Really?

Not that human grade food in this nation is anywhere near as regulated as it once was prior to the deregulations of the early 1990s, but I have to ask. Would this articles author take the same nonchalant attitude regarding human food production, baby food, or infant formula? Because after all, someone could easily let their gum slip out of their mouth while processing pureed beef for or chicken and peas for the wee ones.

Somehow this normalizing and downplaying of so-called mistakes in the industry has me question the integrity of this articles purpose. We already have pretty lax food regulations, and they are soon to become even more so. Having a retired FDA food inspector in the family, I cannot believe the things I’ve heard regarding just how deregulated things have become in the past three decades. And for this reason, the number of food recalls and their level of seriousness has risen to outlandish numbers. But since it has been going on now for the better part of two and half generations, it’s become acceptable. Just as the opening paragraphs of this article seem to wish us to continue to do. Don’t take it seriously folks, after all it’s just food. Not to mention pet food… no worries here. Besides after your cat dies, you can always go find another can’t you?

When formulating cat food, a veterinary nutritionist considers the role of carbohydrates, fiber, and plant-based proteins carefully, even though cats are obligate carnivores. Small amounts of carbohydrates can provide energy, while fiber aids in digestion and helps with stool consistency. Plant-based ingredients can also supplement the protein content, but they are balanced to ensure they don’t replace essential animal-based proteins that cats need for optimal health. The goal is to create a balanced recipe that meets nutritional needs while being cost-effective and appealing to cats

Hi Rosemary, it’s recommended that without heart, you can substitute with added taurine. This video offers some guidance.

Hey there. Sounds like you’re going through a lot! You might appreciate our article on the best homemade cat food for kidney disease. Hope this helps, and I wish you all the best.

Perfectly fine as a treat, but it’s not a nutritionally complete diet.

Hello Rosie, it sounds like your cat is having an allergic reaction to the urinary care food, so your vet has advised feeding a hydrolyzed diet. In a hydrolyzed diet, all of the proteins have been broken down so they can’t trigger a histamine (allergic) response in the cat’s body. The S/O index means that the food is formulated in a way that will discourage the development of urinary crystals (both struvite and calcium oxalate). I believe a homemade diet could be a good match for your cat, but I would keep careful notes to see how he reacts to it, sticking only to single-protein recipes to help you get a handle on which ingredients are triggering this reaction. Hope this helps!