CAT LOVERS SITE

Archive for the ‘Cat Care’ Category

Bella doesn’t really like to be held, except occasionally when she is in the mood, but she didn’t seem to mind hanging in a towel like this, in fact she seemed to enjoy it!

Or at least the leaves, stems and seeds of apples because they contain cyanide. Make sure your kids never eat apple seeds!  The leaves are particularly toxic when in the process of wilting.  Cats love to munch on greenery, but I’m not sure how attracted they are to apple leaves.

Clinical signs in cats, dogs and horses are: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.

Crab apples are just as toxic. 

Here are just a few quotes from some well-known veterinarians who have dared to investigate and learn about vaccinations. You may just save your pet’s life by learning the truth about vaccinations.

Bob Rogers, DVM - “We are harming pets by causing fibrosarcomas, possibly hypothyroidism and IMHA. The research has been done to support reduced vaccination recommendations. More importantly research shows that unnecessarily repeating vaccines has no effect.”

Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM - “Routine vaccinations are probably the worst thing that we do for our animals…”

Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM -
“In a general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and overwhelm the body’s immune system function with toxins from vaccines.”

Chrissie Mason B.R.C.P., Ph.D. - “I am becoming seriously concerned at the increase in the cases of Auto-immune disease, and the Canine/Feline vaccination programme which I consider to be inextricably linked. Certainly, I do not stand alone in holding these views, as a number of Orthodox Veterinary Practitioners have expressed their concern over the incidence of certain types of illness suddenly appearing after a vaccination has been administered.”

Dr. Charles E Loops DVM - “The first thing that must change with routine vaccinations is the myth that vaccines are not harmful. Veterinarians and animal guardians have to come to realise that they are not protecting animals from disease by annual vaccinations, but in fact, are destroying the health and immune systems of these same animals they love and care for.”

Consider this… One dose of rabies vaccine costs the vet about 61 cents. The client is typically charged between $15 and $38, plus a $35 office visit. The markup on the vaccine alone is 2,400 percent to 6,200 percent—a markup equivalent to charging $217 for a loaf of bread. According to one estimate, removing the one-year rabies vaccination and consequential office visit for dogs alone would decrease the average small vet’s income from $87,000 to $25,000—and this doesn’t include cats or other vaccinations.

Stop the Shots! IF YOU HAVE A DOG OR CAT: DON’T VACCINATE until you read  this book!

WHAT VETS DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT VACCINES

Since I’ve been clipping cat claws for more than thirty years I figured it would be a good idea to make a video on “How I Clip My Cats’ Claws”.  Special thanks to my very competent son Seth, the cameraman!

A few months ago I wrote a post about the dangers of using clay litter, which prompted me to switch over to World’s Best Cat Litter which is corn-based.  Just a few days ago I read an article about 3 cats that had gotten very sick and one died, from the mycotoxins in that particular litter.  Well now that I think about it (and have done some research) it is clear that when grains, especially corn, get wet, they produce mycotoxins.  Mycotoxins are TOXINS.  Trust me on this one ’cause I had Crohn’s Disease for years and one of the many things I had to do to get over it was eliminate mycotoxins. 

Susan Thixton, author of Truth About Pet Food wrote to World’s Best about this problem and this is part of the answer that she got from them:

‘There are no possibilities of contamination and toxicity issue when the product is in the bag and fresh out the bag.  The product won’t have any mold or fungi issues unless it has been subjected to moisture in the litter box.’

HELLO!!! Cats PEE in the litter box, and that is MOISTURE!!

“Mycotoxins can show carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic, teratogenic or immunotoxic effects.”

On top of this, I discovered that they use GMO corn and in no way will I support Monsanto and their herbicides of death.

So I returned my giant (thankfully unopened) bag of World’s Best Cat Litter to the store and got Feline Pine…which I really hope is safe.  Do they use sawdust from treated wood? I will have to research this one too.  I would guess that SweatScoop, made from wheat, would be susceptible  to mycotoxin infestation also since all grains worldwide are contaminated or become contaminated easily with moisture.

Most cat food contains grain, and cats are NOT grain-eaters.  They do not have the proper enzymes to digest grain.

Dogs and cats do not produce an enzyme called amylase in their saliva to actually break-down carbohydrates and starches.

