Marné Ludick

Welcome Featured

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This post gives a quick overview of what readers can expect from this website and explains what the key focal points are.

Cat Food

The Cat Food Pyramid

This particular cat food pyramid looks at the diets available to the modern house cat. The bottom tier represents the worst choice for feline health and longevity. Healthfulness increases with every upward step, while the top of the pyramid is simply the best, healthiest diet we can offer our cats.

Cat Food

The Importance of Animal versus Plant Proteins for Cats

As true carnivores, cats are unable to effectively utilise plant proteins. They are less digestible, incomplete and unsuitable to felines. They are also less bioavailable and less nutritionally supportive. Cats need animal-based protein – and lots of it – to maintain health and optimal functioning.

Cat Food

What Would Cats Choose to Eat?

Most of us feed our cats ultra processed, man-made diets that are very far removed from their instinctual diet. Have you ever wondered what house cats would choose to eat if they could? A research study into food selection revealed that cats consistently chose nutrition over enjoyment.

Cat Food

What Should House Cats Eat? And Why?

The best diet for strict carnivores, such as house cats, is NOT the ultra processed, man-made, commercial food we feed them. Cats SHOULD eat carnivore appropriate, unprocessed foods, free from chemicals and synthetics. They should eat the food their biology evolved on – the way nature intended.

Interesting Topics

Can We Still Trust Science and Research?

This website depends heavily on research results and statistics to add value to content. Incorporating scientific information provides a depth of knowledge that goes beyond anecdotal reporting. But can we still trust science and research? The answer is yes, if you know how to look at information.

Cat Food

Why do Cats Chew on Poisonous Plants?

Cats love plants. Luscious gardens make the perfect hiding spot. Bored indoor cats constantly search around the home for interesting things to play with - plants included. Cats are drawn to plants and there are some surprising reasons why they will chew on even the deadliest of plants.

Interesting Topics

Why do Cats Eat Grass? And Should They?

Cats across different species – big, small, domestic and wild – actively seek out grass or greenery. There are many theories about grass eating – some more compelling than others. The bottom line is that eating bits of greenery fulfills a purpose to felines and is normal behaviour in healthy cats.

Cat Food

Why Does My Cat Eat Vegetables?

Cats are de-programmed from eating their natural, instinctual diet. They are instead programmed to eat a variety of carnivore inappropriate plant foods used in commercial diets. Cats are so misguided that they no longer recognise their ancestral food and simply eat what is familiar to them.

Cat Food

Can Cats Eat a Vegan Diet? - Pt. 1: The Dangers

NEVER feed house cats plant-based diets. As hyper carnivores, they need quality animal protein for health and longevity. Plant nutrients simply don’t cut it and cats are unable to utilise them effectively. When forced into vegan or vegetarian diets, cats can become seriously ill.

Cat Food

Can Cats Eat a Vegan Diet? - Pt. 2: The Ethics

Cats Should NEVER be forced to eat plant-based diets. Not only are they harmful to the health of cats, but there are many ethical implications. Why? Because vegan diets for cats perpetuate other forms of animal cruelty.

Cat Food

The Dietary Change Every Household Should Make Today

Not everyone can feed cats a biologically appropriate diet. However, there is one easy change every household should make that will benefit the health of cats. Not feeding dry food or even limiting its use can spare cats the misery of kidney and urinary system diseases. Switching to wet food is key.

Cat Food

Why is Cat Food so High in Carbohydrates?

Despite cats being strict carnivores, most cat foods are very high in carbohydrates. Why so? Carbohydrates are cheap, widely available and filling. They are important for food texture and processing. Carbohydrates ensure a wide profit margin, but in business, the health of cats is a low priority.

Cat Food

Why is the Right Diet so Important?

The modern house cat’s diet is very far removed from its instinctual diet. They eat ultra processed foods to the exclusion of all other food. It is important to improve the cat’s diet to avoid diet related life-style diseases, renal problems and an overall reduction in longevity and well-being.

Cat Food

Untruths We Tell Ourselves About Cat Food

To willingly continue to buy into the cat food industry, we tell ourselves certain things. These beliefs become ingrained, we behave accordingly and form habits. We continue to buy cat food without even thinking about it.

Cat Food

Why do Cats Love Commercial Foods so Much?

Cats are naturally fussy, but can become obsessed with cat food. Some scarf it down while others forage all day. But looks are deceiving. Every trick in the book is used to entice cats into eating ultra processed, highly unnatural food. Addiction to this inappropriate food takes care of the rest.

Cat Food

Is Cat Food Best for Cats?

Commercial cat foods are incredibly popular globally because of their convenience. But most of these foods are really just fast food for cats – unnatural, man-made and ultra processed. Long term use of these foods mostly come with a steep price - the breakdown of good health.

Ancestry

The Cat’s Unique Physiological Adaptations to Carnivory

In addition to genetic, behavioural and anatomic adaptations, house cats also show around 14 physiological adaptations as obligate carnivores. When compared with the physiology of their closest wild progenitors, it becomes clear that domestic cats have retained all of their carnivore mechanisms.

Ancestry

Where's the Proof that House Cats are Strict Carnivores?

House cats are classified as obligate or hyper carnivores, a group of strict meat eaters. Millennia of domestication did not erase a single one of their carnivore characteristics. Clear proof of their status as hyper carnivores remain locked up in their genes, physiology, anatomy and behaviour.

Ancestry

Meet the Wild Ancestors of the House Cat

House cats are a subspecies of Felis silvestris – comprising around 5 subspecies of wildcat. Their closest progenitors are likely the African/Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the southern African wildcat (Felis silvestris cafra) and the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris).

Ancestry

Are House Cats Still Carnivores?

House cats belong to the order Carnivora: Felidae – a group of strict meat eaters. After roughly 10 000 years of domestication, the common house cat still shares close genetic links to its wild Middle Eastern ancestors. Plus they have retained their carnivore traits and hunting equipment!

eBooks

Why is Commercial Cat Food so Bad? Part 1 - The Problems with Cat Food

This three part in-depth discussion takes a look at commercial cat food and what makes it so bad for cats. This part looks at the problems with the food itself.