Archive for the ‘Cat Health’ Category

Coal-fired power plants produce more than 100 million tons of the toxic-waste byproduct sulfur dioxide, the stuff that causes acid rain.

Called FGD gypsum, this synthetic powder is produced when coal plant “scrubbers”  remove sulfur dioxide from plant emissions.     

Last year, a coal ash pond just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, spilled and flooded about 300 acres of land with ash, killing many fish in the area. The spill damaged many homes as well, and cleanup costs are expected to be upwards of $1 billion. This catastrophe has prompted the EPA to draft regulations on how to handle toxic coal waste safely.  Guess what they came up with?

In 2001, the USDA together with the EPA began to promote FGD gypsum use in agriculture. Since that time, the amount of coal ash used by farmers on their fields has tripled. According to the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), nearly 280,000 tons of the byproduct was spread on fields last year.

FGD gypsum contains toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, but according to the EPA, “the mercury contained in FGD gypsum does not affect plants and runoff into water supplies at significant levels.”  Guess they never heard of PHYTOREMEDIATION, a technology which uses plants to absorb heavy metals from the soil.

If the waste from coal plants is toxic and must be dealt with in a manner that keeps it contained, I’m just wondering why the EPA would promote the same waste for use on FOOD crops.  Perhaps it’s just more cost-effective to sell toxic waste to farmers than to stop producing it in the first place.

Food that’s USDA-certified organic cannot be grown with coal ash.  I’m sticking with organic for my family, and that includes my cats.


Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Patties 6 lbs.

As we all know, there has been quite a bit of controversy about BPA in plastics and can linings. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen petrochemical (synthesized from oil) used to harden polycarbonate plastics  and is used in can linings.

The ester bonds that link the BPA monomers together are not very stable. Over time, these monomers break down, which releases BPA into whatever is surrounding it, such as food and water. 

Over 7 billion pounds of BPA was produced in 2007. That’s a lot of poison, from a lot of petro.

Just a very short overview of the dangers of BPA:

Veterinary researchers have found a link between BPA in cat food cans and hyperthyroidism in cats.

Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body’s own hormones.

A 2008 review has concluded that obesity may be increased as a function of BPA exposure.

A 2008 study by the Yale School of Medicine demonstrated that adverse neurological effects occur in non-human primates regularly exposed to bisphenol A at levels equal to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum safe dose of 50 µg/kg/day.This research found a connection between BPA and interference with brain cell connections vital to memory, learning and mood.

In vitro studies have suggested that BPA can promote the growth of neuroblastoma (cancer) cells.

It is fairly obvious that BPA, as well as any petrochemical, is not terribly healthy for your cat, you, or the Earth.  You can read some really great articles on my other blog, creating a better world.

Just for your information, EWG reports that the three human foods showing the highest levels of BPA is canned chicken soup, canned ravioli, and, most disturbingly, infant formula.

Of the more than 100 independently funded experiments on BPA, about 90% have found evidence of adverse health effects. On the other hand, every single industry funded study ever conducted  (14 in all)  has found no such effects.

My opinion is that we should avoid ALL synthetic chemicals, as much as possible.  Yes, it’s difficult considering we produce BILLIONS of pounds of these chemicals annually, they poison everything they come into contact with, and they NEVER bio-degrade or photo-degrade.  A good, but sobering book to read is:
Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story.
Basically, it clearly explains how we are killing ourselves and destroying our Earth with synthetic chemicals.

You can also read an article from Truth About Pet Food to try to figure out if the brand of canned food you get has BPA. Of course, if you feed you cat it’s natural diet of fresh, raw foods, BPA is not an issue!

Since the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1988, sewage treatment plants are not allowed to dump sewage sludge into the ocean.  This is because sewage sludge contains all kinds of pollutants:

Synthetic chemicals, more than 500 found including chemicals from medicines, steroids, flame retardants and detergents,

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury and radioactive material,

Bacteria and fungi, including 18 human viruses (including Hepatitis A, Polio), 19 different parasites, and 31 different types of bacteria,

Pharmaceuticals, of 72 pharmaceuticals, three (i.e., cyprofloxacin, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban) were found in 84 sludge samples.

