MeOW Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. We’re workin’ hard on exposin’ the truths behind the ingredients in your pet’s food. Who knew it could take so long to find definitions and reasons fur everythin’ pet food companies put in those bags and cans or pet feed. It’s fur sure nufffin’ like you humans walkin’ up to the butcher and orderin’ a grass fed steak as opposed to grain fed. Anyways, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series you can ketch up by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page. And don’t furget to submit your own questions or topic suggestions by leavin’ a comment below or sendin’ us a purrivate email via our Contact page.
The following post will be written in human English for reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Training Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal training, cats in purr-ticular. And to offer insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, successful Training is all about Repetition and Rewards.
So, we thought we’d break things up a bit. There’s just too many ingredients in most pet feeds to list in one post anyways. We will be covering a lot of ingredients in this mini-series. Not all the ingredients we’ll cover are in every food/feed on the market. These posts are just to make you aware of what you need to look for and/or avoid. More than a few years back, the standard for label reading was to check for the first 3 ingredients listed. The idea was that those 3 ingredients made up the bulk of the contents of the bag or can. The problem with that theory is that you don’t often know where those ingredients come from, the quality of those ingredients or how they were processed.
Protein:
Let’s talk about Protein. Protein is required for your pet to live. Cats being obligate carnivores must have Meat. We can’t survive, much less thrive without it. But, what kind of meat or protein is found in most pet foods? The truth is, you can never be completely sure unless you’re preparing it in your kitchen. Pet food companies want to put pretty pictures on their labels to make it appear as if top shelf meat is contained within the packaging. However, often the protein is comprised of meat meals and by products that you would never feed kitty or doggy if you actually knew the truth. Rarely do they contain anything that remotely resembles the photo on the package. Pet food companies are allowed to use not only appropriately sourced and rendered meats, but also diseased, and non slaughtered animals, such as those killed by lethal injection (phenobarbital), road kill, drowned due to acts of God, etc.. Not only are these animals used, but they also throw in the feathers, hooves, beaks and everything else.
It’s then cooked at high temperatures, removing most if not all nutritional values, bleached/sterilized and then dried to be made into pet feed. At this stage it’s no longer called meat, it’s called meat meal. Now, pet food manufacturers would have you believe that meat meal provides a higher quality of protein for your pet than the actual meat does. If that’s the case, why don’t you humans eat meat meal? Why doesn’t the USDA (truthaboutpetfood.com) approve of these meats for human consumption?
Fanky fankfully, mine’s dinner is made with human grade meats
processed in a facility overseen by the USDA.
Mommy says she remembers a time when all pet foods had a statement on the label that warned against using the same utensils for pet food as one would use for human foods, even though those utensils would be washed between uses. That’s when mommy got serious about looking into the food she fed. After all, if whatever is contained inside that package is so toxic that it can’t even be cleaned off a stainless steel utensil, then how could it possibly be safe for us to eat?.
Time fur a nap.
The reality is, that there are far more deceptive tactics and ingredients in the pet feed industry. However, Not every company or food is bad. The best thing one can do is to educate themselves, and know the products you’re buying and serving to Fluffy and Fido. We’ll delve into more ingredients in the coming posts. Until then, get your questions asked and topic suggestions in. Just leave them in the comments section below or send us an email. And don’t furget to check out the other posts in this series on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page in our menu. We’re joinin’ Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday. Our purrayers go out to all affected by the weather and storms.
Raena: Hey, Is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle!!! Mommy!!! I’s can’t hear mine’s self over the noisy lawn crew machines!!! I’s hate yellin’!!! (Raena jumps off the back of the chair onto the scratcher beside mommy’s chair and looks around) Hey sissy, where’d you come from? Can you not hear the lawn crew? I’s thought you would’a been unner the bed?.
Dezi: Me’s headin’ there Raena, me just wanted to grab a bite of brekky furst. See ya’.
Raena: Wait sissy!!! (Raena runs after Dezi who heads down the hall and UTB) C’mon, sissy, wait fur me. I’s wanna tell ya’ somethin’.
Dezi: Go away Raena, this is me’s spot.
Raena: But sissy, I’s wanna learn how to hunt fur intruders too.
Dezi: Go hunt somewhere else Raena, this is me’s spot.
Raena: (Dezi and Raena hear mommy calling them to come to breakfast. The lawn crew’s still making a lot of noise outside but the girls are hungry and start to slink towards the living room) Sissy, do we have to crouch down so low? I’s have longer legs than you do and this isn’t all that comfurtable.
Dezi: Nopawdy said you had to follow me Raena. Don’t you have somethin’ else you could be doin’?
Raena: Well yeah, sissy. We need to tell everypawdy ‘bout the noms we tried this month. You know, the ones we got from Chewy?
