We have a cat, Amanda, whom we've had for about nine years. For the past several, she's had chronic weeping from the corners of her eyes. Within the past several months, the problem had escalated to excessive scratching at her face and forehead, which ultimately resulted in an eye infection with MRSA, which had to be treated with antibiotics and a hefty vet bill. To make a long story short, we determined that the underlying condition was an allergy to foods containing grain, an allergy that evidently grew progressively worse over the years. A switch to a grain-free diet canned, dry, treats has seemingly alleviated the problem as her eyes returned to looking better than anytime in recent memory. And though the fact had escaped my notice, my wife says her fur has become less dandruffy.
Finding grain-free treats was a challenge because Amanda turned her nose up at most brands except the CLOUD STAR GRAIN-FREE BUDDY BISCUITS FOR CATS, SAVORY TURKEY AND CHEDDAR, as well as the Cloud Star Grain Free Buddy Biscuits for Cats, Tender Chicken, 3 Ounce and Cloud Star Grain Free Buddy Biscuits for Cats, Tempting Tuna, 3 Ounce versions. Not to put too fine a point on it, the cat loves them.
The turkey and cheddar flavored treat was the last of the three we introduced to Amanda. It was concurrent with first exposure to this treat over a week of feeding it to her that the corners of her eyes reddened again and she inflicted scratches on her nose.
The ingredients list for this treat includes "cheddar"; it's not just artificial flavoring, apparently.
While puzzling over this renewed occurrence of Amanda's affliction, I had an epiphany much like Saul on the donkey track to Damascus except I was on the freeway to Long Beach. (Saul likely experienced less traffic, lucky devil.)
Cheddar (cheese) comes from the milk of cows. In order to increase milk production, cows are fed grain corn, to be exact. If the antibiotics administered to cows can carry over into their milk, why not perhaps grain residues?
We've now returned Amanda to the Buddy Biscuits not containing cheddar, and her eyes are clearing up once more. No more turkey and cheddar for her!
Food allergies are tricky. And perhaps the ingredients list of those "grain-free" foods should be scrutinized at least closely if not with skepticism.
(Some "grain-free" cat foods are made by companies that also make products that overtly are not. One wonders if their food processing machinery is adequately purged of grain traces between types. That's another, separate consideration.)
I wouldn't go so far as to point my finger at CLOUD STAR GRAIN-FREE BUDDY BISCUITS, SAVORY TURKEY AND CHEDDAR FLAVOR as the source of Amanda's most recent flare-up. I'm just sayin'... You know?
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