Industrial waste such as arsenic, lead, mercury and radioactive material.

Since sewage sludge is too toxic to put in the ocean, the EPA has decided that it would be great to use it as fertilizer. Sludge is now called “biosolids,” and is defined as the nutrient-rich organic byproduct of the nation’s wastewater treatment process.   

It is now used on millions of acres of farmland in the US, or, if you like to produce toxic veggies you can spread it on your home garden, just look for the brand names Milorganite, Nu-Earth, Nitrohumus, and Baystate Organic.

Using sewage sludge, by any name, is expressly prohibited by the USDA’s organics standards.  Here are a few other resources for those who are interested:

Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies And the Public Relations Industry
John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
Common Courage Press

Sued and Censored
Michael Moore and TV Nation on Trial for Libel
Texas Observer; March 22, 1996

International Joint Commission
Draft Lake Michigan Management Plan for Toxic Pollutants, Chapter 4

Environmental Working Group
Dishonorable Discharge: Toxic Pollution of America’s Waters

Agency for toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Toxicology Profiles
U.S. Public Health Service

Health effects of heavy metals

I’ll go with the organic food, and organic cat food for my best furry friends!

Most of us think nothing of giving our cats a nice fresh bowl of cold tap water, but that may not be such a good idea, for either you or your cat.

Many pharmaceutical and personal care products are entering rivers from sewage treatment plants or leaching into groundwater from septic systems.

Antibiotics, painkillers, sunscreen, hormones, drugs and much more are routinely found in U.S. waters. In some parts of our nation, male fish are growing female parts because they’re literally swimming in hormones.

Tests have shown that American drinking water is contaminated with perchlorate – the chemical used to make rocket fuel, and pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water of 51 million U.S. homes. Perchlorate can interrupt the production of thyroid hormones, and lead to hypothyroidism.

Tests on U.S. drinking water routinely find the residue of legal and illegal drugs, poisons, and synthetic chemicals.

Heavy metals are also seeping into our water. These are inorganic chemical elements with relatively high density, such as mercury, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, nickel and lead.

Did you know that if you drink chlorinated water while pregnant, it can increase your child’s risk of heart problems, cleft palate or major brain defects?

Independent studies in such journals as Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; Environmental Health Perspectives; American Journal of Public Health; and Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, as well as reports published by the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that millions of Americans become sick each year from drinking contaminated water, with maladies from upset stomachs to cancer and birth defects.

One recent study showed that 62 million Americans drink substandard water.  Many of the chemicals, drugs and toxins are unregulated, (meaning nobody checks to see if they’re in your water supply) so millions of people drink dangerous water that actually still meets U.S. government standards.

Water bottled in plastic is not really safer, and some has been proven to be just plain tap water anyway.  Reverse osmosis filtering systems are the best bet, and a less expensive option is a high quality water filter.

According to Will Falconer, DVM, the diseases that are quite common in cats now were virtually unknown in the late 70’s.

Cats didn’t have thyroid problems, and hyperthyroidism was not in the books or the exam rooms.

Chronic diseases such as heartworm (a dog disease originally), asthma, kidney failure, inflammatory bowel disease, dental calculus and decay, heart disease, and cancer are fairly commonplace now in the feline population.

Wild cats like the lynx and bobcat are not experiencing these chronic degenerative diseases. Wolves don’t die of heartworm disease or have dirty teeth.

We are actually causing these chronic diseases to become more prevalent by administering annual vaccines, feeding toxic food, and using topical flea poisons that warn us not to get them on our skin. You can read the full story by clicking on the following link:

The Cats are Talking… About Chronic Disease

Avocado: All parts of the avocado contain a toxin known as persin. It causes gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death. Cats may be attracted to the oily texture, but should not be fed avocado.

Tuna, all tuna contains mercury which accumulates in the body until it reaches a toxic level. It also can cause nutrient deficiencies.  The BPA which lines tuna cans is an estrogen-disruptor and can play havoc with hormones, including yours.

