When I first heard of people using Raw Meat for Cats as a recipe, I thought it sounded insane. I always though raw meat was like poison and that just handling it, alone, would cause both me and the cats to get a horrible case of salmonella poisoning. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I spent some time reading Dr. Pearson's website and learned a great deal about the benefits and safety of raw meat for cats using turkey, chicken, rabbit and hen: Raw vs Cooked Food For Cats. Dr. Pearson is a veterinarian like no other. Unlike most vets, Dr. Pearson actually understands nutrition.

 

Why Raw Meat For Cats?

After educating myself on Raw Meat Cat food diets, I began to see the wisdom in it. By summarizing what Dr. Pearson says in her immense, infinitely useful and wonderful website, catinfo.org, I am only scratching the surface of the wisdom of a natural cat food diet. When you have the time, it is well worth visiting her site and discovering the many benefits of this particular cat food diet. For the sake of introducing the basics of a healthy, raw cat food diet, I'll do my best to summarize and cover the basics. Let me tell you, though, how my own experience with raw cat food began and how it has progressed over the course of the last several months. At first, I was not comfortable making my own raw cat food recipe, so I began using a commercial product called RadCat. At first, Carson (who suffered from Irritable Bowel Disease: IBD) seemed to love RadCat, but my other cat Noche didn't care for it too much. Carson was gobbling up the expensive RadCat like crazy, but we continued to do one thing wrong: We kept out the commercial dry food for Noche. Carson continued with his bad, unhealthy habit of eating commercial cat food besides the RadCat and he wasn't getting any better. He wasn't gaining weight and continued to have bad bouts of diarrhea. Then, a miracle happened: One day after we got back from a trip over the Thanksgiving holiday, Carson decided to kick the habit - that is, the commercial cat food habit. He simply would not touch it. I had to go to the pet store and stock up on RadCat. Carson was gobbling it up and Noche was slowly beginning to adapt to it. One other thing; we noticed Carson was beginning to gain weight and the diarrhea had vanished! One other thing I noticed: I was going broke paying for 4 or 5 $13.00-per-24-ounce containers of RadCat every week. I figured the RadCat was costing us about $200.00 a month! That's when I discovered Dr. Pearson's Raw Cat Food Recipe and bought a meat grinder which you can read about here: Tasin TS-108 Meat Grinder At the bottom of the article is the same video we used to teach us how to make a similar version of the following raw cat food recipe below. The purpose of the grinder is that bones are a vital nutrient in a cats natural diet. RadCat uses bone meal instead of bones, which according to Dr. Pearson is not as beneficial as the actual raw bones. It might also surprise you no fat is taken off the meat. Cats need plenty of fat and bones. Because, it is hard to get all of the actual nutrients that are found in organ meats, etc., vitamin supplements can be used instead of heart, livers, gizzards, etc.. Or a little bit of both. Below is the basic recipe idea based on 3LBs of poultry. Why Poultry and why not other meat? Dr. Pearson advises against Beef and Fish for a couple of reasons: One, they are not part of what a small cat normally eats in their natural diet and these meats are not nearly as hypoallergenic as Poultry and Rabbit.

 

Raw Cat Food Recipe

3lbs Chicken, Hen or Turkey: (Important: Use hormone and steroid-free meat. Go as natural as possible)
Raw meat for cats is safe because it can be rinsed and cleaned before grinding. According to Dr. Pearson, raw meat from a reputable source is healthier than commercial dry food which can contain dangerous toxins. Also, Your Cat's digestive system is very small compared to a humans so bacteria has much less time to multiply and make a cat ill.

Additional Supplements for Raw Meat Recipe

• 2 Egg Yolks: (optional, some cats like Carson do not do well with eggs, but they are an excellent source of protein)
• 300 MG of B-Daily (B12 Complex) Vitamin
• 400 MG of Vitamin E
• 3000 MG of Salmon Oil
• 3500 MG of Taurine (If you throw in a few hearts, liver and gizzards you can use less Taurine)
• 1.5 Cups of Water (You can add more water later...cats really don't need to drink much water. On a natural, raw cat food diet, they get all of the moisture they need in their food)

 
These supplements can be kind of a pain to add. They either come in powder or gel capsules that have to be broken up and inserted into the liquid.  The other messy part is that you'll want to remove about 25% of the bones before running all of your meat through the grinder. Use leg and thigh meat and avoid breast which doesn't have as much fat and nutritional value.  Making a homemade cat food recipe is a bit of job, but keep in mind that if you make 6-10lbs at a time, you'll only be doing this once a month. Once the meat and bones are finely ground you can mix all of your supplements in with the water and stir them into the raw, ground meat. Use freezable storage, containers or bags and store the food in your freezer. I usually transfer the raw meat from the freezer to refrigerator one day before serving it. Don't keep more than 2 days worth of the cat food recipe in your refrigerator at a time.  So, what have the benefits been of going with raw meat cat food recipe for Carson and Noche?

