the vet called today
February 28, 2006 l Leave a Comment
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.”)
our raw food venture
February 27, 2006 l 1 Comment
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.
further information about raw food
February 26, 2006 l Leave a Comment
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)
I’ve always been interested in the idea of feeding a raw diet to the cats, but never really summoned the energy to make that kind of change. Now that I’m faced with the fact that three of my cats have a lifelong urinary condition, it’s becoming more than just an ‘idea’.
A raw diet is the closest thing to what felines would eat “in the wild”, and is exactly what cats’ bodies were designed to process. For cats with FLUTD, a diet that is mostly meat, without grains, fillers, or preservatives, can help to maintain a healthy bladder and urinary system without any of the unfortunate side effects that prescription diets have been known to cause.
So I’m researching the various pre-made diets, and trying to figure out which one fits best with our particular needs (like certain food sensitivities) and my budget (gotta love being a college kid). Raw will be slightly more expensive than the canned food I am buying now, but I just think of it as using the money that would otherwise go towards vet bills. And as much as I love our vet, I’d really like it if we didn’t have to see him for anything other than annual exams.
Oh, and I’ll need explain to the vet why I’m returning the un-opened bag of prescription dry food, which should be interesting, because he is adamantly anti-raw diet
*eta*
Forget pre-made. I would be willing to forgive the fact that it is more expensive, but it’s nearly impossible to fine a pre-made raw diet that doesn’t have ridiculous ingredients. Like bok choy, alfalfa sprouts, or garlic (which, by the way, can be toxic to cats)
The plan now is to research the most feasible way to make our own food. Lots and lots of reading…I need more Mountain Dew.