Grapes and raisins, which can sometimes cause kidney failure in very low amounts.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylxanthines; these can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death (the more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is for your pets)

Onions and members of the onion family, such as leeks and chives; these can cause damage to red blood cells that could result in anemia in both dogs and cats.

Garlic, which is metabolized into a different metabolite than onions, is not toxic to pets. A small amount of fresh garlic fed to pets daily actually has some great health benefits, including killing parasites and repelling fleas.

Macadamia nuts may cause problems including weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and hyperthermia.

Rising bread dough can be life-threatening – The bread dough itself is not toxic but the animal’s body heat can cause the dough to rise in the stomach, doubling or tripling in size and leading to impaction. The dough can also produce ethanol, which causes animals to stumble and become disoriented, lethargic and depressed.

Processed Milk, which has had all the vital nutrients destroyed. Pasteurized milk lacks enzymes and “good” bacteria and binds the calcium so that’s it’s unusable.  Homogenized milk has been molecularly changed so that it no longer resembles food and becomes a useless poison, causing allergies and other health problems.  See RAW MILK FACTS

Xylitol, a sugar substitute common in sugar-free chewing gum, can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia and liver damage in dogs; if your dog has ingested gum, bring your dog to the emergency vet immediately!

If your cat is having surgery, including nuetering or spaying, make sure the veterinarian is aware of the recall of Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection, USP CIII 100mg/mL in 10mL vials.  Veterinarians who have this product, made by Teva Animal Health, Inc, are instructed to cease using the product immediately and return it to their distributor.

This latest recall stems from the reported death of five cats, inconclusively linked to the drug’s use. But troubles within Teva Animal Health surfaced last July, when the FDA shut down the company via a permanent injunction and filed a lawsuit, alleging that regulatory inspectors had uncovered adulterated animal drugs at Teva’s main facilities in St. Joseph, Mo.  Click here for the full article.

Apparently a cat in Iowa came down with the H1N1 virus.  In general, cats are not considered susceptible to human flu viruses, but this cat got H1N1 flu from his owners.

On Oct. 27, the cat became sick. The owners called friends who are veterinary researchers at Iowa State University in Ames. The researchers brought in the cat to be studied, and it tested positive for H1N1. It has since recovered and is back home.

For anyone who is concerned about their cat getting the flu, the best defense is a strong immune system.  This has been seen time after time in clinical research, yet it is routinely ignored.  Researchers will inject animals with a virus or some disease-causing substance, and some animals will get sick and some will stay healthy.  The healthy animals are ignored, the sick ones will be studied to learn how various drugs or chemicals affect the illness and suppress symptoms.  The drug industry is a billion dollar business.  It’s simply not profitable to suggest maintaining a strong immune system to avoid illness.

There is a reason why there are untold trillions of bacteria and viruses everywhere: to keep the immune system working properly.  Unfortunately, our cats and other pets, as well as us, have immune systems that are so overburdened from a toxic stew of synthetic chemicals in almost everything we touch, breathe, and eat that they no longer work so well.  You can keep your cat’s immune system strong by feeding a wholesome diet of raw meats from grass-fed animals, supplying filtered water, and eliminating as much as possible synthetic chemicals in food and the environment.

How can you stay healthy? Get rid of the poisons!  Instead of supporting pollution and disease, spend your money on safe organic foods, cleaners, cosmetics and other items.  Eat a lot of RAW unprocessed foods.  Get plenty of sunshine (or vitamin D if that’s not possible).  Drink the purest water possible, filtered is good.  Take a probiotic (there are probiotics for cats too), eat meat only from grass-fed, humanely-treated animals.  Smile, laugh, love, stay positive, get enough sleep, have a pet (of course a cat is excellent…) and believe in your body’s ability to stay strong and healthy.

Organic Pet Superfood Super Immunity Powder for Dogs, canines, felines, and Cats

First of all, I am NOT a fan of Dr. Pottenger, who apparently had no qualms about using cats in experimentation and watching them die. However, his studies on cat nutrition are quite valuable.

