If you have a tubby tabby or a food-obsessed Felix, you’ve probably considered using a slow feeder. But finding an effective, quality slow feeder that works for cats can be tricky. I know, I’ve been searching for one for my hungry house cat for months.

Thanks to Messy Mutts, I think I’ve finally found it.

The Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder is the perfect size for cat-sized meals and is made for the short snouts of felines. It is dishwasher safe and works just as well for canned food as it does for kibble. Most importantly, it’s durable and made to slow feeding without causing frustration.

Find out what I love about this product, how my cat feels about it, and more in my full Messy Mutts Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder review, below.

About Messy Mutts

Messy Mutts started with a simple vision: Create functional and fabulous-looking pet products that help reduce the mess while blending seamlessly into home decor. This vision grew from dog-centered grooming and feeding supplies to include an entire line of cat products.

This “Messy Cats” line includes cat feeders, litter box accessories, and food prep products.

Where Are Messy Mutt Products Produced?

Messy Mutts, which is owned by Jascor Housewares Inc., is operated out of Toronto, Canada. Most of their products are made in China using food-safe rubber, BPA-free plastic, and stainless steel.

Which Type of Cat Is the Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder Best Suited For?

The Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder is a great choice for cats who tend to snarf down their food so fast that they think they’re still hungry after. The bowl’s unique design forces cats to eat slower without causing frustration or confusion.

This isn’t a puzzle feeder that forces your cat to actively solve problems to get to their food. Rather, the high ridges prevent your cat from taking full bites, effectively prolonging the eating process. This helps cats avoid regurgitation and feel more satiated once they finish their meal.

Overview

Here is an overview of the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder by Messy Mutts. We’ll look at the materials it’s made of, how it works, care instructions, and the technical specs.

Materials

The Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder bowl is made from food-safe rubber and BPA-free plastic.

The central portion, which is dark gray, is made of plastic and features ridges of various heights. This material is chew-resistant and hard enough to hold its shape, making your cat work to get to their food.

The light gray outer ring and base of this slow feeder bowl are made of food-safe rubber. This softer material around the feeder means there are no hard or sharp edges to worry about. Built into the bottom of the shell are nine suction cups made from food-safe rubber to help hold the feeder in place while it’s in use.

How It Works

This slow feeder bowl uses the same principles as most dog slow feeders. The raised ridges in the middle prevent cats from taking big bites of food. Instead, they must use their tongue and muzzle to move pieces until they can grab them, effectively slowing the eating process.

Unlike dog slow feeders, which tend to have deep ridges and narrow gaps to force dogs to use their long tongues, this feeder features shallower, wider areas. Since cats have shorter, less dexterous tongues and short muzzles, this feeder works much better for them than those made for canines.

This feeder can be used with both kibble, canned food, and raw food.

Care

Caring for this slow feeder bowl is easy. It’s dishwasher safe, which means you can pop it on the top rack whenever it gets dirty. The curved ridges don’t hold food like other puzzle feeders, making it easy enough to rinse off in between deeper cleanings.

You will occasionally need to rinse the bottom suction cups, as well. This is especially true if you feed kibble that leaves behind dust and grease.

The Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder is made to hold its shape and retain its color for years.

Specifications

This feeder is six inches in diameter, making it fairly small and compact. It can easily hold ¼ cup of dry food or about one 3-ounce can of wet food.

It is only available in one color, cool gray.

Like most other Messy Mutts products, this one comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.

Pros & Cons

Key Features

Built For Cats

This slow feeder was made for the anatomical proportions of a cat. The ridges are relatively shallow and the areas between them are wider than most dog slow feeders. This allows cats to extract kibbles and tonguefuls of wet food without frustration while still significantly slowing their eating.

The small size and gripping suction cups are also tailored to the needs of cats and their owners.

Easy to Use and Care For

This slow feeder is super easy to use, even for novice kitties and their owners. It’s not a puzzle feeder, which means your cat doesn’t have to struggle to get their food out. Rather, they can approach eating the same way they normally would, but it will take them much longer to get the bowl clean.

As far as care goes, this slow feeder is super simple to maintain. It is easy to clean by hand thanks to the wide gaps and curved ridges. Or it can be tossed in the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning without the effort.

Works with All Kinds of Food

Whether you feed dry food, canned food, or something in between, this feeder is a great choice.

It can hold up to ¼ cup of dry, freeze-dried, or air-dried food or a small can of wet. For the latter, simply use a rubber spatula to push the wet food into the crevices. You can also use this feeder with raw diets, just be sure to wash it between each use.

Is the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder a Good Value?

Yes, at just $10, this slow feeder is a great value. Most comparable feeders cost much more than this. And those that cost less tend to be made only of silicone, which is not nearly as durable as the plastic-rubber combination used for this bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this bowl easy to keep clean?

Yes. Unlike many slow feeders and puzzle feeders, there are no areas where kibble and wet food can get stuck in this feeder, making it easier to keep clean. It is super easy to rinse off and dishwasher safe.

Do the suction cups work on all surfaces?

You will need to use this bowl on a clean, smooth surface in order to engage the suction cups. It will work on smooth plastic or vinyl feeding mats but not the textured kind. It works best on granite, finished wood, and tile.

Our Experience With the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder

I have been looking for a slow feeder for my hungry cat, Makoa, for ages. He is a big foodie and loves to gobble up his food as fast as possible and then claim that he’s still hungry.

This is an extra problem since he also has pica, which means he likes to eat non-food items as well. Because of this, it’s even more important that he feel full after he eats.

A slow feeder is the perfect solution for his issues because it prolongs the eating process (giving him a healthy activity to engage in) while helping him feel fuller once he has finished eating. The problem is, not only does Makoa eat silicone, which most cat slow feeders are made of, but he also can’t smell very well.

I have tried a variety of specialty feeder options for him. The puzzle feeders don’t work because he can’t smell the food well enough to seek it out. And the silicone ones just end up becoming food themselves.

Luckily, the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder has the perfect combination of features to work for my special little guy.

While this feeder does have some food-safe rubber on the sides, the food contact points are made of hard plastic that not even Makoa can chew. And unlike plastic feeder bowls made for dogs, the ridges on this one are shallow, which means even my nose-blind kitty can get all the kibbles out with relative ease.

While this bowl doesn’t cause any frustration, it still does a great job of slowing him down. He used to finish a bowl of kibble in about three minutes. Now it takes him at least ten. And often, he’ll take breaks in between.

This helps stretch meals out for up to an hour. Not only does this help entertain him, but it also seems to help him feel more satiated by the time he finishes.

I’ve noticed a significant decrease in his food seeking behavior since he got this slow feeder.

On my end, I love that this thing is dishwasher-safe and super easy to rinse off between washings. All the ridges are smooth, so there are no corners for food to get stuck in. There isn’t even a gap between the plastic and rubber edge, which means food can’t accumulate there, either.

The size of this bowl is about perfect for the amount of food Makoa gets each meal. However, if he got any more, things would get messy fast.

Even with just feeding ¼ cup of dry food for dinner, a few kibbles end up on the counter around the feeder. This doesn’t bother me too much since it only adds to the time it takes him to eat everything, but owners trying to keep a cleaner home might see this as a downside.

But my biggest complaint about this dish has to do with the suction cups.

These cups are super strong and do a great job of keeping the bowl in place during feeding. This is especially true if you’re using it on a hard, smooth surface like granite or tile. But this suction doesn’t last long on any surface.

After about ten minutes, the suction cups release. This isn’t a huge deal since they also act as an effective anti-slip device. But for smart cats, it wouldn’t take much to lift the entire bowl up and dump the food out.

For me personally, not having the suction cups stay engaged means I have to be careful to put this bowl away between feedings so Makoa doesn’t carry it off and use it as a chew toy.

But overall, this slow feeder has been a big win for my household. I have been and will continue to use it for Makoa at every meal. He seems to enjoy the challenge of getting all the food out and I love that it gives him some quality enrichment while helping him feel fuller.

Conclusion

If your kitty needs some help slowing down at meal times, I highly recommend checking out the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder from Messy Mutts.

