Cat Chat: On-Air Tips & Suggestions

Tracie's Thoughts on the Pet Food Recall (PDF File, 137KB)

This is the place to come to follow up on Tracie's On-Air tips and suggestions. Some of these tips are explained in greater detail in PDF files. Go here to get the free Adobe Acrobat reader.

NEED INFORMATION ABOUT ANYTHING MEDICAL FOR YOUR PETS?

Puh-leeze do NOT try to understand a medical diagnosis or look up symptoms by simply "googling" on the internet. You will get partial or even incorrect facts or advice. Instead, there is a fantastic service for pet owners called Veterinary Partners ( www.VeterinaryPartners.com) that is run by actual vets - imagine that?! Even better, it is a free site from V.I.N., or the Veterinary Information Network, which is the professional version and costs a vet around $600 a year to subscribe. So Veterinary Partners is not just the most reliable source of medical information for your dogs and cats, it is also a huge bargain. You can't beat that!

NUTRITION

I Just Found The Cat Food Of Your Dreams: WERUVA

Weruva is the wet food I've been looking for! It has a few simple pure ingredients: it's "clean" food, made by a small family company that was in the human canned food business and makes their line of cat foods the same way. But here's the really mind-boggling, incredible, fantastic, thrilling aspect: Weruva does not make dry food. They make no kibble at all because they know it's the wrong fuel for the cat. Weruva makes ONLY canned food for cats because they know that is the right food for a feline, even though the profit on dry food is much greater. Bravo! How can we not love them for that? Don't we have to show our appreciation and support for their unselfish decision by buying Weruva canned food whenever possible? Let's show them what this means to the kitties of America by going onto www.PetFoodDirect.com, which is the easiest way to buy it. Weruva is the first pet food company I've ever heard of that makes purely wet food- I'm going to recommend it to everyone.

Weruva Product Flyer

Great News From Shannon in SC About Delicious Weruva

You probably don't remember, but a couple of weeks ago I called in to your show with a food question about my cat. I had been hearing that contrary to what we used to be told, cats should not eat dry food. I had tried and tried to get our older cat to eat wet food with no luck. Also, he would scarf down the dry food so fast that he would always throw it right back up. I was very frustrated as there is nothing physically wrong with him. I called in to your show desperate for help. I must say that I am over joyed with the results from your suggestions!

I ordered Weruva from Pet Foods Direct on your recommendation and it is an absolute hit! No more puking, no more begging for the dry food and not only that, my other cat seems to be in heaven also!

I do have 2 questions though. How much should I be feeding them and should I be getting them a variety of flavors or stick to the same one or two?

Note: Bob is a 12lb DHC and is 3 years old and Stinker Bell is a petite 6lbs and has just turned 1!

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! You are a life saver!

Shannon F.
Greenville, South Carolina

I absolutely DO remember your call and have been thinking about you - so this news is music to my ears (and I'm sure it will be to David, who created Weruva!

I am so proud of you and the kitty cats for getting off the kitty crack and choosing such a superb dinner choice instead. You know about the 15% off from Pet Food Direct, right? Go to my website and you'll get the info.

The answer to these feeding questions and MANY others are in THE CAT BIBLE and also in the Q&A's and BLOG portions of my website - I urge you to look, you'll enjoy it.

The short answer is: as much as they will eat in 15 minutes twice a day (probably a can each at this point but the amount may go down once they realize this heavenly food is theirs forever!) and definitely switch flavors for a variety of food sources and also not to get them hooked on one flavor only.

You've made my day with this cheery news - I have 40 depressing/frustrating problem question emails to answer but yours went to the top of the pile!

Best,
Tracie

ANOTHER WERUVA TESTIMONIAL:

When I recently discovered WERUVA cat food and sang its praises on the air, little did I know that cats would be clicking their heels in the air for joy, too. This came to David at Weruva, who forwarded it to me:

I have been experimenting with getting my older cats off kibble for YEARS. Sometimes they would like a particular brand for a week, maybe a little longer...sometimes just a day or two. I tried raw, home cooked, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and every type of better quality canned food out there. My neighbor and I swapped a few cans of what we were feeding at the moment when neither of our cats were eating it. Well, I have now been feeding Weruva for 2 solid weeks TWICE a day and the plates are licked cleaned. I can't believe it. I am hopeful this will continue, and the cats can enjoy a diet more suited to their natural needs. I just wanted to let you know, because frankly I am a little dumbfounded by it. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,
Heidi

20% OFF PET FOOD DIRECT!

Tracie wants to thank you all for improving your pet's nutrition — so now everyone can enjoy premium and hard-to-find brands of pet food at the best prices.

It is easy as pie to use this discount.

No mumbo-jumbo - just go to their website, PetFoodDirect.com and pick some foods (I click on the "natural foods" to narrow down the choices and eliminate the highly commercial foods). When you check out at the end you'll see a box for "coupon code" — enter the single word (one word) DOGTALK or CATCHAT (no spaces) — they both work and you'll get 20% sliced right off your total. It allows you to try some of the super-premium gourmet foods like Weruva, which you might otherwise not find or find too costly.

I know it works because now I'm using it too — thanks to you wonderful listeners I have now been introduced to the ease of having heavy bags and boxes of cans arrive right at my door with a big discount. Very sweet deal.

When I researched pet nutrition I was horrified by what I learned, confused by the inevitable conclusions I drew because how could I be the only one coming to this realization and I was daunted by the burden and responsibility of going out into the world and getting people to listen and to trust what I had deduced. This legal paper from Harvard vindicated everything I had deciphered and doubled my resolve to get the facts out there.

Please do yourself and your pet the favor of taking the time to read this brilliant piece of research and reportage. I will bet you that halfway through you will run to your cupboard to throw out your commercial dog food. There is a lot you can learn about the basic issues with commercial pet food in The Cat Bible. If you have a dog then it has lots more to offer you. If not, don't feel you've made an unwise investment. Instead, read that nutrition section without wrinkling any pages, check out the "dog and cats" section, and then you can give the book as a gift to friend or family member with a dog—you know, those people who don't understand how cool cats really are.

