I’m a cat, will my food prevent me from going blind? What do you mean, “No”?

Cats have basic nutritional needs to sustain a happy and healthy existence. This consists of vitamins, minerals, and also taurine which is fundamental to a cat’s health. A lack of the amino acid taurine can cause blindness, tooth decay, and other health issues for your lovable pussy.

You may be shocked to know many tins of cat food available in the supermarkets don’t meet these basic nutritional requirements.

How can this be legal I hear you say?

Simple – All a manufacturer has to do is add small print somewhere obscure on the packaging to say the food is for supplemental or occasional feeding only.

Who reads the small print?

Thousands and thousands of people feed their cats these foods every day without knowing they’re not meeting their cats minimum nutritional requirements.

Diabolical, isn’t it?

For many manufacturers the cost of making a cat food nutritionally complete amounts to a few cents, but when the cost of the tin is higher than the cost of the food it becomes very much about profits not your puss.

I went to my local Woolworths and Coles to prove the point and compile a name and shame.

Here you go:

Purina Fancy Feast Royale

Not a Complete and Balanced Diet - Purina Fancy Feast Royale
Not a Complete and Balanced Diet – Purina Fancy Feast Royale

You’d think a huge global pet food manufacturer would be more responsible, but this food is “Intended for Occassional and Supplemental Feeding Only”.

With a name like “Royale” you’d expect it to be tip top.

Nestle should be ashamed.

Dine Desire

Not a Complete and Balanced Diet - Dine Desire
Not a Complete and Balanced Diet – Dine Desire

Another popular brand of pet food, sold in the millions, but for “occasional and supplemental feeding only”.

I wonder if Eva Longoria, the face of Dine, know’s about this?

Mars should be ashamed.

Applaws

Not a Complete and Balanced Diet - Applaws
Not a Complete and Balanced Diet – Applaws

Yep, that’s right. Applaws are fairly respected here in Australia, and their dry foods and pouches are better than most, but their tins are “for occasional or supplemental feeding only”.

Coles

Not a Complete and Balanced Diet - Coles
Not a Complete and Balanced Diet – Coles

Well what would you expect from a supermarket home brand?

Purr

Not a Complete and Balanced Diet - Purr
Not a Complete and Balanced Diet – Purr

Another popular brand, Purr. This food is “Not nutritionally complete”, but you wouldn’t expect that from the fancy cat and fancy gold lettering on the front of the tin.