This slow feeder was designed specifically for cats to help them eat slower so they can feel fuller while getting some much-needed enrichment. The design is perfect for those short muzzles and makes cleaning the feeder a breeze. Plus, this slow feeder is durable, affordable, and dishwasher-safe.

The post Messy Mutts Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder Review 2024: A Detailed Look by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

If you’re like me (and so many other obsessive cat owners) and spend too much time on Instagram stalking adorable kitties, then you probably already know who Nala Cat is. She does, after all, hold the Guinness Book of World Records title for the cat with the most followers on Instagram. And if you’re here, then you probably also know that Nala has her own brand of cat food.

Love, Nala is a natural cat food and supplement company started by the loving owners who brought Nala to the world’s stage. Their all-natural wet foods, air-dried kibble, treats, and supplements were all created to honor Nala and give cats everywhere the love they deserve through a nutritious, healthy diet.

I had the opportunity to try many of Love, Nala’s products on my well-loved kitty, Makoa. He is a big foodie and was happy to lend a paw in this review (spoiler alert, he is now a big Love, Nala fan!). Find out how much he liked this food, what I as a discerning owner think about it, and if this cat nutrition company is a good fit for you by reading our full Love, Nala brand review, below.

At a Glance: The Most Popular Products

	Image	Product	Details
		Air Dried, Grain-Free Cat Food	Air-dried to retain higher nutrition Meat-first ingredients Complete and balanced	CHECK PRICE
		Wet Food	High moisture content Multiple meat ingredients Natural with added nutrients	CHECK PRICE
		Cat Health Supplements	Highly palatable Multiple active ingredients Options for common issues	CHECK PRICE
		Mousse Cat Treats	Enticing texture Use as treat or food topper Added superfoods and nutrients	CHECK PRICE

About Love, Nala

Pookie Methachittiphan’s life changed forever when she adopted little Nala from a shelter. Not only did this gray tabby bring her Instagram fame, but she’s the reason Pookie met her life and business partner, Shannon Ellis. Together, the two cat lovers started Love, Nala as a way to honor the cat that has enriched their lives so much.

Today, Love, Nala offers cat owners everywhere a nutritious, natural option for air-dried kibble, wet food, treats, and more.

Where is Love, Nala Cat Food Produced?

Love, Nala dry foods and many of their other products are made in Visalia, California. Their canned food is made in a human-grade processing facility in Thailand. Most of their ingredients are sourced in the US and those that come from abroad must meet strict quality standards.

Which Types of Cats Is Love, Nala Cat Food Best Suited For?

With so many recipe options, there is bound to be something from this company for just about every cat.

Their dry food is complete and balanced for all life stages, making it a great option for kittens, adults, and seniors alike. The air-dried processing makes this food highly nutritious while also maintaining a natural flavor most cats love.

The canned food options from Love, Nala include a long list of recipes. Each is made primarily of quality animal ingredients and contains a high moisture content to help support kidney and bladder health. These are all highly palatable and perfect for picky eaters.

Love, Nala also has many supplements to help with common kitty issues and yummy mousse treats to reward good kitties.

Key Features

Here is a quick overview of what sets Love, Nala products apart from other cat food companies. We’ll look at the ingredients, macronutrient ratios, the different recipe options, and where to order this food.

Ingredients

Each can and bag of Love, Nala cat food is created using meat-first recipes. For many of the flavor options, the first two ingredients are quality animal products. For instance, the Tuna with Spinach canned food lists tuna and chicken as the first two ingredients.

Following the top tier meat ingredients is typically a short list of whole food plant ingredients and additional animal ingredients. Eggs, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potato, and carrots are all ingredients you’re likely to find in these recipes. None of the recipes include grains or other common fillers.

Each recipe also includes an extensive list of added nutrients, from taurine to folic acid. While these additions are necessary to make these recipes complete and balanced, the large amount of synthetic nutrients does indicate that the whole foods used are not nutrient-dense enough to support overall health all on their own.

The dry food options contain more nutrient-dense cuts, such as chicken heart and liver, but still include a similar list of added nutrients.

Macronutrient Breakdown

All of the canned and wet food recipes are centered around high-protein meat ingredients. Given this, it’s no surprise that these foods are packed with the protein kitties need to thrive.

On average, the canned foods contain about 50 to 70% protein. The dry food options are a little lower, as these recipes require more carbohydrates, but still come in at a respectable 47% protein on average.

The fat content is on the lower end for the canned food recipes, with an average fat content of around 10%. The dry food is typically a little higher, around 20%.

Protein and fat are both necessary ingredients to help cats grow and thrive. The high protein content of these foods makes them a great choice for kittens and adult cats, alike. Because the recipes are lower in fat and carbohydrates, they’re also a great choice for indoor cats who need a little help staying trim.

Recipes

There is no lack of variety at Love, Nala. Almost all of their offerings are available in multiple flavors and recipe types.

For instance, their air-dried food comes in three flavors, Turkey & Chicken, Chicken, and Beef. You can even opt to get all three flavors in a single order, a great option for varying your cat’s nutrition intake and keeping them interested in their food.

The canned food line offers even more variety. You can choose from pate or flaked texture. And from canned or packet packaging.

Each option includes multiple flavor options as well, from Mackerel with Carrot & Pumpkin to Chicken with Sweet Potato & Tomato. Overall, there are dozens of options to choose from so you can find exactly what your cat likes or mix it up each month to keep them interested.

Ordering Options

There is also no shortage of options when it comes to getting your Love, Nala food. The easiest way is to take advantage of the subscription option on the Lova, Nala website.

Not only does this allow you to choose auto-delivery every 2 to 12 weeks, but it also saves you 20% on your order. And each subsequent order is 10% off.

You can also find Love, Nala at a variety of other online retailers, including Chewy and Amazon.

Many local pet food and supply stores across the country also carry Love, Nala products.

Our Reviews of the Love, Nala Products We Received

1. Air Dried, Grain-Free Cat Food

Love, Nala originally started out with a traditional dry kibble offering. They have since replaced their kibble with only air-dried cat food. In my opinion, this was the right move.

Air-dried foods are more nutritious since they don’t undergo heat processing, which deactivates enzymes and destroys many sensitive nutrients. Food that is air-dried retains nearly the same nutritional profile as dehydrated and freeze-dried foods.

Compared to dry kibble, Love, Nala air-dried foods contain three times as much moisture. This is key since most house cats do not drink enough water to offset dry kibble diets. By feeding food with more moisture in it, you can help protect your cat’s kidneys and urinary tract from infection and disease.

Love, Nala air-dried food is available in three flavors, all of which contain high amounts of protein and feature real meat ingredients at the top of the ingredient list.

The food pieces are a bit larger than traditional kibble and can sometimes be stuck together. But adult cats and larger kittens should have no problem with this food.

My cat was very taken by the smell (though it isn’t overly stinky) and was quick to pick this food out of his old kibble while I was transitioning him over to his new diet.

2. Canned Food in Broth

Love, Nala canned food comes in two varieties, pate and flakes. Both options contain a lot of extra moisture in the form of broth or gravy. This is intentional to help ensure your cat gets enough liquid to keep those kidneys working properly.

In addition to a higher moisture content than other canned foods, these diets also have a lot more protein than you’ll typically find. Wild cats’ diets consist of large amounts of protein and a decent amount of fat.

These Love, Nala diets were made to imitate these natural diets while still taking into consideration the typical lifestyle of pet cats. This means that they contain high amounts of protein to help form lean muscle and support health but only moderate amounts of fat to better control weight.

There are a number of recipes to choose from which makes it easy to find something every cat will enjoy. And since these recipes were created to please a very picky eater (looking at you, Nala) you can bet they will win even the most discerning of cats over.

My cat is a huge fan of these wet foods. And I am happy to report that they smell a lot better than most canned cat foods I’ve tried. They have an odor, but it smells fresher than most and doesn’t linger.

3. Cat Health Supplements

In addition to their food offerings, Love, Nala also has three different supplement options, Digestive, Skin & Coat, and Calming.

Each of these products features a long list of active ingredients to tackle issues from the inside out. The Digestive supplement, for instance, contains four probiotic strains, an enzyme blend, and prebiotics.