Back in the 1930’s, there were no chemical procedures to measure the strength of adrenal extract. So, scientists used cats. Cats die without their adrenal glands. So, the amount of extract the cats needed to keep them alive allowed the manufacturers to calibrate the strength of their product. 

Dr. Pottenger noticed that the laboratory cats showed a decrease in their reproductive capacity and many of the kittens born in the laboratory had skeletal deformities and organ malfunctions, despite the fact that he was feeding them a relatively nutritious diet of raw milk, cod liver oil and cooked meat scraps, which included liver, tripe, sweetbreads, brains, heart and muscle.

He received so many donated cats that he was having a hard time keeping up with the food supply, so he ordered raw meat scraps from a local meat packing plant, including the viscera, muscle and bone.  Being a scientist, he separated the cats so that the ones being fed the all raw diet could be studied.

Within a few months, the cats fed the raw meat appeared healthier, their kittens more vigorous, and they had a higher survival rate after their operations.   The contrast between the two sets of cats was so startling,  Dr. Pottenger decided to perform a controlled experiment to  scientifically prove his new hypothesis that cats fed a raw diet are healthier than cats fed a processed cooked meat diet.

The experiment included 900 cats over four generations and was well documented by Dr. Pottenger.

All four generations of the raw meat and raw milk groups remained healthy throughout their normal lifespans!

This is important to note: cats eating their true diet of raw meats not only had no illness, they thrived generation after generation!  On the other hand:

The first generation of all three processed food groups developed diseases and illnesses near the end of their lives.

The second generation of all three processed food groups developed diseases and illnesses in the middle of their lives.

The third generation of all three processed food groups developed diseases and illnesses in the beginning of their lives and many died before six months of age.

There was no fourth generation in any of the three processed food groups.

You might want to read that again!  Either the third generation parents were sterile or the fourth generation cats died before birth.

Remember, all four generations of the raw food groups were healthy throughout their normal lifespans.

It’s something to think about.  Perhaps we would be healthier also if we ate our optimal diet of mostly raw, unprocessed, chemical-free foods too!

I recently added the FDA’s Pet Health & Safety Widget to the right sidebar on my blog, it’s right under the “Become a Facebook Fan” widget (feel free to become a Facebook Fan!).

I don’t smoke, in fact nobody is allowed to smoke in or near my house, or car.  I guess I’m a bit obsessive about it, but then I’ve learned long ago that it’s way more fun being healthy than being sick.  Still, a lot of people smoke, some of my friends also, and I’ve found that often the biggest incentive to quitting is to protect those we love.  Here is another reason: your love for your pet!

A 2007 University of Minnesota study showed that cats who live with smokers have nicotine and other toxins in their urine.

A 2002 Tufts University study linked second-hand smoke to cancer in cats. The study found that cats living with smokers are twice as likely to develop malignant lymphoma—the most common feline cancer–as those in non-smoking households. Lymphoma kills 3 out of 4 afflicted cats within 12 months.

A 2007 Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine study linked second-hand smoke to oral cancer in cats (squamous cell carcinoma.) Cats living with more than one smoker and cats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke for longer than five years had even higher rates of this cancer.

The ASPCA, one of the largest animal rights groups in the U.S., lists tobacco smoke as a toxin that is dangerous to pets.  Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, medical director of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center says:

“Nicotine from secondhand smoke can have effects to the nervous systems of cats and dogs. Environmental tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans.”

A recent study from Harvard Medical School, published in the January 2009 Journal of Pediatrics, found additional health risks associated with what they termed “third-hand smoke,” describing the invisible yet toxic  gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, cars, and carpeting that lingers long after the second-hand smoke has cleared the room.

One reason cats are so vulnerable to the carcinogens in tobacco smoke is they are meticulous groomers. Daily grooming over a long period of time can expose their delicate oral tissues to hazardous amounts of carcinogens.

Birds who sit on a smoker’s nicotine-coated hand often develop dermatitis and end up pulling out their own feathers.

Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that dogs in smoking households have a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer.

