I've tasted canned cat food a couple of times, mostly out of accident through my horrible spoon licking habit, and both times the only thing that really stood out was the lack of salt and spices. other than that, It reminded me of any other canned meat product.

It's never occurred to me to taste the cat food although, when slightly warmed, some of the beef based food smells pretty good.

But then again, the cats like fish and seafood and I'm just don't care for seafood even at the best restaurant in town.

It's my understanding that part of the marketing for pet foods is that it will look appetizing to humans. It makes sense because many pet owners probably wouldn't feed their critter anything that looks or smells too disgusting even though many critters would happily chow down on road kill.

I use to just buy the super cheap stuff. Being low income is no fun.and i am not willing to let go of one or two of my rescues to buy better quality. Nope not gonna happen. But after I realized my pups coat issues were food related i switched. They get the Taste of the wild variety. Once in a while I make it, but not often.My son use to teeth n milkbone dog biscuits. Never hurt him any.

I personally never tasted either the cat or dog food--although some of the food I fed my dog looked appetizing! My son, however, has tried every dog and cat treat I have brought in the house--and bierd and chinchilla stuff also. For the record--he says the Milkbone biscuits taste nasty--but the Beggin'Strips are pretty good :-)

We have been brainwashed into thinking only professionals can create a nutritious diet. Commercial pet food may be fine but it is not desirable. Your pet always eats it you say? So would you if that were your only choice. Speaking of which have you tasted baby food? Ecchh!

Why would I try my dogs' food? It's not going to give me any insight on how they feel about it. I mean, they think chicken poop is the BEST THING EVER. Can't imagine their food tasting any worse. They eat it enthusiastically, produce firm stool and look good.

People eat Slim Jims and Cheez Whiz and burgers from McDonald's. Can't imagine pet food being any worse than that either!

Anyone who has ever had a toddler knows that pet food isn't deadly. My niece used to dip the dog kibbles in the water, to bring out the gravy. Yum.
But what about the pets who are fed only people food? My aunt did this, and her dog never had a solid stool in his (short) life. Doesn't it skyrocket the risk for pancreatitis?

I really don't think it does, if that's normal for the dog. Now, a dog that only ever eats its kibble and then gets into the thanksgiving leftovers? Yeah, massive overload for that dog's poor unaccustomed GI tract. But a dog that's used to eating this, that and the other can probably handle a little more or less of the other without any additional problems.

My dogs get 'people' food fairly regularly in addition to the poop and dead things they find before I stop them and their actual meals. When they split a half gallon (yes, you read that right) of corn oil I had fried tonkatsu in the night before, neither of them had so much as diarrhea, which I attributed to their gut being used to a varied diet.

The loose stools and short life aren't the result of a "people food" diet, although they may have been the result of a poor (unbalanced, not nutritionally complete) diet. And fat in the diet doesn't cause pancreatitis, but WILL trigger attacks for an animal that has it.

My dog gets one home-cooked meal a day, sometimes two, along with Honest Kitchen and a rotation of high-quality kibbles. She has nice, small, firm stools and excellent overall health. But if you're going to feed home-cooked or raw, you need to do a bit of research first, and be sure you're feeding a good diet.

I have never tasted the commercially prepared pet foods I feed my dog and cat. Why would I? While the cooked meals I make for my dog, and have sometimes made for my cat, certainly are often things I'm happy to eat myself (with some additional spices), nothing would induce me to eat, for instance, whole mouse, which both my dog and my cat have expressed considerable enthusiasm for. Whether or not I would enjoy it is utterly unrelated to whether they will enjoy it.

Have tried the Acana Pacifica or the Origen version of the fish cat food (can't remember which). Smells and tastes like dried fish. Pretty good.

Also tasted milk bones when I was a kid, and as commented on by another, pretty nasty.

Did I miss the April Fool's joke?

Do we need to have a discussion about what "unfit for human consumption" means? Or perhaps the process and chemicals involved in "denaturing" the meat that goes into most pet foods?

How about the chemicals and additives that are approved for use in pet food but not in human foods? You know, the same ones that many of us refuse even to feed to the dog?

Considering the recent "mystery meat" issue found in three varieties of dry dog food and two varieties of canned dog food (all of which were considered "premium" - several were "superpremium"), I can barely recommend commercial food to my clients with a straight face - to feed their pets! That's not even considering grocery fare.

Seriously, Dr. Khuly - contact the folks at AAFCO, who are willing to admit on camera that there is no way to know for sure what is in a pet food product, and ask them if they agree with your "it won't kill you!" line of reasoning.

