Conference misery::feline

    
    Thanks so much for sharing that....it just so happens that one
    of the volunteers at the shelter last night questioned if anyone
    fed their cats Friskies because one of her cats was getting sick.
    I will share your knowledge with her and everyone else at our
    shelter and let them make their own decisions.
    
    Much appreciated...
    
    Sandy              

>    Thanks so much for sharing that....it just so happens that one
>    of the volunteers at the shelter last night questioned if anyone
>    fed their cats Friskies because one of her cats was getting sick.
>    I will share your knowledge with her and everyone else at our
>    shelter and let them make their own decisions.
    
if her cat is vomiting, have her take to the vet asap....a bowel
constriction can kill if undetected in time.. this is potentially
a lethal problem.

    thak you!  But this leads to a larger question.... how do you know what
    you are feeding your cats is actually good for them?  What are the safe
    practices of manufacturing cat food.  What does "natural" denote?
    
    Generally I feed a combination of canned foods but stick to one type of
    dry.  Any time I change the type of dry (Iams) the cats seem to change,
    ie. stool differences, coat differences etc.  Any comments?
    Karen

      Re .4
      I think that it would be good to substantiate any remarks about
    specific brands and brand quality. I happen to have seen much written
    evidence that totally refutes the purported information about Purina.  
    In fact, Purina has probably done TEN TIMES the research and
    nutritional studies on ALL types of animal food as any other company in
    the world has or ever will. 
      
       I totally STOPPED using Eukanuba and Iams about 3 years ago when it
    was discovered that they were continuing to use "Ethoxyquin" as a fat
    preservative in their foods... Ethoxyquin was developed by the chemical
    industry as a FUNGICIDE---I.E. a HIGHLY toxic fungus killer for plant
    application. It was discovered during chemical research that it also
    kept fats from becoming rancid, so the pet food industry, looking for a
    CHEAPER fat preservative, and NOT being governed by the same
    regulations as HUMAN food processors, began to use the stuff in animal
    food. A lot of fairly extensive evidence has linked Ethoxyquin with
    many deaths in the pet population since then, but many of the petfood
    companies have refused to stop using it in their foods. Purina HAS
    stopped using it in the majority of their products.
    
      The first thing that always comes to my justifiably cynical mind when
    a vet or some other pet-related individual knocks a particular brand or
    brands is to ask "And...what BRAND of food do YOU SELL??"  I've had a
    few individuals who sold Science Diet and/or Iams make derogatory
    statements about other commercial brands...but I'd really like to see
    some substantiation of those remarks and a chance for the company being
    downgraded to rebut the remarks. 
    
      The case with the Friskies is valid: this is a contamination issue,
    not a nutritional one, but this attack on Purina...a company with a
    long and costly history of animal care, is, in my opinion, totally
    unwarranted!
    
      John McD

With my moderator's hat firmly on.......please be careful when referring to
specific brands.  If you wish to offer your opinion, state that, however
we don't permit attacks on any given brand without substantiation.


And without my moderator's hat on---I also feed the so-called higher quality 
foods such as Science Diet and Iams.  However, a few months ago, I watched
a report on some news program like 20/20 or 60 Minutes on pet foods.  The
researchers from some veterinary school (Cornell, I think) stated that they
found little or no difference in the nutritional value of "supermarket" cat
food and the so-called "premium" foods.  And as for feeding only a fraction
of the amount--tell that to Honey!!!!  He's in to quantity!!!  It's like
feeding Dove Bars to a 2 year old....Sealtest tastes just as good!!

Of course, this is coming from a woman who pays $8 for a 4 lb. bag of cat food...

Mary

    I depend on Science Diet because Hills has seemed extremely responsive; 
    for example, they adjusted the taurine levels in their foods
    _immediately_ when (many brands of ) foods were found to be too low.
    I also figure that my vet, who is super, wouldn't carry it if it
    wasn't good.
    

	I'll preface my remarks about Friskies by saying that I often
	feed the canned version to my crew, and have never had any
	problems, but the dry food *seems* to be another story.

	We usually feed Science Diet or Iams light dry food.  Occasionally,
	I'd toss in a small box of Friskies dry for variety.  Twice, I've
	had a kidney emergency with C.C., and had been told by my vet to
	feed her a high-quality diet (including, but not limited to K.D.).