These supplements come in an easy-to-feed chew that is designed to be highly palatable. You won’t have to fight with your cat to get them to eat these supplements!

The key to that palatability is in the enticing ingredients, like animal plasma, chicken, and chicken liver flavor. Each little triangular-prism-shaped chew is soft and just stinky enough to get your cat’s attention.

Dosing is easy, too. Cats under 10 pounds get one chew while big cats get two.

My cat looks forward to his Digestive and Skin & Coat chews every morning. I have already seen a difference in both his litter box habits and his glossy fur since starting them.

4. Mousse Cat Treats

The treat offerings from Love, Nala aren’t your typical dry cat treats. Instead, they are highly palatable, mousse-textured squeeze tubes.

Using this delivery method for tasty rewards has many benefits. For one, this mousse is high in moisture. As we talked about above, this is a good thing for house cats, since they have a high incidence of kidney disease.

The texture is also very pleasing and enticing to many cats, especially those who aren’t interested in standard treats.

These Mousse Cat Treats can be used as rewards during training, occasional treats, or as toppers to make their food more enticing.

There are three recipes to choose from, Chicken, Tuna, and Tuna & Salmon. Each contains quality meat ingredients and added superfoods. For instance, the Tuna & Salmon contains collagen-packed fish skin and the Chicken has added prebiotics in the form of chicory root.

My cat loves it when I add a squeeze of Mousse to his dry food and these treats have also come in handy during training.

Our Experience With Love, Nala

My cat, Makoa, is a big fan of food. In fact, he likes eating so much that he will occasionally eat things that aren’t food. His most recent foray into not-food was when he chowed down on my daughter’s rubber dinosaur.

To help curb this strange habit, I’m always on the lookout for nutritious, high-protein cat diets that will help fill him up and satisfy his lust for food without adding to his weight. Given Love, Nala’s high protein and lower fat content, and many recipe options, I thought it might be a good choice for Makoa.

I ordered their Turkey & Chicken Air-Dried food, Tuna with Spinach Recipe Pate, Chicken Flaked with Sweet Potato & Tomato Recipe, Digestive and Skin & Coat supplements, and a sampling of their Mousse treats.

As soon as I started mixing the foods into Makoa’s meals, it was clear how he felt about them. He immediately began picking out the air-dried morsels from his typical dry food. And he is a huge fan of both canned food recipes.

I like that neither the dry food nor canned food has an intense odor. I actually stopped feeding wet food for a long time because the smell would linger in the house for hours after mealtime. That has not been an issue at all with Love, Nala.

The supplements have also been a big hit with Makoa. He happily eats them up before even starting on his food in the morning. This is a very good thing because we all know how hard it is to pill a cat!

After just a couple of weeks on these supplements, I have already seen results. Despite his sensitive stomach, Makoa did not have any issues switching diets, which I attribute to the digestive supplement. His fur is also noticeably softer and glossier since starting the Skin & Coat chews.

I was very hopeful that Makoa would be obsessed with the Mousse so I could use it to teach him a few tricks. While it doesn’t have Churu appeal, he does like it and the texture makes it easy to use in training. But mostly I have been adding it as a treat/supplement to his meals.

I am a big fan of the protein content of these foods and the whole-food ingredients used in the recipes. And I love that they use air-dried food as it has so many benefits for cats.

There is a lot to like about the offerings from Love, Nala. They have a huge variety of recipe options and obviously put care into selecting their major ingredients. But I think there is still something to be desired here.

The long list of added nutrients would indicate that the whole foods used aren’t providing enough nutrition to meet minimal values. This is not at all uncommon in the pet food industry. But it also isn’t optimal since synthetic vitamins and minerals are not nearly as well absorbed as naturally occurring nutrients.

I also found the price of the canned food to be a bit high compared to the competition. The other offerings are more in line with Love, Nala’s goal of providing affordable healthy food. The air-dried food is very reasonably priced for what it is, as are the supplements.

Overall, though, I have been very impressed with this company. My cat definitely loves eating all of these products, including the supplements. I have noticed an increase in his energy and improvement in his body condition since starting him on Love, Nala.

Conclusion

If you’re searching for better cat food with more variety, I definitely recommend checking out what Love, Nala has to offer.

This company has created a long list of recipes in air-dried and wet food forms to help keep cats healthier by providing more moisture and nutrients in every bite. These recipes are specially designed to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. And they’re very high in protein and packed with quality meat ingredients so you’ll love feeding them as much as your cat loves eating them.

Love, Nala also carries easy-to-give supplement chews and fun mousse treats so you can spoil your cat while supporting their overall health.

The post Love, Nala Cat Food Review 2024: A Detailed Look by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

A cat sneaking a taste of the turkey sandwich you accidentally left on the counter can seem harmless until you consider everything that might be in it. While many toppings like lettuce or mayo may be safe for cats to eat in moderation, mustard can cause issues especially in large amounts, making it unsuitable for your pet’s diet.

It may seem strange that an everyday meal addition like mustard can be palatable for humans but problematic for cats, but it is just one of countless examples of safe human foods that can hurt our pets. Let’s explore the extent of the issues involved in this explanation of why cats can’t eat mustard.

Why Can’t Cats Eat Mustard?

The main ingredients in most mustard types are vinegar (distilled or apple cider vinegar) and mustard seed. While both are essential in creating mustard’s distinct flavor, they can also work together to aggravate your cat’s digestive system. Add a few marginal yet highly toxic spices, including garlic and onion powder, and we have all the makings for a poor experience.

All mustard varieties contain mustard seed (often ground into mustard powder), with different types adding unique flavor and color to each mustard style. Yellow mustard seeds and powder give traditional yellow mustard its relatively mild flavor, while the most intense brown mustard seeds give brown and Dijon varieties their signature spicy kick.

Gastrointestinal Upset

Vinegar and mustard seeds in table mustard aren’t necessarily toxic to cats, but they can have adverse effects when your pet eats them in excess. Although vinegar may have some benefits, the acidity could cause an upset stomach.

Likewise, some compounds in mustard seed can promote oral and gastrointestinal issues, though mustard is unlikely to cause lasting damage. When cats eat more than a lick of mustard, it may cause immediate signs of gastroenteritis, such as:

Dry mustard powder is sometimes used to induce vomiting in pets, though it isn’t advisable. Veterinarians point out that this and many other home remedies (e.g., liquid dish soap, hot sauce) are generally contraindicated, as safer, less aggressive, and more reliable options are available. Never induce vomiting at home without supervision of a vet.

Mustard Seed Compounds

The compound that gives mustard its pungent aroma and sharp flavor is allyl isothiocyanate. Its off-putting taste is a defense mechanism to protect the plant from herbivores. Beyond mustard seed, this compound is abundant in similarly spicy plants like horseradish and wasabi.

Fortunately, mustard seed’s repellency is usually effective against many animals. Alongside the acrid taste of vinegar in mustard, the flavor typically keeps cats from eating anything more than a small taste if it doesn’t deter them entirely.

Additional Toxic Ingredients

Although many common mustard spices like turmeric and paprika won’t harm a cat, the garlic and onion powder that mustard often contains are highly toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Garlic, onion, and other Alliums are among the top toxins for cats in everyday foods.

Signs of Garlic and Onion Toxicity

Signs of garlic poisoning begin with gastroenteritis, involving vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. The issue will then progress to oxidative damage to the cat’s red blood cells, with signs including:

Cats are roughly two to three times more prone to hemoglobin damage than other species, so it often takes less than ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder to cause poisoning. Fortunately, a typical mustard recipe only has about ⅛–1 teaspoon of garlic powder for every few cups of mustard. Since cats often won’t have more than a few licks, they’re unlikely to ingest excessive amounts of garlic in one sitting.

Hematological damage is cumulative, though, since it takes time for bone marrow to replace the damaged red blood cells. If your cat ingests small amounts of garlic and onion daily, they are more likely to suffer damage.

What to Do If Your Cat Eats Mustard

Assess how much mustard your cat has eaten. If they only ingested a few licks, provide fresh water and monitor for signs of distress. Due to the many compounds that promote stomach upset, your cat may vomit or have diarrhea, but they will often recover quickly, typically within a few days.