 

Benefits of Raw Meat for Cats Recipe

Since, going to an all natural raw-meat-for-cats diet, neither of my cats visit their water bowl much anymore. Noche's black fur has never looked shinier and healthier. Carson is practically back to his normal weight. The cat box never smells too bad anymore and doesn't need to be cleaned as often. Once you get the recipe and skills in making it down, the raw cat food recipe is a money saver. I will now state with complete confidence that a raw meat diet is the only thing I feed my cats - and it has practically brought Carson back to his full health again and cured him of his Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)

 
One Secret:
Every now and then, we make a batch of cat food that the cat seems to either not like or just gets bored with. Perhaps, we didn't get the vitamins just right and they are too strong, or perhaps, they don't like the particular kind of meat we used. The Foriflora For Cats solved the problem. Keep some on hand to sprinkle in their food. They love it and its good for their digestion.

 

Raw Meat For Cats Recipe and Demonstration

Fortiflora for Cats is a Probiotic supplement in the former of powder that you sprinkle in your cats food to help with digestion. Fortiflora Feline by Purina comes in a box of 30 packets and costs around $21.00 online. I've tried other Probiotics for Cats and can't say that they've really made a difference in the health of my 10-year, old male cat, Carson with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). Then again, it would be hard to know whether or not these cat probiotics are working because my cat has an unusually stubborn digestive disorder that has caused him chronic diarrhea and weight loss. The only thing that has worked for Carson is the RadCat Raw food Diet. So, if RadCat is so great then why I am reconsidering probiotics for cats once again?

Read the rest of this entry

Cat Declawing Considerations

I'd be the last one to preach about how cat declawing is cruel and unusual punishment for a beloved pet that likes to turn an expensive leather couch into a shredded piece of refuse. Cats are ...  well, they are animals and we are giving them a home, shelter and food. As long as provide those things for them, we are loving cat owners and there is nothing cruel about doing what we think is best to protect the property in our homes. If you feel Cat declawing is the only way you can provide for your cat without your cat tearing up your home, I have no problem with that. I believe that what is best for your cat is also what is best for you and your home. Though, I have never personally believed in cat declawing, it is not because I think it is cruel and unusual punishment. There are some very good arguments against cat declawing that have as much to do with cat owner's well-being as much as cat's. For outdoor cats, it goes without saying; they need claws to protect themselves. If my cat is spending any amount of time outdoors, I certainly feel better knowing it has its claws to protect itself and use them as cats do in the wild.  There is some evidence about cat declawing that suggests cats which are declawed often are not as well litter trained as cats with claws. I've read some research that suggests cat declawing can lead to behavioral problems such as refusal to use the litter box.Of course, you can make statistics and research look like just about anything these days, but this illustrates the point I made earlier about cat declawing. If it's best for you, then it is best for the cat. The real question is, "is there a way to keep your furniture safe without cat declawing?" Read the rest of this entry

What is Hypoallergenic Cat Food?

If you have to ask what hypoallergenic cat food is, chances are you have a cat with a digestion problem.  You've read about my cat not eating one day, eating everything in site the next, then having projectile diarrhea and not feeling well a day after that. As the blood tests are pretty much ruling everything else out, it is beginning to look like I have a cat with Inflammatory Bowel disease or some type of food allergy. It looks like I may be trying a hypoallergenic cat food or IBD cat food.

 

Hypoallergenic Cat Food Purposes

Cats sometimes develop digestive problems as a result of allergies to different types of protein and/or carbs. The chicken, beef, liver or wheat, corn or grains could all play an allergy-related role in your cats digestive problems.  Hypoallergenic cat food is made with a unique source of protein such as Venison or Duck (a protein that is different than the one that might be causing your cats allergy-related digestive problems). Also,  - and this is somewhat controversial - an effective hypoallergenic cat food should contain little or no grains, preferably something other than wheat, corn or rice. The controversial part is that most of the hypoallergenic cat food brands still contain some of the carbohydrates and vegetables that a few of the naturalist pet food nutritionists claim are not good for your cats.  These anti-store-bought,l cat food naturalists usually recommend a raw meat diet which is completely void of the grains and things that are not part of a carnivore's natural diet. While cats are certainly carnivores,  most of my cats have lived long, healthy and happy lives and the messiness, safety and trouble of handling raw meats is not a very appealing thought to me. Carson is the one exception and so I'm considering a hypoallergenic cat food diet like the Royal Canin below as a compromise.

