I've just read the majority of "Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life by Elizabeth M Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq. after seeing several recommendations here on PF. What an amazing book! A real, easy to understand page turner on all things cat health and nutrition.

Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life: Amazon.co.uk: Elizabeth M. Hodgkins: 9780312358020: Books

I can't wait to get back home to my kitties (am in the US visiting mum, brother and pooch) and get them on a good wet food! Fingers crossed they get as as excited as I am about the Bozita and Animonda Carny plans I have in store for them

The book is great, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a book by a British author about foods available in Britain? This book focuses on the American pet food industry which although is still valuable as many of the foods in UK supermarkets probably originate from the US, it would be good to get an idea of the pet food regulatory environment in the UK

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Basil & Sybil

I don't know of any equivalent dealing with uk foods.....luckily we have Hobbs on here who is well versed in all European foods!
I first 'discovered' Elizabeth Hodgkins and that book about 2 1/2 years ago when one of my cats was diagnosed as Diabetic. Dr Hodgkins approach to diabetes management has earned her the reputation of something of a maverick in the veterinary world but her supporters run forums preaching her approach. When joining the forum I was encouraged to buy 2 copies of the book, one for myself and one for my vet! Cant say I ever got brave enough to give the vet a copy but I do follow her advice on many things.

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!

Bless ya PP!

I agree, it is a good book and unfortunately there isn't a UK equivalent. There are some good German books (one of which is called in German: Cats would buy mice, which is quite entertaining) but presumably because cat food and cat nutrition isn't really a big deal over here - just have a look at the rather poor selection of cat food that we have and of that which we have how many are "good" foods.

There are so many really interesting websites, articles etc from a US perspective but as I said unfortunately nothing like that from a UK perspective. There is the PMFA, which represent pet food manufacturers and who also try to educate the UK public, but frankly it is rather one-sided and rather poor. Then there is the "good food" movement (not called that but Joe Inglis is a member - so just google that) but again, not convinced personally about their angle.

Then there is the AAFCO european equivalent - the FEDIAF - who also try and do some public educating but again it is done rather poorly and sketchily. Also, it really doesn't help that unlike the AAFCO, they don't have any powers - they offer only guidelines (which in turn are heavily leaning on AAFCO standards).

Then there are the reams of EU regulations that deal with pet food, which might be worth looking at. Can be quite an eye-opener when it comes to typical claims - like made with human-grade ingredients, which is essentially meaningless.

And of course, there is my sticky about wet food, which will lead you to an online site with a pdf that contains the data, which is based on me talking to manufacturers about what is actually included in their food and some other info about food. Some were more forthcoming than others; whether those that were more forthcoming were telling the truth is a different story. Slightly outdated now as really it was quite a tedious process keeping it all updated but still should contain some interesting data.

It will show you that to get the really good foods you need to even by-pass zooplus and order from shops in Germany.

Thanks Hobbs! Your sticky and the pdf you put together have been so helpful and have just placed my first wet food order (Bozita tins, Animonda Carny and Smilla). They're rescue kitties that were fed whatever cat food was donated to the shelter, so hopefully they're not fussy! I'm going to put a bit of Applaws dry in treat balls for them as well (maybe some freeze dried pure meat treats on occasion) - they're indoor kitties, so hopefully another thing to entertain them! Decided to just go ahead and do it - OH thinks I'm a bit nuts, but he can't do much if I just do it

Thanks again for all your work - I would never have known about this stuff otherwise!

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Basil & Sybil

PS - Hobbs - You should write a book

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Basil & Sybil