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From: ericksen@unc.UUCP (Jim Ericksen)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Cat Food
Message-ID: <1111@unc.unc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 15-Mar-86 09:14:35 EST
Article-I.D.: unc.1111
Posted: Sat Mar 15 09:14:35 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Mar-86 03:27:45 EST
References: <343@hropus.UUCP>
Reply-To: ericksen@unc.UUCP (Jim Ericksen)
Organization: somewhere in Chapel Hill, NC
Lines: 26
Keywords: ash, magnesium
Summary: 

.
	High-ash cat foods increase the possibility of a cat's developing
cystitis (urinary tract infection), also known as Feline Urological Syndrome.
This can produce a blockage which is painful in female cats and often fatal
in males.  There are several brands of low-ash dried cat food which can be
bought from pet stores, veteranarians, and even health-food stores:

	Hill's CD Dry
	Hill's Science Diet
	Cornucopia Super-stars
	Iams Cat Food

	Although these brands are very expensive compared to grocery-store
cat food, i have found that my cats eat only about half as much of the pricey
stuff (presumably it must be more nutritious) than Friskies etc.  Also, CD Dry
(and i believe Iams) are acidified with L-methionine which helps in preventing
crystallization in the urinary tract.

	I'm not sure about the ash content of canned foods.  I do avoid
feeding my cats anything containing fish, as the high magnesium level in
fish will also aggravate cystitis.  (Shellfish is ok for some reason.)

- Jim (and Pepper and Cinnamon)
-- 
Jim Ericksen
UNC Chapel Hill