Flowers in cat food ??

tammyp

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Ok, so I'm curious.  We all know grains and veges go into cat food as it is cheap and they can make easy profit.  We all know they are bad.  But we all know they are 'accepted' because it taps into the marketing health hype to humans (more veg in your diet etc), or satisfies the protein analysis requirements.

SO, I have now seen two canned cat foods that include FLOWERS.  I kid you not.  One had Marigolds.  Another had Dandelions.  Can anyone tell me why?? On any front - why the general public would think this is good, and why big pet food would want to put this in? (Even if it is a stupid reason!)
 

mani

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Probably trying to appeal to those who like 'natural foods' and don't get what cats need to eat.

Dandelion leaves and roots can be highly nutritious and beneficial.. to humans.

What food is it?
 
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tammyp

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Marigolds was purina kitten can (Australia)

Dandelion was a UK 'catz' (I think) can.

I would rather doubt humans would bother reading all the way through the ingredients, to find these flowers somewhere near the end, and then be attracted to it, but I really can't think of a more logical reason.  Maybe there was a big flower show, and all the dead flowers were free...???
 

mani

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I've been looking around and they're not uncommon in pet food.  They have certain nutrients;  I think the Marigolds are also sometimes used for colour, and with dandelions, it isn't the flowers but the rest of the plant. 
 

irinasak

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Catz Finefood has different flowers and fruits, something between 0.5% and 3%. For example, the veal pouches have 1% apricot, 1% pineapple, and the chicken & pheasant pouches have 0.5% dandelion. I have no idea why. My guess is that it has to do with the overall percentage of nutrients and maybe taste.
 
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tammyp

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Oh, hah hah!!  Watch out for the little (big pet food) pricks tho...
 

procat

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Marigolds was purina kitten can (Australia)

Dandelion was a UK 'catz' (I think) can.

I would rather doubt humans would bother reading all the way through the ingredients, to find these flowers somewhere near the end, and then be attracted to it, but I really can't think of a more logical reason.  Maybe there was a big flower show, and all the dead flowers were free...???
Orijen's web site claims that "Botanical inclusions", "Mimic the instinct to forage for grasses and weeds"

I have no doubt that a cat in the wild will much on some greens, but instinctively foraging for them?

Them's marketing words...
 
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tammyp

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Hmm, maybe I should plant some marigolds and some dandelions and see what happens...Kato does love to munch on grass...
 
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