You call that advice?

addiebee · Jan 25, 2010

OMG - I had to share this story with you guys. I was in this discount pet store ... they also sell Nature's Variety frozen raw . Was talking to one of the cashiers about it. She said to me - these are good for cats because they are low protein. Cats do better on low protein.

I started questioning her about it. Oh, don't you mean HIGH protein? Or if they have kidney problems, etc. No - she said - low protein, all cats.
OK - it was all I could do to hold my tongue. Here is this stupid woman dispensing food advice that is TOTALLY wrong unless a cat needs a uretic or other special diet... as if her words were gospel.

And she was recommending the frozen raw is is PROTEIN RICH!!!

All cats? I wanted to say, oh so that's why cats are considerd obligatory carnivores, which means they survive mostly on meat/fat/bone/organs, etc. with a carbohydrate load of about 3 percent. I always thought meat was protein. I knew I would be wasting my breath, that I would just be ticking her off.

I thought - what about all the people she had possibly misdirected.

kailie · Jan 25, 2010

Oh my...

You're a stronger person than I. I'm not so sure that I would have been able to hold my tounge like you.

strange_wings · Jan 25, 2010

Unless it involves someone getting a product down or from the back, I never ask for any sort of help or advice. For the very reason you encountered.

I'd never ask for pet advice at a pet store to begin with, usually I'd rather yell at someone for all the terrible things they're doing to the animals they have so I keep my mouth shut.

addiebee · Jan 25, 2010

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Unless it involves someone getting a product down or from the back, I never ask for any sort of help or advice. For the very reason you encountered.

I'd never ask for pet advice at a pet store to begin with, usually I'd rather yell at someone for all the terrible things they're doing to the animals they have so I keep my mouth shut.

Oh I wasn't ASKING for advice... she offered it up free of charge!

sharky · Jan 25, 2010

likely she is one who has read it and does not understand dry matter vs with water

koobe · Jan 25, 2010

At least she recommended raw. It will be even worse if she is actually recommending dry.

ldg · Jan 25, 2010

That's an instance where I would have asked to speak to a manager. I don't like getting people in trouble.... but that's just not OK!

addiebee · Jan 25, 2010

What was confusing to me is that she was saying the raw was good - but for the absolutely WRONG reason. Somebody must have told her something... and she just got it wrong in her head and has been repeating it forever w/o really understanding what she was saying and why.

Naw - re:complain to management. Most people who go in for food KNOW what they want. This is a discount place ... I get FRESH TOTW dry for $18.99 for 15 lbs... five to7 bucks cheaper than any place else in town. I go in - get what I need - and leave. They also have wet food at really good prices...and litter. Again - Dr. Elsey's precious cat 2-6 bucks cheaper a bag.

I drive by this place once a week when I take my boyfriend home (visually impaired.)

I just had to share this story b/c is was so weird...

sweetpea24 · Jan 26, 2010

Originally Posted by AddieBee

OMG - I had to share this story with you guys. I was in this discount pet store ... they also sell Nature's Variety frozen raw . Was talking to one of the cashiers about it. She said to me - these are good for cats because they are low protein. Cats do better on low protein.

I started questioning her about it. Oh, don't you mean HIGH protein? Or if they have kidney problems, etc. No - she said - low protein, all cats.
OK - it was all I could do to hold my tongue. Here is this stupid woman dispensing food advice that is TOTALLY wrong unless a cat needs a uretic or other special diet... as if her words were gospel.

And she was recommending the frozen raw is is PROTEIN RICH!!!

All cats? I wanted to say, oh so that's why cats are considerd obligatory carnivores, which means they survive mostly on meat/fat/bone/organs, etc. with a carbohydrate load of about 3 percent. I always thought meat was protein. I knew I would be wasting my breath, that I would just be ticking her off.

I thought - what about all the people she had possibly misdirected.

I would have corrected her...waste of breath or not, she should be informed of her error so that she doesn't misdirect anyone. Maybe show her the plethora of internet and magazine articles emphasizing the importance of protein in a cat's diet!!! I can understand your frustration!

strange_wings · Jan 27, 2010

^It's really not worth it. You'll spend all your free time trying to win arguments in life if you do that every single time someone says something incorrect.

Maybe you just need to work on looking less sociable?

I can cut those attempts off pretty quickly, but than I don't look like an approachable person because I hate shopping and hate people bugging me while doing such an unpleasant task even more. Flat "no"s or "eh/meh" kills small talk.

bellaandme · Jan 27, 2010

Thank goodness you know better. It would be frustrating to know this clerk is freely giving out WRONG info to people. That could be deadly news to a new cat owner; trying to raise a healthy cat on low protein? Yes, you have to pick and chose your battles in this life. You can't argue with everyone BUT you know that the info is wrong and I think, as a true cat lover that you are, that maybe you should pick up the phone and call the place. You wouldn't have to get anyone in trouble and of course you would be tactful about it. This is just what I would do in this case. I guess it would depend on how strongly you felt about it. I hope this employee doesn't have any cats.

persi & alley · Jan 27, 2010

Originally Posted by AddieBee

OMG - I had to share this story with you guys. I was in this discount pet store ... they also sell Nature's Variety frozen raw . Was talking to one of the cashiers about it. She said to me - these are good for cats because they are low protein. Cats do better on low protein.