	I sort of always thought of this as part of a cure for her, and
	that when she was ok, I could go back to the other food.  Well,
	it's starting to look like the Friskies may be at least part of
	her problem as well.  My vet explained that all pet foods have to
	meet minimum requirements as to levels of certain nutrients.  In
	C.C.'s case, we have to watch her proteins.  He said that as long
	as they adhere to the correct percentage of protein, the type of
	proteins used isn't regulated.  Sorry if this sounds disconnected,
	but I'm trying to summarize :^}

	Some proteins are apparently easier for the body to process than
	others, and the vet feels that the premium foods contain a
	better quality protein.  While this probably won't have an effect
	on an average healthy cat, those on the edge like C.C. have to
	be fed a better quality diet.

	Sandy

    None of mine will eat any of the canned Friskies, not even the
    starving waif I took in.
    But, leave a bag of any of the dry Friskies unattended, and they 
    will even rip open the unopened bag to get at it....they prefer
    it over the specialty drys...
    
                 ????

  OK, so I deleted my note (.4), but just to set the record straight...

  My friend the vet does not sell ANY brand of food.  And therefore, I
  feel she has an unbiased opinion. 

  Re: .5 

  If you have data on any independent study done on the cat food I might
  beleive it.  I have a hard time swallowing research done by a company on 
  its own products.  Too much bias for me. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, 
  I usually think before I write.  Not today, though.
  BTW: I was really refering to the dry food - which I have had first
  hand experience with. 

  I have never heard about "Ethoxyquin", and am interested in hearing more
  if you know more about it.  I would also like to know what the companies 
  that have stopped using it are using in it's place.??

  Ultimately, I think the proof is in the pudding ie; my cats look great and
  seem to be quite happy -> although ultimately I would make my own organic
  cat food if I knew how.

  Cheers,

  Simone

    If I were the user I'd either go back to the store and get a refund
    thru them or mail the cases back to friskies.   UPS has pretty good
    rates for snail/bulk packages.
    
    I can only feed my cat high quality food.  There is a difference,
    she'll barf at lower quality (even some of the stuff the vets sell).

re: ethoxyquin

the law does not require any vendor to admit to adding any additive that
is NOT directly added at the step of the process that the manufacturer
is responsible for.  What this means is that the manufacturer of cat
food which buys meat and fat which contains ethoxyquin do NOT have to
admit that the finished food contains the preservative...and they don't.
Ethoxyquin is the best preservative, according to pet food vendors,
because it takes so little of it to prevent spoilage and toxin build-up
compared to other preservatives.  Virtually EVERY FOOD OUT THERE HAS
ETHOXYQUIN IN IT - it is added to the base ingredients for dog and
cat foods at the factories where the base ingredients are created...these
are then sold to the manufacturers of the cat and dog food you buy.  The
vendors do not ADD ethoxyquin - so they do not put it on the label.  If
you ask a representative of the food - they will deny the food contains
it...but it does.

   D-who-read-a-fascinating-article-about-pet-food-manufacturing-at-the-vets

      There was a MAJOR discussion of the Ethyoxiquin issue in CANINE, and
    I've read many articles on it. None of them, nor the T.V. special,
    corraborated the idea that "Ethoxyquin is in all pet foods". In fact
    the T.V. special that ran about a year ago--with graphic photos of dead
    Collies that was attributed tothis stuff--specifically stated that the
    US Government required that ALL fat preservatives be listed in the
    ingredients. If the manufacturers use Ethoxyquin--as some still do--it
    will be listed. Most often now though, you'll see "BHA & BHT" listed.
    The only difference here is sort of simple: Ethoxyquin has not and WILL
    not ever be approved for HUMAN consumption, but the more
    EXPENSIVE---read that "PROFITS TO THE MAKERS"--- such as BHA & BHT are
    and have been approved for human food for years.
    
      I have no issue with Purina...We feed "Meow Mix" dry, and it's a
    Purina product that does NOT contain ethoxyquin, and I also feed
    9-Lives and Figaro tuna & shrimp(which has REAL shrimps---little bitty
    ones, but real nevertheless).
    
      My dogs get Blue Seal...and I've spoken to those people too, and they
    told me they would rather have to raise the price than take the chance
    on this pesticide.
    
