This week, The Cat Connection learned that Merrick Pet Care, the Texas-based manufacturer of Castor and Pollux Organix and Merrick brand dog and cat food, was sold to Nestlé Purina PetCare Company via their private equity owner, Swander Pace Capital. Though the terms were not disclosed, we assume this transaction involved a lot of money, as Merrick is one of the fastest growing natural/organic pet food brands and Purina controls at least a third of the…