Behind the Bowl: The Hidden Risk of Irradiated Cat Food

Most cat parents spend countless hours choosing the right food — reading labels, comparing ingredients, and looking for “the healthiest option.” But what if the biggest risk isn’t on the ingredients list at all? What if it’s the processing?

In 2008, a line of Orijen cat food imported into Australia was irradiated at unusually high levels due to quarantine requirements. Soon after, veterinarians began reporting cats with alarming neurological symptoms: hind-limb ataxia, paralysis, even a chronic demyelinating condition now known as FIDID (Feline Irradiated Diet-Induced Demyelination).

So what happened — and could it happen again?

In this week’s Cat Talk Radio episode, we unpack:

• What irradiation is and why foods are treated

• Why the Australian Orijen line was affected

• How high-dose irradiation destroyed nutrients and created oxidative compounds

• What made cats uniquely vulnerable

• How regulations changed afterward

• Whether any current cat food brands use irradiation

• What YOU can do to choose safer diets for your cat

Although irradiated cat food is rare — especially in the U.S. — the lessons from this incident are important. It reminds us that processing matters, transparency matters, and staying informed is one of the best things we can do for our feline family.

Listen now to learn what to look for on labels, how to avoid hidden risks, and what questions to ask your cat food company.

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