      JM

    You will have to excuse me as I am only working on my first few sips of
    coffee today!  I spoke to my vet about a year ago about this ethoxyquin
    stuff. I was told how bad it was by I believe Cin.  Anyway,  he gave me
    an article to read and told that what we donl't know is that even
    though the food manufacturer doesn't use or list ethoxyquin on the
    label, the supplier of the animals and fats may use it!  He also told
    me that I shouldn't worry about it.  Besides being a breeder, he also
    raises and shows cats.  I could look at this two ways: he really knows
    his stuff or: can afford to fix things and doesn't mind.  My own
    experiences with him have always been excellant (not necessarily cheap
    tho!). I will continue to feed the Iams as it never upsets their
    tummy's and they all look good.
    
    As an aside, I add to the canned food a product a called Pet-Tabs FA.
    It is an fatty acid substitute with vitamins and minerals.  I feed this
    as I feel it also helps with the "show"coats.  I haven't noticed ethoxy
    on it's label but it is probably there.
    Karen
    ps: it's the dry Iams I feed.

    My cats eat Mature - which is a Purina product and will turn their 
    noses up at any other dry food. Also, they will eat anything moist 
    from a can. They all have done well so far and I expect they will 
    continue to do so. In my household, it would be throwing money
    down the drain to purchase a dry product other than Mature, and as for
    moist - I generally purchase what is on sale as long as it is 
    a recognized brand. 
    
    When I had my horses at home, I gave them Purina products - and had 
    no problems. I respect Purina products as they conduct research on 
    nutrition and formulate their products around the findings. I haven't
    seen documentation proving one commercial brand (those found in grocery
    stores or feed store) significantly better than each other. I believe
    it is the individual cat's taste preference which influence the
    particular purchase. Or maybe it is the packaging. 
    
    By the way- I have a geriatric ward at home - old dog, old bird, old
    cats and an 18-yr old horse. So I guess Purina must be okay.
    
    Pat
    

      
      I really find it amazing that some folks have so much faith in
    peoplwe who are NOT in a position to know. The T.V. special was very
    thoroughly researched, and the way they described it, if a supplier to
    the food manufacturer uses the stuff, then it MUST be listed in the
    ingredients according to law!! Good grief...if suppliers' ingredients
    could simply be ignored, they could conceivabley ship a product that
    was 51% chicken and 49% manure and nobody would know the difference...
    
      By the way...a very close friend of mine who happens to work for the
    U.S.D.A. regulatory division confirmed that if manufacturers do NOT
    list the fat preservative used by the supplier of the fat, they are
    BREAKING THE LAW!! I think I'm purchasing from non-criminals. 
    It would make very little sense for Purina to list Ethoxyquin in SOME
    of their products and NOT list it in most of them..
    
      Also...Ask yourselves a few questions...
    
    **  If this stuff is so safe, why will the FDA and USDA NOT
    approve it for HUMAN consumption??? BOTH agencies have stated
    categorically that the stuff is a POISON and will NEVER be approved for
    human consumption, even though the chemical companies have tried to get
    it approved...
    
    ** If the fat suppliers are using it in ALL of the fats that they 
    send to the petfood manufacturers, they WHY would the manufacturers 
    list BHA/BHT??? There's no LAW that sez they have to use the human
    approved preservatives.
    
    ** WHY has such a ruckus been raised by people who are fairly certain
    that their animals have DIED from this stuff..
    
       I was born & raised on a farm...when I was a kid, DDT was considered
    a "SAFE" pesticide...if some of you have never heard of the terrible
    disasters that this stuff caused in the wildlife and environment of
    this country, check it out at your local library. I have handles
    fungicides of all types since I was a little kid, and let me assure
    you: FUNGICIDES are some of the NASTIEST POISONS known to mankind. ALL
    of them---100%---are fatal to MAN. That is the reason the USDA and FDA
    will not allow this stuff in HUMAN food. Also, fungicides are typically
    what would be considered CUMULATIVE POISONS...I.E.: In the amount that
    is put into some pet foods, a single serving would NOT harm most
    animals..and THAT is the 'safe' amount that they are talking about.
    What happens though, over a period of months or years as the stuff
    collects and builds up in the animal??? Does this stuff cause or
    contribute to the cancer/lung disease/liver failure that your dog or
    cat experiences at the 70% level of it's normal lifespan?? Does it
    reduce the quality of life of your animal??
    
      Folks, this is all I am going to enter about this stuff. It's BAD
    stuff, and even a Federal Government that isn't known for it's caring
    attitude and honesty has come out and said it's not fit for human
    consumption. If you want to believe a lot of people who seem to
    'believe' that it's O.K. when the preponderance of EVIDENCE sez it is
    NOT, and if you want to believe everything you read just because it's
    written and published, then so be it. Keep feeding it to your pets. I
    will NOT...because I am not willing to take the risk of harming mine..
    