If your cat eats an excessive amount and shows severe signs of distress and ongoing vomiting and diarrhea, contact your vet or a pet poison control hotline. Online cat telehealth services are also available for immediate advice, often free of charge, to help determine whether you should seek immediate medical care.

Speak To a Vet Online From the Comfort of Your Couch!

If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!

Click to Speak With a Vet

Conclusion

Although your cat may have adverse effects from the vinegar and mustard seed, problems from eating mustard are unlikely to progress past temporary vomiting or diarrhea. Cats typically have little desire to eat mustard thanks to its intense aroma and flavor, so overconsumption is a rare issue. Still, it’s important to make a habit of protecting your sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs, and you’ll likely never have to worry about your cat having more than they can handle.

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Eat Mustard? Vet-Verified Risks & Precautions by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Many pet parents are keen to explore fresh at-home diets for their cats. In fact, research shows that a majority of pet owners are keen to give equal, and in some instances, more priority to buying healthy food for their pets.¹

The process, however, can be somewhat frustrating for those new to the concept. Understandably, it is difficult to find a reliable diet, but many owners also believe it might be too costly to make the switch. Interestingly, though homemade diets often do cost slightly more than commercial dry food, they are in fact more economical than commercial canned food.²

As more owners explore the world of fresh diets for their pets, it’s important to keep some rules in mind. If you’re curious about such a diet for your pet, read on as I highlight the main rules of such a dietary transition.

The 10 Basics of a Fresh Diet for Cats:

I consider these basics to be fundamental rules for at-home diets. Though not all of them may apply to you, it’s great to have a list of expectations so that nothing catches you off-guard.

1. Prioritize Your Health

Given the fact that most at-home diets for cats involve raw meat or some raw ingredients (more on this shortly), keep in mind that there are instances where such circumstances might not be safe for you. Pregnant women (or those planning to conceive), immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, young children, and a few other age groups or categories of individuals should not be near or handling raw meat. It’s best to discuss this with your healthcare provider in more detail prior to switching your cat to such a diet.

Alternatively, let your veterinary nutritionist know of your circumstances so that they only formulate cooked diets for your pet.

2. Prioritize Your Cat’s Health, Too!

This might come as a surprise, but not all cats are candidates for a raw diet! Many diseases, ailments, and conditions in cats can limit their ability to handle or utilize a raw diet properly. You should always have your cat checked by your veterinarian before you change their dietary style.

It’s also important to routinely have lab work done by your veterinarian for your cat. These include blood tests, a weight check, a body condition score analysis, a urinalysis, and possibly a fecal test. Determining which tests would be best and most relevant for your cat is up to your veterinarian’s discretion. Though your cat might not need all these tests performed, it’s good to have a realistic expectation of what your veterinarian might recommend for them.

3. Select Your Pet’s Nutritionist Carefully

Keep in mind that there are many animal nutrition courses for pet owners out there. These don’t follow the same syllabus or include all of the aspects veterinarians learn when specializing in animal nutrition.

The fact that there is a huge medical component when it comes to figuring out what to feed your cat means that it’s important to ensure that you have your diet formulated by someone who is also a veterinarian. Always keep in mind that your pet is a unique biological entity, and as such, they will do best with a diet formulated by someone up to date on their health and medical status.

Being well informed about feline nutrition is a fantastic thing, but if someone is a feline (or even canine) nutritionist without being a veterinarian, they wouldn’t have all the necessary knowledge to formulate a diet for pets with specific conditions or requirements.

I don’t say this to malign or disparage individuals who are feline and canine nutritionists but aren’t vets. I think the fact that more individuals are looking to learn about feline and canine nutrition is a wonderful thing. Rather, I say this from the point of view that your pets deserve the best and you play a huge role in their nutritional welfare. Regardless of who you choose to make meals for your cat, ensure that they have both the veterinary and nutritional credentials your pet deserves.

4. Get Ready For Raw

When it comes to preparing at-home diets for your cats, raw meats remain the best option for beginners. This is because cooking, baking, boiling, broiling, steaming, or grilling meat in any way reduces its nutritional yield considerably.

Though it’s possible to cook homemade meals for cats, a few seconds of excess cooking time or a few degrees off the recommended temperature (factors often out of our control) can make or break the diet, resulting in a pet that’s inadvertently nutritionally deprived.

Cooked diets almost always require the addition of multivitamins, multi-minerals, or other such supplements to ensure they are nutritionally adequate for your pet. This can be discouraging for those eager to explore a “natural” diet, as adding supplements would make the diet seem unnatural to an extent.

In addition, most people interested in fresh diets for their pets are keen to follow the most biologically appropriate nutritional profile. For cats, this would be a raw diet.

5. Meat Sourcing

I strongly recommend sourcing meat intended for human consumption. It’s also best to opt for raw meat that has undergone some form of quality control or check, such as raw meat pasteurization. As a rule, if you wouldn’t buy it for yourself, you shouldn’t buy it for your pet, either!

6. Hygiene

Hands should be thoroughly washed (for at least 20 seconds with a disinfectant soap) and dried before and after handling raw meats. In addition, any surface used to cut meat should be washed with hot water and disinfectant soap.

7. Segregation

Ideally, different cutting boards, knives, bowls, and utensils should be used for meats that you prepare in your house. These should not be used with or stored with other kitchen appliances, bowls, or utensils that you use for other types of food (such as vegetables).

8. No Cats!

The kitchen is one of the most dangerous places for a pet cat, as they can easily jump onto counters. Cats are naturally inquisitive and may sample items in a kitchen that they shouldn’t be eating. A cat on a counter is also at risk of injury from kitchen appliances or sharp objects (such as knives). Therefore, it’s strongly recommended to not allow your cat in the kitchen.

This is a general guideline I recommend for anyone even if they aren’t making meals for their pets at home.

9. … And No Other Pets, Either

This is a natural extension of the previous point. Like cats, other pets should not be allowed in the kitchen, either. If you have dogs, ferrets, or other carnivorous pets, they may not think twice before trying to sneak some food intended for your cat off the counter.

Even non-carnivorous pets may sometimes sample the food intended for your pet cat. This is because many pets are naturally inquisitive and often form social bonds with their caretakers; they might be interested in eating whatever it is you’re preparing, even if it isn’t good for them.

10. Keep Your Expectations Realistic

Finally, though natural diets may be very beneficial for some pets, most of the benefits of such a diet are still considered anecdotal and not entirely verified by research. As such, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Yes, your cat might benefit from such a diet. However, thinking that such a diet will cure a disease (or make your cat immune to acquiring diseases) is a stretch! In addition, it’s important to keep in mind that the process of a dietary transition is slow, and therefore, the expected results from such a diet would also take considerable time.

Conclusion

And that does it for my 10 quintessential rules for those who are new to the world of fresh homemade diets for their cats (or other pets). Naturally, there might be other rules that could apply to your circumstances. However, these tend to cover most of the relevant bases when it comes to the fascinating world of homemade nutrition for our pets.

Featured image credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock

The post 10 Basics of a Homemade Fresh Diet for Cats: Our Vet Explains by Dr. Luqman Javed DVM (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Coconut water is the clear liquid that is found inside young coconuts. It is packed with electrolytes and is known to offer benefits to humans when consumed. Coconut water is not toxic to cats but can cause digestive upset. It’s not natural for cats to drink, and they can’t appreciate the sweet taste. So while you can offer a small amount of coconut water, we don’t think it’s worth doing this.

If your cat has consumed a small amount, it likely isn’t anything to worry about, but if they have consumed too much, you will need to call your vet and monitor for signs of gastrointestinal upset. Some cats may be more sensitive to coconut water than others.

About Coconut Water

Coconut water is the liquid found inside young coconuts. As the coconut gets older, the moisture inside is replaced by flesh. The water is rich in carbohydrates and contains electrolytes like magnesium and potassium. People are encouraged to consume coconut water because it can help combat high blood pressure and is also a good source of hydration and electrolytes after exercise.