Dezi: Me ‘members Raena. Mommy thought we’d really like the Wellness Core Simply Shreds Grain Free food topper. It comes in 4 different flavors, Boneless Chicken, Salmon and Tuna, Tuna and Shrimp, and Chicken and Mackerel. A case of 12) 1.75 oz pouches costs $15.84. We got the Boneless Chicken to try since we’re not really fish eaters. Me really wishes these food companies would offur more of a variety in their non fish proteins. Anyways, let’s see what Chewy has to say ‘bout ‘em:
Key Benefits
Provides a boost of pure protein and hydration with just three ingredients—lean chicken, chicken broth, and water.
Lean protein helps maintain healthy muscle mass while chicken broth helps keep your kitty hydrated and supports urinary health.
Unadulterated, low calorie protein source with no fillers, grains, or starches, so it helps support a diet similar to that of your kitty’s primal ancestors.
Convenient tear-away pouch makes it easy to top dry food or wet food, or give as a side dish or high-protein snack.
Contains no grain, meat by-products, wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Water Sufficient For Processing
Caloric Content
585 kcal/kg, 29 kcal/pouch
Raena: As you can see, these Simply Shreds are pure protein. Us kitties thrive on meat proteins, so these would make a great addition to our diet, you know, as a snack or special treat. These are not considered a balanced meal. Besides, there’s no way 1.75 ounces would get us full. MOL Anyways, mommy says you should open the pouches over the sink, cuz they’re full of water/broth and can be a little messy.
Dezi: Me thinks the juice is the bestest pawrt, Raena. The chicken shreds are a bit stringy and dry. So, me would give these 2 paws up.
The juice is good, huh sissy?
Raena: I’s agree sissy. 2 paws up fur me too. Mommy gave ‘em a thumb up cuz they purrvide us with much needed hydration. Ifin you think you’d like to try these or any of the other flavors out, you can shop fur them right now at Chewy. As always, all orders $49.00 and up ship speedy and free and all other orders have a flat rate shipping of $4.95. Chewy has great customer service peeps who are available 24/7.
Disclaimer: We received the Simply Shreds in exchange for our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. Neither Chewy, nor Wellness are responsible for the opinions in this post unless otherwise stated. We only bring you products we use or have tried and believe would be of interest to you, our readers and friends.
Dezi: Don’t furget the auto ship option Raena. You can save an additional 5% off your orders and not have to worry ‘bout runnin’ out of your pet’s favorites. And you can always skip, cancel or delay any shipment, as well as add some extra treats now and then. We deserve ‘em, ya’ know.
Raena: And the boxes, sissy. Don’t furget ‘bout the pawsum boxes that come with our shipments. We luvs a good box. You can check out reviews of other great products from Chewy here.
Dezi: True Raena. Meowin’ of, me will race ya’ to ours.
Raena: Let’s play sissy.
Till the next time………………………………………………………Be Blest!!!
Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. We’re growin’ fins and gills and scales. Not really, but it sure feels like we are. Fur sure we’re feelin’ bored and blue. They say that’s what happens when you don’t get enuff sunshine and happy days.
They do Raena? Who’s they?
I’s don’t know sissy, I’s don’t question mommy. And she said they say, so that’s good enuff fur me. She also said they say that daylight lamps and artificial sun can help with the thunderstorm blues.
Well Raena, guess it’s a good thing we’ve got one of those daylight lamps. Altho’, me doesn’t think that’s why mommy bought it all those years ago. Me thinks it had somethin’ to do with usin’ less ‘lectricity. Me’s purretty sure a little exercise might help too. You know, like the kind you’ve been gettin’ chasin’ that fly ‘round the house?
Where’d the fly go?
I’s tellin’ ya’ sissy, he’s multiplyin’. I’s know I’s caught him more than once. Y, I’s even caught him on the fly once. MOL Get it? I’s caught the fly on the fly?
Oh yeah Raena, you’re a laff a minute. Anyways, we need to tell everypawdy ‘bout these new nom pouches from Weruva that we got to try. Ifin you’re a pate’ kitty, lissen up, cuz we think you’ll luv these. They’re called Slide N’ Serve pate’ and they come in 8 different flavors including fish free, chicken free and mixed proteins and 2 different sizes, 2.8 ounce and 5.5 ounce pouches. Let’s see what Weruva has to say ‘bout ‘em:
What you see is what you get – Because we purée simple and wholesome ingredients, you literally see the difference in each recipe!
Puréed foods – Just like using your kitchen mixer at home, we purée real ingredients to purrrfection, making sure those quality proteins taste delicious.
No Bad Stuff – Free of BPA, Grain, Gluten, Carrageenan, Artificial Flavors or Colors, and MSG.
Protein Options – Fish free, chicken free, or mixed protein recipes!
Paté in a pouch – Slide N’ Serve Patés are the first paté in a pouch in the industry. We’re making it easier to feed without the mess.
