the domestic zoo

also known as the week where I do all those things that I didn’t get done over vacation.

For myself, Lent has more or less officially begun. I’m allergic to dairy, so being able to partake of it this week doesn’t make much of a difference. I don’t really eat eggs anyway, nor large amounts of olive oil, and I can’t stand alcohol. Having been a vegetarian for nearly three years (and a vegan for one year), I actually look forward to cleansing myself from meat for awhile. But of course, fasting is only one aspect of Lent.

As we fast from food, let us abstain also from every passion. . .
Let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.
True fasting is to put away all evil,
To control the tongue, to forbear from anger,
To abstain from lust, slander, falsehood and perjury.
If we renounce these things, then is our fasting true and acceptable to God.
Let us keep the Fast not only by refraining from food,
But by becoming strangers to all the bodily passions.

[Vespers for Sunday evening (Sunday of Forgiveness)]

Well, I should say, the receptionist at the vet’s office called today. She asked how Miko was doing, wanting to make sure there was no more straining and we were keeping up with her meds. I told them everything was going really well, and we weren’t having any further issues.

She then asked about the mice. I guess when the exotics vet requested the mice’s records, they cued in to the fact that I got a second opinion. The vet was curious as to their diagnosis. I was honest, and said that while the other vet couldn’t conclusively diagnose anything, the mice were put on antibiotics (baytril and doxycycline) and the noises stopped. So much for being surreptitious.

And then a took a deep breath (figuratively, not literally), and I told the receptionist that I wanted to return the un-opened bag of prescription dry food. I’m a wuss when it comes to anything remotely confrontational, so I was quite proud of myself when I said, “I’ve thought it over and I really do not feel comfortable feeding them the prescription food. We’ll be exploring other methods of diet management.” Of course, I didn’t tell her what those other methods were, but I’m sure it will come up soon enough.

She said she’d make note of it, and told me to call if I had any further issues (which was kind of a joke, because when she first called she said, “It’s been a whole week since we’ve talked, that’s unusual.”)

The basics of raw food for cats

After a good deal of research and reading, I’ve decided to follow the basic raw diet that Anne lays out on her website, catnutrition.org. A slightly modified version of the recipe can be found at catinfo.org, a knowledgeable site that is run by Dr. Lisa Pierson, a veterinarian.

The only problem with it, is that I don’t own a meat grinder. The foundation of raw feeding is ground meat with bones, or else the cats will be missing out on calcium and other essential minerals and nutrients. To purchase a meat grinder that could also handle bones would be a significant investment, something that is definitely out of my league at the moment.

I was, however, able to find an excellent source of whole ground chicken! Yes, I just purchased 10 pounds of ground chicken plus 2 pounds of chicken hearts (contains taurine, a critical component of cat diets) from Hare Today, and I am quite excited about it.

Hare Today is a small family run farm. We strive for a healthy environment for all our animals without the use of hormones or antibiotics. I believe that a healthy animal raised with plenty of pasture space (rotational grazing) as well as good management techniques does not require all the “preventative measures” found in most feed lot practices. Fresh air, plenty of sunshine and room to roam is by far the best way to raise livestock. The chicken, turkey, pheasant, duck, salmon are USDA inspected ALL NATURAL.

when the cat starts batting bunny poop across the floor.

http://www.catnutrition.org/

http://www.catinfo.org/

http://www.felinefuture.com/

http://www.serve.com/BatonRouge/nutr.htm – tons good information

Recommended Reading:

Raising Cats Naturally, Michelle Bernard (order online at http://www.raisingcatsnaturally.com/)

The New Natural Cat, Anitra Frazier and Norma Eckroate  (amazon.com)