Claws were out on Monday after an Israeli cabinet minister proposed sending stray dogs and cats to another country as an alternative to government-funded efforts to sterilize them.

“Use the budget to transfer stray dogs and/or cats of one gender (all the males or all the females) to a foreign nation that will agree to accept them,” Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel suggested in a letter to a cabinet colleague leaked to the mass circulation Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of Nissan 15-22. Here are coinciding secular dates for the upcoming years:

2016: April 22-30

2017: April 10-18

Note: The Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand. Thus all holiday observances begin at sundown on the secular dates listed, with the following day being the first full day of the holiday. (Thus, the first Passover seder is held on the evening of the first date listed.) Jewish calendar dates conclude at nightfall.

The first two days of Passover (from sundown of the first date listed, until nightfall two days later) are full-fledged, no-work-allowed holiday days. The subsequent four days are Chol Hamoed, when work is allowed, albeit with restrictions. Chol Hamoed is followed by another two full holiday days.
April 3rd begins the observation of Passover, an 8-day Spring celebration of the freedom of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Through certain rituals, modern day Jews have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom their ancestors gained.

From the evening of April 3 through the evening of April 11, in recognition of the unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt, Jews do not eat – or keep in their possession – any chametz, or grains that can become chametz. This includes any food or drink that contains even a trace of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt or their derivatives.

“A Jew Doesn’t Expel A Jewish Cat” (paraphrasing common phrase in Israel: “A Jew Doesn’t Expel Another Jew” in light of expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif in 2005)

Because cats are family members, sharing our homes and mealtimes, joining us in celebrations, and because Jews cannot be in possession of these grains during Passover, we’ve compiled this list of Passover-approved cat foods that are highly recommended for quality, healthfulness, and taste.

Please note. There are many other cat foods that do not contain grains in them. This is the only Healthy Kosher For Passover list. We have eliminated companies with a history of recalls or products that include corn – which although permitted in cat food on Passover – is actually bad for your cats.
The Catington Post Kosher For Passover Cat Food List

Before Grain (dry): Chicken, Salmon.
Before Grain (canned): 96% Quail, 96% Chicken, 96% Salmon, 96% Tuna, 96% Turkey.
Blue Wilderness Grain Free (dry): Chicken, Kitten, Duck, Mature, Salmon, Indoor.
CANIDAE (dry): Grain Free pureELEMENTS, Grain Free pureSEA
CANIDAE (canned): Grain Free pureELEMENTS, Grain Free pureSEA
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance (dry): Alpha Grain-Free Dry Cat Formulas, LID Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Cat Formulas
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance (canned): Ultra Premium Canned Cat Formulas, LID Limited Ingredient Diets Canned Cat Formulas
Earthborn Holistic (dry): Primitive Feline, Wild Sea Catch
Earthborn Holistic (canned): Harbor Harvest, Monterey Medley, Catalina Catch, Chicken Catcciatori
Fromm (dry): Grain-Free Beef Liváttini Veg, Grain-Free Game Bird Recipe, Grain-Free Salmon Tunachovy, Grain-Free Surf & Turf
Fromm (canned): Chicken, Duck, & Salmon Pâté, Chicken & Salmon Pâté, Duck & Chicken Pâté, Salmon & Tuna Pâté
Go! (dry): FIT + FREE Chicken, Turkey + Duck
Go! (wet): FIT + FREE Grain Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Pâté, FIT + FREE Grain Free Chicken, Turkey + Trout Stew, SENSITIVITY + SHINE
Grain Free Duck Pâté, SENSITIVITY + SHINE Grain Free Freshwater Trout Pâté
Instinct (dry): Chicken Meal Formula, Duck & Turkey Meal Formula, Rabbit Meal Formula, Salmon Meal Formula, Limited Ingredient Diet: Turkey Meal Formula, Limited Ingredient Diet: Rabbit Meal Formula
Instinct (canned): Chicken Formula, Beef Formula, Lamb Formula, Duck Formula, Rabbit Formula, Venison Formula, Salmon Formula, Limited Ingredient Lamb Formula, Limited Ingredient Duck Formula, Limited Ingredient Turkey Formula
Halo Grain Free (dry): Healthy Weight Whitefish & Salmon, Hearty Chicken
Halo Grain Free (canned): Spot’s Choice Shredded Recipes, Spot’s Stew Recipes, Spot’s Pâté Recipes
Evangers: When bearing cRc Passover approval.
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free (dry): Healthy Adult (Salmon, Chicken), Healthy Senior,
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free (canned): Classic Salmon Paté, Classic Tuna Paté
Solid Gold (dry): Indigo Moon
Solid Gold (canned): Blended Tuna, Sardine & Tuna Recipe in Gravy, Mackerel & Tuna Recipe in Gravy, Shrimp & Tuna Recipe in Gravy, SeaBream & Tuna Recipe in Gravy
Taste of the Wild (dry): Canyon River Feline Formula, Rocky Mountain Feline Formula
Taste of the Wild (canned): Canyon River Feline Formula, Rocky Mountain Feline Formula
Wellness Core Grain Free (dry): Original, Kitten, Turkey & Turkey Meal & Duck, Indoor
Wellness Core Grain Free (canned): Original, Kitten Formula, Beef & Venison & Lamb, Salmon & Whitefish & Herring

Please note that only Evangers Pet Food offers products under Rabbinic Supervision. You can find a complete list of Kosher (and Kosher For Passover) Evanger’s Products here.

There are other Passover-friendly cat foods available in addition to this list. Look for grain-free options or those with rice as the only grain. While corn is an acceptable grain to feed during Passover, it is proven to be an unhealthy ingredient for cats and should be avoided. The Passover-approved cat foods on this list would all make excellent choices for feeding your cat year round, too.

Don’t forget to find grain-free treats for your furriest family members, too! We love Halo Live-a-Littles Protein Treats that are 100% whole meat in Chicken, Beef and Salmon varieties.

Cassy and Micky Ticky the Rip Meowing Revisionist Zionist Cats of Stephen Darori which you a Happy (and Kosher) Passover.