Harvard Law Paper on Pet Food Industry:
http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/784/Patrick06.html

Where to Get Raw Foods

Feline's Pride (www.felinespride.com) Our product is a U.S.D.A. (raw food) high protein diet. Excellent for all life stages of cats. Our formula is reversed engineered to mimic the nutritional value of a common field mouse. but without using cheese!

Dr. Lynne Lankes, San Francisco Bay Area Distributor for Feline's Pride fpsfbayarea@gmail.com

Oma's Pride (www.omaspride.com) is a family-owned business based in Connecticut that makes a human-grade mix of raw hormone-free meats, bones and blanched vegetables. It is all frozen to kill any bacteria and available for direct shipping if there is no retail distributor near you. Go on the Web site and see for yourself how easy and safe raw feeding can be if you want to incorporate it into your pet's diet or at some point go "completely raw," as so many nutritionally-educated people are doing.

Steve's Real Food (stevesrealfood.com/feline/fdcat_chicken.html)

Wysong Au Jus (or "All Meat") line: - you do have to add a supplement like Platinum Peformance to this, though. www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/CTGY/FD

Pet Grub (www.pet-grub.com) This site gives a rather great explanation of why to feed cats raw food, and gives information about how to prepare a "stew," and what vitamins and minerals your cat needs.

The Honest Kitchen (thehonestkitchen.com)

PROWL: Raw dehydrated food to which you add warm water before serving.

Information on Nutrition from Feline Outreach

To get links and resources about food and feeding, go to www.felineoutreach.org, this public service clearing house put together by dedicated volunteers.

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition by Dr. Lisa Pierson DVM (http://www.catinfo.org): Dr. Pierson has an excellent site which includes information on feeding your cat properly, and how proper nutrition can prevent or treat diseases such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, urinary tract disease, and gastro-intestinal disorders such as IBD. She also has a list of her favorite commercial products.
Diabetes and Obesity: The preventable epidemics by Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, Esq. (http://www.felinediabetes.com/hodgkinsarticle.htm): Dr. Hodgkins addresses at length the issues of diabetes and obesity resulting from today's high carbohydrate commercial cat foods. Several studies have shown that a low-carbohydrate diet reduces insulin needs in diabetic cats (often getting them off insulin entirely) and increases weight loss (while maintaining muscle mass) in obese cats. Is it such a stretch to presume that, if a low-carbohydrate diet benefits diabetes and obesity, it may prevent these conditions in the first place? We certainly presume that if a human eats healthier, he or she is less likely to become obese or diabetic.
Feeding Cats for Health (http://www.catnutrition.org): Anne shares her experiences and research on feline nutrition, as she sought out and found a cure for her cat’s severe gastro-intestinal issues – and that cure is proper food.

For more information, please visit our website, http://www.felineoutreach.org.

"Even the most sophisticated cats don't cook their food. That's why we're offering a new, raw cat food which not only appeals to cats' natural meat-eating instincts but is also very good for them. Wild Kitty Cat Food (http://www.WildKittyCatFood.com) is the first raw cat food proven to provide the nutritional requirement for all ages of cats, from kittens to seniors. Wild Kitty Cat Food also offers the added benefit of reduced digestive problems, because it is so easily digested."
—Kristi

Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM on Nutrition and Shelby's Feline Pride:

"I realize that this is not exactly on the topic of feline diabetes, but it is on the topic of good feline nutrition so it counts, i think. I just received a shipment of Shelby's Felines Pride. I have been a fan of this product all along because I know the formulators and believe that it represents a wonderful no hassle, complete and balanced raw diet for cats. I haven't personally used it because until recently I have had quite a number of cats to feed and have had good results with Omas Pride raw and Platinum Performance, although it is more work for me to use it. I sell about 1,500 pounds of raw meat in my clinic every month as well. I have a litter of kittens right now and wanted to see how they would take to Shelby's formula so I ordered some. I am even more impressed than I was before. For someone with just a few cats and wanting to feed raw, this would be the only way to go. Defrost, scoop out portion, put bowl down, done (i might even be able to catch a few more winks in the mornings)! And the cats really love it. Even the kittens who are not completely sure that anything other than mom's milk is fit to eat! Shelby, I love the label! You are quite a little promoter, aren't you? Now, what you have got to do is license this idea and formula to others around the country who would/could open up local shops and make it and sell it under your supervision. IMHO, what is going to keep this from being a big big success is the expedited shipping costs. Yes, there are those for whom money is no object, but I still think if you had many distributors who made this themselves, this would really take off (I can see you cringing already, but local production is going to be important with a perishable product like this, sad to say). Anyway, a big thank you to Shelby for having worked so hard to make a really fabulous, trouble free way to give cats the best. As I reduce my numbers, I intend to order lots more for the remaining crew...."

—Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM

Canned Cat Food

DOWNLOAD THE CANNED CAT FOOD PDF FILE (40KB, Updated: Jul 1, 2008)

There are an impressive number of websites devoted to educating people about good nutritional health and practices for their cats. They are full of product suggestions and other specific advice for managing cats who are well and those who aren't. Dr Lisa Pierson is a vet renowned for her championing of feline nutrition with her website www.catinfo.org. Another excellent site is www.catnutrition.org. These two and other sites can be accessed through www.felineoutreach.com, a new not-for-profit group dedicated to educating cat caregivers and providing them with assistance.