Recipes:
Jeopurrdy Licious – Chicken Breast Dinner
Love Connection – Chicken & Salmon Dinner
Let’s Make A Meal – Lamb & Mackerel Dinner
The Newly Feds – Beef & Salmon Dinner
Meal of Fortune – Chicken Breast Dinner with Chicken Liver
Name ‘Dat Tuna – Tuna Dinner
The Slice Is Right – Wild Caught Salmon Dinner
Family Food – Chicken Breast Dinner with Tuna
We received a variety pack with 2 of each flavor inside along with a couple of fun crinkle balls. Fanky fanks fur the crinkle balls, we luvs playin’ with ‘em. Pawrently mommy’s old eyes missed the whole pate’ thing, cuz we don’t really like pate’. But, mommy thought we oughtta give ‘em a try anyways. Since we don’t like fish, mommy opened us a bag of just plain chicken and slid it onto our dinner plate. It literally slid outta the pouch in 1 solid piece. Not a lick of gravy in sight. Anyways, mommy cut the blob in half and put it on another plate fur me. She used the spoon to separate it a little and served it to us fur dinner. We tend to eat heartier at dinner time, so mommy’s always tryin’ to introduce new noms durin’ that meal. You’d think she’d learn by now, but I’s guessin’ this won’t be the last time we see somethin’ new on our dinner plates. Mommy says it’s good to offur kitty a variety of noms so we don’t get too picky. Hmmmpht What does she know. Ifin we’re eatin’ good, why mess with purrfection?
Uh Raena, me thinks you might be headin’ off on a tangent, let’s get back to the Slide N’ Serves and Weruva. Ifin you’re a recycler, you’re gonna luv Weruva’s pawrtnership with Terracycle. All Weruva pouches including, BFF, Cats in the Kitchen and Dogs in the Kitchen are now recyclable. All you have to do is visit Terracycle.com/weruva and fill out the handy form. They’ll send you a postage paid envelope to put your empty pouches in and mail back to them.
Weruva Slide N’ Serve Chicken pate’
That’s great sissy. I’s know lots of our furiends luvs goin’ green. You know, I’s joked earlier ‘bout mommy slippin’ us new and different noms at dinnertime, but good nutrition isn’t a jokin’ matter. Us kitties are obligate carnivores which means we must have animal based protein to survive and thrive. And, it’s not always easy to find good quality foods without all the unnecessary grains, vegetables and starches that we kitties don’t need. So, that’s why mommy’s always on the look out fur quality options. We don’t wanna stop with just keepin’ us healthy, we want you all to be healthy too. We try all these things so we can let ya’ll know ‘bout options you might like but haven’t tried. Just cuz we don’t like pate’ doesn’t mean all cats are the same. We’ve got lots of furiends who luvs a good pate’, and this would be another good one to add to your rotation.
We received the Weruva Slide N’ Serve Variety pack in exchange fur our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. Weruva is not responsible for the opinions expressed in this post unless otherwise stated. We only bring products we use or have tried and feel would be of interest to you, our readers and friends.
No Way!!! Me sees the lawn crew. Me’s outta here.
That’s true Raena. You can pick up your own Weruva Slide N’ Serve pouches at a pet store near you or online at Chewy or amazon. Chewy has them listed at $17.99 (2.8 oz) or $24.99 (5.5 oz) fur a case of 12. Uh Raena, me saw the lawn crew pull up. Let’s wrap this up, me has intruders to guard against.
Sure thing sissy. I’s just wanna add, that altho’ we didn’t like the Slide N’ Serve pouches, we donated them to our furiends at the Kitty Motel, and they luvs ‘em. We hear they scarfed these down like there was no tomorrow and asked fur more. So, ifin you like pate’, give these a try.
Hey everypawdy, it’s me, RaenaBelle. C’mon sissy, we’ve got lots to meow ‘bout today. Includin’ the title of our posty. What’s up with the Sort of? I’s know you’re mine’s BFF, and I’s yours…right? Anyways, the lawn crew’s gone, I’s purromise. (Raena licks her paw and takes a morning bath while sitting on the small perch at the door. Dezi walks into the living room and heads for her breakfast plate when suddenly she hears the blast of the leaf blower on the front porch. She stops in her tracks, flattens to the ground and looks around before running down the hall to the bedroom.) Sissy!!! Come Back!!!
You lied Raena!!! You know how mommy feels ‘bout lyin’!!!
I’s did not, sissy. I’s was just playin’ with ya’. You know that mommy won’t let the lawn crew hurt us.
You still lied Raena. You know when you meow purromise then you have to meow the truth. Mommy says a purromise means that you can guarantee everythin’ said or meowed is true. And that’s ‘zactly what the Sort of means. Hmmmpht BFF’s wouldn’t lie to each other.
