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Canned Cat Food:
Canned food is made by a process called retorting, which
is very similar to home canning. Typically, the base of
canned cat food is meat, which is shipped to the cat
food plant in refrigerated or frozen form.
A cat food manufacturer will grind the meat into very
small pieces. After grinding, the meat will be combined
with vitamins, minerals, perhaps some grains and other
dry ingredients. This mix of ingredients will then be
blended together by machine. During this blending
process, the mix will be heated to progressively
increasing temperatures. Turning up the heat gives the
food is gelatin-like texture and gives it a more
cat-friendly flavor. Once the food has been cooked, and
while it is still very hot, it moves on to a filler
machine, which puts it in cans. The filler machine not
only fills the cans, it seams lids on them. During this
canning process, steam is blown over the top of the cans
to maintain heat, so it vacuum seals to protect the food
from spoilage. The next step in the process is for the
filled and sealed cans to move on to a sterilizer where
they are heated to temperatures of 121° Celsius for at
least three minutes. This kills any harmful bacteria.
After the cooking process is completed, the cans are
allowed to cool, and then labels are applied.
Canned Cat Food Quick Facts:
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Very high
palatability and is quickly accepted by cats.
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Should be removed
one hour after serving.
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An opened can of
cat food that is covered and stored in the
refrigerator typically keeps for two days. However,
if the food in a can looks or smells funny before
that time, it should be discarded immediately.
Refrigerated food should be allowed to reach room
temperature before it is served. If the refrigerated
food is warmed in a microwave, it should be stirred
to distribute the heat before it is served to the
pet. Cats prefer food that is served close to their
own body temperature, which is normally 101°-102°F.
Dry Cat Food:
Dry foods are a dietary mainstay for many pet cats. The
most common way of making dried cat food is through the
extrusion process. This is the same process used to make
the cereal products many of us eat for breakfast. The
extrusion process utilizes a combination of pressure
cooking and grinding to convert wet food into a dry and
“puffed” finished product. Often, the food is sprayed
with fat and flavors as it dries.
Typically, dry cat food is made from grain, meat, and
fat, with vitamins and minerals added. The first step in
the manufacturing process is to grind these raw
materials down to a desired uniform size, which usually
means to the consistency of coarse flour. After
grinding, the raw materials are thoroughly mixed by a
blending machine. At this point, baked or pelleted cat
foods will go through the cooking process. Extruded cat
foods, however, a will be sent to an extruder. The
extrusion process begins by blending the dry mix with
liquids, then sending the dry-wet mix to a
pre-conditioner, where it is partially cooked. Then it
is on to the extruder, a barrel-like device that mixes
and cooks the food before forcing it through a die,
which cuts it into the desired shape.
At this point, the cut kibble is sent through a dryer to
remove moisture, and then it is allowed to cool. The
last step in the manufacturing process is enrobing, in
which fat and flavorings are applied to the kibble’s
exterior.
Raw Cat Food:
Raw meat can be a good source of protein and other
nutrients, but precautions must always be taken when
handling raw cat food, feeding it to pets, and disposing
of waste from pets that are on raw food diets. This is
for the safety of the owner and the cat. You must
exercise caution if you choose to feed raw food to your
pets. Although typically safe, raw food can contain
salmonella, toxoplasmosis and other agents of infectious
diseases that can sicken or even kill a pet. If you
choose to feed raw cat food to your pets you must be
sensitive to signs of spoilage and contamination, and
immediately and safely discard any “suspicious” food
without offering it to their pets. In these cases, you
should also contact PSP and the food manufacturer with
their concerns. Outdated food should never be fed to any
pet. You must also follow the manufacturer’s directions
carefully when storing raw cat food. Most manufacturers
have toll-free hotlines, and you should use these
if you have any questions or concerns. Care should be
taken when handling raw cat food, just as it should
always be taken when handling any raw animal matter,
including raw meat and fish destined for human
consumption. Always wash your hands thoroughly after
handling raw food. Counters, utensils and bowls should
be washed very thoroughly and hands should be washed
after handling these products. Counters, utensils, bowls
and hands should be dried with paper towels that are
disposed of carefully. Cats eating raw foods can
potentially shed harmful organisms into the environment,
where they can cause disease in people. Extra care
should be taken when disposing of waste from pets that
are fed raw diets. Waste should be disposed of safely
and securely, so it is not accessible to children or
pets. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling any
pet waste. Since the elderly, pregnant women and
chronically ill individuals are especially vulnerable to
salmonella, they should not handle raw food.
Indoor Cat Foods
Indoor cats tend to live longer, safer and more
comfortable lives than their outdoor counterparts.
However, they’re also more likely to become overweight,
and since they tend to groom themselves more, they’re at
greater risk of developing hairballs. Many companies
have addressed the needs of indoor cats by developing
special indoor cat food formulas.
As a rule, these cat foods are formulated with a low
level of fat and calories, as a mixture of grains is
used in place of some (but not all) of the meat in
regular adult formulas. Indoor formulas also tend to
have ingredients like carnitine, which helps in the
metabolism of fats. Extra antioxidants are also added to
the mix, as are Omega fatty acids, to promote skin and
coat health, which reduces the incidence of hairballs.
An indoor cat that is active and within the normal
weight range will not need a special indoor formula
food, but this is certainly a good choice in many cases.
A Matter Of Taste
Cats aren’t as finicky as popular myth will have us
believe, but they do have their definite likes and
dislikes – and they are much more selective than dogs.
Taste, texture and moisture are all very important to
cats in selecting food. As a rule they are much more
sensitive than dogs to bitter tasting foods, and they
prefer their food at body temperature, rather than cold.
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