Our domestic pets like cats and dogs have evolved from their ancestors in the wild, the grey wolf and the African wild cat.

Through man’s selective breeding there is now variety in cats and dogs that we see today. This influence by man has taken placed over the last 20-40 thousand years.

The Labrador and the Chihuahua are physically very different but genetically they are very similar to their ancestor, grey wolf. This same physical variety has taken place in the evolution of cats, as they too are genetically close to their descendants.

Ancestral Diet

The grey wolf is thought to have appeared around a million years ago. The first cat emerged around 6-7 million years ago. Through their existence cats and dogs have been considered carnivores or “meat eaters”.

However, dogs have gained a better ability to utilize carbohydrates, but they still do best when the bulk of their diet stems from animal protein and fat.

Cats have not adapted as well to carbohydrates and depend more heavily on animal protein and fat for optimal health.

Even though domestic dogs and cats have the ability to utilize carbohydrates neither have a nutritional requirement for them. They still have their ancestor’s ability to convert protein and fat to glucose – the basic carbohydrate used by the cells in the body.

Many people believe that a biologically appropriate high meat and low carbohydrate diet is the best approach to feeding cats and dogs.

The Benefits of High Protein and Low Carbohydrate Nutritional Philosophy

• Offering a natural diet can ensure the pet is getting all it needs not only to get the basics but also all that is necessary for optimum nutrition and health are delivered.
• Optimum nutrition supports the immune system which is the pet’s natural defense system.
• Weight management is easier when feeding fewer carbohydrates. Too many carbohydrates encourage weight gain.
• Excess weight increases the risk of conditions that are more common in overweight animals. Conditions like arthritis, heart and kidney disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
• High meat content eliminates the need for inexpensive and inappropriate energy sources that are also known to encourage allergies.
• Activity level improves with higher protein and fewer carbohydrates.
• High animal protein content in food improves the palatability of the diet.