Holistic Cat Food Vs Grocery Store Brands

By Shannon Hutcheson

Don't confuse Holistic with Organic. There is a distinction. Holistic means management of foods in an ecological manner above and beyond going back to simpler, more natural methodology. Organically managed food basically means the land and resources are used in a more natural manner (grain fed, no additives or pesticides etc). One might say Holistic is a way of life, while organic is just a better diet. Either is much better than the typical grocery store brands (like Iams which also makes Eukaneuba, or Friskies and Whiskas).

When you put the word Organic on human food, you can pretty much guarantee double the price. Of course things will vary for different countries. The same can apply to holistic pet foods. Some are quite expensive, but when you read further you may see why I personally feel that anything holistic rather than a grocery store brand is better. You do get what you pay for after all.

Sure, some kitties will not eat anything BUT those low grade grocery store foods full of fillers. I have heard the argument that "My mom's cat ate BrandX cat food for years and never had problems" many, many times. Usually about animals that have long since passed on. Think on it though, 10-20 years ago we did not have nearly as much toxin in our food, water and even the very air we breathe. Today, however, our bodies are being bombarded with so innumerable things that break down and try to destroy our natural immune systems. It becomes increasingly important that we ensure that the food that sustains us is as good as it can be. AND be free of pesticides, additives and preservatives and all the other toxic man-made things that we really don't even need. The same applies to our pets. That pet food so and so's mom's cat ate 10-20 years ago was fed to a cat that was intrinsically healthier because it lived in a healthier atmosphere to begin with.

Our pets can't speak for themselves. And certainly, as you may know, the pet food industry sure hasn't been speaking for our pets either. The pet food industry has been feeding (no pun intended) crap to our pets, to the media and therefor to us, the consumers, for decades! Pet food is not nearly as regulated as human food. Until last year, specifically with the pet food scare we had in 2007. The media put a huge spotlight on the pet food industry because of the pet food recalls last year.

It's about time the pet food manufacturers were held accountable for the quality of their food and how it is produced! But did YOU know what is really in pet food?

Let me introduce you to some of the holistic cat foods my cats have tried. Merrick's, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, Natural Balance and Nutro. We now feed Wellness Core exclusively because of its quality at a reasonable price and, quite frankly, its availability at our local pet store.

You surely recognize some of these brands. Next time you are at the pet store, compare any of the holistic pet foods to Whiskas or Iams, or even Royal Canin and Science Diet. What you are looking for is an absence of by-products and any type of wheat, corn or corn meal. Cats are obligate (true) carnivores, yet many commercial pet foods are composed primarily of low-cost grains. These grains are fillers and are not necessary to the diet of your cat at all. If you see corn or wheat or corn meal in the first 5 ingredients, find another cat food. It's no different than feeding your cat cereal.

*Note that even some of the prescription grade Science Diet has by-product in it!

Meat and poultry by-products are the unrendered parts of the animal left over after slaughter; everything deemed unfit for human consumption. In cattle and sheep, this includes the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, blood, bones, fatty tissue, stomachs and intestines. The items on this list that would normally be consumed by humans, such as the liver, would have to be diseased or contaminated before they could be designated for pet food. Poultry by-products include heads, feet, intestines, undeveloped eggs, chicken feathers and egg shells.

Why then, one may wonder, will pets even eat such food? After that slurry pot of "meat" is processed, it is bound with wheat or grains. Then it is basted in fat. The pet smells this glorious kibble basted in fat. No wonder he/she will eat it.

The number one reason why I will always feed holistic is because the cats absorb MORE of the good stuff that is in the food. They have improved skin and coat, increased vitality and increased energy, and they pass less stool - much less stinky stool at that!

An even more interesting and 'pure' holistic food the cats have tried and liked is Wysong. Wsyong's processing methods are what really interested me though.

Since about 1979. Dr. Wysong began with clinical and surgical inventions, and branched into the various facets you see today as his research demonstrated the problems in conventional medicine and the importance of prevention. One of his company's beliefs is that usual pet food processing (intense heat to cook and preserve) destroys way too much of the essential nutrition required for balanced, healthy diets. Wysong's processing and storage methods alone make them a leader in excellent quality holistic pet food products. Definitely worth reading their numerous articles and documentation on their pet food products.

