Myths About Premium Cat Food: Part Two

YOU SHOULD LOOK AT ASH CONTENT WHEN BUYING CAT FOOD

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) was a big concern for cat owners and veterinarians - and experts came to believe that ash played a central role in creating crystals in cats’ urine. This widespread belief still influences many people today to look for cat food that is low in ash content; however, experts now understand there are numerous factors that contribute to the development of FLUTD - primarily a diet that is too high in alkalinity.

Too high of a pH leads to the formation of struvite crystals in cat pee - and it is the conventional pet food brands that use vegetables and grain as their main ingredients that cause this dangerous increase in alkalinity.

At Snappy Tom, real chicken or fish is always the primary ingredient in all of our cat foods; when your cat eats these all-natural formulas, they be more acidic - avoiding any potential concerns about FLUTD. Also, our canned foods help to assist your cat in staying properly hydrated, which is another crucial component of avoiding FLUTD.

Another non-dietary consideration for avoiding FLUTD is making sure you and your pet keep your stress levels in check - stress is probably the most overlooked causal factor in every disease known to the world. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress, even it’s just a casual walk around the neighborhood. Stress lowers the immune system, which is exactly what you want to prevent. Don’t underestimate how your stress levels affect your cat - if you have high stress, your cat will also feel that due to how sensitive animals our to our moods and emotions.

RAW FOOD IS DANGEROUS FOR CATS

While many people believe raw food is dangerous for cats to consume, this isn’t true. Cats have a digestive tract that is much different from humans’. Our digestive tracts are over 25’ long and have a pH of approximately two. Cats on the other hand have an average of 12’ of digestive tract, with a pH usually lowers than one.

These facts mean that food not only passes through cats much faster than humans, but also the increased acidity kills many bacteria that could be dangerous to people. Even if you purchase food contaminated with bacteria, there’s a good chance the cat will eat it and still be just fine.

That being said, it’s still wise to take certain precautions when feeding your cat raw food, such as not leaving the food in the open for more than a half hour or so. A little common sense can go a long way if you decide to feed your feline raw foods. However, when you use Snappy Tom premium cat food, we take the guesswork out of the equation - and simply provide you with the cleanest, highest quality formulas - and make it a top priority to always use real chicken or fish for our number one ingredient.