Spoilt Western cats endangering global fish supply

LiveNews.com.au ^ | ,25 August 2008 | staff reporter

[Daffynition]

Cats with a fondness for gourmet meals are threatening fish supplies, an Australian scientist says.

Deakin University scientist Dr Giovanni Turchini has discovered an estimated 2.48 million tonnes of forage fish - a limited biological resource - is consumed by the global cat food industry each year.

"That such a large amount of fish is used for the pet food industry is real eye-opener," Dr Turchini said.

"What is also interesting is that, in Australia, pet cats are eating an estimated 13.7 kilograms of fish a year which far exceeds the Australian average (human) per capita fish and seafood consumption of around 11 kilograms.

"Our pets seem to be eating better than their owners."

Wild forage fish, which includes sardines, herrings and anchovies, are an important link in the marine food chain, as part of the diet of larger fish like tuna and swordfish.

Overfishing of marine resources is a concern to conservationists and the fishing industry.

"While much of the criticism has been on the grounds that forage fish could be better used for human consumption directly, particularly amongst the poorer nations of the world, rather than in the production of food for farmed fish, little attention has been paid to the amount of forage fish used by the pet food industry," Dr Turchini said.

She said she believed the pet food industry was moving towards marketing premium and super-premium products.

"These gourmet pet foods contain a significant amount of fish that may be suitable for direct human consumption."

Different raw material, such as by-products of the fish filleting industry, would be better used in pet food.

A more objective and pragmatic approach to the use of decreasing fish stocks was needed, he said.

[MarkL]

So let me see if I’ve gotten this straight...

It’s the cats’ fault? Because they’re “spoilt?” So they’re going to the grocery stores and buying up all the fish? How do they pay for it? Do they have their own little kitty credit cards? Or do they pay cash? More importantly, how to they open the cans, if they don’t have opposable thumbs?

Mark

[Petronski]

Forage fish?

Mmmm. Nummers!

[Petronski]

That’s great.

***giggles***

[Huntress]

My cats aren’t really into fish. They do, however, like pork, turkey, and most deli meats.

[TexasRepublic]

More proof that cats are evil.

[According2RecentPollsAirIsGood]

"No, it isn't. We taught a lion to eat tofu."

[Arrowhead1952]

Well, I have to admit our cats get “tuna time” every day. They love cold tuna treats.

[Lady Jag]

Cats sure are happy to get their fish treats!

[tacticalogic]

WTF? There’s no fish in cheezburgers!

[Daffynition]

I've seen the *look* [like on this cat's face] when chowing some baloney or fave luncheon meat ... better count your fingers when they're done. :-D

[Daffynition]

This fishwich is big enuf whole a whole kindle of kittens ... we'll share... drat the drafts!

[Daffynition]

I love that mewzilla!

Save some room for cake! ;)

[oprahstheantichrist]

more animals

[Daffynition]

[Aurorales]

Daffynition, is that your cat in the photo?

It looks just like my cat Augustus (Gus for short). Beautiful cat. Might look ferocious to others but he is still my little fur baby.

[Aurorales]

Daffynition, when I asked if it was your cat, I meant the photo in post #50. The one that is attacking what looks to be turkey sandwich meat.

[Daffynition]

No it’s not mine [wish it was though!] ... are you a Siamese fan?

[nw_arizona_granny]

Kitties in the window is cute and explains why I have owned more than one that wound up with the name “Nosy”.

[nw_arizona_granny]

LOL, on your Elephant photo.

[nw_arizona_granny]

LOL, I could not understand why my aquarium was using so much water, then caught the cats drinking the water, LOL, guess they thought they wouldn’t get wet, in less water.

They never did get a fish out of it.