Now I'm not saying that Science Diet or Royal Canin are not good products. They are simply NOT holistic brands. They are mid-grade quality cat foods while Whiskas and Friskies would be considered low grade quality.

One product I always recommend for people wanting to feed their pets better, but who may not be able to afford the high end holistic grade pet food, is by Nutro. Nutro has two levels of very decent cat food. One is more grocery store priced (but not grocery store level), and the other is a bit better, but again not overly expensive. Try Nutro's Maxx Cat or their higher end brand, Natural Choice. While not considered Holistic, these brands have NO by-product and very little grain. Nutro has some excellent dog food as well as a holistic brand.

There is one Canadian made holistic pet food that I am aware of. Orijen is made in Alberta with Canadian grown meat and fish, grains and produce. If Orijen was sold at my local Pet Valu, I'd be buying it!

Learning to read cat food labels can be difficult. But with a little effort, you can learn to feed your beloved cats the healthiest choices available. Your cats will thank you! And so will your pocketbook.

Shannon Hutcheson is a pedigreed cat breeder who believes that true to nature diet for all pets, including pedigreed cats is the best choice. You can read more articles by Shannon at the Cattery Index Magazine website, a cat breeder's community and resource site. Read the full version of this article at Cattery Index.

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Pet Diseases and Diet

by Janine Carter

If you are feeding your dog store bought food that is produced by the large manufacturing companies, your pet may face some health problems. Some large manufacturers are using products in their food that has been removed from human foods. Find out what you are feeding your dog or cat.

Like most of the population, you would think that dog and cat food manufacturers are paying close attention to a healthy formula for your pets' good health and wellbeing. It may surprise you to know that not all manufacturers do, and that some use discarded animal parts that can actually harm your dog.

Not long ago, pet owners were shocked to find out that the food they were feeding their dogs had toxic ingredients and were causing many deaths in the pet world. Healthy dogs were fed this store-bought dog food that was well trusted by the unsuspecting public. Federal testing of some of the cat and dog food and the wheat gluten used in their production turned up the chemical melamine, which can be toxic in high doses. Gluten brings elasticity and chewiness to baked products, but in this case was toxic.

Know what's in your pets food. Make sure to always read the labels. Watch for by-products, which can contain diseased and contaminated slaughterhouse meats. Healthy dogs and cats can have their lives shortened by what they are eating every day. Also, meat from animals that have been drugged and chemical preservatives are also dangerous.

If at all possible, feed your pet all natural dog foods that have not been on the shelf for a long period of time. Food should be manufactured in smaller quantities to allow freshness. Food that has been sitting in a store for a year will not have the same quantities of nutrition it did when fresh. The longer the food sets the less nutrition.

A healthy dog should have a life expectancy of twenty years or more, yet most only survive ten to fifteen years. Good nutrition is key to ensure your dog lives out his full life and is not taken early by preventable diseases and bad diet.

Many things can be caused from improper nutrition such as, Allergies, Arthritis, Bladder problems, Cancer, Dental problems, Diarrhea, Diabetes, Digestive problems, Kidney problems, Liver problems and Obesity. Obesity can be caused by too much sugar and carbohydrates that are found in store-bought dog foods.

In the end, buy a quality dog food. All natural human grade food with no preservatives added. An Internet search can quickly find you the best natural food for your pets. In doing so you will increase their lives and their happiness.

If you have any questions on Dog supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please call 979-221-7251 or email info@poshpamperedpets.com. Our home office is located in Waller, Texas, with warehouses located throughout the United States such as Dallas TX, Houston TX, New York NY, Denver CO, Chicago ILL, Seattle WA, Kansas City MO, Miami FL, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Los Angeles CA, Fayetteville AR, Philadelphia PA, Phoenix Arizona, San Antonio TX Texas.



This article was written by Janine Carter, owner of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions regarding Dog Supplies or Posh Pampered Pets, please feel free to call 979-221-7251 or email info@poshpamperedpets.com.

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Chicken Gizzards And its Role In Preventing Cystitis In Cats

Author: Sarah Smith

Cystitis is a very common problem encountered in the cat community. Typically there are signs of blood in the urine, straining to urinate or even worse, a blocked bladder. If your cat has ever had a blocked bladder you will know that this is a life-threatening emergency. You need to get your beloved puss up to your vet as quickly as you can.

