This article explores the reasons why people might seek alternatives to conventional pet foods, describes the different categories of alternative feeding practices, and discusses approaches to communicating with pet owners about nutrition and diet for their pets. The goal is for the reader to acquire a better understanding of unconventional feeding practices being used for companion animals so that she or he is better informed on the views and concerns of the pet-owning public regarding dog and cat nutrition and bettter able to enter into the dialog of how these pets should best be fed.