Fine, sissy. Kittens, You sure woke up on the wrong side of the bed this meownin’. I’s sorry I’s tricked you. Now, the lawn crew really is gone and we’ve got stuffs we need to do. So, are you comin’ out or not?
Me’s comin’ Raena. What’s so ‘purrtant it just can’t wait?
We need to try these new noms we got from Chewy this month. You know how mommy’s always lookin’ fur a little somethin’ easy to supplement when we ask fur seconds or thirds, and she thought the 12 pack of 2.8oz pouches of Weruva BFF Variety pack just might work. The box contains 2 each of Chicken and Salmon, Chicken, Turkey and Salmon, Lamb and Tuna, Chicken and Tuna, Chicken and Shrimp and Beef and Chicken all in gravy fur $14.49. Kittens!!! That’s a lot of fish.
Dezi: Hmmmmm What is this?
Raena: Ya’ reckon it’s food sissy?
It sure is Raena. Let’s see what Chewy has to say ‘bout ‘em.
Key Benefits
Grain-free wet food variety pack with real meat including duck, salmon, lamb, tuna, chicken, turkey and more.
Packed with protein to support healthy, active muscles, and taurine for heart and vision health.
Provides a 100% complete and balanced diet for cats with essential blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Loaded with real broth to keep cats hydrated while supporting digestive and urinary health, and zero carrageenan and gluten.
Easy to use, single-portion BPA-free pouches can be served on their own or as delicious kibble toppers or mix-ins.
Seems they all contain tuna. Me thinks mommy needs to get her eyes checked, cuz she didn’t realize that till we got ‘em home. You know us cat bloggers have a purrivate group where we discuss all kinds of issues includin’ foods. Recently, there was a discussion ‘bout fish and whether or not it was actually good fur kitties or not. The discussion was quite heated and divided.
Beef and Chicken in gravy
That’s always a sign of a good debate, huh sissy?
Usually Raena. We weighed in our thoughts on the subject since we don’t actually like fish. Mommy’s never really fed any kitty fish. She says she purrfurs to feed foods that resemble the types of foods our wild cousins would eat. ‘Course, nopawdy’s sellin’ mouse in a can, so we eat things like rabbit, chicken, deer, etc.. She says very few cats in the wild, includin’ our larger cousins, actually fish. So, mommy decided we oughtta try out the beef and chicken recipe since beef and chicken were the furst 2 ingredients. She hoped it wouldn’t be over run with tuna. Me didn’t care fur the smell, and the “meaty” bits looked kind’a funny. It sure didn’t resemble any beef or chicken we’d ever seen. Me didn’t even wanna try the gravy, which there was more than purrlenty of.
Did you taste it yet Raena?
You’ve got that right sissy. There was oodles of gravy. I’s did give it a couple of licks, but it made mine’s mouth greasy. Mommy was actually laughin’ at me when she saw me flickin’ mine’s tongue out and lookin’ cross-eyed at it. Fanky fankfully, mommy had put down a plate of our regular noms. Once I’s furinally got that greasy taste outta mine’s mouth, I’s ate up mine’s whole dinner right then and there. Mommy was so purroud. She said that was the furst time in years she didn’t have to tell me to eat mine’s dinner.
Raena: Are you even gonna try it sissy?
Dezi: Nah, me’s good Raena. You go ahead.
Yeah Raena, me knows what ya’ mean. But, just cuz we didn’t like it doesn’t mean that lots of kitties out there would. We know several of our furiends that just luv it. Sis Lexi used to like some of the flavors. And, we’ll be passin’ the rest of these off to kitties who need them. And we can enjoy the box they came in. Chewy always has the bestest boxes. And their Customer Service is pawsum.
We received the Weruva BFF variety pack free of charge in exchange for our honest and unbiased opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. Neither Chewy or Weruva are responsible for the opinions expressed in this post unless otherwise stated. We only bring products we use or have tried and feel would be on interest to you, our readers and friends.
Yeah, not what I’s thought it was gonna be. Oh well, we’ll
make some other kitty very happy when we donate ’em.
And don’t furget the speedy furee shippin’ on all orders of $49.00 or more and speedy flat rate shippin’ on all others. And, you can set up an auto ship so you’ll never run out of your pets faves and save an extra 5% at the same time. Don’t worry, you can always skip, cancel or delay anytime. And, you can always add a little somethin’ somethin’ fur special occasions.
Or just cuz Raena. Ya’ don’t need a special occasion to celebrate your furry. We’re the special in all occasions. MOL
I’s totally agree sissy. To read other reviews of more great purroducts, you can click here. Sissy, let’s wrap this up and go and play.
Fanky fankfully, mine’s dinner is made with human grade meats 
Time fur a nap.
Service Cats U.S. 