In my practice this condition is very common. It is more serious for males than for females in that the male cats urine outflow pipe, the urethra, is very fine. It can easily become blocked by blood clots or crystalline sludge. Typically there is a dietary history of feeding dry cat food. One thing we always advise is to stop feeding the dry food. Some cats are addicted to eating dry food and refuse to eat anything but dry food. These cats do better if they swap to a prescription diet designed to be lower in the minerals that cause the crystals that cause the blockage. They also contain a urinary acidifier to reduce the chances of minerals forming together to create the crystals. Some cats will still have problems regardless of what they eat.

One of my interests as a veterinarian is to look at alternative ways of treating these common, often frustrating and frequently life threatening conditions.

In my reading around the subject of cystitis in cats and possible approaches I came across an interesting thought.

In traditional Chinese medicine the development of cystitis and crystals in the urine is considered a form of DAMPNESS. Dampness is correlated to the presence of food allergies or sensitivities and incomplete digestion. Many of the Chinese medicines used specifically for the treatment and dissolution of bladder stones or crystals contain the inner lining of chicken gizzards, also called ji nei jin.

Chicken gizzard lining has been used for over 2,000 years in China. Initially it was used in the treatment of diarrhoea. Later it developed a reputation for promoting digestion and astringing fluid discharge. The digestion promoting effects were prominent on both meat and grains. The astringing effect was found to actually break down kidney and urinary stones.

An active principle, named ventriculin was named as the component that gave chicken gizzards its medicinal effects.

In the wild situation one of the main food sources for cats is birds. Obviously not chickens but chickens are birds and all birds have gizzards. I have to say I'm not entirely sure about what goes into the moist style of cat food in a can but I do wonder how much chicken gizzards are incorporated. I doubt that there are any in the dry form of cat food and I often wonder just how digestible it really is anyway.

It makes sense to me to consider adding chicken gizzards to our cats dinners. The eating of birds by cats is greatly frowned upon in many circles. It is especially unacceptable in the National Park where I live.

Obtaining chicken gizzards is at best a challenge. It can however, be readily accessed in its medicinal form of ji nei jin.

Given that it is a natural component of the wild cat diet and its historical use in Chinese medicine as a treatment for cystitis, urinary stones and digestive disorders in humans it seems logical to consider supplementing cats diets with ji nei jin especially if they are prone to urinary tract problems.

Sarah Smith is a student with Success University. Her online studies are teaching her to create a healthy work and home life balance. She is learning the secrets of attracting success in ALL areas of her life. Sarah is a student with Success University. Learn to Create a Successful Home Business Collect your FREE E-book

http://www.successful-home-business-connection.com

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Cat Care - The Best, the Easiest, the Most Natural

By Madeleine Innocent
Raw Food Diet - Photo: © Alison007 (Flickr name) reproduced under creative commons

Caring for your cat is easy when you try to remember her origins. Being domesticated doesn't mean you should abandon how she would live in the wild. Cats have evolved in the wild over millennia. They have been domesticated for a mere trifle in comparison.

This means that their nutritional and emotional needs remain identical to those of their forebears. In attempting to provide the best cat care means looking at these needs. Lets look at their nutritional needs first.

Wild cats hunt on their own. They hunt small animals, sometimes up to about their own size, but mostly smaller than themselves. They rarely eat anything other than freshly killed meat. Contrasting this with a typical domestic cat's diet of dried pellets and you realise how off the mark commercial pet food is. Even if dried pellets were made with the best cuts of meat (which they aren't), the meat is still not fresh or raw. So, if you're trying to provide the most complete cat care, what should you feed your cat?

In my opinion, the best cat food is raw meat and bones. You can't completely duplicate a wild cat's diet, but you can come so close as to not compromise her health. Cat care starts with food as this is consumed daily. Something done daily has much more impact on our health than say something that only happens once a year.

When a cat eats her prey, she will eat all the meat, including the bones. Bones are the best source of calcium for a cat. And meat can only be properly digested when it is consumed with bones. After all, all carnivores eat meat with bones. Not only that, crunching up on bones is the best way of keeping her teeth and gums healthy, as long as they're not too big. No dried pellets can do that as well, despite the promises on the label.