      So...believe this stuff is "O.K." if you want...and believe that all
    fats have it in it...I do not, because I have a lot more faith in the
    evidence that I've researched than any I've seen elsewhere.. I'll keep
    checking the labels on the foods that I give my 15 animals, and will
    continue to believe that when a manufacturer such as Blue Seal says
    that they do NOT use it in their products, they do not use it.
    
    
       By the way..."9 Lives" catfood is made by Heinz....NOT Purina...
    
    John McD

re .10

I make Bumble Bea's food from one of several recipes in a book I
got at the healthfood store ( pitcairn's 'Guide to Natural Pet Care').
She'll only eat the one that uses liver. She has the cleanest ears
and best disposition of any cat I have 'had' (*I* think she's perfect).

I make up a three day batch at a time (all the blender will hold),
so it is not as much trouble as you might think. Also, I add plenty
of garlic (saw a discussion somewhere around here), and she rarely
scratches. Smells like the dickens but it's fit for human consumption.

I got Bumble Bea through the old feline file, so now that I have finally
broken the ice in this one maybe I'll brag about her in one of the other
notes.


                                               Susan

    John, sorry to get you so upset.  I was just trying to pass on
    information given to me.  Could you tell me some brands of foods that
    do not use ethoxy?  I have tried Lick your chops and it doesn't seem to
    agree with the devils except one but her coat appears a little driet
    than I would like.  The Purina Pro Plan is a definite no-no in our
    group. The boxes turn into a stinking quagmire by days end!  Bear in
    mind these guys will eat ANYTHING!  It is the output I am concerned
    with as well as healthy appearance of the animal itself. Thanks!
    Karen

    Karen, have you ever used Linatone?  I swear by the stuff!  When we got
    our two abused cats, they were mangy looking and their coats felt
    filthy whenever you touched them.  Within two weeks of adding a bit of
    Linatone on top of their canned food, there was a remarkable change. 
    Chubs had a slight flaking problem (dry skin) and this helped clear it
    in no time.  All of our cats coats are very slinky and shiny,
    especially Zelda's.  (she's black but she always looks like a new car
    right out of the showroom)

    I buy Linatone through Cherrybrook mail order for a few dollars a
    bottle.  In local pet shops it's about triple the price.  I realize you
    asked about food but perhaps giving your cats some kind of additive or
    supplement can give you the look you want?  I believe Linatone contains
    something essential to cats that you don't find in most foods but at
    the moment, the long weekend is on my mind!  :^)  I'd be glad to type
    in the ingredients next week if you are interested....

    Susan, what's the recipe Bumble Bee likes?   Thanks.
    

      Re .18
    
      Karen,
      I just get frustrated...the whole world seems to have stuff in it
    that will harm you or your pets, and it seems that when something comes
    up that even the USDA and FDA--which aren't really the smartest and
    most solicitous of organizations--have reservations about, it just
    doesn't make any ral sense to see people who otherwise seem to be smart
    to begin defending the stuff. 
    
      I feed my cats (and one dog who's a thief!!) Purina "Meow Mix" or 
    "Happy-Cat" for dry. I feed Heinz's "9-Lives" for canned food. I've
    QUIT "Figaro", even though I used to use it, because it DOES now
    contain Ethoxyquin. The Meow Mix lists BHA as the fat preservative. The
    canned people rarely use fat preservatives because of the sealed cans. 
    I was surprised to see Figaro list it....
    
      A GREAT diet supplement that is fairly inexpensive is Brewer's Yeast.
    It is available in powder or pills, and most all health food stores
    carry it. We mix it into our canned food and the trio scarf it up..
    
      JOhn Mc

    Thank you Karen for passing along the information. Ever since I read
    your note, I have been chopping up my cat's food into very fine bits
    to be sure there are no particles of foreign material. Sometimes it is
    hard to tell tho - but to be sure, I will be checking closely from 
    now on.
    
    Pat 

    John, I was talking to some of my friends this past weekend at a show. 
    They never buy food for cats, they make it themselves.  It is quite an
    procedure but their cats are always looking VERY good.  We talked about
    this subject and what seems to me to be a valid point was made.  As far
    as listing ingredients it is possible that things are added prior to be
    sold to the actual food manufacturer and definately NOT being listed. 
    We are not told what chemicals are added to the feed of the chickens we
    eat or beef for that matter.  I can't say if they are being dishonest
    or that it just isn't offered.  It carries over to all aspects of life
    unfortunately.  Other than making my own food and questioning that, I
    don't feel that I can fully feel safe or sure as to what the cats get.
    
    Cheryl, Yes I have tried Linatone but the Fe tabs seem to work better
    for me.
    Thanks all!
    Karen

       
      I think living in today's society and NOT becoming very cynical is
    sort of mindless... We ingest chemicals or additives in most all of the
    food we buy...and breathe pollutants of all sorts every time we take a
    breathe... The one common reason for his seems to be HUMAN GREED.
    Someone is AlWAYS trying to do something to make an extra buck and the
    hell with the consequences.
    
      You are right though..even making your own food for your animals is
    not 100% safe, because unless you raise yor own chickens, veggies &
    grains, and know exactly what went into them as they grew, you still
    have the potential of getting some chemicals that you will not be
    informed of. Chickens have gotten a lot of publicity recently because
    of the absolutely medieval conditions at the processing plants. Beef
    too has gotten some rather alarming press because of the antibiotics
    and additives in the feed given to them. I'm sure that Pork would see
    the same sort of critique if studied hard enuff. Even veggies and fruit
    purchased from supermarket---and yes, even farm stands---will test with
    levels of pesticide and herbicide residue. Fish is beginning to be the
    latest target of scrutiny for pollutants and heavy metals...some Great
    Lakes fish are filled with PCB's, mercury and other heavy metals.
    
      While I am not ready to surrender yet, we are faced with some very
    serious problems. The above is only what we as HUMANS are faced with,
    and dogs, cats and other pets are not even given the protection that we
    are.. I raise many of my own veggies in the summer, and my pups like
    fresh brocolli, beans, tomatoes, carrots and such. Carrots are a big
    hit, and if one of them gets a chance to steal a fresh sweetcorn cob,
    it's a real battle getting it away from them. I use NO chemicals except
    for a dusting of SEVIN on my potato(E?) plants to get the Colorado
    potato bugs...so my veggies are at least as pesticide free as possible.
    What air pollution does to them I'm not too concerned with.. However,
    I've been totally stymied with getting any of my cats to eat veggies..
    Stormy WILL occasionally give grapes to the dogs...she whacks them off
    the bunches and onto the floor where they can get them.
    
      I guess the best we CAN do is minimize damage by being aware and if
    something like the Ethoxyquin comes out, at least we can check labels
    to see what companies are adding it in the manufacturing processes. I
    have not seen any evidence that would indicate that any company has
    been caught NOT listing it if it is being use by them. I spoke with
    Heinz and was told that they do not purchase the fats for their
    "9-Lives" line from a different source than they purchase fats for
    human consumption, so their foods are, at least ethoxyquin free. It
    would make sense too...because by purchasing all from one source would
    give them much better purchasing power due to volume and lower the
    price they'd be paying. 
    
      John Mc

    I just finished reading all the ethoxyquin notes in Feline_V1, since my
    curiosity was piqued by these notes mentioning the chemical.  I am
    extremely concerned now.  The last note in Feline_V1 is two years old,
    but it seems the issue has not been resolved in the least.
    
    At lunch today, I checked my cat food, and to my dismay discovered that
    both Science Diet and Iams kitten foods contain ethoxyquin.  Both foods
    also listed animal fat within the first 5 ingredients with a note
    saying that the fat was preserved with BHA.  So now I'm really confused
    because I thought the ethoxyquin was used to preserve the fats in the
    catfood.  I think I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I will find a
    catfood that doesn't contain this chemical.  Does anyone know if
    Perform is still ethoxy-free?
    
    And, I just bought 8lbs of Science Diet Growth Formula to add to the
    4lbs of Iams I still had in the pantry!  It figures!
    
    Best,
    Michelle

>    At lunch today, I checked my cat food, and to my dismay discovered that
>    both Science Diet and Iams kitten foods contain ethoxyquin.  Both foods
>    also listed animal fat within the first 5 ingredients with a note
>    saying that the fat was preserved with BHA.  So now I'm really confused
>    because I thought the ethoxyquin was used to preserve the fats in the
>    catfood.  I think I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I will find a
>    catfood that doesn't contain this chemical.  Does anyone know if
>    Perform is still ethoxy-free?
    