 

Hypoallergenic Cat Food Ingredients

Royal Canin makes a hypoallergenic cat food worth considering:

Hypoallergenic Selected Protein Adult PD is recommended for cats with digestive problems ranging from IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), to food related allergies. Let's face it,

Royal Canin PD

some of the cat foods out there are just not very healthy. Some of the worst cat food you can buy lists Wheat Gluten as its first ingredient. The Royal Canin PD formula might not be completely void of criticisms from pet nutrition experts, but it does meet the requirements of a cat food that is without most of the common culprits of cat digestive problems; common meats and grains. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic cat food PD Formula is a duck based food with pea flower instead of wheat flower. Keep in mind, that some of the naturalists claim that carrageenan is bad for your cat and Royal Canin PD does have this ingredient.  Below are the full ingredients of the Royal Canin PD hypoallergenic cat food as listed on their website:

Royal Canin PD Hypoallergenic Cat Food Ingredients

Water sufficient for processing, duck, duck by-products, pea flour, pea protein, natural flavors, fish oil, carrageenan, calcium sulfate, potassium citrate, cassia gum, Vitamins [L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), niacin supplement, DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement], taurine, vegetable oil, choline chloride, Trace Minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous

The bad news is that Royal Canin hypoallergenic cat food is not cheap and it's hard to find.  Unfortunately, Royal Canin PD is not found on eBay which is my favorite place to shop for bargains. The good news is that you can click on our sponsors below to find a much better online price for Royal Canin PD hypoallergenic cat food.

How to Give a Cat a Pill. That's the one question no cat owner has never had to ask. We've all asked that question at one time or another and your local vet or pet store is of no help.

Cat Pills

How to Give a Cat a Pill

Unless you’re an experienced cat owner, you’ll believe that what I’m about to say is an over-dramatic exaggeration:  How to give a cat a pill is the most treacherous, blood-filled ordeal you’ll wish you never had to do. I’m not kidding;  not even a good vet knows how to give a cat a pill.  Just the thought of administering one pill to an adult cat is enough to make even Criss Angel or David Blaine shudder and hide. Not even a magician knows how to give a cat a pill. If you don’t believe me, why do you suppose neither one of these guys have attempted such a dangerous feat of magic on their television shows? I once saw Criss Angel hanging from a whirling helicopter by meat hooks pierced through his back. Both Angel and Blaine have done some extremely dangerous things before public eyes, but have you ever seen either of them try to give a cat a pill? My guess is, no. And unless they read my article and discover the magic behind how to give a cat a pill, don’t expect them to perform the miracle anytime soon.

How to Give a Cat a Pill without Blood

Having endured many bloody cuts in my arms, hands and fingers, I had to learn the secret on how to give a cat a pill the hard way. My goal is to not only teach you how to give a cat a pill, but to make it easy and painless for you on your very first try.  Not knowing how to give a cat a pill is no way to go through life. My adult, male cat required an antibiotic in the form of a small pill to be given to him twice a day. Imagine trying to hold down the paws of a hyper scared cat, then opening his mouth and shoving a pill down his throat. It’s impossible with just one person. With two people it becomes just seemingly possible enough to make you stupid enough to try. Forget about it. Unless you really know how to give a cat a pill, don't even try. I could push the cat’s front legs down with one hand while my wife approached the cat with the pill from the front, only in time to discover the cat’s hind legs digging into my stomach and legs. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that the cat deliberately wants to disembowel you like a small rabbit, he’s just scared. We both are. That is, until I discovered a better way. This method is in fact, a full proof, way of how to give a cat a pill without any danger or fuss.  First, there are a few things you will need.

Pill Dispenser

Cat Pill Administering Ingredients: How to Give a Cat a Pill

• 2 reasonably sane, pet-tolerant adults
• 1 Pill Dispenser (See Picture)
• Cat Pill/s
• Cat
• 1 Box of Band-aids and a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide (In Case you're not very good at following Instructions)

How to Give a Cat a Pill

With the cat sitting comfortably on carpeted floor, approach him/her from behind, kneel down over cat and let your knees straddle both sides of the cat with his/her mouth facing the opposite direction. Keep cat calm by petting him/her, while your partner grabs the pill and pill dispenser. As your partner steps in front, gently push rear back of cat down towards the floor with one hand, while pushing cat's front paws down with other hand. Push cat down to the floor and towards your body, so his/her rear legs have no room to activate. Have your partner gently rub the cats head, and then begin to pull head back while pushing in to both sides of mouth with two fingers. As Cat begins to resist more forcefully, increase pressure and keep cat tightly cradled and harnessed between your legs. As soon as the mouth opens up, partner slides pill ejector in mouth and lets go of pill. As cat closes its mouth keep head tilted back and pet the neck for a few seconds to make sure pill is swallowed. Let the cat go. You’re done! That's how to give a cat a pill.

Video Demonstration

How to Give a Cat a Pill