Unlike omnivores, cats cannot decrease liver enzymes when fed a low protein grain-based diet. This is probably why hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease accompanied by protein defiency) is common in cats fed a dry food diet, especially those that are obese.

While the label on dry cat food will show what looks like sufficient protein, a good amount of that protein is coming from grains, which is indigestible and poor quality.

The other important reason for keeping grains away from your cat is that all grains contain mycotoxins,(aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and Fusarium mycotoxins) which actually poison your cat (or dog…or you).

Mycotoxins contaminate cereal grains worldwide, and their presence in pet food is a potential health threat to pets.

People are not grain-eaters either, and you’d be amazed at how much better you will feel if you don’t eat any grains at all!  CLICK HERE for more info.

Here is a natural flea powder that safely eliminates fleas on your pets and in your home. It is completely non-toxic, chemical-free, and odorless.

Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy Powder for Dogs and Cats

Here is a natural spray insect repellent  that contains essential oils to keep away insects. Contains no DEET or other pesticides.

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Spray for Dogs and Cats

This  flea & tick solution is a simple tag your cat  wears on its collar. Effective, long-lasting, eco-friendly, and no chemicals!


Shoo!Tag Natural Pest Repellent for Cats

Here is a shampoo & conditioner that have 70% organic ingredients, neem oil & other natural herbs to help repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes & more.

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Conditioner For Pets

You can rid your house of fleas with this non-toxic borate crystal salt that dissolves the waxy protective coating on fleas, eggs, and larvae.

Fleago Natural Flea Control for Dogs and Cats

You can use Diatomaceous Earth on your cat’s fur, in food (to kill worms), in your garden, and anywhere in the house to kill insects.  It is completely safe and non-toxic, made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. Here is an excellent link to Wolf Creek Ranch that explains the many uses of DE.

Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade 50 Lb

PLEASE watch this video, especially if you use flea and tick powders, sprays and collars.

There are many safe alternatives to using poisons on your pets!

Coal-fired power plants produce more than 100 million tons of the toxic-waste byproduct sulfur dioxide, the stuff that causes acid rain.

Called FGD gypsum, this synthetic powder is produced when coal plant “scrubbers”  remove sulfur dioxide from plant emissions.     

Last year, a coal ash pond just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, spilled and flooded about 300 acres of land with ash, killing many fish in the area. The spill damaged many homes as well, and cleanup costs are expected to be upwards of $1 billion. This catastrophe has prompted the EPA to draft regulations on how to handle toxic coal waste safely.  Guess what they came up with?

In 2001, the USDA together with the EPA began to promote FGD gypsum use in agriculture. Since that time, the amount of coal ash used by farmers on their fields has tripled. According to the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), nearly 280,000 tons of the byproduct was spread on fields last year.

FGD gypsum contains toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, but according to the EPA, “the mercury contained in FGD gypsum does not affect plants and runoff into water supplies at significant levels.”  Guess they never heard of PHYTOREMEDIATION, a technology which uses plants to absorb heavy metals from the soil.

If the waste from coal plants is toxic and must be dealt with in a manner that keeps it contained, I’m just wondering why the EPA would promote the same waste for use on FOOD crops.  Perhaps it’s just more cost-effective to sell toxic waste to farmers than to stop producing it in the first place.

Food that’s USDA-certified organic cannot be grown with coal ash.  I’m sticking with organic for my family, and that includes my cats.


Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Patties 6 lbs.

If your cat is having surgery, including nuetering or spaying, make sure the veterinarian is aware of the recall of Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection, USP CIII 100mg/mL in 10mL vials.  Veterinarians who have this product, made by Teva Animal Health, Inc, are instructed to cease using the product immediately and return it to their distributor.

This latest recall stems from the reported death of five cats, inconclusively linked to the drug’s use. But troubles within Teva Animal Health surfaced last July, when the FDA shut down the company via a permanent injunction and filed a lawsuit, alleging that regulatory inspectors had uncovered adulterated animal drugs at Teva’s main facilities in St. Joseph, Mo.  Click here for the full article.

Cats, as much as we all adore them, have some rather UNDESIRABLE habits.  Here is Taco’s favorite:

Looks content, doesn’t he?  Of course we can remove him from the table 100 times, and he’ll happily return as soon as nobody’s looking.  Sometimes even when we are looking.  Just for the fun of it.  No, squirting him with water doesn’t help, he loves water.

