INTRODUCTION
If you are presently feeding your cat “kibble” food, now is the time to make the switch to food
that will keep your special feline friend healthy for the rest of its life. Cats are obligatory
carnivores. They require nutrients found in meat for mandatory survival. Cats metabolism is
perfectly equipped to digest meat in a 2 hour period, compared to the human metabolic period of
36-55 hours. Their system is designed to extract proteins and nutrients from meat in its raw
state. Also, since cats are unable to break down complex carbohydrates, the practice of feeding
your cat carbohydrates, which they can not utilize, may lead to many feline health problems.
Below I will be listing a number of well known feline diseases that are growing concerns
throughout veterinarian clinics within our country.
TARTAR CONTROL
There are varieties of tartar-control cat foods that claim to improve the health of the gums in
cats. However, these foods contain high levels of processed carbohydrates and cellulose, wood
derived indigestive fiber. Carbohydrates place an unnatural burden on a cats gastrointestinal
tract. In the wild, felines benefit in a variety of ways from eating their prey. For example, the
cat gets abrasive action from the bone of its prey, facilitating a defense against a variety of
gum diseases. This effect may be duplicated if the cat is served a diet of meat that contains
ground bone. Additionally, bone does not disintegrate and deposit carbohydrates in a cats teeth
like kibble food does.
THE TRUTH ABOUT KIBBLE FOOD
As Pet Food industries began to expand, pet food companies were not required to keep up with
real life studies. Consequently, pet food companies seemed to neglect cats unique metabolic
enginery, which was made to adsorb energy and nutrients from protein, not carbohydrates.
Today's cats are eating kibble food filled with high pre-digestive carbohydrates with moderate
levels of protein, usually derived from vegetables protein sources and little fat that cats
desperately need. Pet companies add tons on corn, rice, wheat, oats, barely and other grains,
even potatoes to meat to help bulk them up. Adding to the problem the over heating and
pressure process during the extrusion, destroying the nutrients, enter in the cats bloodstream as
sugar. Furthermore high levels of Carbohydrates are needed to help the mixture push through,
that is fed into the extruder. Naturally cats would not eat grained-based foods, so potent
enhancers/food additives, acidified yeast and salt coat the kibble food making it more palatable
for cats to eat. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Sugars from processed carbohydrates found in kibble food flood the blood with sugar. The blood
sugar is carried from the GI tract to the liver, alarming the pancreas by producing and secreting
insulin to help lower the sugar levels, since high levels of sugar cause an accumulation of fat in
the body. Consequently, the cat that is on a high carbohydrate diet repeatedly receives surges
of insulin that the feline pancreas can not cope with. Many cats who are exposed to such an
unnatural diet become overweight and are exposed to added pancreatic stresses which they are
not equipped to deal with, often resulting in diabetes.
ARE CARBOHYDRATES CAUSING FELINE
OBESITY & DIABETES IN CATS?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome is a not a definitive diagnosis, but
rather the general process that occurs in the tissue of the gastrointestinal organs. IBD is an
immune-reaction disease probably caused by foods. Food plays the major stimulant to clause this
allergic reaction, since food is the major substance found in the stomach and intestines.
Therefore diet plays a large role in the management of IBG. Cats with IBD are reacting to many
unnatural ingredients found in kibble food, such as artificiality and over processed commercial
food. CAN CARBOHYDRATES CAUSE URINARY TRACT
DISEASE?
The Urine of the cats/carnivores is acid based (pH below 7.4). Kibble food with a high
carbohydrate content cause very high alkaline urine levels (pH above 7.4) which lead to
inflammation of the Urinary Tract. Dry kibble cat foods also provide very little moisture. The
natural prey, however, contains 75 to 80 percent moisture. Originally cats have a low thirst drive
because of their origins. Thus, kibble-food-fed-cats are usually dehydrated and their urine is
very concentrated. The unnatural high concentration of minerals and other compounds found in
the urine, along with the high alkaline levels leads to UTD. A raw meat based diet, which result
in natural acid pH is more dilated. These conditions do not allow the formation of crystal and
stones, eliminating possible inflammation in the Urinary Tract.
HEPATIC LIPDOSIS
Hepatic Lipidosis, also known as "fatty liver disease", is the condition of Liver dysfunction caused
by the accumulation of fat in the cells and tissue of the Liver. Occurring in cats, especially with
a history of obesity, after a two week period of anorexia (loss of appetite) often affecting more
females than males. Naturally this fat clogs the liver which in turn leads to failure of the liver’s
normal function. Again we are reminded of the importance of a carbohydrate-free diet.
FELINE ALLERGIES & FELINE ASTHMA
Skin allergies, IBD, Stomatitis, Asthma, and allergic Otitis are multiple manifestations of the
same basic process and are often triggered by the same allergy-causing substances. Allergies are
often reactions to food. Kibble and canned foods with carbohydrates are the most likely
culprits, contributing to allergic skin diseases.
CONCLUSION
A raw meat diet can correct all of the problems that are caused by commercial kibble foods.
Many of the serious illnesses discussed earlier include Obesity, Diabetes, Urinary Tract Disease,
IBD, Feline Allergies, Asthma and Tartar Control. A low protein diet causes cats to break down
their own muscle quicker than omnivores do without protein, which can lead to a variety of health
problems. Cats require an essential fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is found only in
animal protein fat. While dogs can manufacture arachidonic acid from other acids, cats cannot.
Further, recent studies have shown that processed foods (Kibble and canned foods) are a
contributing factor in increasing number of pets (like humans) suffering from cancer, arthritis,
obesity, dental disease and heart disease. I have personally observed a greater improvement in
overall health and size of the kittens since implementing a raw meat diet. Kittens/Cats fur is
softer, shiner, they have more energy, their bodies and muscle tone feel sufficiently firmer.
Queens are healthy, strong, robust and continue to have excellent body composition. They
maintain steady weight gain throughout pregnancy, producing more lactation than seen in previous
pregnancies, with no weight loss during and after the nursing period. Cat’s waste is almost
odorless. A cat’s system is design to extract proteins and nutrients from meat in its raw state.
Cats are unable to break down complex carbohydrates. The practice of feeding your cat
carbohydrates, which they can not utilize, leads to many Feline Health Problems. ~Further
Resources to read: Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, DVM, Esq. Your Cat A must read book, Simple
Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life. Dr Jeff Feinman BA, VMD, CVH, article on Feeding Your Cat. holds both molecular biology and veterinary degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.
Michelle Bernard's Raising Your Cat Naturally online essay on "The Truth About Dry Cat Food" I
invite everyone to sign onto the Yahoo groups IBD site to view files on nutrition and discuss
treatments & Surgical Options. The Carnivore connection to nutrition in cats written by Dedra L
Zoran DVM, PhD, DAVIM. Cat Nutrition.Org information & Resources.
Doc. Elizabeth Hodgkins D.V.M., JD can be reached at All About Cats Health Center, Yorba
Linda, California 92887. Doc. Hodgkins is also a well known breeder and owner of Sunstone
Ocicats, ph:1714-692-8228 Please contact this gracious lady or her associates for further
information or read more about her protocol for treating feline diabetes.
LEARN HOW TO READ CAT FOOD LABELS
*The pet food companies may divide the grains so they appear to be different: brown rice,
brewer rice, rice flour, rice, corn gluten meal, corn grits, ground corn, corn meal, etc.
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