Some think that giving a cat raw meat will trigger their hunting instinct. In my experience, it does the exact opposite. Because raw meat is nutrient dense, your cat will be satisfied and won't feel the need to supplement her diet as when fed a nutrient deficient diet.

Natural cat care also means providing your cat with her basic emotional and physical needs. Cats are intelligent and inquisitive. They need visual stimulation. This is best served by being outdoors, where nature provides an abundance of stimulation. If it's impossible or too dangerous to let your cat outside, do make sure she has access to safe stimulants, perhaps in the form of toys. Make sure you play with her to ensure she gets adequate exercise.

Sun is an important aspect of good cat care. Cats love the sun and it is essential to good health for all of us, not just your cat. Regular outdoor access will allow her to choose for herself. For confined cats, make sure there are times when you can open a window (safely) to allow the sun's rays in, unhindered by glass or plastic.

Easy cat care really means allowing your cat the freedom she desires. Confining cats indoors is going against good animal husbandry, I am also of the opinion that declawing cats is not only painfully inhumane, it deprives the cat of the natural joy of stretching. If you are considering declawing your cat, maybe you should also consider having a cat is not for you. Cats have already adapted a great deal to live with us. Putting them through an unnecessary, inhumane and painful operation is purely for your benefit, not your cats.

Cats provide us with an abundance affection, love and enjoyment. To provide even adequate cat care, we should at least do the same for them.

Madeleine Innocent has been a homoeopath, a natural health therapist, since 2000. She treats both people and animals and finds that when the diet of her patient is addressed, to one that is more in keeping with natural laws, at the same time as her treatment, enormous strides in the resultant good health are made. To underestimate a good, natural diet is to play Russian roulette with life.

For more information, click on this website:- http://www.naturallyhealthycats.com

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It's Killing Bald Eagles...but The FDA Says It's Safe For Pets!

By Susan Thixton

What you are about to read is something that is very startling - and have probably never heard of before. As shocking as it might be, it is something that you should know before you feed your pet it’s next meal.

A very disturbing fact of pet food comes from FDA testing. The FDA has determined that pentobarbital, the drug that is used to euthanize animals - is commonly found in many popular pet foods. You did read that correctly. Pentobarbital, a euthanizing drug, is in some popular pet foods and treats and according to the FDA is safe for pets to consume.

A few years ago the FDA released a report of a two year study - finding pentobarbital common to many pet foods and providing results of an 8 week study to determine if it could be harmful to U.S. pets. Their findings - again from an eight week study - was that it was safe for our pets to consume pentobarbital in pet food.

My first concern is that this testing was only done for 8 weeks. No consideration was given to pets that are consuming this euthanizing drug in their food for a lifetime. Unfortunately, the concerns don’t stop there.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency recently reported that pentobarbital is responsible for the deaths of “over 140 Bald and Golden Eagles in recent years - as well as numerous other wildlife and dogs.” The reason the wildlife was exposed to pentobarbital - as stated in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency report, is from access to euthanized carcasses of farm animals and small animals in land fills. Poisoning of eagles or other wild birds, even if accidental, violates Federal law.

The FDA has made changes requiring pentobarbital labeling provide information of environmental hazard - the product is toxic to wildlife. New labeling requirements also added “Do not use in animals intended for food.” Yet pentobarbital is still legal to be included in a pet food.

Pets are consuming pentobarbital as you read this. Even though the FDA’s new labeling clearly states the drug should not be used in animals intended for food - pentobarbital is still found in common pet food ingredients. And not that I have already given you enough to be concerned over, the next worry is how pentobarbital could be found in pet food. Rumor has been for many years that pentobarbital is from euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters all across the U.S. being rendered - cooked - and end ingredients of the rendering process are put back into pet food. Pet Food manufacturers adamantly deny these claims stating the species source is from euthanized cattle and horses. The FDA has done testing trying to clinically prove the species source - pets or livestock - no clinical proof has ever been provided to the pet owning public.

The possibility of euthanized dogs and cats being cooked and put into pet food is horrendous. We might not ever learn the species source of the drug. The FDA does provide us with the information that the common pet food ingredient ‘Animal Fat’ is the ingredient that is most likely to contain pentobarbital. Please carefully look at the ingredients in your pets food and treats for the ingredient ‘Animal Fat’. Since no testing has ever been done on long term effects of consuming pentobarbital, and we know consuming the drug is killing wildlife - this is a risk too serious to ignore.