The Top 10 Poisons of 2008

1. Human Medications: 50,000 cases

It’s easy for pets to snatch pills from counters and bed-side tables, or quickly eat them if you’ve dropped a couple on the floor. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications and even dietary supplements can be make your cat sick.

2. Insecticides: 31,000 cases

One of the most common exposures involves using chemical flea and tick products incorrectly, such as applying a topical product for dogs on a cat.

3. People Food: 15,000 cases

Grapes, raisins, avocado and citrus fruits can all be dangerous for pets, but one of the worst offenders is chocolate, which contains large amounts of methylxanthines. If eaten it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination and hyperactivity, and in severe cases abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

4. Rodenticides: 8,000 cases

Rat and mouse poison can contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets. Aside from eating the poison itself, cats can also become sick from eating a rodent that’s ingested poison. Exposure to rat and mouse poison can cause bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

5. Veterinary Medications: 8,000 cases

Drugs meant for animals can still cause side effects, especially when they are misapplied or improperly dispensed. Some of the most common toxic exposures involved non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

6. Plants: 8,000 cases

Azaleas, rododendrons, sago palms, lilies, kalanchoe, and schefflera are common houseplants that can be toxic to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure even in small amounts.

7. Chemical Hazards: 5,500 cases

Many chemicals around your home can cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and respiratory difficulties to depression and chemical burns in your pets. Examples include antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals.

8. Household Cleaners: 3,200 cases

Bleaches, detergents and disinfectants contain chemicals that can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract in your cat.

9. Heavy Metals: 3,000 cases

Metals such as lead, zinc and mercury can all poison your cat. Lead is especially widespread and pets can be exposed via paint chips, linoleum and lead dust that’s produced when surfaces in old homes are scraped and sanded.

10. Fertilizer: 2,000 cases

If your lawn has been sprayed with a chemical fertilizer it’s essential to keep your cat off of it. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental exposure to these potentially toxic chemicals.

This is a video by Dr. Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian.

Dr. Becker is passionate about educating people about natural health. She often speaks at public seminars and has appeared on Animal Planet. She was also named one of Chicago’s Top Ten Vets, according to Chicago Magazine.

Dr. Lisa Newman is a pet nutrition expert who is also the owner of Azmira Holistic Animal Care. She has an insider’s view of what really goes on in the pet food industry, and she understands why pets are more diseased than ever.

Degenerative disease has skyrocketed in pets. But it’s no coincidence: We’re feeding our pets many of the same disease-causing ingredients that are used in the junk foods people eat. d

When you start to really research how commercial pet foods are made, the ingredient list becomes truly horrifying. Did you know that recycled shoe leather is an acceptable ingredient? Even euthanized dogs and cats are “acceptable” ingredients in pet food.

Dr. Newman explains how to protect your pet with quality products and natural therapies in an amazing interview available at Natural News, you can CLICK HERE to download the pdf.

1) Remove your shoes in the house. Removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce contaminants in the home.

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study shows that people track in weed killers and other pesticides commonly applied to lawns during the spring and summer. The study, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, is among a series being funded by the EPA to assess how small children are exposed to pesticides around the home. Scientists think that “track-in” exposures may exceed those from the best-known source: pesticide residues on fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home.

2) Go organic: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of herbicides, 90 % of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50% - 95% of U.S. foods. Pet food fare even worse, especially those containing by-products and “meal” (chicken meal, fish meal etc.)

3) Avoid plastics: use a glass bowl for food, all plastic is synthetic and made from petrochemicals, it neither photo-degrades nor bio-degrades, it just breaks down into ever smaller toxins such as Phthalates and BPA. Phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children and pets.

4) Use safe, natural or organic cleaners.  Paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellents, air fresheners all contain dozens of chemicals.

5) Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they pollute the air you are breathing.

6) Never feed your cat fish, especially tuna!  All fish is contaminated with PCBs and mercury, although wild caught salmon and sardines both have lower amounts.

Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Medallions 3 lbs. Raw diet containing 95% freshly ground USDA meat and fresh, natural fruits & vegetables, with cold processed Norwegian Virgin Salmon Oil.