Michelle,

ethoxyquin is used as a preservative for fats and meats and meals made
of bone or chicken parts or whatever.  It is a general purpose preservative.
Yes, there has been some bad press for it - and for other preservatives
as well.  I am of the mind that the preservatives are undoubtably better
for my pets than the toxins given off by bacteria in spoiled foods - some
of which can kill quite quickly.  I am also, after having spend some
time in the library and having spoken with my vet extensively on this
subject, somewhat ambivalent about ethoxyquin - they use so much less
of the chemical to get the same results that other chemicals deliver
that I am relieved - on the premise that less has got to be better...
and, I also have concern that negative reports exist.  However, as
a person with a family which suffers food allergies to soy products
(all except the oil), I know that generally harmless chemicals can
kill the wrong person.  I also know that if any chemical will kill
a dog, it will get a collie first - just because of the sensitive
nature of their systems.  In the end, I have to accept the health
of my animals as the real indicator...they are all radiantly healthy,
happy, active animals - so I continue to feed quality foods...and
some of them contain ethoxyquin.

re: feeding the cats homemade food - yes, it is possible ...but, with
the need for mineral balances and protein balances being so important,
particularly the need for taurine, I would not undertake it myself.

re: quality of the food supply in this country.  Virtually all involved
in production of food will admit that there are many more restrictions
on the quality of the ingedients used and how they are prepared for
your cat's food than for your own.  Your pets get food which must
have minimum levels of proteins, vitamins, and minerals...and the
foods are tested for levels of pesticides very carefully because it
doesn't take much to kill a small animal...and the food is checked
more often during production than our own.  The only problem I have
with pet food is that it is made to look good to US - not the cats
or dogs.  As one cat food manufacturer said, "the most perfect
food for a cat is minced, whole mouse - it is their natural prey
and that is how they eat in the wild.  The fur is processed
through as fiber, the rest of the mouse is perfectly balanced to
keep Tabby healthy and active..but, I don't think minced mouse
would sell to many cat owners".

    Hi....I gotta agree with Dian.  As concerned as I am about the safety
    of the foods my crew eat, I'm also concerned about nutrition and
    wholesomeness.
    
    I can remember a cat my grandmother had that was fed good ole Kalo cat
    food from the supermarket and she lived to 18 or 19 years old and was
    never sick.  And my pampered puss's get the most expensive food I can
    get and I still worry.
    
    I dunno......I guess I'm gonna stop worrying and just do the best I can
    do for them.
    
    Mary
    

      
     The reason that ethoxyquin got so much adverse publicity is really not
    "rocket science"....
    
     **Ethoxyquin was originally developed to kill fungus---a "fungicide"
    
     **Ethoxyquin was alleged to have killed numerous dogs in New Jersey 
       a few years ago.
    
     **Ethoxyquin has NOT and WILL NOT be approved by the FDA and USDA for
       HUMAN consumption and/or inclusion in human foods.
    
     **BHA, BHT and Citric Acid---the most commonly used fat preservatives 
       that you will see, are ALL approved for hman consumption and have 
       been for years.
    
       JM

    Bumble Bea's Favorite Liver Surprise (supposedly 1-day supply)
    
    2 eggs
    2 oz liver
    1 tbls chopped veggies (she likes carrot, tomato, or green pepper)
    3-4 capsules cod liver oil
    100 usp vitamin E
    3 tsps dry supplements (bone meal, brewer's yeast, and
                                                        something else ?)
    olive oil (I use it for cooking above instead of adding it in directly)
    1/3 C brown rice, cooked
    
    optional: garlic, alfalfa tablets, Vitamin C
    
    
    I cook it as if to make scrambled eggs. It is the only recipe in the
    book she will eat.
    
    Like I said it's fit for human consumption...so I can't figure out
    why my husband won't try it.
    
    
                                        Susan
    

    Egads!!!! the sh.. is everywhere!  I just received an order of Bene-bac
    gel which is supposed to be good for the intestinal tract during upsets
    or food changes etc.  They list ethoxyquin as the preservative!!!!
    Think maybe yogurt is better?!
    Karen

>>>    Think maybe yogurt is better?!

if your cat is sensitive to dairy products, you can be adding to the problem
by using yoghurt.  I know my cats have had spectacularly unsuccessful
bouts with it - I now use the drugs proferred by my vet.  Missy Hana just
doesn't do well on yoghurt - you cat MIGHT, but if already sick, this wouldn't
be the best time to try it if you don't feed it on a regular basis.