I started questioning her about it. Oh, don't you mean HIGH protein? Or if they have kidney problems, etc. No - she said - low protein, all cats.
OK - it was all I could do to hold my tongue. Here is this stupid woman dispensing food advice that is TOTALLY wrong unless a cat needs a uretic or other special diet... as if her words were gospel.

And she was recommending the frozen raw is is PROTEIN RICH!!!

All cats? I wanted to say, oh so that's why cats are considerd obligatory carnivores, which means they survive mostly on meat/fat/bone/organs, etc. with a carbohydrate load of about 3 percent. I always thought meat was protein. I knew I would be wasting my breath, that I would just be ticking her off.

I thought - what about all the people she had possibly misdirected.

that has never slapped a woman but maybey if I had just come from a pub things might have been different.

howtoholdacat · Jan 27, 2010

This reminds me of the old saying, "You get what you pay for." In this case though, it's what the manager pays for in this girl's salary. If you want quality advice you need a quality source. Addie I know you weren't asking either way so that wasn't for you! Just an observation!

mrblanche · Jan 27, 2010

Ladies (especially), you should have sympathy for me. When I go into a car showroom or a repair shop, it's not unusual for me to get advice/help about mechanical things that are just as bad as this advice was in a pet shop.

Just can't get good help any more!

jordan s. · Jan 27, 2010

Originally Posted by AddieBee

OMG - I had to share this story with you guys. I was in this discount pet store ... they also sell Nature's Variety frozen raw . Was talking to one of the cashiers about it. She said to me - these are good for cats because they are low protein. Cats do better on low protein.

I started questioning her about it. Oh, don't you mean HIGH protein? Or if they have kidney problems, etc. No - she said - low protein, all cats.
OK - it was all I could do to hold my tongue. Here is this stupid woman dispensing food advice that is TOTALLY wrong unless a cat needs a uretic or other special diet... as if her words were gospel.

And she was recommending the frozen raw is is PROTEIN RICH!!!

All cats? I wanted to say, oh so that's why cats are considerd obligatory carnivores, which means they survive mostly on meat/fat/bone/organs, etc. with a carbohydrate load of about 3 percent. I always thought meat was protein. I knew I would be wasting my breath, that I would just be ticking her off.

I thought - what about all the people she had possibly misdirected.

it's low protein as fed but not on a dry matter basis. On a dry matter basis raw sometimes has up to 70% protein.

addiebee · Jan 28, 2010

Originally Posted by Jordan S.

it's low protein as fed but not on a dry matter basis. On a dry matter basis raw sometimes has up to 70% protein.

But why try to tout it to me that way when cats NEED lots of protein. Like I said a little later in this thread.. someone told her some info and she didn't really understand what she was told and is running around repeating it .... probably out of context.

tweetykiss · Feb 2, 2010

I found out one thing shopping at Pet stores and grocery stores where they sell pet food and I am not trying to stereotype since all employees are not like that. They don't know and they give bad advice. I would ask them would they give them to their own cat if they ever had one.

cococat · Feb 4, 2010

Originally Posted by AddieBee

OMG - I had to share this story with you guys. I was in this discount pet store ... they also sell Nature's Variety frozen raw . Was talking to one of the cashiers about it. She said to me - these are good for cats because they are low protein. Cats do better on low protein.

I started questioning her about it. Oh, don't you mean HIGH protein? Or if they have kidney problems, etc. No - she said - low protein, all cats.
OK - it was all I could do to hold my tongue. Here is this stupid woman dispensing food advice that is TOTALLY wrong unless a cat needs a uretic or other special diet... as if her words were gospel.

And she was recommending the frozen raw is is PROTEIN RICH!!!

All cats? I wanted to say, oh so that's why cats are considerd obligatory carnivores, which means they survive mostly on meat/fat/bone/organs, etc. with a carbohydrate load of about 3 percent. I always thought meat was protein. I knew I would be wasting my breath, that I would just be ticking her off.

I thought - what about all the people she had possibly misdirected.

You should have told her, in a nice way, the facts of the food. Make her think a little. Go back in there

ut0pia · Feb 4, 2010

I would asked to speak to a manager also. It would be pointless to argue with her, as she clearly thinks she knows what she's talking about, but at least the manager may talk to her about giving unsolicitated advice when she isn't qualified to.

I experienced a similar reaction recently when I found out on a raw food (for humans) forum that some people are feeding their cats a vegan diet

There is even a company that makes vegan cat food. Their slogan is "cruelty free alternatives for cats and dogs" ..I can't even begin to explain how I felt when I read that, I wanted to just yell and scream at their ignorance.

You call that advice?

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