Mango has an undesirable habit of napping on the clothes that I set out to wear.  Being very organized, I set my clothes out a few hours before I’m due to leave.  Mango does a great job of warming them up for me.  Unfortunately he also does a great job of sharing his mounds of poofy orange fur.

I don’t smoke, in fact nobody is allowed to smoke in or near my house, or car.  I guess I’m a bit obsessive about it, but then I’ve learned long ago that it’s way more fun being healthy than being sick.  Still, a lot of people smoke, some of my friends also, and I’ve found that often the biggest incentive to quitting is to protect those we love.  Here is another reason: your love for your pet!

A 2007 University of Minnesota study showed that cats who live with smokers have nicotine and other toxins in their urine.

A 2002 Tufts University study linked second-hand smoke to cancer in cats. The study found that cats living with smokers are twice as likely to develop malignant lymphoma—the most common feline cancer–as those in non-smoking households. Lymphoma kills 3 out of 4 afflicted cats within 12 months.

A 2007 Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine study linked second-hand smoke to oral cancer in cats (squamous cell carcinoma.) Cats living with more than one smoker and cats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke for longer than five years had even higher rates of this cancer.

The ASPCA, one of the largest animal rights groups in the U.S., lists tobacco smoke as a toxin that is dangerous to pets.  Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, medical director of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center says:

“Nicotine from secondhand smoke can have effects to the nervous systems of cats and dogs. Environmental tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans.”

A recent study from Harvard Medical School, published in the January 2009 Journal of Pediatrics, found additional health risks associated with what they termed “third-hand smoke,” describing the invisible yet toxic  gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, cars, and carpeting that lingers long after the second-hand smoke has cleared the room.

One reason cats are so vulnerable to the carcinogens in tobacco smoke is they are meticulous groomers. Daily grooming over a long period of time can expose their delicate oral tissues to hazardous amounts of carcinogens.

Birds who sit on a smoker’s nicotine-coated hand often develop dermatitis and end up pulling out their own feathers.

Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that dogs in smoking households have a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer.

The Top 10 Poisons of 2008

1. Human Medications: 50,000 cases

It’s easy for pets to snatch pills from counters and bed-side tables, or quickly eat them if you’ve dropped a couple on the floor. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications and even dietary supplements can be make your cat sick.

2. Insecticides: 31,000 cases

One of the most common exposures involves using chemical flea and tick products incorrectly, such as applying a topical product for dogs on a cat.

3. People Food: 15,000 cases

Grapes, raisins, avocado and citrus fruits can all be dangerous for pets, but one of the worst offenders is chocolate, which contains large amounts of methylxanthines. If eaten it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination and hyperactivity, and in severe cases abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

4. Rodenticides: 8,000 cases

Rat and mouse poison can contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets. Aside from eating the poison itself, cats can also become sick from eating a rodent that’s ingested poison. Exposure to rat and mouse poison can cause bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

5. Veterinary Medications: 8,000 cases

Drugs meant for animals can still cause side effects, especially when they are misapplied or improperly dispensed. Some of the most common toxic exposures involved non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

6. Plants: 8,000 cases

Azaleas, rododendrons, sago palms, lilies, kalanchoe, and schefflera are common houseplants that can be toxic to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure even in small amounts.

7. Chemical Hazards: 5,500 cases

Many chemicals around your home can cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and respiratory difficulties to depression and chemical burns in your pets. Examples include antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals.

8. Household Cleaners: 3,200 cases

Bleaches, detergents and disinfectants contain chemicals that can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract in your cat.

9. Heavy Metals: 3,000 cases

Metals such as lead, zinc and mercury can all poison your cat. Lead is especially widespread and pets can be exposed via paint chips, linoleum and lead dust that’s produced when surfaces in old homes are scraped and sanded.

10. Fertilizer: 2,000 cases

If your lawn has been sprayed with a chemical fertilizer it’s essential to keep your cat off of it. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental exposure to these potentially toxic chemicals.

This is a video by Dr. Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian.

Dr. Becker is passionate about educating people about natural health. She often speaks at public seminars and has appeared on Animal Planet. She was also named one of Chicago’s Top Ten Vets, according to Chicago Magazine.

1) Remove your shoes in the house. Removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce contaminants in the home.

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study shows that people track in weed killers and other pesticides commonly applied to lawns during the spring and summer. The study, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, is among a series being funded by the EPA to assess how small children are exposed to pesticides around the home. Scientists think that “track-in” exposures may exceed those from the best-known source: pesticide residues on fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home.

2) Go organic: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of herbicides, 90 % of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50% - 95% of U.S. foods. Pet food fare even worse, especially those containing by-products and “meal” (chicken meal, fish meal etc.)

3) Avoid plastics: use a glass bowl for food, all plastic is synthetic and made from petrochemicals, it neither photo-degrades nor bio-degrades, it just breaks down into ever smaller toxins such as Phthalates and BPA. Phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children and pets.

4) Use safe, natural or organic cleaners.  Paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellents, air fresheners all contain dozens of chemicals.

5) Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they pollute the air you are breathing.

6) Never feed your cat fish, especially tuna!  All fish is contaminated with PCBs and mercury, although wild caught salmon and sardines both have lower amounts.

Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Medallions 3 lbs. Raw diet containing 95% freshly ground USDA meat and fresh, natural fruits & vegetables, with cold processed Norwegian Virgin Salmon Oil.

I was sick for most of my life.  I had Crohn’s Disease and all the crap that goes along with bleeding, inflamed guts…anemia, arthritis, kidney stones…the list goes on and on.  Today, I am fairly healthy, minus a few feet of intestines here and there.  Along the journey, I learned that a good diet of whole unprocessed foods is one of the many pieces of the puzzle of good health.  This applies to our pets as well, and as I learned about the utter garbage that goes into pet food, I changed my cats’ food to the best organic food I could find.                         

They were healthy for sure, but it wasn’t until I eliminated the grains and cooked food that I noticed some really amazing changes.  The two most surprising ones are: Mango used to barf once or twice a day, now he barfs maybe once a month and I really think that’s just for fun.  And my friends who are allergic to cats don’t seem to be allergic to mine!! This is amazing considering there are three cats in this little house.

A few other observations that may be relevant: they simply don’t get sick at all, Taco’s pudge pouch has diminished dramatically, (Sumari is rail-thin and Mango never had pudge), They have tons of energy and play a lot, even old Mango.  They have no discernable odor, no flaky skin, and the litter box has almost no odor at all.  They shed very little, except Mango still leaves behind some of his mass of orange fluff wherever he goes.  It’s decreased though.  Their furs are incredibly soft and silky, they seem happier, they don’t have fleas (but I do sprinkle a bit of Diatomaceous Earth on them when I remember), and they recover from injuries quickly and without intervention on my part.  In case you’re wondering what injuries, Taco and Sumari got stung by yellowjackets,  Sumari enjoys jumping from roofs and other high places and recently hurt her shoulder, and Taco has been known to get into a fight or two. 

I’ve been feeding them Real Pet Food from Slanker’s Grass-Fed, and the following from Only Natural Pet Store

Only Natural Pet Chicken & Veggies Patties 6 oz. Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Food


Grasslands Cat Food Grain-Free Dry 15.4 lb. for Felines


Pacifica Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 5.5 lb. for Felines


ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Dry Cuisine Pouches Venison 14 oz. Bag


ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Cuisine Canned Food Fish & Venison 6.5 oz. Can - Case of 12


Primal Pet Foods Raw Cat Food Beef & Salmon Nuggets 4 lbs.


Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Cat Food Prowl 4 lb. Bag

This stuff is all incredibly convenient, the Prowl cat food is a powder that you add water to  and it looks like canned food.  Slanker’s is frozen, you need to thaw it a little (it’s very bloody so don’t thaw it much) then cut it into slices, then re-freeze.  My cats all love everything they’ve tried.  It’s less expensive to make your own raw food, but I don’t have the time or freezer space.

About ninety percent of all cat litter sold is made from clay. Clay litter produces a lot of dust (although some brands claim that the type of clay they use produces a dust-free product), which contains silicon particles that have been established by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a known human carcinogen.    
A product made for humans called Moltan Absorbent is also made from the same ground clay as cat litter. It is manufactured for use in garages to absorb oil. This product must carry a warning label that reads, in part, “Aggregate contains crystalline silica. Crushing, grinding, or creating dust may cause exposure to a respiratory silicosis or cancer health hazard.”
Many brands of clay cat litter also include fragrance made from petrochemicals, also known to be carcinogenic.
Clay particles tend to cling to your cat’s fur and in-between their toes. In addition to leaving dusty cat prints on your floors, breathing these particles can cause respiratory infections.
A recent study actually found clay-based litter silica dust in cats’ lungs, and that cats with respiratory disease had up to six times the amount of silica in their lungs as healthy cats.
The clumping capability of sodum bentonite is due to its ability to swell to 15-18 times its dry size when exposed to liquids. This is great for absorbing cat urine. But when cats lick themselves clean and ingest the clay, it can prevent nutrient absorption and cause intestinal blockage as it swells when it gets exposed to intestinal liquids. Many veterinarians recommend not using clumping cat litter as the first litter for inexperienced young kittens, as they may experiment with the litter and eat it.

You can keep your cat safe by using natural cat litter made from corn or wheat. World’s Best Cat Litter is made from corn, it clumps well and is flushable, and contains no chemicals, perfumes, clays, silicas, bentonite, or any synthetic substances whatsoever.

Swheat Scoop is made from wheat, it is completely safe and non-toxic and the natural wheat enzymes work continuously to neutralize litter box odor, no matter how many cats you own.

Natural Pine Cat Litter is made of 100% pure, southern yellow pine pellets which instantly neutralizes ammonia odors and is safe and healthy for our cats and our planet.

This is amazing! The Anibio Tic-Clip offers a revolutionary approach to protecting your pet from ticks and fleas, without pesticides, squeeze-ons, sprays, or topical application of any kind!

The Tic-Clip uses the power of the bioenergetic field around your pet to create an energy barrier that repels insect pests for two years. Tic-Clip tag is imprinted with an electromagnetic charge bearing a polarized energy signature. This energetic charge adapts to your companion’s unique bioenergy frequency and produces a vibrational field around the animal that repels ticks and fleas. Ticks and fleas simply do not react to the pet anymore.

This insect repellent collar tag was created in Germany and has been a huge success with pets throughout Europe.

For around $10, the Real Safety Guide to Pet Health gives you the strategies you need to help your pet live a long and happy life.

“Ninety percent of all pet health problems are caused by pet food and preventable health hazards”

Look at all the sources for raw cat food that I found!! I just ordered one bag of freeze-dried, and one bag of grain-free dry food. There are 244 different varieties of raw food at this site, check it out!

Bravo! Raw Food Diets Duck Blend 1 lb package for dog or cat Bravo! Raw Food Diets Certified Organic Chicken Blend 1 lb package for dog or cat These convenient pre-made blends are made of pure premium grade meats, organ meats, ground bones and vegetables

Primal Pet Foods Raw Cat Food Chicken & Salmon Nuggets 4 lbs. Scientifically balanced formulas made with 100% human-grade, antibiotic- & hormone-free meats. Packed with organic fruits and vegetables, too!

Northwest Naturals Raw Cat Food Chicken Salmon 2 lbs. Raw cat food is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and is grain-free. Includes fresh ground bone as an excellent calcium source.

Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Chicken & Turkey Medallions 3 lbs. Raw diet containing 95% freshly ground USDA meat and fresh, natural fruits & vegetables, with cold processed Norwegian Virgin Salmon Oil.

Only Natural Pet Chicken & Veggies Fresh Patties 6 oz. Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Food - 5-Pack These freeze-dried complete meals (formerly called Fresh Filets) offer the proven health benefits of a raw meat diet in a more convenient form. Made with USDA beef, chicken and organic veggies.

Raw Advantage Organic Dinner for Cats Duck & Yam 1 lb. Fresh frozen USDA free range poultry, organic grains, herbs, vegetables, flax, wheat grass, kelp, garlic, millet, and oats.

Nature’s Logic Raw Food Diets Rabbit Patties 5 lbs. Nutrient dense raw muscle and organ meats with highly digestible eggshell calcium and a select concentrate of fruits and vegetables.

Prairie Feast Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 5.5 lb. for Felines High-protein, grain-free and low-carbohydrate kibble loaded with premium meat ingredients (65%) to promote peak conditioning in cats.