

The other day I overhead one of my people talking about the food she eats. She calls me picky but seriously I say she is the picky one. She avoids all kinds of foods in an attempt to eat a healthier diet. Preservatives are a huge evil in her mind and she favors anything organic.
With the recent pet food concerns due to the melamine contamination (yes, I watch CNN) I wondered if it was possible for me to have a more natural diet. My human limits pre-packaged foods in her diet, maybe I should to.
So, as she was speaking on the subject of natural foods I rubbed against her ankles and then proceeded to give her the stare down. I’m very good at it. In less than sixty seconds she was voicing the topic that was on my mind, “I wonder if I should try to feed the cats a more natural diet…” 
Later that night she logged on the net to do some research and I plopped myself in front of the monitor. It turns out that many people opt for a more natural diet for their pets. It is more common than you might think. But it does require careful research.
Both dogs and cats have specific needs in their diets. Cats require taurine, an amino acid found in meats. But we also need grains and veggies which provide carbs that help us utilize protein.  This means our meals should provide us with a combination of meats, grains and veggies.
So, you see, there is more to it than just feeding table scraps. You wouldn’t want to do that anyway because there are some foods that aren’t safe for pets. Some of those foods include salt, garlic, onions, grapes and chocolate. Most of those don’t sound very appetizing either. Onions?
When you are planning your pet’s all natural diet you will also want to take breed and activity level into consideration. You’ll want to be careful not to over or under feed your pet. You’ll also want to remember to introduce any new foods slowly as to not upset your pet’s system.
If you are giving serious thought to bettering your pet’s diet there are a variety of resources on the net as well as many books available to guide you. A simple internet search using the words “homemade pet food” will provide many articles and recipes. Also check out book stores. It seems there has been a boom in pet food recipe book sales since this recent pet food recall catastrophe. You may even get lucky at your local library…finding a book on pet food I mean.
You can, and should, also discuss options with your pet’s veterinarian. There are two schools of thought among pet experts. There are those who believe that pet owners cannot possibly meet the specific needs of a pet’s diet and that commercial pet foods are the only option. The other side feels that a homemade diet is not only possible to achieve but more beneficial to the pet.
I say it comes down to personal preference for both the owner and the pet. Just make sure you do your research so that the end result is not only healthy but tasty as well.  BON APPETIT!!

__________________________________

Author Bio-Mushi Tjaden is tabby living with her American family in Japan. She has three human brothers and a feline sister, Tori. She spends most of her time napping in front of the computer or striking adorable poses in hopes of earning a morsel of fresh seafood.