Coconut water is different from coconut milk which is made by mashing the flesh of the fruit with water. It is also not the same as coconut oil which is the oil extracted from coconut milk.

Benefits Of Giving Coconut Water to Cats

Coconut water is non-toxic to cats, so if your cat has consumed a small amount, there should be nothing to worry about. Watch for signs of diarrhea and vomiting, and speak to your vet, if your cat does suffer gastrointestinal upset.

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If your cat can stomach small amounts of coconut water, it could help your cat combat dehydration by providing fluids and electrolytes.

Can Cats Have Coconut Water? Potential Risks

However, while a small amount of coconut water can be beneficial, it doesn’t agree with all cats, and there are some risks associated with giving too much of this ingredient.

Digestive Issues

As mentioned earlier, the most common issue after drinking coconut water is gastrointestinal upset, especially if large amounts are consumed. If you’re offering coconut water to boost their hydration, you might end up making them more dehydrated if they lose fluid due to vomiting and diarrhea.

High In Sugar

Natural coconut water is lower in sugar than some other drinks, but it still contains a lot more than water. Commercial coconut water is often sweetened with sugar. Cats can’t taste sweet flavors so the benefit is lost on them anyway. Over time, too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity which increases your cat’s risk of diabetes, urinary issues, and joint problems. While the artificial sweetener xylitol is more toxic to dogs, it’s still not something we recommend giving your cat.

High Potassium Levels

Potassium is an essential mineral that is found in a lot of ingredients and food sources. Your cat needs potassium because it helps in many bodily processes. Healthy cats can tolerate lots of potassium as their kidneys will remove any excess. However, if they have certain kidney or urinary tract problems, excess potassium could build up.

A high concentration of potassium leads to a condition called hyperkalemia which can prevent the heart from operating properly and may lead to paralysis, an arrhythmic heartbeat, and general weakness.

Sensitivities and Allergies

Although rare, some cats are allergic to coconut water. This can lead to signs of allergic reaction like itching, swelling, and redness. It can also cause stomach upsets and may lead to lethargy and other problems.

The 5 Tips to Help Encourage Your Cat to Drink

One of the reasons that some owners consider giving coconut water to their cats is as a form of hydration. While some cats will drink water from a bowl, many refuse, and even the liquid in wet cat food may not be enough to ensure they are properly hydrated.

Rather than offering coconut water, there are steps you can take to help encourage your cat to drink.

1. Ensure Proper Water Bowl Placement

Cats are sensitive creatures, and can easily be deterred from an area. As such, the water bowl needs to be placed appropriately to encourage a cat to drink from it.

Don’t put the bowl near the cat litter and keep it away from loud areas. It is fairly common for owners to put food and water bowls next to each other, but not only does this potentially lead to food contaminating the water, but anecdotally cats don’t drink water from near their food source.

2. Make Sure the Water Is Fresh

Cats prefer fresh water to stale water, just like people do. Refill the bowl when it gets empty but also get into the habit of changing out the old water and replacing it with fresh water once or twice daily. It is good practice to do this in the morning and at night.

3. Try a Different Bowl

Cats can be quite picky, and they have certain standards that need to be upheld. This isn’t just true of their food or toys; it can also be true of their bowls. If your cat is refusing to drink water, try a different bowl.

Small bowls could potentially cause discomfort if a cat’s whiskers touch the bowl when they drink. Therefore, most cats prefer wide, shallow bowls compared to narrow, deep ones. Some cats may prefer metal, glass, and ceramic bowls over plastic ones.

4. Try a Water Fountain

Cats prefer running water. A water fountain designed for cat use not only freshens the water and gets the attention of your cat, thanks to its constant movement, but it also lets the cat know that the water is fresh.

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5. Add Some Flavor

A water bowl aims to ensure your cat is getting enough water but adding a few drops of something tasty won’t do any harm and may help ensure they are consuming enough fluids. Consider using plain spring water tuna juice or another fish oil. Add a few drops and see if this encourages your cat to drink the water.

Conclusion

Cats can be picky eaters and can be especially finicky over what they drink, which leads lots of owners to look for alternative sources of hydration to water. Coconut water is not toxic but can cause gastric upset, although small amounts are likely to be fine. However, given too often or in too large volumes, it can cause diarrhea and weight gain.

Featured Image Credit: Photoongraphy, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Drink Coconut Water? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & FAQ by Matt Jackson appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

If our kitties could thrive on love and affection alone, they would all live a long, healthy life. Unfortunately, we know it takes more than cuddles and good intentions to keep felines feeling their best. A healthy, happy life starts with a quality diet packed full of the protein these obligate carnivores need.

But in a world dominated by commercial cat food filled with grains, low-quality meat, and unnatural additives, how do we make sure our cats get what they need? The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co thinks they have the answer.

Their long line of air-dried diets, freeze-dried diets, and natural cat treats are loaded with high-quality meat and a handful of superfood additions. Each recipe contains the best of what New Zealand has to offer, from free-range lamb to king salmon to wild venison.

I had a chance to sample multiple products from this company on my 11-month-old rescue cat, Makoa. He certainly had a lot of good things to say about them and I’m pretty impressed with these foods myself, but is this lineup right for your cat?

Find out that and more in my full review of The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co.

At a Glance: What We Received

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Chicken & King Salmon Air Dried Cat Food	97% meat, organs, and bones Crunchy texture Chicken, lamb, salmon, and green muscle	CHECK PRICE
		Lamb & King Salmon Freeze Dried Cat Food	97% meat, organs, and bones Raw meat and superfoods Soft morsels	CHECK PRICE
		Wild Venison Freeze Dried Cat Bites	Soft texture Venison, lamb, tripe, and green muscle Use as treat or topper	CHECK PRICE
		Beef Green Tripe Freeze Dried Cat Treats	Highly palatable Soft texture Prebiotics and probiotics	CHECK PRICE

About The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co

The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co was started in 2016 by friends and pet parents, Amber Cordero and Jacqueline Taylor. They wanted a way to provide beloved pets around the world with high-quality, wholesome food that could help them thrive. And they wanted to do it while also being mindful of the planet.

The company offers two lines of pet food. Their MEOW line features food, treats, and toppers for cats, while their WOOF line offers the same for dogs.

Where is The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co’s Products Produced?

This natural pet food company makes all their recipes in small batches at their New Zealand facility. They source their fair trade ingredients from local farms and suppliers with an eye for sustainability and ethical practices.

Almost all of the meat and superfoods used in their recipes are harvested in New Zealand and the surrounding waters.

Which Types of Cats is The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co Best Suited For?

All of the diets and treats this company makes are approved for all life stages. This means they can be fed to kittens, adults, and seniors.

Each recipe is loaded with protein from various meat sources. The vast majority of cats will benefit from the high protein and fat content but some felines with specific health issues, such as kidney disease, may not be a good match for this food.

This company offers a number of different recipe options, including some very novel proteins. For cats with common food allergies, there are likely to be multiple recipes they can eat without issue.

Key Features

There are a number of key features that set The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co’s MEOW line apart from your average cat food brand. Below we’ll take a closer look at what goes into their recipes, how they’re prepared, and the many options available. If you are considering changing your cat’s diet, we suggest speaking to a vet first.

Whole Raw Meat Ingredients

Every meal offering from the MEOW line features several raw meat ingredients in their recipes. These ingredients always appear at the top of the ingredient list and make up around 97% of the total recipe.

But what really sets The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co apart from other freeze-dried pet food options is their inclusion of ground bone and organ meat.

Not only does ground bone offer calcium, which your cat needs to thrive, but it also contains bone marrow. Bone marrow is full of important nutrients as well as collagen, glucosamine, and anti-inflammatory factors that can help keep your kitty healthy.¹

The organ meat found in these diets also brings plenty of nutrition. Liver, kidneys, and other organs provide many vitamins and minerals that muscle meat doesn’t. These cuts are also a great source of protein and contain less fat than muscle meat.²

None of the meat ingredients in these recipes are exposed to heat or pressure. Maintaining this raw state means they offer more in terms of nutrients, amino acids, and intact enzymes. All of these factors are important to maintaining optimal kitty health.

