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Post by hails on Apr 20, 2011 21:08:22 GMT -5
I feed my kids high-quality kibble since I'm out of a job right now and can't afford to buy tons of meat. I feed them a mix 8n1 Ultimate, Zupreem, and Totally Ferret and they're doing fine on it.
We used to have stray cats in the neighborhood and we bought a huge sack of Walmart cat food to leave out, just so they wouldn't starve. The cats have vanished and we're left with half a bag. I was thinking of donating it to the shelter even though it's mostly filler.
However, my dad thinks that I should just give it to the ferrets to stretch out the expensive food more. I flatly told him no and he rebuts with 'it'll fill their stomachs the same.' I try telling them about proper ferret feeding and how I'd live to switch over to commercial raw once I get a paycheck. He thinks it's all a waste of time and is talking about how he's seen dogs fed Ol' Roy and lived 14+ years.
Eugh, it's enough to make me want to slam my head in a wall. I'd like to think that I know what I'm talking about and that proper nutrition is a cornerstone of having a healthy pet. Someone come rant with me.
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Post by whipple on Apr 20, 2011 21:13:33 GMT -5
My dad was the same. Just stuck in his ways. No way to convert some men. But it is insanely frustrating!
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Post by tayrawrrr on Apr 20, 2011 21:16:18 GMT -5
I hear you!! My dad can be the same way, but I live with my mom, so I don't have to hear about it  Luckily, my mom was very open to the idea of raw, but that's probably because I pay for all of MoJo's food, etc.  Though she would help, if I truly needed it. Best advice is to calmly explain to him that, although that may be true about the dog, ferrets are a bit different, and they need a food that is as close to natural to them as can be, because it allows them a healthier and happier lifestyle. If he can't agree with that, then agree to disagree! I hear you about the $$$, it is crazy right now  but comfort yourself by reminding yourself (and him, respectively, of course ) that you're doing the best you can for them  |
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 20, 2011 21:22:36 GMT -5
How funny bc it has always been just the opposite in my family. Both my parents grew up on farms and they always fed their dogs and cats raw food or leftovers and didn't believe in commercial pet foods. I was always the one that thought commercial food was better. I guess I should have listened to my parents sooner.
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Post by shilohismygirl on Apr 20, 2011 21:27:24 GMT -5
Buying meats from the grocery has been wayyyy less expensive for me then buying kibble used to be. Ugh. I mean, I could get a whole chicken for 4$ at the store and a 5 lb bag of kibble was 12$ plus. Many people just don't understand why I would feed my ferrets meat, especially my father in law, though he doesn't try to intervene. I see him buying crappy dog food for his cat and dog and say it's just as good and it reiterates that most people truly are ignorant of it. I mean, c'mon. Candy fills human stomachs the same as good food, but if you eat it everyday exclusively you definitely won't thrive, be in good health, or have the nutrition you need.
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Post by Heather on Apr 20, 2011 22:23:24 GMT -5
There is no way to make someone understand who can't see the whole picture. Take the garbage stuff and donate it....once it's gone it's gone. I spent years trying to convince my mother....she wouldn't listen....guess who's feeding raw now ;D ;D and seeing all the benefits ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 6:06:35 GMT -5
Oh man can I ever relate. I'm going to school full time, and I work only intermittently (starving artist, lol), so my parents were utterly flabbergasted when I came home with a sack full of frozen quails and chickens and told them it was for the ferrets. I don't eat a lot of meat myself (not a vegetarian or anything, just don't really enjoy it), but everyone else in my family does. In their opinion, the pets "shouldn't eat better than they do". I think they're just jealous.  They still harp on me continuously about what I feed them, but I just ignore it now. I try to educate them, but they are all very much of the "kibble exists for a reason" train of thought. I've also tried to get them to convert our seriously overweight dog (he is a medium sized dog that weighs 40 lbs, when he should be around 25-30 at max) to a raw diet, but they refuse for the above reasons. At least I got them to put him on a high quality kibble. *sigh* |
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Post by shilohismygirl on Apr 21, 2011 7:47:18 GMT -5
I think feeding pets as well as you do yourself shows how much you care about other living beings-Sometimes, the ferrets eat better than I do, and I'd rather have it that way than them be starving for nutrition and good food and me eating high on the hog. It's silly-when people tell me, "Kibble exists for a reason" and they often do, I simply say, it's to make an easy buck, not because they care about your pet or how healthy they are. They care about $$$
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 7:51:10 GMT -5
I think feeding pets as well as you do yourself shows how much you care about other living beings-Sometimes, the ferrets eat better than I do, and I'd rather have it that way than them be starving for nutrition and good food and me eating high on the hog. It's silly-when people tell me, "Kibble exists for a reason" and they often do, I simply say, it's to make an easy buck, not because they care about your pet or how healthy they are. They care about $$$ I agree 100%! So many people say "my pets are my family" while they're pouring a big bowl of unnatural ingredients, chemicals and fillers. You wouldn't feed your human children garbage, why stuff your furry children full of garbage?? |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 21, 2011 9:20:19 GMT -5
So many people say "my pets are my family" while they're pouring a big bowl of unnatural ingredients, chemicals and fillers. Which is why some people get so ticked with me when I refer to pet food as "crap in a bag" ;D |
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Post by shilohismygirl on Apr 21, 2011 12:33:07 GMT -5
Sadly, it's true. I want to know where my pets' food comes from. Before I got the ferrets, I never knew (quite ignorantly) that pet food wasn't all an animal should eat. My dad would go to the store and pick up any old food (because I think he was as ignorant as I) and I never knew any better until my ferret research. My parents now incorporate more meat into their dog's diet, especially after hearing my ferret stuff and because their dogs are seniors.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 12:41:09 GMT -5
Some people just don't see the difference between "surviving" (as your dad put it about the dogs on Ol Roy) and THRIVING.
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Post by taratee on Apr 21, 2011 13:07:45 GMT -5
for me meat was less expensive then kibble a whole chicken even if it was four bucks would last a single ferret about 8 ish meals, you should check to see if your town has a butcher. butchers can be cheaper then chain stores
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Luckily, my mom was very open to the idea of raw, but that's probably because I pay for all of MoJo's food, etc. 