Dr. Khuly, head out to YOUR local chain grocery store, and walk down the pet food aisle and come back and tell us how many bags and cans in both the cat and dog foods clearly read "not for human consumption". Not a label the manufacturers want on the bag/can, a label the US Government requires of them to be on the bag/can to protect the public from harm. This post today - I can imagine meant in jest, light hearted poke at the old shocker of eating pet food, but c'mon now. In this day and age of thousands of dead cats and dogs due to melamine? Is it really something you want to be making light of?

Making light of, or asking us to consider?

I ate more than my fair share of pet food as a kid, and still will try anything I am willing to feed to my pets. Not that I do it for fun, but if it's so bad I won't try a small sample, I sure won't feed it to my pets.

I didn't think Milkbones were all that bad, FWIW. Meow Mix is nasty though.

While the rules allow things to be used in pet food that would never be allowed in human food, it's also important to remember that even the very best cuts of meat become legally "unfit for human consumption" the moment they enter a pet food factory.

Dr. Khuly stated: “Sure, some of you have the dedication (and, undoubtedly, the luxury) of feeding your pets home cooked foods”.

I’m surprised by this comment from you. Feeding our pets a wholesome, nutrient based diet that we feed ourselves is now considered a “luxury”? Feeding home cooked or a raw meat diet is less expensive in the long run since the pet will be healthier and less prone to that list of ten most common ailments for dogs and cats. Maybe you should call it “practical” instead.

Don't mean to cut into your earnings but I don't want you to cut into mine either.

Perhaps you could show some peer reviewed published papers and studies showing that raw food or "wholesome" home cooked food has led to longer, healthier lives in pets?

Most people can't even feed themselves a balanced diet, let alone be responsible enough to understand the specific needs of completely different species.

Perhaps you could show some peer reviewed published papers and studies showing that commercially processed food has led to longer, healthier lives in pets as compared to feeding them mostly meat, some bone, and some organs in their raw unprocessed form?

It doesn't take a PHD to feed your pet.

I'm not the one making the unsubstantiated claim that a certain manner of feeding your pet will result in a longer lifespan. You may *believe* that feeding raw or a home concoction is better than using commercial feed. And you may *believe* that it's logical to assume feeding home prepared food will let your pet live longer and healthier, but a belief system does not equal science. Or the truth.

Should it only count if you're feeding organic, grass feed beef or pastured poultry and hogs? Because really, how much healthier is organ meat (hello, body's filtration systems!) from commercially produced animals that are fed hormones and antibiotics and god knows what else?

And no, you don't necessarily need a PhD to come up with a nutritious diet, but again most people can't do that for themselves let alone another species. It's not a matter of just throwing down some meat scraps and hoping for the best. Do you know how much calcium your cat needs? And just how much that meat has in it? Or lysine? Or folic acid?

Feed what you want. Looking down your nose at people who feed kibble just seems a little silly given the lack of scientific evidence to support one diet over the other.

“unsubstantiated claim”? What a ridiculous statement. I can’t imagine someone can go through everyday life and not realize that a healthy, balanced diet, for any species, is more appropriate than a processed food diet from a can or a bag.

You make a lot of assumptions here, like throwing meat scraps at my cats! You’re an idiot if you think that’s what feeding home made or raw means. Really, there are so many books; websites; reference papers; veterinary nutrition specialists; blogs; forums; etc readily available at your fingertips to assure one of feeding the most appropriate, nutritious diet available for their pets.

There are plenty of commercially prepared raw meat diets for dogs and cats; tested; analyzed; organic; grass fed; order online; thaw and feed. Simple.

Yes, I will certainly feed what I want because my own personal experience of doing so for years has been the true testament of the fact that a raw meat diet as close to their natural diet is the best I can provide for them and is not a “luxury”, which was the point of my original post.

““unsubstantiated claim”? What a ridiculous statement.”

How is that a ridiculous statement? You did not say that a healthy, balanced diet is better for any species. You said: “Feeding home cooked or a raw meat diet is less expensive in the long run since the pet will be healthier and less prone to that list of ten most common ailments for dogs and cats.”

And I asked you to substantiate this claim with scientific evidence. Anyone can write a book, anyone can post up a website, doesn’t mean what they have to say is valid or even truthful. What I’m wondering is, can you provide any peer-reviewed studies that substantiate the claim you made. You know, ones that follow this little thing called the scientific method.

My comment about organ meats was directed at tem_set. Notice how the reply is indented under their comment referencing feeding “mostly meat, some bone, and some organs in their raw unprocessed form.” They’ll be happy to know that you find their feeding scheme so objectionable.