Added Superfoods

In addition to the long list of meats in each recipe, these offerings from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co also contain some powerful and unique superfoods.

Kelp is added to most recipes because it contains important amino acids. It’s also a great sustainable source of omega fatty acids. Research has shown that kelp can help boost immune system function and improve dental health in pets.

Another ingredient you’ll find in all meal recipes is New Zealand Green Mussel. This superfood is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Its omega fatty acid content and anti-inflammatory properties are well known for improving joint health.

Manuka honey is a superfood you can only find in New Zealand and Australia. That’s because it’s made by bees that pollinate native tea tree flowers. This type of honey has powerful antibiotic and antiviral properties and is also a potent anti-inflammatory.

Most recipes also contain organic virgin coconut oil and hoki fish oil, both of which are packed with health-supporting fats.

Minimally Processed

It doesn’t matter how many great ingredients you pack into a pet food, if you expose that food to heat or pressure, it’s going to be less nutritious. That’s why The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co does not heat or pressure process any of their meals or treats.

Instead, they use freeze-drying or air-drying to finish their recipes.

Freeze-dried raw foods are made by freezing raw ingredients, and then removing the moisture by placing them in a vacuum. This produces a product that contains very little moisture while keeping all of the nutrients and enzymes intact. While this food is still technically raw, it doesn’t contain enough moisture to support bacterial growth, making it much safer to handle.

Air-dried raw food is made by exposing raw ingredients to circulating air until most of the moisture in it evaporates. Like freeze drying, this process leaves the nutrients and enzymes intact while reducing the moisture so that bacteria can’t grow.

Multiple Recipe Options

The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co offers a long list of freeze-dried diets and treats as well as many air-dried options.

The air-dried foods have a crunchy texture but are much less dense than traditional kibble. They are crumbly, which means the pieces themselves come in a variety of sizes from large-kibble to fine topper consistency.

The freeze-dried foods have a very soft texture that can be easily crumbled. They can be fed as is or soaked in water to create a sort of pate. These cylindrical pieces are fairly large but are easy to break apart, even for cats without teeth.

The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co has many different recipe options, most of which are available in freeze-dried and air-dried preparations. Their current meal recipe options include:

Reviews of The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co Recipes We Received

1. Chicken & King Salmon Air Dried Cat Food

The Chicken & King Salmon air-dried food from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co is packed with protein from three different animal sources. All the protein and the bulk of the nutrients in this food come from chicken with ground bone, chicken heart, lamb green tripe, king salmon with bone, and chicken liver.

All those quality, biologically appropriate ingredients make up 97% of what’s in this food. The other 3% consists of superfoods like green-lipped mussel, manuka honey, kelp, and hoki oil. A short list of amino acid mineral complexes is also added to round out the nutrition profile.

The crunchy texture and simple feeding instructions make this air-dried food a great choice for cats transitioning from kibble. It doesn’t require any special preparation and can be added to the bowl just like traditional cat food.

The airy density of this food makes it a bit more crumbly than what most people are used to. This makes it fairly messy but also, in my experience, makes it more appealing to cats. This is especially true for older cats and those with dental problems.

2. Lamb & King Salmon Freeze Dried Cat Food

Freeze-dried cat food brings all the benefits of raw in a package that is easier to handle and prepare. This lamb and king salmon diet from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co is no exception.

It’s packed with quality animal ingredients that provide the macro and micronutrients your cat needs to thrive. The first six ingredients are lamb, king salmon with ground bone, lamb green tripe, lamb heart, lamb liver, and lamb kidney.

Like the air-dried formula above, this one contains 97% animal ingredients plus a handful of superfoods. Because of this, it needs only a trace amount of added nutrients. Most of these are in amino acid complex form which greatly enhances their absorbability.

This food comes in relatively large chunks. But these are very soft and easy to break or crumble. In fact, they are soft enough that even kitties without teeth could easily eat them.

As with most freeze-dried pet foods, you have the option to feed these as they are or to soak them in water to rehydrate them into a pate-like consistency. They can also be crumbled onto your cat’s kibble or wet food. My cat happily gobbles this diet up in all forms.

3. Wild Venison Freeze Dried Cat Bites

In addition to food, The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co also makes a line of “bites.” These freeze-dried morsels are very similar to their meal recipes but come in smaller packages. They are meant to be used as toppers for traditional food or as a convenient meal option for travel.

The wild venison recipe contains seven quality meat ingredients. These include wild venison, lamb, lamb green tripe, lamb kidney, and ground lamb bone. Like the full recipes, this one contains a handful of superfoods, including manuka honey, rosemary, and hoki oil.

This recipe option is high in protein and lower in fat than most, making it a great option for less active cats.

The pellets in this freeze-dried option resemble those in the meal recipes. They are fairly large but are easily broken up thanks to their soft texture. This makes them easy to crumble over kibble for an enticing topper that will convince even picky eaters to clean their bowl.

Both the macro and micronutrient profiles of these bites match that of most of the meal recipes. This makes them highly versatile and a great option for travel or special occasions. If you’re considering The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co but aren’t sure if it’s right for your cat, opting for one of these smaller bags is a great way to test out their product line.

4. Beef Green Tripe Freeze Dried Cat Treats

If you’re looking for a cat treat even your picky eater can’t deny, this is it. These beef green tripe freeze-dried treats from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co are highly palatable. And they feature the same soft, chewy texture as the other freeze-dried offerings from this company.

This recipe contains just two simple ingredients, beef green tripe and New Zealand green mussel.

Tripe is made from the stomach lining of ruminants. It has a naturally potent flavor and odor that most cats cannot resist. It also offers many benefits for gut health, including prebiotics and probiotics. The added green mussel provides many health benefits of its own and has a similarly enticing flavor.

As an added benefit, these treats are packed with protein and healthy fats.

This is just one of many freeze-dried and air-dried treat options from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. One of my cat’s other favorites is the freeze-dried green mussels. These fun treats are made of whole green mussels that still retain their original shape and look.

Our Experience With The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co

My cat, Makoa, has had a sensitive gut since battling multiple infections as a kitten. After finally getting him off antibiotics and strengthening his gut biome with multiple supplements, he is finally at a place where he is ready for less processed, more biologically appropriate food.

That’s why I was so excited about the opportunity to try some of The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co recipes. I got a variety of options to test out, including air-dried food, freeze-dried food, and multiple different bites and treat options.

I started by slowly mixing in the Chicken & King Salmon air-dried food with his normal kibble. From day one, it’s been clear he prefers The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co option. He always picks it out of his bowl first.

At the same time, I started mixing the Lamb & King Salmon freeze-dried food with his canned food at meal times. After a few days, I had transitioned him entirely over to the new food.

It takes a bit more time to prep this raw food than standard canned food, but only because I prefer to let it soak in water. But there is no doubt that he loves it!

In fact, the only thing he likes better than the meal recipes from this company are their treats. He is a big fan of the Wild Venison bites but definitely loves the Beef Tripe and New Zealand Green Mussel treats the best.

After a couple of weeks of eating the new food and treats, he already seems like he has more energy than he did before. His coat seems softer, too. And, remarkably, his sensitive stomach has held up rather well during the transition.

For my part, I am really impressed by the ingredients used in these recipes. Not only are they packed with quality animal meats and unique superfoods, but they also contain many novel ingredients you won’t see in most other cat foods. This is great for kitties with food allergies and provides a different nutrient profile that can benefit all cats.

Conclusion

If you’re ready to seriously up your cat’s nutrition game, I can’t recommend The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co’s MEOW line enough.

Both their meals and treats are packed with protein from quality raw meat sources. For owners looking for a simple dry-kibble substitute, the air-dried line is a great option. Or for those who want raw made easy, the freeze-dried recipes are a wonderful place to start.

My cat Makoa has nothing but good things to say about everything he has tried from this company. And I feel great knowing that he is getting everything he needs to thrive thanks to these wholesome, nutrient-dense options made with sustainable, fair-trade ingredients.