When blood and urine samples were collected from 20 dogs and 37 cats at a Virginia veterinary clinic, 48 industrial chemicals were found.   

Cat samples contained 46 chemicals altogether, including 9 carcinogens, 40 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, 34 neurotoxins, and 15 chemicals toxic to the endocrine system.

Endocrine (hormone) system toxins include the thyroid toxins and fire retardants called PBDEs. Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism) is a leading cause of illness in older cats. 

In addition to PBDEs, hyperthyroidism in cats could be linked to the plastics chemical and potent endocrine disruptor BPA that is known to leach from cat food can linings into food.

You can read the full article on POLLUTED PETS at THIS LINK

This is interesting:

AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) regulations state “the label of a pet food may include an unqualified claim, directly or indirectly”. Say WHAT?? Let’s read that again:

“the label of a pet food may include an unqualified claim, directly or indirectly”

Now, directly from the pages of The Federal Trace Commission’s website, we have: “Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive”.

“What makes an advertisement deceptive?”
“According to the FTC’s Deception Policy Statement, an ad is deceptive if it contains a statement - or omits information - that: Is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances; and
Is “material” - that is, important to a consumer’s decision to buy or use the product.”
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus35.shtm

OK, see if you can figure this out:  AAFCO regulations do NOT override FTC Federal laws.

By stating they only “recommend regulations“, AAFCO doesn’t take responsibility for their actions.  The FDA doesn’t take responsibility for their actions by stating AAFCO writes the rules; so it’s OK to blindly follow AAFCO’s regulations.

Pet food imanufacturers are allowed to violate several Federal Laws (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Federal Trade Commission Act) openly and without any repercussions.  I wonder if this is one of the reasons some folks refer to the FDA as the Fraud And Deceit Association?  This is the same FDA that has given FROOT LOOPS the HEALTHY CHOICE STATUS!! Yup, a highly processed junk food loaded with refined sugar, artificial color from petrochemicals, artificial flavor, artery clogging hydrogenated vegetable oil, artificial “vitamins” and other dead, processed artificial garbage.  How “truthful and non-deceptive” is THAT?

The following cat food food was pulled from store shelves: Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat foods with the following codes RAF0501A22X 18lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6lb due to a vitamin B-1 deficiency.  

The company discovered the problem after a number of pet owners and veterinarians called in about cats showing neurological symptoms. The company said it did not find any toxins in the food.

Symptoms of thiamine (B1) deficiency:
- Ventroflexion (bending in a downward position) of the neck
- Muscle weakness
- Ataxia (wobbly walking)
- Seizures
- Fixed, dilated pupils
- Paralysis of the muscles around the eye

Did The State Kill My Cat

A veterinary epidemiologist found that Midnight’s blood contained among the highest levels of PBDEs documented in animal research.  PBDEs are fire retardant chemicals that are added to the foam in furniture.  The chemicals evaporate from the foam, settle in dust and coat walls with a thin film.  PBDEs are linked to hyperthroidism.

In 1980, when PBDEs were first added to furniture, hyperthyroid disease in cats hardly existed.  Now it is an epidemic in California,  the only state requiring flame-retardant bed coverings, pillows and furniture. 

Manufacturers of fire retardants, Chemtura Corp., Albemarle Corp. and Israel Chemicals Ltd., spend millions on lobbying to continue the use of these toxic chemicals.

You can read the whole story here: Did The State Kill My Cat

HealthyStuff.org is a nonprofit environmental research organization that just released results on over 900 common products tested for toxic chemicals including lead, mercury, and arsenic.  Pet toys, beds, and collars were included on their list of products tested.  In all, HealthyStuff.org includes test results for over 5,000 products.

Play N’ Squeak “Batting Practice”, Play n Squeak “Twice the Mice”, Penn-Plax Purr Pet Wiggle Wand and Coleman Classic Rectangular Bed For Dogs, Small 18×24 all had exceptionally high levels of toxins, particularly lead. 

Please check out their site to find out if your pet’s toys, beds, collars, harnesses or other stuff contains toxic chemicals.