Before you feed your pet one more meal, please see Susan Thixton's website and learn many more secrets of the pet food industry. Also please sign up for the free Truth About Pet Food newsletter.

pet food, dog food, cat food

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Skin Problems in Dogs & Cats

The skin, your pet’s largest organ, acts as a barrier against harmful invasions from the environment. As an organ of elimination, symptoms of disease often show up in the skin and the body rids itself of toxins

Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.

Allergies are the most common reason one sees problems with the skin or coats of their dogs and cats. It may be dietary, environmental, chemical or drug related. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.

If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Simply by changing the dog or cats diet to a higher quality food will often make a difference. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.

If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn’t work a more drastic “elimination diet” may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.

If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment - inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.

Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared - vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.

Essential Fatty Acids can be extremely helpful in clearing up mild skin problems. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.

Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog’s coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo.

Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as “hot spots”.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven’t actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black “specks” at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you’ve got fleas.

Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing’s Disease.

There are some diseases specific to the skin. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.

Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in “lick granulomas”. These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.

Elyse Grau is an herbalist and a long-time pet owner, well-versed in pet nutrition and feeding. She is the author of Pet Health Resource, your web guide to a healthy, happy dog or cat. See her website for http://www.pethealthresource.com

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Raw Feeding Your Cat – Is It Really A Healthier Diet?

By Moses Wright

Popularly know as BARF diet for bones and raw food or biologically adequate raw food diet, the natural raw feeding diet has been drawing increasing interest in the cat lover community.

One of the many people that support a raw feeding diet is Richard Pitcairn, DVM, PhD, author of “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to the Natural Health for Dogs and Cats,” Rodale Press. He states that a cat’s health is improved by feeding a raw diet and that many of his clients have been feeding their cats raw meat successfully for many years.

When you are deciding what type of meat to feed your cat, Dr. Pitcairn suggests meats that can be easily found and prepare; many of his recipes use ground lean meat because it is high in protein but low in fat. In preparing the meat, Dr. Pitcairn says that 1 pound of ground meat equals roughly 2 cups. He warns that you should not feed raw rabbit, fish or pork as they can carry particular parasites.

Some of the meat type that he recommends as interchangeable are: turkey or giblets; chicken or giblets; beef, chicken or turkey liver; mackerel; tuna; beef, chick or turkey hearts; lean ground beef; duck, among others. Dr. Pitcairn recommends a varied diet and using more than one kind of meat in each meal.

On the other hand, a strong supporter for homemade food, Ann Martin, author of “Food Pets Die For,” New Sage Press, does not favor the raw food diet. The main concerns of a raw diet are bacterial and chemical contamination.

Citing the research of Jeff Bender and Ashley Robinson, veterinarians at the Department of Clinical and Population Sciences at the University of Minnesota, about an epidemic of food poisoning in a cattery. The food poisoning was caused by Salmonella that was thought to be traced to the 4-D meat (dead, diseased, dying or debilitated) in cat food. She is against feeding a raw food diet because of the potential for bacterial poisonings such as this and notes that these bacteria can also be found in meat intended for human consumption. Freezing the meat, she explains, destroys some but not all bacteria.

While Dr. Pitcairn disagrees and says that in over 17 years of practice, he has not seen any food poisoning in raw diets used by his clients. He comments that though it is not impossible that a pet may become ill, he believes they are less vulnerable. However, he leaves it up to the cat owner and suggests that if you do not feel comfortable feeding raw food, do cook it but realize that some of the nutrients will be lost.

Currently, there are still little substantiate results to support or go against raw feeding, and like what Dr. Pitcairn suggested, it’s totally up to the cat owner. As a cat owner who is truly concern about your cat’s health, you can try raw feeding and observe your cat’s response. You can then judge and decided for yourself if raw feeding is suitable for your cat.

About the Author: Moses Wright is the founder of http://www.FelineDiet.net. More helpful information on Feline Cat Diet, Natural Cat Food and Homemade Cat Food can be found on his website. Webmasters are welcome to reprint this article if the content and live link are keep intact.