The post The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co Brand Review 2024: A Detailed Look by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Did you know that cats only have 473 taste buds¹? Humans have about 9,000 taste buds. This means that a cat lacks a lot of flavor sensors, mainly sweet and also spicy. These flavors simply don’t register the same as with us when a cat eats them. Whether they can taste them or not, cats shouldn’t eat spicy foods, like Takis, as most spicy foods contain harmful ingredients like onions, citric acid, and chili powder. So, can cats eat Takis? No, Takis contain harmful ingredients to your cat and can cause stomach upset and other negative signs.

What Are Takis?

Takis are Mexican rolled tortilla chips eaten by many spicy food lovers. They can be flavored with chili, lime, and salt. So, what’s in Takis? What makes them spicy? Below is a list of ingredients these chips contain:

Are Takis Bad for Cats?

Takis are exceptionally spicy and salty, meaning they can be dangerous for your cat to ingest. Most cats are sensitive to the capsaicin found in spicy foods like chili powder. It may cause digestive irritation and upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Eating high amounts of onion and garlic, or garlic and onion powder, can cause an upset stomach, loss of appetite, bowel disturbances, and dehydration. Garlic and onions are in the Alliums family, which are highly toxic to our feline friends, potentially resulting in red blood cell destruction if eaten in high enough amounts.

Another ingredient, salt, depending on how much was ingested, has the potential to be harmful to your cat. If your cat consumes too much salt, they may experience excessive thirst, lethargy, and diarrhea, among other severe signs.

Though rare, some cats can have an allergy or intolerance to corn. For these cats, eating Takis could result in digestive issues or scratching, ear infections, and other skin issues.

Yes, Takis are bad for cats. The ingredients in Takis chips are harmful and don’t benefit your cat. So, what if they got into your bag or ate a few chips? Don’t panic. First, you may choose to monitor their signs closely and provide plenty of water to flush their system.

A Cats’ Regular Diet

A healthy cat requires high amounts of protein, moderate levels of fat, and few carbs. Cats are known carnivores, so they require a high meat-content diet to stay healthy. Feeding them commercial cat food formulated for their specific needs is more sustainable than feeding them human food though they are able to handle some healthy human treats like apples, carrots, and lean, cooked meats in moderation. Always talk to your vet before giving your cat any human food.

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Final Words

Cats play a vital role in our human lives as they help us emotionally, mentally, and physically. As a responsible cat owner, you will want to support your cat’s needs in every way, so avoiding Takis is best as the ingredients can cause digestive and other issues.

If your cat accidentally eats some Takis, keep an eye out for any of the signs mentioned in this article. If any signs persist longer than 24-48 hours, call your vet. Takis will likely not severely harm your cat, though they may make them uncomfortable for a few days.

• See Also: Can Cats Eat Veggie Straws? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Featured Image Credit: Diana Taliun, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Eat Takis? Vet-Reviewed Precautions & Health Guidelines by Tara Perreault appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Human treats are not known for being “healthy”. The average potato chip is mostly fat, oil, and salt, with artificial additives and flavorings and zero nutritional value. Enter: Veggie Straws, a crispy vegetable snack (shaped like a short straw) that sounds like a healthy alternative to our beloved Ruffles and Pringles. Pet parents might wonder if Veggie Straws are okay for me, what about my cat?

With their incredible sense of smell, cats can easily sniff out something tasty they wish to eat, but sadly, and often to their disappointment, cats should not eat Veggie Straws or any other processed human treat.

What Are Veggie Straws?

Veggie Straws are a type of potato-based “vegetable chip” widely marketed and pushed as a healthy snack or treat for humans; a fun and tasty way to add healthy vegetables into our diets, with lower fat content than the average potato chip. When we look at the actual contents of these products, however, these claims are a little far-fetched.

None of those ingredients have any use in the diet of an obligate carnivore.

In terms of nutritional values for humans, a single serving of Veggie Straws (68 straws/50 g) has 250 calories, 14 grams of fat (22% RDA), 430 mg of salt (18% RDA), and trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. They might be “healthier” than the average snack, but a far cry from a ‘great way to get more vegetables into your diet.’

Can My Cat Eat Veggie Straws?

No, your cat can’t eat Veggie Straws, and that should be the end of the conversation, but let’s dive deeper.

The Sea Salt and the Cinnamon Apple flavors contain no toxic ingredients, but all the other recipes contain toxic ingredients, so regardless of how much your furry friend persists, they must not be offered to your cat. Many of these other flavors contain onion and garlic powder, both of which are toxic to cats. The milk and cheese contained in many of the flavors may cause gastro-intestinal upset as many adult cats are dairy intolerant.

These products are high in sodium (salt), starches, sugar, and oils. They also tend to be higher in fat and calories than many other feline-safe treats. Importantly, they contain less than 1 g of protein per 28 g serving, and cats require a protein-rich diet. All in all, the balance of nutrition in Veggie Straws is far from ideal for a cat and can cause problems for your cat’s weight and mobility if fed regularly over a long period of time.

If your cat has eaten a Veggie Straw or two, check the package carefully to ensure there is no onion or garlic in the ingredients. If either of these ingredients are listed, contact your veterinarian immediately for advice.

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What Treats Can I Feed Instead of Veggie Straws?

You have many options to give your cat as a treat, as well as plenty of human food that is both safe and healthy. Try a selection from the list below, although not all at once! Avoid those that may cause allergies or intolerance. Remember that treats for your cat should only make up around 10% of their daily calorie intake.

Always check with your veterinarian that the food you wish to offer is safe for your cat and their individual health status.

What Is a Healthy Diet for Cats?

Cats are known as obligate carnivores. This means they must get their protein from animal meat, rather than plant sources. They have a few extra nutritional requirements when compared to dogs, humans, and other species, which are:

For this reason, cats must eat animal meat and cannot be fed a vegetarian or vegan diet. Nor can these extra necessary nutrients be added as a supplement. Failure to provide your cat with taurine, arginine and arachidonic acid results in serious health issues, potentially leading to their death.

Cats also require a much lower level of carbohydrates than humans and dogs and derive most of their energy from proteins and fats.

Their specific dietary requirements mean cats should be fed high-quality, age appropriate complete cat food to ensure they get all the nutrition they need to live long, healthy lives.

Conclusion

There are plenty of safe foods that cats can eat as an extra snack or treat on top of their daily diet. While the number of snacks offered needs to be limited, many tasty foods can still be enjoyed by your cat while still providing quality, safe and healthy options to them. Veggie Straws are not a safe or nutritious treat choice, so should be avoided.

If you have already been feeding your cat Veggie Straws and are concerned about the effects on their health, then have a chat with your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist who can best advise on the next steps.

See also:

• Can Cats Eat Takis? Vet-Reviewed Precautions & Health Guidelines
• Why Do Cats Like Straws? 6 Likely Reasons

Featured Image Credit: Le Do, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Eat Veggie Straws? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ by Annaliese Morgan appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Turkey and bacon are two legitimate meats in their own right, and each of these meats is popular with both humans and pets alike—even if our pets shouldn’t be eating them. Cats are known as obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat and cannot be vegetarian or vegan. Turkey is a healthy and lean poultry meat that has been used in feline diets and snacks for decades. Turkey is also cheaper than some other meats, contains good levels of protein, and is often gentler and easier for the gastrointestinal system to digest.

Traditional bacon, on the other hand, is a much-loved food and treat, with no signs of its popularity decreasing. Really, who can resist the distinct smell while it’s cooking? So, when turkey bacon came along, it’s understandable to think that one has the best of both worlds. But is that true? And can your cat eat turkey bacon? Unfortunately, turkey bacon is one of those gray areas. While turkey bacon isn’t toxic to cats, it ultimately is best to avoid feeding it to your cat for several reasons.

What Is Turkey Bacon?

Turkey bacon is a widely available processed meat made up of light and dark turkey meats, which are then seasoned like bacon and pressed into bacon form. Turkey bacon is thought to be a healthier option than pork and pork bacon due to the lower calorie and fat content. Furthermore, not only is it a very processed food containing added sugar and preservatives, but this meat is also very high in sodium (salt).

Can Cats Eat Turkey Bacon?

Regular turkey meat is a great and healthy meat to offer your cat as a treat (as long as they are not allergic to it) or as the flavor of the main diet—turkey bacon, not so much.

Turkey bacon might be desired by your kitty, and it’s true that it isn’t toxic or poisonous to cats. However, the problem with it is that turkey bacon is an unhealthy snack and meat to give to them.

Turkey bacon is known for its salty taste; in fact 100g of turkey bacon contains 714 mg of sodium. Potentially, and especially if it is fed regularly or in abundance, feeding your cat this processed meat can lead to some dehydration due to all the salt. While it takes a lot of salt to cause health concerns in a healthy cat, cats with kidney disease may not be able to tolerate all the salt. Cats get enough salt in their cat food, so any extra is usually excreted as waste.

Sodium nitrite is a preservative contained in turkey bacon, it is used in pet food in low concentrations determined by law and Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. While the amount in turkey bacon is regulated to human standards, cats are small and the exact amount you are feeding your cat is hard to determine, but could be around 0.012% ¹. Sodium nitrite has been linked to the death of three cats, so it’s best to exercise caution with human products containing nitrites ².

The calories, fat and sugar in turkey bacon could lead to unwanted weight gain over time. Overweight cats are more likely to suffer with joint disease, diabetes, urinary issues, heart disease, hypertension and even cancer.

Due to the associated disadvantages with turkey bacon, it is best not to feed it to cats and to opt for one of the many other alternatives instead, even though trying to ignore your cat’s longing face and paw taps for a piece of the tasty meat might be hard to resist!

If your cat has eaten or is eating turkey bacon and displays any of the following signs, stop feeding the meat and contact your veterinarian for advice.

If you’re curious about what’s safe for cats to eat or have general questions about your feline’s nutrition or diet, it is recommended you speak to your vet.

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If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!

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Why Is Turkey a Good Meat for Cats?

Turkey, when compared to turkey bacon, is a great food to give to your cat. This healthy food is a white meat belonging to the poultry family and is often enjoyed by plenty of cats worldwide. It is a common core ingredient of many of the complete feline diets you’d buy at your local store.

Turkey needs to be fed cooked (warm or cold), but it is low in fat, high in protein (and all the necessary amino acids), and packed with other nutrients, such as the vitamin B complex, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and selenium.

All in all, this meat helps to maintain a healthy body and, in particular, the digestive system. For most cats, it is easy for them to digest turkey and absorb all its nutrients. Turkey is commonly the meat of choice for those cats with allergies to other meats, or for those kitties with tummy and bowel problems.

Despite the goodness of plain turkey meat, be sure to check with your vet that this human food is suitable to feed to your particular cat, in case of underlying health issues. Also, be aware that any extra treats or food offerings outside of their normal diet should not make up more than 10% of their recommended daily calorie intake.

Conclusion

Turkey bacon at face value may be a firm favorite in your home, but it is one best avoided by your cat. The calorie and salt levels are simply too high and can cause more harm than good, especially when its enjoyment is short-lived. It is not toxic to them, but given that there are many other better options available to offer, it is preferable to exercise caution and opt for the healthier alternatives.

See Also: 

• Can Cats Eat Veggie Straws? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Featured Image Credit: Elena Veselova, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Eat Turkey Bacon? Vet-Approved Risks & FAQ by Annaliese Morgan appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Cats are obligate carnivores and therefore predominantly evolved to eat meat in their diet. Many owners tend to favor feeding high-quality cat food—only to see them snatch not-so-fresh meat out of the garbage. But can cats eat spoiled meat?

No, cats should not eat spoiled meat. They can get sick and are also able to contract serious illness, including food poisoning.

Here, we discuss in further detail why cats can’t eat rotten meat and the signs that you should watch for if they do.

What Can Happen If a Cat Eats Spoiled Meat?

There are varying degrees of spoilage that can lead to varying degrees of illness. Meat becomes rotten due to exposure to temperature change and air, which enables bacterial growth. It typically becomes slimy, changes color, and emits a foul odor. It is dangerous to eat once it reaches this stage because of the harmful bacteria. (However, any amount of bacterial contamination prior to this stage can also be dangerous!)

This is what leads to food poisoning, which can occur after eating spoiled meat but is also possible with raw meat.

1. Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be quite serious and can make your cat very sick. Food that has gone bad or hasn’t been cooked properly and has come into contact with feces can have organisms such as Salmonella.

Signs of food poisoning can include:

You should take your cat to your veterinarian or closest emergency clinic if they start showing any of these signs or you suspect they may have food poisoning.

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2. E. coli

A serious health risk from consuming spoiled meat is the possibility of contracting E. coli. While E. coli more commonly affects kittens, adult cats can still become infected.

Signs of infection can include:

3. Botulism

While botulism is rare, it can result from eating spoiled meat infected with Clostridium botulinum type C performed neurotoxin.

Most cats don’t tend to come down with the more severe effects of botulism and can recover with supportive treatment. However, botulism can lead to difficulty breathing, weakness, and death in severe instances.

4. Parasites

Unsurprisingly, rotten meat can be full of internal parasites like roundworms and toxoplasma. Cats can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss and pose a risk to other pets and humans.

5. Mold

If the spoiled meat has had time to become moldy and if the cat ingests it, it can lead to mold poisoning. This can lead to digestive upset, including vomiting, stool changes, and a lack of appetite.

How to Prevent Your Cat From Eating Spoiled Meat

If your cat is prone to sneaking into the garbage (or however else they are finding the spoiled meat), you should take steps to secure your trash. Even if this means purchasing a new garbage can with a lock that makes it “childproof,” it’s worth it for your cat’s safety.

Ensure that you are safely storing and disposing of food items, especially meats, and figure out how your cat could find access to rotten food so you can take preventative steps.

When Should You See Your Veterinarian?

Since there are many different potential outcomes from various sources and some of the causes can have severe repercussions, it’s always best to speak to your vet the moment that you realize that your cat has eaten rotten meat. It might require an immediate visit, or they might instruct you on your next steps, which will likely include keeping an eye on your cat for the next 48 hours.

Since eating spoiled meat can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration can be a serious concern, and your cat may need rehydration through IV fluids. Your vet might also want to run blood and other diagnostic tests for conditions that might have resulted from eating the contaminated meat. Catching any serious problems early will give your cat a better prognosis. Further, treating your cat is important as many of these foodborne illnesses can also make humans sick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Cats Eat Spoiled Meat?

Most cats aren’t likely to eat spoiled meat. They are prone to being picky about what they eat in general, and cats also have an excellent sense of smell. Combine these two traits, and you have an animal that generally won’t be interested in eating spoiled meat.

That said, some cats might wolf it down, particularly if they are very hungry. It’s best to keep it out of their way and not risk it.

Is It Okay to Feed Meat to Your Cat Just a Few Days After the Expiration Date?

Generally, no. If you wouldn’t eat it, neither should your cat.

Further, many human foods contain ingredients that are toxic to cats, such as garlic, onions, and anything else in the onion family like chives and shallots. It’s best to stick with cat food—the fresher, the better.

Can Wet Cat Food Spoil?

Absolutely! Wet food should come with an expiration date on the container, so check before feeding.

When Does Wet Cat Food Go Bad?

If the food is sitting out in your cat’s bowl or you’ve left it on the counter, it should be removed after a couple of hours. Clean the food bowl with soap and hot water before filling it again.

You’ll need to refrigerate any opened wet food, and you can warm it up in the microwave before feeding it to your cat again. Opened wet food should be refrigerated for no more than a day or two, and then it should be tossed.

Conclusion

Cats should not eat carrion. Rotten meat is just as dangerous to our cats as it is to us. A good rule of thumb is to not give it to our pets if we wouldn’t eat it ourselves.

Spoiled meat is also more dangerous for kittens and senior cats. If your cat already has a health condition, that can make them more vulnerable to health problems stemming from the bad meat.

Speak to your vet if you’re at all concerned about your cat’s health, and remember that table scraps and any meat past its prime should not be given to cats.

Featured Image Credit: Montholz, Shutterstock

The post Can Cats Eat Spoiled Meat? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQs by Kathryn Copeland appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.