News Bites
Source: Little Big Cat March Newsletter
Canned Food Prices Going Up: Makers of canned pet foods expect a "major" increase in the price of cans in 2009, forcing them to either eat the cost or raise prices--guess which it will be! Menu Foods said that although raw material costs declined from recent highs, it's been advised by its can supplier that it should expect a "major increase" in the price of steel cans in 2009 that will "at least, necessitate a price increase on petfood sold in steel cans."
Alpha Lipoic Acid is Toxic to Cats. The popular and powerful antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, is included in several products for cats. However, a study from The Ohio State University found that just 1/40th of the dose that makes rats sick will harm a cat. While the amount in most supplements is very small, there may be cumulative effects. Too much alpha lipoic acid is extremely toxic to the liver. Never give your cat alpha lipoic acid made for people, and avoid pet products containing it.
Same Food, Different Cans. A recent survey by the pet food industry found that people are more likely to buy pet food if the can is in a different shape than other brands. Our advice: "Pay no attention to that can behind the curtain!" It's what's in the can that matters; see the many articles on feline nutrition in our Free Article Library for more info. (Tip: You can find what you want faster if you sort our 90+ articles by topic; just click on the "Category" heading at the top!)
Nestle/Purina Sues Wysong, or was it Wysong Sues Purina? It's both! Why? Purina somehow obtained a patent in 1999 on technology invented by fellow pet-food maker Dr. Randy Wysong to "enrobe" (coat) kibbles with live probiotics. Purina now wants to prevent anyone else from using it without paying them a "license fee," even though Purina has never even used the technology. Nice guys, huh? One more reason to avoid Purina products; but Purina and other grocery and discount brands in general are made with inferior ingredients (corn, wheat, soy, by-products) that your cat shouldn't be eating anyway.
Source: Little Big Cat March Newsletter
Canned Food Prices Going Up: Makers of canned pet foods expect a "major" increase in the price of cans in 2009, forcing them to either eat the cost or raise prices--guess which it will be! Menu Foods said that although raw material costs declined from recent highs, it's been advised by its can supplier that it should expect a "major increase" in the price of steel cans in 2009 that will "at least, necessitate a price increase on petfood sold in steel cans."
Alpha Lipoic Acid is Toxic to Cats. The popular and powerful antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, is included in several products for cats. However, a study from The Ohio State University found that just 1/40th of the dose that makes rats sick will harm a cat. While the amount in most supplements is very small, there may be cumulative effects. Too much alpha lipoic acid is extremely toxic to the liver. Never give your cat alpha lipoic acid made for people, and avoid pet products containing it.
Same Food, Different Cans. A recent survey by the pet food industry found that people are more likely to buy pet food if the can is in a different shape than other brands. Our advice: "Pay no attention to that can behind the curtain!" It's what's in the can that matters; see the many articles on feline nutrition in our Free Article Library for more info. (Tip: You can find what you want faster if you sort our 90+ articles by topic; just click on the "Category" heading at the top!)
Nestle/Purina Sues Wysong, or was it Wysong Sues Purina? It's both! Why? Purina somehow obtained a patent in 1999 on technology invented by fellow pet-food maker Dr. Randy Wysong to "enrobe" (coat) kibbles with live probiotics. Purina now wants to prevent anyone else from using it without paying them a "license fee," even though Purina has never even used the technology. Nice guys, huh? One more reason to avoid Purina products; but Purina and other grocery and discount brands in general are made with inferior ingredients (corn, wheat, soy, by-products) that your cat shouldn't be eating anyway.
###########################################
An aside from Suse: I subscribe to this monthly newsletter and have for years. You can read more about Jean Hofve,
DVM and Jackson Galaxy here:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=whoweare
To sign up for the very interesting newsletter, go here:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/?action=newsletter
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=whoweare
To sign up for the very interesting newsletter, go here:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/?action=newsletter
