If you keep a kosher home, does your dog or cat have to eat kosher pet food too? The answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no.
“Pets aren’t commanded to keep kosher—only humans are,” explains Rabbi Jason Miller, director of Kosher Michigan, a kosher certification agency in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
But even though Jewish law only applies to humans, there are certain non-kosher foods that Jewish people are not allowed to derive a benefit from. And that’s where kosher pet food comes in. We spoke to several rabbis to get clarity on what the rules are and put together a short list of kosher cat food and kosher dog food brands to buy if you keep a kosher home.
What Are The Rules on Feeding Kosher Pet Food
Again, your pets don’t need actual kosher food in the same way you do, notes Rabbi Zvi Goldberg, a kashrus administrator for over 20 years at Star-K Kosher Certification in Baltimore, Maryland. “Rather, pet owners who keep kosher are restricted from feeding certain types of food to their pets.”
There are two restrictions, according to Rabbi Goldberg:
- First, you can’t feed your pet foods that mix milk and cooked kosher meat, including goat, sheep, lamb and beef. If the food contains dairy or even whey, a byproduct of milk, as well as the meat, then it’s off limits for your pet. This applies all year long.
- The second applies specifically at Passover, the 8-day Jewish holiday in the spring that commemorates the freedom of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. During Passover, you can’t feed your pet chametz. Chametz essentially is leavened grains—including rye, barley, wheat, oats and spelt—and foods that have one or more of these grains, including pet food.
The reason these foods are restricted is that, according to Jewish law, Jewish people can’t derive benefit from chametz (or even have it in their house) during Passover nor can they benefit from dairy-and-meat mixtures during any time of the year. And yes, feeding your pet these foods is considered a benefit and is therefore not permitted.
“So it’s not because the pet needs to keep kosher, but because you're deriving benefit from it if you feed them to your pet,” explains says Rabbi Yosef Landa, the rabbinic coordinator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, a kosher certification agency in Chicago, Illinois. “It’s the owner, the kosher-observant individual, who is violating the kosher rules by deriving benefit from the non-kosher pet food.”
What Is Considered Kosher Pet Food
As explained above, kosher dog and kosher cat food are essentially grain-free foods (at least during Passover) that don’t mix dairy and meat from cows, goats, sheep or lambs.
Not sure if a certain pet food qualifies as kosher? Here are some ways to find out:
- Look over the ingredients of your regular pet food brand. If it contains dairy (or whey) and any of the aforementioned meats, or—if it’s Passover—one of the chametz grains, skip it. Not sure about certain ingredients? Call a kosher certifying agency (like the ones mentioned in this article) to find out, suggests Rabbi Landa. “That’s what a lot of people do,” he adds.
- Look for a seal from a kosher certifying agency, which approve pet (and human) foods as kosher. If the pet food doesn’t have a seal, it will have a letter from the kosher certifying agency that you can request, says Rabbi Miller. Manufacturers may even post the letter on their website.
- Some certifying agencies, like Star-K, keep a list of kosher dog and kosher cat foods (as well as for other pets, including fish and rabbits). You can find Star-K’s list by going to the site’s Passover page, Rabbi Goldberg says.
Kosher Pet Food and Treats for Dogs and Cats
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Our boys love this!
Our boys were having digestive difficulties on dry food alone. We’ve found that everything goes down better when we mix in a little of this high quality canned food. We are very pleased with the ingredients list and the boys really love the taste.
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Duck and sweet potato
My dog has to have a low fat diet due to his pancreas problem and this is a low fat dog food he loves duck jerky and has eaten hills digestive low fat ID food mixed with a little sweet potato why he doesn’t want to eat this I don’t know
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This is a good one.
I rotate this with other dog foods, maybe once or twice per week, they do like this food and will continue to get as long as quality is good.
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awesome will buy again
Had to find a wet food without chicken or fish for my one cat. NOT easy. This delivers and BOTH cats LOVE it. My other cat will try and get to it over her other good. Spendy but oh well
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Best duck pate product available
I have a Siamese cat with IBD. Over the course of the years since diagnosed, I have eliminated almost all proteins that he can't eat and have found duck to be the absolute best for him. In trying many brands of duck pate, they have all been found to contain a high amount of bone fragments that he can't digest, making them all inedible for him despite seemingly good ingredients otherwise. It was recommended that I try this brand after the product he had been eating for 2 years was suddenly discontinued and I was desperately looking for a replacement. This is it! It's not just a food he loves. It's a food that makes him thrive and is keeping...
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Cat with food sensitivies loves this
I have a (mostly) siamese kitten who seems to be reacting to chicken (who knew?), fish and peas...and they are in everything! Thank goodness I found this, she loves it and I love the limited clean ingredients.
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Good on a Cracker
The dogs love this stuff we add a spoon full with their dry food at each meal. It is a very basic protein and it prob could go on a cracker (I know they would eat it that way if they could)
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Against the Grain Salmon
I love this and my pup does too. No added anything - just salmon. She gets this once a week on top of her kibble.
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great product.
I think this is great dog food. The dogs love it. I love the fact that it is just salmon and no added ingredients.
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Merrick Dry food
Our 3 kitties seem to love this food. They gobbled down quickly the first time we gave it to them. It however has a lot of powdered food that we sift out, otherwise it builds up in the little cup we use to fill their bowls. We mixed it with the American Journey Chicken dry food.
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No Issues!
Had to switch foods when all 23 cats were throwing up 2 batches of same food shipped to me by Chewy. This seemed to help all the tummies.
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Before dinner snack
Little Miss Nellie Bly started to chew through the bag before I had a chance to open it with the scissors! She love it!
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Best treats available
My Golden Retriever and English Bulldog love these treats. They're just the right size, so they can have 2 at bedtime. I always order several bags in various flavors, and I have recommended these treats many times.
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Great product - will definitely continue to purchase
My sister turned me onto this brand with their pumpkin based dog treat. Our dogs loved that treat. So we ordered a bag of each flavor they offer to try them out. Have only opened this flavor so far and the dogs chomp chomp. I even tried one and is actually really tasty. Very slightly sweet cookie taste with a hint of blueberry. Willing to bet if you put a bowl out at a party they would disappear if you didn't say they are dog treats lol. Highly recommend, especially like since not made with animal protein. Reason for this like is one of our dogs has food allergies to animal proteins and is on prescription food. She seems to handle...
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These are fantastic
All of my dogs and I love these cookies. Yes, I do eat them. They have a hint of vanilla and blueberry.
Read More
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- Puppy Feeding Guide: How Much to Feed a Puppy & More
- Do You Know How Much to Feed a Kitten? The Ultimate Guide to Kitten Food Portions
- So Many Options When It Comes to Feeding Fido. Which Is the Best Dog Food for Them?
- Hanukkah With Dogs and Cats: A Guide to Celebrating Safely With Your Pets
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