Your personal experience is called anecdotal. Anecdotes are not evidence. You made a big claim and I asked if you could substantiate it. Apparently not.

we used to feed them from the grocery shelf, we still feed them dry food we buy, but my wife makes their wet food and it does not take a lot of money and they love the food

http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/LippertSapySummary.pdf

http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/LippertSapyFullReport.pdf

Enjoy

Heh, so that is an essay with some very, very basic mean stats thrown in to make it sound all official like. It's a survey, not a study. Workers at a crematorium asked owners of dead dogs some questions. There's no control, there's no hypothesis, there's no review.

His statistical analysis found that small dogs live longer than big dogs. How many small dogs were fed human leftovers (author's definition of "home made") as opposed to large? Could it be that most of the dogs surviving on table scraps were 15 pounders while larger dogs requiring many more calories ate kibble? So in fact, kibble eaters died earlier because they're breeds with shorter lifespans to begin with? We don't know because this is essentially a 6-grade level project.

I mean c'mon, the author says at one point that although there is no statistical difference between the average lifespan of a dog living with a single female versus a single male owner, he suspects that dogs living with single women die younger because in his opinion, they over-mother their pets. Over-mothering causes stress and therefore they would die younger. Even though his very own stats say there's no difference... That's some hardcore science at work, folks!

Feed how you want to feed, but understand that aside from your personal preferences and anecdotes, there is very little science behind food-choice superiority complexes.

Not going to continue an argument with someone that lets their dog eat chicken poop often enough to analyze their stools. Might as well bang this pretty healthy head of mine against a wall.

I have indeed tried my dogs' food and treats.

About two ago, I was in a pet store searching for a new food. There were a couple reps in the store hawking their products. They raved so much about their food so I asked had they tried it. One rep recoiled, the other one agreed to try it when I did. Both products were wheat and corn free but I was concerned why one rep was so disgusted by my suggestion.

Anyway, I obviously survived but didn't love the taste the way my dogs seem to love the taste. I sometimes break their treats in half using my teeth.

I do give my dogs a special home-cooked meal of chicken and rice for a week or so every now & then

That is absolutely excellent. I'm going to have to remember that the next time I make the mistake of going to the pet store on a Saturday and get cornered by someone trying to insist I purchase their product.

Yes, I have tried cat food, both wet and dry, although not in years, since I was in college. I found it a bit gritty and not that palatable. I have tried dog food also and found that somewhat better. My cat, however, seems to like it. I have not been able to bring myself to biting off the heads of mice and birds, which seems to bring the cat enormous pleasure. Have you tried this? tend to eat a good deal of spicy ethnic food of various types, and the cat shows little interest in this although sometimes he experimentally licks my plate a bit when I am done. Sometimes I share bits of chicken, steak, lamb (which he likes but prefers it raw). He really likes lobster, shrimp and duck, but may vomit if he gets too much. I guess they are different creatures with different needs. I wish you would address the issue of cats and what foods are not good for them. I have heard that garlic is not good for them. Is this true? I have seen cats eat bread, donuts, cheese, and pizza, and once had a cat who liked Haagen Dasz Boysenberry Sherbet. Remember that stuff?

j

Ok, lets go shopping~We choose the food 'we' are going to consume, right? How many of us stop in the middle of the grocery store aisle to examine the ingredients on the side of the can before we put it in our carts, remember, we are going to eat it. Its also our responsibilty to choose the food our 'sweet pets' are going to consume. They rely on us, and its only fair that we at least take a little time to examine whats we are putting in our pets food bowls, after-all, they are our family too. When we go to a resturant we look at a menu~Lets say you order a burger but, there are some things on it you dont 'want' on it, or you want an extra something on it. You just tell the waitress to 'minus the' or 'add extra', simple as that As far as meat goes, I only eat turkey. .I buy fresh ground turkey, fry it like you do hamburger. The turkey has no fat so I add water so it wont stick..I dont add salt or spices. Then I make plain rice. Let it all cool and mix. Its cheap and easy to make~My dog and I love it' :D

Im aware of some mis-spelled words, ect. just wanted to apologize..!! :) :)

I have tasted every dog food my dogs eat.

Allthough I pay an arm and a leg for wellness and solid gold, it still tastes like dog food to me. My dogs love it though. When we adopted Molly she came with commerical canned food and I had to hand feed her to get her to eat but once we started her on our dog food ( wellness and solid gold) she had no problem eating and she loves it.

Missing link is ok and has a mollasses flavor. The best dog food I have tasted is the bisquit dog treats from trader Joes. Anykind they have. They taste pretty good, close to a wheat cracker taste.