There’s no doubt that the best food for a cat is high quality protein, which you can either prepare, or get from one of the better pet food companies. A few brands of excellent cat food are:

SOME PREMIUM CANNED FOODS

Avoderm Natural Select Cuts Chicken Chunks
California Natural
Canine Caviar for cats
Eagle Pack
Evo (the high end of Innova)
Felidae (from the Canidae company)
Innova
Merrick
Nature's Logic
Natures Variety Prairie
Newman’s Own
Petguard
Solid gold
Timberwolf organics
Wellness
Weruva
Wysong

If you have been listening to Cat Chat and want to toss out your cat’s dry food (hurray!) but are concerned about the cost of feeding cans -- or want the convenience of shopping for your cat when you shop for yourself -- good news is here. We’ve all worried that cat foods at the supermarket might be sub-standard, but it turns out not to be true. The list that follows was lovingly compiled by Lynette Ackman, who has started a non-profit group called “Feline Outreach” (www.felineoutreach.com) to educate and support cat caregivers.

GOOD SUPERMARKET FOODS

Lynette reads all the cans at the supermarket and here are her list of personal favorites for the person on a budget - and what she often uses for her foster cats. Please note that many of these foods contain beef, fish, “meat” (of unknown origin), or even a small amount of grains. Therefore, they may be inappropriate for cats with food allergies or gastro-intestinal disorders. Fish should be fed sparingly, but can serve as an excellent tool for transitioning cats on to canned food. Likewise, liver can be addictive, and should not be fed in large amounts.

* Whiskas Savory Ground Pate – Chicken Dinner; Mealtime; Bits o’ Beef; Turkey & Giblets (not the Whiskas in gravy – the savory ground pate is grain and vegetable free, and the "chicken & tuna" works well for transitioning cats to canned)

* 9-Lives - Chicken Dinner, Supper Supper, Chicken & Beef Dinner, Chicken & Tuna Dinner, Turkey Dinner, Chicken & Seafood Dinner, Liver & Bacon Dinner, Prime Grill with Beef

* Happy Tails – Chicken Dinner, Chicken & Tuna Dinner, Mixed Grill, Super Combo, Turkey & Giblets Dinner, Salmon Dinner (any of the flavors not in gravy) – This is Jewel's store brand - Jewel is a large grocery store chain in the Midwest

* Friskies – Supreme Supper; Mixed Grill; Country Style Dinner; Poultry Platter; Turkey & Giblets Dinner

* Trader Joe’s – Chicken, Turkey & Rice; Turkey & Giblets; Oceanfish, Salmon & Rice; Tongol Tuna & Shrimp; Tongol Tuna & Crab; Seafood Medley; Tuna Dinner - All excellent for transitioning cats to canned food. The chicken and turkey flavors are usually appropriate for regular feeding. Although the first three flavors contain grains, it is a small amount and seems tolerated by many of the diabetics and cats with gastro-intestinal disorders I have worked with. The first three flavors have a smooth texture similar to a/d, so they will work for syringe-feeding inappetant cats.

* Pro Plan – Adult chicken & liver entrée; adult turkey & giblets entree

* Fancy Feast Gourmet Feast – Almost all flavors in the gourmet feast line are low in carbohydrates (grain and vegetable free): Gourmet Chicken Feast; Gourmet Turkey & Giblets Feast; Tender Beef Feast; Tender Beef & Liver Feast; Savory Salmon Feast; Tender Chicken & Liver Feast; Beef & Chicken Feast; Chopped Grill Feast

* Fancy Feast Flaked – Fish & Shrimp Feast (this is good for transition)

I dislike the Fancy Feast "elegant medleys" on principle - this is their answer to the popularity of foods like Merrick and Wellness - they responded by adding unnecessary vegetables to their food. Added vegetables should not be why people are buying Merrick or Wellness, they should be *tolerating* vegetables and fruit in order to get higher quality meat, no "meat" of unknown origin, and no "byproducts".

Supplements

Our Official Vet Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins uses the Platinum supplement for the ocicats she raises and recommends it to her feline patients. Dr. Alice Villalobos, the Official Oncologist of Cat Chat, prescribes the supplement for all the animals with cancer that she consults with.

Platinum Performance (Feline): For your older cats this joint supplement not only has made dramatic differences to arthritic cats but also contains other supplements for overall health. The dog people who have read The Dog Bible know about the remarkable results people have gotten from the canine formula— and I constantly get testimonials about it from readers of the book and Dog Talk listeners. I think the older cats are going to be jumping for joy, too.

Tummy Upsets? Loose stool or diarrhea? BIO-SPONGE is made by the folks at Platinum and has done wonders for my pets when guts just aren't working right. Sprinkle some on the food and see if it doesn't set things right again. You can get it through the same phone number and web link as Platinum Performance, or ask your vet if she or she wants to carry it. This is the official description:

Bio-Sponge is an intestinal protectant designed to help support healthy intestinal function. Bio-Sponge has substantial capacity to adsorb and absorb toxins, viruses, bacteria and free radicals. A university study showed that Bio-Sponge™ adsorbed 99% of clostridium difficile and clostridium perfringens toxins in vitro.

HolistiCat (www.HolistiCat.com) is a site where you can learn all about using Flower Essences to treat physical and emotional issues with your cat, as well as learn about alternative therapies.

Omega-3 Oils are essential to healthy skin and coat: Not all oils are created equal. You want oil derived from the flesh of fish - but not from the liver- and oil produced under the most stringent standards possible. Fish oils from Norway are harvested and bottled under rigid government supervision. When you take the fish oil home you want to keep it only in a tinted glass jar, and in the refrigerator at all times. One such company is Nordic Naturals Fish Oil and you can order at www.vitacost.com.

Our own Dear Sally often recommends "flower essences" to help cats through emotional problems, both because they are totally natural and because a product like Feliway can be prohibitively costly for some people.

Many behavior and emotional issues can be helped by the use of Bach Flower Essences, consisting of 37 remedies created by Dr. Edward Bach. The best known among them is Rescue Remedy. Visit www.bachcentre.com. SpiritEssence.com offers a wide variety of Flower Essences tailor-made to help with feline health and behaviorial issues. The line was created by Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian based in Colorado.

Cat Treats

Freeze-dried treat companies:

Nature’s Variety Prairie freeze-dried raw treats

Halo Liv-a-Littles shop.halopets.com

Whole Life Pet Products www.wholelifepet.com/products.html

Grandma Lucy's grandmalucys.com/diner.html

Cherby's Fish Jerky (www.cherbeys.com) Not that your cat is going to do tricks or anything demeaning like that, BUT if you just wanted to give her a treat out of the goodness of your heart, dried human grade fish jerky would certainly be a good choice.

Tips for Getting “Kibble Addicts” Off Dry Food

I hope you didn’t miss the show where I introduced Cat Chat’s Official Vet, Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, who explained even more about why felines are obligate carnivores who need real meat. Listeners were fantastic – I LOVE you guys for being so enthusiastic and generous in sharing your wisdom and experience with other cat-lovers – because a few callers were having trouble weaning their cats off the kibble and onto canned food. Here are some of the suggestions:

Barbara in Florida has 7 cats and has weaned all of them off dry food and onto canned food by grinding a little kibble finely and sprinkling it on top of the quality canned food. The familiar smell of the kibble got hem over their initial resistance to the new smell, texture and taste of the new food.

Kate’s cat Smudge suggested sprinkling a bit of freeze-dried chicken on top of the food or a small amount of bonito flakes. She said that any dehydrated meat or poultry product can be enticing as a sprinkle on the new “alien” food from a can. She also recommended two brands of minimally processed food that you’ll find on the “links” tab.

Mrs. Hippy (pronounced Mississippi!) recommended putting Steve’s Freeze dried Raw food in the cat’s dish if she seems anxious that she no longer has a full bowl of kibble. At first some cats get freaked out when the bowl that was always down and filled to the brim is now gone.

Todd O. offers this suggestion: Try using a wet food that comes in cubes, such as Nutro or some Science Diet meals. Also, please check www.bluebuff.com/products/cats_mature.shtml for additional help. The cube form of wet foods may be more enticing to pure kibble eaters.

And my good friend Lynette, at www.felineoutreach.org, adds this: Many cats do like "chunky" canned foods or foods in gravy better than others, and that's a great idea for transition. Almost any canned food is better than almost any dry food. Long-term, we want to avoid foods containing corn starch, corn syrup, etc., so we have to watch those gravy foods closely. Many use corn starch or syrup, which are highly glycemic. It's also best to limit the fish, which is not part of a cat's natural diet. It's addictive, hyperallergenic, and can exacerbate some medical issues. Here's a great chart of the carbohydrate content of foods: www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfood.html.

Veterinary Care

There are veterinarians who see only cats in their practice and most of them belong to the American Association of Feline practitioners (AAFP). You can see if there are any such vets practicing in your area by calling 800-874-0498 or going to www.catvets.org

If you want to find a holistic practitioner in your area, go to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at www.ahvma.org

You need Pet Insurance - please download this file (95KB, PDF) to find out why and get your pets covered ASAP.

Alternative Practitioners

There is such wide variation in the advice, methods and training of the medical caregivers dispensing non-traditional care that the best way to guide those seeking an alternative to Western veterinary medicine is to recommend that you consult the list that follows. Keep in mind that you do not need to turn your back on traditional veterinary medicine just because you want to explore these options – in fact, there are many Western-trained vets who welcome alternative methods, have studied some themselves and advocate care that “bridges” between the disciplines.

Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy: 866-652-1590
AltVetMed Complementary & Alternative Veterinary Medicine
American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture: 860-635-6300
American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
International Alliance for Animal Therapy & Healing: 530-795-5040
Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association

ALTERNATIVE PRACTITIONERS (PDF File, 40KB)

Medical

Asthma: As Our Dr. Phil (the Official Vet of Dog Talk) (and also the world's leading authority on feline asthma) was saying on the show, there are much better ways to manage a cat's asthma than a steroid shot. For more information about inhaled medications and finding a vet who is knowledgeable about them, go to www.FritzTheBrave.com.

Chiropractor: Want to find a chiropractor for your pet? If your dog or cat is having any sort of lameness problem, a visit to a veterinary chiropractor may straighten it right out (literally!) There are many other physical issues that a spinal adjustment can often help - hot spots and lick granulomas on the feet, incontinence, even digestive. A yearly adjustment by a chiropractor trained for animals can be a preventive and curative experience. To find referrals and more information, call the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) at 918-784-2231or www.animalchiropractic.org.

Chronic Renal Failure: A DIET FOR CATS WITH CRF (CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE) OR OTHER KIDNEY ISSUES

There is a reversal going on about the belief that feeding dry food and low-protein food was the right diet for cats with kidney issues. For years, this is what vets have recommended. However many of them are now realizing that this was illogical because kidneys need moisture – this is why cats and dogs with chronic kidney failure (CRF) are given sub-cutaneous fluids. Feeding them a moisture- deficient dry food quite logically would exacerbate the moisture problem. Some experts believe that on an entirely wet diet, perhaps the sub-q fluids will be unnecessary until late stage CRF.

Certainly the new thinking is to feed all wet food. ALL WET FOOD. The kidneys need that moisture desperately. The best solution is to feed any of the nice high-quality canned foods or a raw food.

There are many prescription diets available today but most are dry foods. You’d rather have any cat’s diet be a based on a high quality protein, but for a cat with kidney disease this is even more true, since better “fuel” in the way of protein is easier for the kidneys to work with. Corn gluten and wheat gluten are examples of protein that is not high quality; “meat by-products are better” than these but not as good as muscle meat. Look for foods that have the word "chicken" or "turkey" (not just poultry byproducts).

There are now studies which indicate that low-protein diets raise creatinine levels, which is something you want to avoid in a cat with renal failure because it worsens the anemia and muscle wastage that are often seen with CRF.

Constipation is commonly secondary to CRF because they get dehydrated. Fiber might help - but you have to be very cautious with fiber as it can make the problem worse. Fiber bulks up the stool. A better solution is to add some fat, which will lubricate the GI tract - a little virgin olive oil, salmon oil, or even butter.

If you want to add supplements - definitely omega fatty acids are good for the kidneys. The B-vitamins are great for combating anemia. Water-soluble vitamins are washed out, especially with excessive drinking, urination, or sub-q fluids, so supplementation can be highly beneficial. Also, if you'd like to add Coenzyme Q10 (30 mg every other day to start) read about it on Dear Sally’s page, since she was the first to Recommend it on Cat Chat. If you do decide to use CoQ10, note that many people stay with it for life because it is reported to be very good for the heart. Some cat owners have discovered that their cat had a heart problem only when they stopped or decreased the dose.

Have a look at the Feline Outreach site, which has a whole section on CRF with some good links. http://www.felineoutreach.org/EducationDetail.asp?cat=KidneyDisease

If you have a cat with kidney problems and your vet is not aware of these newer ideas about the role of nutrition in managing kidney disease, consider having a phone consultation with Dr. Lisa Pierson (www.catinfo.org) will do phone consultations,
reviewing a specific cat's lab work and can recommend a diet specific to that patient.

Diabetes in Cats: A high-protein, low carbohydrate diet is best for diabetes. Ideally, the goal is to reduce the amount of body fat by feeding a diet of no more than 20% carbohydrates. There are commercial diets specifically formulated for feline diabetes, but when you read about the quality of food ingredients in commercial cat food in the nutrition chapter, you may decide to fashion your own diabetes diet. We’re really just talking about feeding your cat lots of meat, and a high protein diet is actually what a cat would be eating if guided by her own instincts. Just remember that with a diabetic cat you should always consult with your vet about any changes you want to make in her diet, to accommodate her diabetes.

For much more information about diabetes in cats, please view the PDF file: DiabetesInCats.pdf (47KB)

Determining diabetic diets: The following links were created by a lady named Janet (with the help of her diabetic cat, Binky) from California, and sent to me by Stephanie Stone. Janet's nutrition charts are incredibly useful in determining diabetic diets.

www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfood.html
www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/dryfood.html
www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/nonusfd.html
www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/foodfaq.html

Reading the charts, you can see that, within a brand, not all flavors of food are equal in their carbohydrate content. A diet with less than 10% of the calories coming from carbohydrates seems to work best. It might be the threshold at which there's the least impact on cats' blood glucose levels.

Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can be passed to people and giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis) is a diarrheal illness caused by this microscopic parasite. Once an animal or person has been infected, the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed in the stool, where it can survive outside the body for a long time. The organisms come from the environment and live in moist or wet areas. Giardia is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease (from drinking water and recreational water) in humans in the United States, where it occurs in every region.

Read more in the PDF File: giardia.pdf (62KB)

Astra's Pee Sticks: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT CRYSTALS OR STONES? Has your dog or cat been diagnosed by the vet with urinary crystals or stones as Astra the kitty has been? Then checking her urinary pH is part of keeping an eye on her in partnership with your vet. Vaxa International sells sticks that you hold in the urine flow to see how acid or alkaline it is (its pH balance). Call 800-248-8292 or go to www.vaxa.com. Also please check links about nutrition on this site for information about the proper diet to lower the chance of more crystals forming. Remember you are working together with your vet in maintain urinary health, so keep this information for him and have periodic ultrasound and/or urinary analysis at his recommendation.

Pet Masseuse: (www.animalshealing.com ) Did you hear the pet masseuse on the show? Do you want to discover the therapeutic value of massaging your own pet(s)? Visit Animals Healing Inc., the company Website for Lynn Vaughan, who is a Licensed Massage Therapist. The cat massage book she recommended on the air was The Healing Touch for Cats - The Proven Massage Program, by Dr. Michael Fox (This can be purchased through the Website.) Her instructional videos can also be purchased on the site: Bodywork for Dogs - Intuitive Touch through Massage, Acupressure and Awareness.

Easter Precautions

From Hilda, in Bellaire, TX

Tracie: With the Easter holiday right around the corner, I wanted to ask if you would please remind people about the dangers of the plastic grass that many people use in their Easter baskets. My kitty Slugger is partial to anything that remotely resembles a ribbon, and we are cautious and try to make sure nothing comes into the house that would be tempting, not to mention costly, if he ingests it. Believe me, it's a heart-wrenching thing to go through, and a hard lesson to learn. Slugger did not consume grass, but a two-foot piece of plastic ribbon that had to be surgically removed. This put him through a great deal of trauma, not to mention the trauma we experienced in worrying about his welfare, and how we were going to come up with the $1,200 to pay the vet bill. Please remind people that cats are often like children, and you do have to watch them just as diligently. It's always a good idea to cat-proof your home, just as much as it is to child-proof it.

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and she got HER LISTENERS A SPECIAL DISCOUNT
(Read more below...)

Pets Best Message from Tracie: Hey folks - this new company has the best coverage possible. I was fed up with the company I had been using, which paid slowly, infrequently and way below what the vet care cost me. So I bought Pets best policies for all three of my dogs (my prior company had to give me a refund, which you'll probably get too if you change companies) I told Pets Best how much I urge my listeners and readers to get pet insurance and asked if they could give me an incentive to pass along. So they did!!! You'll get TRACIE'S SPECIAL DISCOUNT if you call in and tell them the discount code AP 5252 or write it in on the form.

Every week on my radio shows there are people who didnt chose to get pet insurance and wind up thousands of dollars in debt instead of having reliable insurance coverage. There are also people who cannot afford advanced medical care that could save their pet's life - which insurance would pay for. STOP PROCRASTINATING! Please take this opportuntiy I have gotten for you and get peace of mind for less! Get your discount HERE.

Pet's Best: This new insurance company was started by the man who invented the concept of pet insurance - and he's made sure that his new venture offers premiums and benefits superior to any of the companies now operating. I want to disclose - proudly - that Pets Best has asked me to be their Ambassador at Large, especially for the Cancer Initiative they are spearheading. They learned of my genuine concern for more people to get insurance, and my enthusiasm for the exciting projects at Pets Best. To understand why having any insurance is so important, please look on pages 293-295 of The Dog Bible (until The Cat Bible is published in October 2007 cat lovers need to look there too). As of March 2007 there are a handful of states that PETS BEST does not yet cover: Alaska, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, & Wyoming. If you prefer their payment plan but it is not yet available where you live, then do as I am doing which is to buy coverage from another company like Veterinary Pet Insurance that will refund any unused portion of the premimum if and when you cancel. You need Pet Insurance - please download this file (95KB, PDF) to find out why and get your pets covered ASAP.

If your pet has cancer and you heard me on DOG TALK talking about Oncura Partners working with your vet - and the important support of having Pets Best pet insurance, here's your chance to take advantage of the free consultation for your vet: www.PetCancerFoundation.org

[Dr. Jack Stephens, Founder of Pet Insurance, Answers Pet Parent Questions (PDF)]

Stomach Cancer in Cats: Dr. Brian Huber came on the show to discuss the symptoms and treatments of stomach cancer in cats. For those who want to learn more about his facilities at the AnimalHospital of Rowlett & Diagnostic Center, you can go to www.ahrdvm.com and www.oncurapartners.com where your own vet can consult with him and receive chemotherapy for your cat.

Cat Hoarding

Hoarding Cats is Bad for Everyone

If you have been collecting an unusual amount of cats—or someone you care about has— please read these links to discover the reasons for hoarding, the ways in which it is a sign of emotional problems, and ways to correct these situations which are unhealthy for the people and the cats living through it.

http://www.hsus.org/search.jsp?query=hoarding
http://www.animalsheltering.org (cat hoarding)
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/cfa/hoarding/
http://www.childrenofhoarders.com/bindex.php
http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/
(This website is Obsessive/Compulsive Foundation)
http://www.aldf.org/resources/details.php?id=79

ASPCA's Warnings: Dangers to Your Cat from Poisons

1) Be aware of the plants you have in your home and yard: Some plants such as Sago Palm, Oleander and Rhodendron can be toxic to pets if ingested. Lilies can be especially toxic to cats.

2) Do not allow your pets to have access to the areas in which cleaning agents are being used or stored: Cleaning agents have a variety of properties; some may only cause mild stomach upset, but others can cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth and stomach.

3) Be careful when using rat and mouse baits: “The most common active ingredients found in rat and mouse baits are anticoagulants, which interfere with blood clotting processes,” says Dr. Hansen. “Ingredients of this type include warfarin, brodifacoum, bromadiaoline, difacinone and difethialone. Other formulations can contain bromethalin, cholecalciferol, zinc phosphide or strychnine, which are designed to kill rodents by affecting various other critical body systems. Some baits also contain inactive ingredients meant to attract rodents, and these ingredients can sometimes be attractive to pets as well.”

4) Read the label first: Always read the label before using flea products on or around your pets. For example, some flea products for dogs can be deadly if given to cats.

5) Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of your pets’ reach, preferably in closed cabinets: Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins and diet pills are all examples of human medications that can be lethal to animals, even in small doses.

6) Be aware of foods that are inappropriate for pets: Food items that potentially could be dangerous to pets include onions, onion powder, chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk, dark), products sweetened with xylitol (such as chewing gum), raisins and grapes, alcoholic beverages, yeast dough, coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans, tea (caffeine), salt, macadamia nuts, hops (used in home beer brewing), tomato leaves and stems (green parts),), rhubarb leaves, avocados (toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle, and dairy goats), moldy or spoiled foods.

7) Common household items can be lethal to animals: Many liquid potpourri formulations contain ingredients such as essential oils and detergents that could be quite hazardous to pets. “Because of the risk for serious illness, pet owners should place potpourri simmer pots and unused liquid in rooms where pets cannot gain access,” says Dr. Hansen. “Also consider using relatively safer alternatives, such as plug-in or solid air fresheners used in out-of-reach locations, not in close proximity to pets with sensitive respiratory tracts such as birds.” Other items potentially dangerous to pets include mothballs, pennies, tobacco products, homemade play dough, fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, and batteries.

8) Automotive products such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze should be stored in areas that are inaccessible to your pets: As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less than one tablespoon can be lethal to a 20-pound dog.

9) Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until they have dried completely: Always store such products in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer for clarification before using it.

Litter That Goes in the Box

The kind of litter you provide can make a big difference to some cats, and the litter itself is often at the heart of many litter box problems. Choosing a litter can be confusing, with new products coming out all the time, so how can you know which one is best for your cat? It’s easy: let your cat tell you! Experiment by trying a couple of brands to see which one your cat goes to most readily. Litter matters so much because unless your cat accepts the brand you are using, she will go elsewhere to do her business. This is called “litter box aversion” and it is a problem you want to avoid at all costs.

For much more information about the litter that goes in the box, please view the PDF file: LitterInTheBox.pdf (76KB)

Dear Sally suggests that one thing that might work for cases where a cat is not using the box is to try Cat Attract litter: http://www.preciouscat.com/

Rowdy Cats

Suggestions for dealing with cats who get too rowdy or rough with you or other cats in the house: the cat may not have learned how to play properly with her siblings, or she may need more play opportunities (either with you or by himself). Please check out this link from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Expecting a Baby?

Getting ready for the introduction of a new baby into your cat's life will be a lot easier if done gradually, by putting the nursery together way ahead of time to get the cat used to all the new furniture and equipment. The other thing a cat will not be prepared for are all the unusual sounds that a baby makes - by hearing them ahead of time, a cat will be accustomed to them by the time the little one arrives, making the transition easier. The two links below are for ones that are good - don't be offended that one is called "Preparing Fido," since it could as easily be "Preparing Sylvester." A crying baby is a crying baby, no matter which species is listening! Links: www.soundsofbaby.com and www.preparingfido.com

Clicker Training

Darlene Arden was talking about environmental enrichment for your cats and eaching them clicker training. These are her suggestions for where to go to learn more (and Marilyn Krieger is the Bengal Cat rescue lady): Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats by Karen Pryor, Cat Training in 10 Minutes by Miriam Fields-Babineau. And you can do agility with your cat. There's a cat agility organization called ICat and you can find them on the web at: www.catagility.com. You should check out Marilyn Krieger's website for videos of her cats. She clicker trains hers.

Cat Furniture and Special Equipment

Many websites offer cat furniture, but some products were stand-outs when Cat Watch (the magazine of Cornell Veterinary school is an ongoing wealth of information – visit them at www.catwatchnewsletter.com)

www.catsplay.com does custom work, making cat furniture to fit in with your decorating style and even color coordinating with your home

www.felinefurniture.com, the Feline Furniture Company’s site, has pieces made for kittens and smaller cats, but which can grow with the cat.

www.all-cat-furniture.com has a high-end selection of durable trees with environmentally friendly features.

www.felixkatniptreecompany.com is the Felix Katnip Tree Company (206-547-0042), sells loose catnip and their own Katnip Tree, but it does not come with instructions for assembly and apparently people do not assemble it correctly. If you decide to order one, request assembly instructions.

www.iroquoisinnovations.com features “The Cat Loft,” an imaginative climbing, hanging-out arrangement

www.mycatsheaven.com — My Cat's Heaven offers a unique collection of modern and traditional cat furniture to complement your home décor.

Where to Find Cat Fences & Runs

Cat Fence-In (888-738-9099) www.catfencein.com
Affordable Cat Fence www.catfence.com
C&D Pet Products Cat Enclosure Kit (888-554-7887) www.cdpets.com
Just 4 Cats Outdoor Safety Enclosure Plans www.just4cats.com
Katwalks www.katwalks.com
The Kitty View (877-548-8988) www.kittyview.com
Purr-fect Fence (888-280-4066) www.purrfectfence.com
Do-It-Yourself Cat Fence (from Alley Cat Allies) www.feralcat.com

General Cage (www.generalcage.com) If there are times you want to confine your cats, either at night when they are too rambunctious or when there are issues going on in your household, these can be a nice solution. (See also Radio Fence, www.radiofence.com/cat_domain.)

Purr...fect Fence is just that: using traditional black plastic deer fencing (a product that this company purchased) and a set of easy-to-install posts, this company has come up with a nearly invisible, totally cat-safe and easy-to-install fencing system. Whether you want to create a small outdoor space or enclose your whole property, this will allow your cats to enjoy the outdoors in a contgrolled environment. Check it out at www.PurrfectFence.com or 888-280-4066

For much more information about creating safe outdoor spaces for your cat, please view the PDF file: PatiosAndFences.pdf (60KB)

Radio Fence (www.radiofence.com/cat_domain) If there are times you want to confine your cats, either at night when they are too rambunctious or when there are issues going on in your household, these can be a nice solution. (See also General Cage, www.generalcage.com.)

SafeLawn

SafeLawn (www.safelawn.org) "RUGS ON DRUGS" - That's what my guest Paul Tukey of Safelawn calls the synthetically created golf course lawns Americans mistakenly strive for. Do you want to "kick the habit" of having a fanatically green and "perfect" lawn in favor of natural looking and naturally sustained surroundings? Interested in having a safe lawn - without the pesticides and chemicals that can harm your pets, kids, yourself and the environment? Go to www.safelawn.org and learn more about the harm of those lawn chemicals.

Non-Profit Groups, the Feline Do-Gooders

CHARITY NAVIGATOR (www.charitynavigator.org) This website is a great "reality check" for charities if you are wondering whether a charity is legitimately raising money to do what they claim.

One Click To Do A Good Deed For Animals

Hi, animal lovers. This is pretty simple... Please tell ten friends to tell ten
today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it
daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and
neglected animals.

It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on
the purple box "fund food for animals" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing.

Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food
to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

P.S. Here's Snope's acknowledgement that the above is true :
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/animalrescue.asp%20

Below are some of the wonderful volunteer groups giving information and time for the benefit of cats locally and globally. Check them out to support what they are doing or to inspire you to do something for cats in your own area.

www.FelineOutreach.org/Donate.asp
www.CatsInternational.org
www.CatInfo.org

Julianna Lewis in Ledyard CT does feral cat rescue with local support from the Animal Welfare League of New London County which provides her with everything she needs to trap/neuter/release and also to keep those cats appropriate for adoption. www.petfinder.com/shelters/CT266.html

Alley Cat Rescue (http://www.saveacat.org) is "The U.S. Cats Protection Association" and their network of volunteers will help you with a cat anywhere in the country. So if you find a stray cat, a feral cat, a cat with kittens or even a cat who is sick or injured, they want to help treat and foster those cats without letting them into the shelter system - since only 80% of the cats who go into shelters do not make it out alive. I support this charitable organization which can also be reached at P.O. Box 585, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712.

California Bengal Cat rescue (http://home.pacifier.com/~ltdltd/CAavailcats.html) Find one near you with the above link.

Persian Cat Rescue: http://purebredcatbreedrescue.org/persian_rescues_new_york.htm

Bengal Rescue: As promised, "Dear Sally" has the link to the Bengal rescue: http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Zoo/7508. Bengals are a domestic cat/wild cat hybrid, an intelligent interactive cat that needs a lot of time and interaction with people or they can become a challenge. So, if you have a Bengal and want help, or want to rescue one, please get in touch either with the rescue directly or through our own Dear Sally Bahner, at sebahner@snet.net.

CatAdoptionTeam.org: Did You Hear about the Cat ADoption Team on the Show? Do You Live in the Oregon Area and Want to Adopt a Cat or Volunteer to Foster Cats Awaiting Adoption? The Cat Adoption Team of Portland is a remarkable success story of people with a dream of saving cats doing just that for thousands every year. Go to www.CatAdoptionTeam.org to learn more - and if you lvie elsewhere, learn how to replicate their great model.

Marilyn Krieger is a certified member of IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), an accreditation which is actually quite rare and difficult to obtain. She is also the coordinator for the California Bengal Cat Rescue and she is an FBCC (Filial Bengal Cat Consultant). Marilyn has a website and has consulting services at www.TheCatCoach.com.

The Humane Society of the United States is the largest national non-profit group working to protect and celebrate all species of animal in our world. You have heard the Director of HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, on Cat Chat, but if you missed it Tracie has invited him to come back on the show.

The Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue (fmar1.org) is doing a fabulous job and always looking for volunteers, donations of money or supplies and especially loving homes for the animals under their care.

Neighborhoodcats.org (neighborhoodcats.org/info) To learn more about feral cats and how to manage colonies, go to www.NeighborhoodCats.org which is based innew York City but also helps with feral cat issues across the coutnry, supporting Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) as the most effective and humane way to protect and control these semi-wild cats.

ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org (ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org) Want to help people who can't afford medical care for their pets? Did you hear Dr. Brian Forsgren talk about his amazing clinic in Cleveland that takes care of everyone regardless of ability to pay? If you want to learn more about how to make this possible in your own area, go to ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org.

Did you hear the DOG TALK show FEBRUARY 9th with the kids from Dawnwood Middle School in Centereach who made houses for feral cats? (See Save A Pet below.) Do you have any extra lumber you can spare to make more houses?? Are you anywhere near Centereach?? Please contact their teacher Natalie and let them put your wood to good use: www.youthforhumanity.mccsd.site.eboard.com

Save A Pet Animal Rescue and Adoption (www.saveapetli.net) Want to know more about the rescue group "adopted" by the school kids who made feral cat houses? It is Save A Pet Animal Rescue and Adoption Long Island in Port Jefferson.

SuffolkSPCA.org: Are You Worried About Animal Abuse Next Door? Do You Think Someone is Hoarding Pets in Their House? Here is how to handle it: contact the SPCA or ASPCA where you live. For those who live in Suffolk County, New York, go to www.SuffolkSpca.org to reach a highly trained totally volunteer organization dedicated to animal welfare 24-7, year round.

Tails of Hope Foundation (www.tailsofhopefoundation.org) Tracie is proud to have been invited to join the Tails of Hope effort across the country:

Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc. ("Tails of Hope") is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of veterinary medicine and helping to eradicate cancer and other life-threatening diseases affecting companion animals. Tails of Hope is a collaborative, pioneering effort among general and specialty veterinarians, veterinary technicians, experts in human medicine and the public, each of whose participation is critical to making progress in combating these dreaded diseases. Everyone's participation in this pioneering effort is not only welcomed by Tails of Hope but is essential to allowing the organization to accomplish its goals. Tails of Hope invites everyone to join its effort to bring hope to companion animals suffering from these life-threatening diseases and to the families who love them. For more information about Tails of Hope, please visit the organization's website at www.tailsofhopefoundation.org.

Books I Love

Did you hearTracie's father read from his new book, THE BOYHOOD MEMORIES OF A.E. HOTCHNER?

Click here to buy it for yourself - and for the younger generation - your children or students.

Visit A.E. Hotchner's Site.

A trio of Books by Henry Hall Sloan (Cat Quips, Cat Guilt, Cattitudes), who recently appeared on Cat Chat.

Cat Quips Cat Guilt Cattitudes

Corrections

A couple weeks ago on the radio show, I was talking about holiday dangers to cats, and especially the appeal of Christmas trees and their dangling ornaments. I quoted from "Cat Watch" newsletter, which is published by Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, which suggested that spraying "peppermint or other pungent oils may dissuade your cat from eating your tree." attributed to Dr. Pamela Perry of Cornell. No sooner had I read this aloud than one of my quicker Cat Chat listeners called in to say that his cat LOVED the smell and taste of peppermint, and another called in to say that her cat went crazy licking her feet when she used peppermint foot lotion from The Body Shop, and then I got an email from yet another Cat Chat customer who said that essential oils can actually be toxic to cats. SO, I said this made sense because I thought catnip was in fact in the mint family, and obviously cats adore catnip, but that I'd look into it. I haven't reported back because, though I've written the editor of "Cat Watch" three times, I've never gotten a response to my request for clarification or correction. Instead, I just got this nifty email from yet another wonderful "Cat Chatter" -- and I'm thrilled to have such astute, caring and generous listeners.

Dear Tracie,

I recently heard one of your programs in which you spoke of a magazine article on using mint to keep cats away from items like Christmas trees. I heard that many people called in and said that their cats loved mint. I know it wasn't your thing, it was just a magazine article. Add my cat Houdini to the list. I first noticed her craving for mint while using a specialized shampoo for myself which contained mint. I would wake up after showering the night before with her licking my head, so I did the research. The following is from the Encyclopedia Britannica online:

Catnip (Nepeta cataria), aromatic herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae, or Labiatae). The plant has spikes of small, purple-dotted flowers. Catnip has been used as a seasoning and as a medicinal tea for colds and fevers. Because its mintlike flavour and aroma are particularly exciting to cats, it is often used as a stuffing for cat playthings.

Strange how the magazine you quoted didn't use a little fact finding. LOL.

Dave, in Oregon

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Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)

Cat Chat on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112, WED, 8-9PM Eastern Time