For
many people, pets are like family; their birthdays are celebrated, they are
taken care of, given gifts and loved. Given the number of pets in Australian
homes, it is nothing but a surprise that the pet products and services industry
is booming. It is estimated that the industry accounts for $5.39 billion in
business every year.
A
survey conducted in 2010 revealed that Australians spent a whopping $1.8
billion on pet food, including cat food
and dog food. In the pet food industry, the options are vast: you can simply
step into a supermarket and shop for tinned food, biscuits and fresh meat
especially meant for pets. In short, your canines and felines are spoilt for
choices!
When
it comes to the felines, choosing the best cat
food brand can be tough — especially because the choices are too many.
There is an array of products that say they are the best fit for your pet,
right from the kittens and pups to the older ones.
Popular
pet food
In
the beginning of 2014, an animal nutritionist from Sydney — in collaboration
with a student of his — carried out a survey in which they asked pet owners about
what did they feed their pets and what was the reason behind the food that they
fed them.
Of
the 280 persons involved in the survey, it was found that only 9% pet owners
preferred to buy commercial pet food. Besides, 7% made the pet food themselves,
while most of the others— a whopping 67% to be precise — gave their pets dry
food.
Asked
about how did they go about choosing the cat
food brand, the responders in the survey said vitamins and minerals were
important, but they also took into account the cost and the brand before
finalising what they fed their cats.
In
a recent survey by an Australian news website, 110 people replied to a question
on what did they like to feed their cats and dogs. However, this time the
replies were different/ Of the 110 people who replied to the question, most
people said that they preferred commercial cat
food, while the others said they used a mixture of prepared and fresh meat.
Some of the responders also said that they their own food for the pets.
A
scientific officer and veterinarian at RSPCA-Australia said there was a
detailed guideline issued by the government for feeding cats and dogs. She said
it was vital that the message be kept simple: that only a high-quality
commercial diet that suits the health and age of the pet, and is in compliance
with the standards set by the government, is used for feeding pets.
When
it comes to cat food and cat food brand, it is perhaps also
necessary that you first consult a veterinary about what you can feed your
feline.
David
Neck, a veterinarian and member of Australian Veterinarians Association, echoed
this sentiment, saying that a pet clinic was the ideal place to start when it
comes to talking advice on feeding your feline. He said that all pets have separate
needs when it comes to nutrition, and that a cat or dog owner should always
have a relationship with the vet; a relationship that also involves taking
advice on a pet’s nutrition.
Are
you still in doubt about what cat food
brand to choose? Don’t worry! There are other places where you can look to.
When it comes to cat food, RSPCA and AVA, both, have a set of guidelines on
feeding pets, which you can follow and ensure that you pet gets the right
nutrition.
Experts
also are of the view cat owners should choose a cat food brand which has been shown as ‘complete and balanced’ by
the company; this, at least, implies that the cat food-maker has come up with a food that complies with the
minimum standards when it comes to government guidelines.
Author’s bio:
The
article talks about habits of owners when it comes to feeding their cats and
dogs; it also delves on how owners should go about in choosing the right pet
food. For more Information please visit here: http://gourmetdelight.com.au
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