06/11/2025
First there were 2 now there are 4. We have 4 hissy little black kittens that need some mellowing.
Anyone want to foster? These are too young to be turned out as mousers or put in a shop. They need to grow up. That means they need care and nurturing. That means decent food.
When I get calls about adopted or stray cats with diarrhea or smelly poo. I always advise a food change to a good quality catfood. Even strays will not eat certain foods. As we house an average of 40-50 cats inside at any given time, we are highly sensitive to odiferous offerings in the litter boxes.
We find foods with added synthetic colouring will add to this problem. There are 2 kinds of colouring available to be added, to pet foods, things like food dyes, Red 40, yellow 5, blue 1 or 2 or natural colours like carotenoids (orange from carrots, pumpkins, etc) chlorophyll (from green leafy vegetables) turmeric (deep yellow)
What’s the difference?
Synthetic dyes are less expensive, cost effective, have longer shelf life, and can be produced in large quantities, therefore they are preferred by many pet food manufactures.
Natural colours can change taste or odour of a food, diminish shelf life and be more expensive to source.
The two types of colourants approved by the FDA for use in human or animal products. “water soluble” (dissolve in water) and “fat soluble” (are not water soluble)found in fats and oils.
Food dyes were originally created from coal tar, used in OTC drugs, a known human carcinogen (cancer causing)
The coal tar was then replaced with petroleum, extracted from the earth, commonly used in products like paint, fuel, asphalt and foods. Yes food, it is used to add, enhance, and correct colour variations in food and beverages. It corrects colour lost to extreme temperatures, light, air, moisture. (would you want to eat a greyish, tan hotdog)?
Even without a lot of concrete research and evidence (there has been extensive research in the significant human health related issues) implicating detrimental health impact in pets being fed synthetic dyes in their food, there has been a shift in many major pet food manufactures to reduce or eliminate synthetic food dyes used in pet foods. In 2018 Petco a major distributor began implementing a no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives in the pet foods they handled. In 2019 they accomplished this and have been actively promoting and supporting other pet food companies, manufacturers and retailers to do the same.
Does it matter what the cats or dogs eat? Yes, it absolutely does impact the health and longevity of your pet.
They may just be “found strays” but we intend to give them the best start in life we can.
