Before I get worked up & on a rampage, does anyone know if this is true?
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Hello everyone,
One of the major cat food manufacturers which donates food to the
feral cat rescue groups, Natural Balance, has released a large
amount of recalled canned cat food to rescue groups for feral cat
consumption. Although the labels and lot codes on these cans are
listed by the FDA as recalled due to the melamine contamination,
Natural Balance is taking the stand that it is ok to feed the
recalled food to our feral cats. I feel that this is inhumane and
negligent of Natural Balance. These cats already suffer greatly by
living outdoors year round, some without shelter, without flea and
mite protection, or the benefit of veterinary care to help diagnose
and treat illness. Renal failure is a horrible death for these cats
to suffer needlessly. For Natural Balance to assume that it is ok
to feed the recalled food to our feral cats is wrong.
Please check the bar codes and lot numbers of your Natural Balance
canned and dry food products that have been donated to you for your
feral cats. Dispose of any food that is listed by the FDA due to
melamine contamination. If you are in doubt about the safety of the
Natural Balance food you are feeding, don't take the chance, and
dispose of it.
DO NOT FEED RECALLED PET FOOD TO YOUR FERAL CATS!
Also, check the expiration dates on the food you feed. Some of the
food being distributed by other companies is more than 3 months
expired and many lots over one year expired!! One recent lot
donated to us was from December, 2005!!! The idea that canned and
dry food "is still ok to feed to your ferals" is wrong! Expired
dry and canned cat food will go rancid (spoilage of fats in the
food), develope bacterial overgrowth, become moldy with fungus, or
develop worms and/or maggots that are not visible to the human eye.
Cats can develop significant gastrointestinal, nervous system,
kidney, and liver liver problems if they eat expired food. Kittens
may not thrive and begin to waste, and older cats can die.
DO NOT FEED EXPIRED CANNED OR DRY FOOD TO YOUR FERAL CATS!
The companies should be disposing of these foods, and not donating
it to rescue groups. These companies get to deduct the full cost of
these foods on their income tax, thereby recovering the financial
loss of the bad foods at our expense and at the health and lives of
our feral cats.
DO NOT ACCEPT RECALLED FOOD OR EXPIRED FOOD FROM PET FOOD
DISTRIBUTORS.
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF YOUR FERAL CATS. IF WE DON'T SPEAK FOR THEM,
NO ONE WILL.
--Patricia J. Meredith, MD, PhD
__._,_.___
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent
