Spencer - to answer part of your question - yes, things can go in pet food that would never be put in people food: The "byproducts" on the label can include such things as chicken beaks, organs other than normal food organs (ie, testacles instead of livers) and such. And alot of the "protein" is vegetable protein, like corn and rice. This is okay for dogs to a great extent, but cats are strict carnivores and require amino acids that their bodies cannot manufacture that are only found in animal proteins.

I know Purina is a good product, but never in my life have I been able to feed it to any of my cats. Just this last weekend I was hospitalized on an emergency basis. This left my son home alone without prior prepartation. He had to get cat food, but since he doesn't drive he had to walk to the Stop and Go, and all they had was Purina. I came home to damp paper towels all over the house, because each cat barfed multiple times. It wasn't just the sudden change of food, because even though their main diet is Iams I will occasionally, due to budget restraints, buy a store brand - usually Friskies. So they are used to occasional abrupt changes in their diet. This is the same experience I've had with every cat I've ever tried to feed Purina to. I know other people swear by it, but in my house it has always been a "it's Purina or nothing, and Purina is better than them starving" choice.

[ July 30, 2001: Message edited by: 4 feline house ]