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From Debbie the Blog Owner: "I personally feed my furkids a home prepared raw diet and couldn't be happier. Up until 6 months ago I fed them store bought canned food, yes, I higher end canned food but canned all the same. Anyway, I'm here to brag because my babies have NEVER BEEN BETTER! They look wonderful, their coat is silky and oh so soft it's incredible, eyes bright and even though they range between 8 and 14 years old, they have energy to burn! They're playing like kittens again. Bye, bye to the lethargic, slow moving, lay-around kitties that just lumbered from here to there. I love having my babies back!"

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Pica and Other Cat Eating Problems

By Kate Tilmouth

Most cat owners will notice from time to time that their cat decides for no apparent reason that they just don't like their cat food any more and won't eat it. This often completely puzzles a cat owner, as usually their cat just can't get enough of their so-called favourite food.

Everything a cat does, even if it is the strangest behaviour you've ever seen is always caused by something. It is never because they are being awkward or naughty and the secret to finding out why they no longer like their food is to look at it through the eyes of the cat. This way the cause is often much clearer.

The two most obvious reasons a cat may no longer want its food, is firstly has the food gone bad. Sometimes cat food can become tainted in its packaging, check to see if the can has any dents in it or if there is damage to the packaging in any way. Smell the food your self and see if there are any unusual odours or any mould on the food. Secondly, is the cat ill in any way? Sometimes bad teeth can cause problems or they have a stomach bug. A vet should check out any suspicions of illness immediately.

Other reasons why your cat won't eat its food are:

Getting food elsewhere - your cat may be catching its own meals if you live in an area where rodents are prolific. Or a neighbour could be feeding them. Cats have fairly small stomachs and need time between meals to digest their food. So a non-hungry cat may just be full.

Mating season - female cats when in season will go off their food naturally. So if you have a queen who stops eating but starts to display normal mating behaviour this is probably the cause.

Changes in situation - cats are renowned for being very fussy about change and they generally like their world to remain consistent. So even something as small as changing their feeding bowl or area can cause them to feel insecure about eating. Look around for little changes that may be causing your cat some concern.

Over feeding - In the wild cats choose to hunt and eat small rodents and birds. When you consider how much of a small meal this is, you may begin to realise that by providing your cat with a large bowl of food, you are providing too large a meal all at once. So when you see your cat eat a little then walk a way it's not that they are "off their food", it's because they want time to digest what they have just eaten. Unfortunately if the rest of the food is left to sit in the bowl all day it is likely become less appealing and the cat will not eat it. Most cats will self regulate their food intake like this but in some cases you will get a greedy cat who will stuff themselves with a large bowl of food leading to an overweight kitty. As a rule it's best to feed your cat small portions of food throughout the day to avoid overeating and wastage.

A less unknown fact about a cats appetite and feeding habits is that they have an inbred instinct to change their diet from time to time. This is a survival mechanism to prevent starvation in the wild if a particular food source disappears. This instinct is still present even in our domestic cats that have no worries of this. So from time to time a cat that normally loves to eat, say fish may suddenly only want chicken. From an owners point of view this is not only inconvenient but may also cause concern if their cat just won't eat it normal food. A solution is to always have some other flavour of food in stock for these occasions so that worries of ill health can be eliminated from the owner's minds.

A more serious eating problem known as Pica that some cats suffer from is a rather unusual condition where a cat will choose to eat non-food items. The most common substances are rubber, electric cables, fabric and wool. The cause of this unusual eating behaviour is unknown, although it is thought that it may be caused by under stimulation, in other words boredom. This is because most cases are reported amongst indoor cats, who do not have the normal cat stimulus of hunting, exploring and climbing etc.

At present there is no cure for Pica but as it is quite dangerous for cats to eat these substances, the main treatment is to make the substances they crave either inaccessible or taste very unpleasant. Whilst at the same time making their environment more stimulating and interesting, with toys, climbing frames and games. One such game is to hide small treats inside tubes or boxes, so that the cat has to seek them out and has to put some effort into retrieving them.

More cat health and cat care tips can be found at our site http://www.our-happy-cat.com, a feline friendly community full of helpful advice and fun things to do to make sure you have a happy cat and a happy you.

Copyright 2007 Kate Tilmouth

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