Beyond Pet Food Glamour: Why OM Pets Chooses Lives Over Profit
AFTER - INTERZOO REFLECTIONS
Recently I attended Interzoo in Germany, and it was a transformative experience.
Walking through the vast halls filled with products designed for our companion animals was genuinely inspiring. There were toys, novelty cat litter materials, feeding bowls, treats, snacks, and every type of pet food imaginable. Everywhere we looked- colourful displays, premium packaging, and passionate creators showcased their innovations.
Some companies occupied massive spaces with beautifully designed exhibition stands — no expense spared. Crowds gathered around, enjoying complimentary coffees, food, and samples. The whole atmosphere felt impressive. For a moment, I was caught up in it all, imagining OM Pets on that stage next year.
Then reality surfaced.
After the initial excitement faded, I remembered why I was actually there. And that's when the weight of it hit me.
Inside almost every pouch, can, and bag of dry food is what remains of a once-living, breathing animal. Apart from a handful of cruelty-free options scattered amongst the thousands of other options , this uncomfortable truth is everywhere.
I understand the common argument: pet food primarily uses by-products from the meat industry, which is better than waste. But here's the question that haunts me — should these by-products exist in the first place?
The pet food industry doesn't just use leftovers; it creates demand for them. It supports a system where more animals are bred and treated as commodities. Imagine calling your beloved cat, dog, parrot, fish, or rabbit a "product" or an "ingredient." It doesn't sit right.
To be clear — this is my personal perspective shaped by decades of learning, not a judgment on anyone else's choices. You, me, and everyone are free to use our own discretion to make important decisions about how we live, what our values are, and how committed we are to live by them. I simply believe that by doing what we do, we'll prove that kind, cruelty-free nutrition will prevail.
In a nutshell, OM Pets is creating cruelty-free food scientifically designed for cats as obligate carnivores, with complete nutrition using new and more compassionate protein sources. We are not a giant corporation with endless capital and investors obsessed only with money - we want to profit in numbers of lives saved !!
Behind OM Pets is a small team of remarkable people — some investing their hard-earned money, some contributing skilled creative work, some sharing business expertise, and some offering their love and encouragement. What unites us is one shared mission: proving that a new path in pet food is possible — one that doesn't involve sentient beings consuming other sentient beings.
As a veterinary nurse and mother of three now grown children who never ate animals , having finally reached a point where I can fully dedicate myself to something I deeply believe in — showing that it's possible to feed cats with compassion and science working hand in hand.
I know I can't compete with massive pet food corporations on massive marketing budgets or trade show spectacle. And honestly? I don't want to.
I want to create a completely different path.
A path for people seeking another option. Something built on different values, different ethics, and a fundamentally different way of thinking about pet food.
The old paths are cumbersome, outdated, and have no place in the future.
We may not have the fanciest packaging or the biggest advertising budgets. But what matters most — what's inside that bag — receives all our focus and resources. Healthy, carefully crafted food. Complete nutrition. Innovative protein sources. Nutrition created with rigorous science, genuine care, and deep compassion.
That's where every pound of our energy and investment goes.
And maybe that's how real change begins — not through the loudest voice, but through creating something genuinely better and trusting people to try it and decide for themselves.
If you believe compassion and proper nutrition can exist together, we will be honoured by your support. Follow our journey, share our story, try the food when it launches, and tell us what you think.
If you're truly wealthy — with wisdom, business acumen, financial resources, or kindness — and wish to be part of this (R)evolution, please reach out via social media or through the website under "Collaboration".
Your thoughts, encouragement, and support mean everything to us. They are what drive us to keep improving and to push the entire pet food industry towards something kinder and healthier — for our furry friends, for people, and for the planet we all share.
Thank you for reading this,for giving us your valuable time - we genuinely look forward to hearing from you.
Because together, we can create a new path.
With love,
Maria Perkins and the OM Pets team( always space for more !)