Tree House's Exclusive Partnership with Merrick Pet Care 

Tree House is proud to have an exclusive partnership with Merrick Pet Care to provide our resident cats with quality nutrition while they’re awaiting their forever homes - at no cost to Tree House! 

To help support our efforts to provide quality food to the hundreds of cats we rescue each year, Merrick generously provides high-quality natural and organic canned food and kibble from their Purrfect Bistro and Organix lines to Tree House at no cost. From their first meal at both of Tree House’s Adoption Centers (Uptown and Bucktown) until adoption day, each Tree House cat will enjoy healthy recipes made in Merrick’s kitchens.

“Not only does Merrick’s generosity save Tree House money which now can be spent to help save more cats, it offers Tree House a diet of extraordinarily high quality, which is a luxury that most shelters don’t have,” said Steve Dale, CABC and member of the Tree House Board of Directors.

At Tree House, we are committed to ensuring the health and happiness of every cat in our adoption program. We are proud to provide the animals in our care with Merrick pet food during their stay at Tree House and provide a foundation of health and nutrition that we hope will continue for the rest of their lives.

"Woo Hoo, this stuff is good!"

Walking down the cat food isle of any pet store can be a daunting task – there are literally hundreds of choices. While cat food has come a long way, and there seem to be new food options popping up regularly touting all kinds of health benefits for your cats, it can be confusing and downright exhausting at times to know what, when, and how much to feed your cat. Making it even more difficult is the barrage of messages (sometimes conflicting) telling you what you should be feeding your feline friend.

At Tree House, we have always understood the importance that diet plays in the health of our cats. In recent years, we’ve taken innovative steps in the use of “preventative nutrition” to help improve the health of our resident cats who suffer from chronic health conditions which, in some cases, have resulted in complete recovery. We have also had great success in using food as a part of our socialization strategy. Having worked with tens of thousands of cats, we’ve learned a lot over the past 43 years, and we want to share our knowledge with as many cat guardians as possible, ultimately helping even more cats live happy and healthy lives.

We understand that the quality and source of the food are important considerations when deciding which brand of pet food to use. If you are unsure about the quality of your cat food, check the first ingredient. If the first ingredient is meat or fish, it’s most likely a good brand. If the first ingredient is not meat or fish but corn, rice, soy, or grain derivatives such as gluten or meal, we would not recommend it. Check for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) certification for some assurance that the food has met minimal nutrient criteria. It is better to feed foods that contain muscle meat (such as chicken or turkey) in addition to, or instead of, organ meats (such as liver) and byproducts (items not suitable for human consumption).

Merrick Pet Care is a leader in natural and organic pet nutrition, and we are thrilled with our new partnership. Merrick uses no ingredients from China – all of the ingredients are fresh, regionally sourced in the United States and made in Merrick’s own kitchen. We appreciate that the Organix brand cat food that Merrick is providing to our resident cats is made in the U.S.A. from high-quality, certified organic ingredients. The food contains omega-6 and three fatty acids to help nourish skin and fur. It also includes added fiber to help control hairballs and is tested throughout the production process to ensure quality and safety. The Merrick brand of food contains no chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, growth hormones, or antibiotics.

“Tree House has a proven record of helping pets in need, and we are pleased to partner with them to feed homeless pets awaiting their forever homes,” said Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick Pet Care, Inc. “Together, we can better help pets not only survive, but thrive through feeding them more wholesome, natural, and nutritious foods.”

At Tree House, we know that, just as with humans, health and nutrition goes hand in hand for cats. Investing in feeding your cat a healthy, balanced diet will not only make a difference between your cat thriving vs. just surviving, but it can play a role in helping prevent some common feline diseases (especially common as cats age) like diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, bladder and urinary tract infections and blockages, kidney or bladder stones, cancer, and the corresponding issues including obesity, arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Often individuals consider the choice of food an economic one, given kibble can seem so much less expensive; however, it is important to consider the long-term costs of veterinary visits and the cost of care for a chronic disease. Additionally, a consideration is the ultimate cost of health, death, or pets who are relinquished due to the cost of their care.The investment in quality food can pay off in the long-term health of your pet.

In addition to supporting the shelter-feeding program, Merrick will help each new adoptive family kick off a healthy, at-home eating program by offering each adopter a coupon to be applied to a supply of dry/canned food for the transition to their cat's new home. This is a wonderful partnership for both Tree House and Merrick Pet Care, and especially for the cats.