RAW DIET for CATS???

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 8, 2008 at 9:20pm

Hi Kathy:

I just bought Natures Variety raw patties, but then I came across some web sites that say that raw ground food is not good. It's better than commercial canned food, but not as good as "whole, raw" like chicken wings or legs, or rabbits. I tend to agree with this, just because it makes sense - why would a cat eat vegetables, anyway?? They don't really eat vegetables in the wild and they do not eat stomaches. Anyway, I guess doing the patties to start will be ok to get them interested in it to begin with?

I am sure she is allergic to the wool, they did a whole series of blood tests on her. It could also be some other things in the food she is eating that she was not tested for, maybe. I just found a holistic vet and will take her in a week or two if this doesn't get better. I pulled up my largest wool rug and rolled it up. She started having symptoms after I bought it, so maybe it's only that rug? It seems to shed a LOT.

Wow, I'm so glad your cat got better! That's awesome. I believe in holistic meds for people and for animals.

Thanks for the advice! (how did you get your cat to eat yogurt???)

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 9, 2008 at 8:02pm

Yes, I know - I've also been on a raw food for cats site on yahoo. I am a little miffed at them, though, since they screen all posts before and would not post my question because they said I should weed through the hundreds and hundreds of posts to get my answer!!! IMAGINE!! Like I have the time to do that. I am finding it hard to even write these posts, but they are very important.................

Well, I fed the cats their usual canned wellness tonight and mixed in some of the raw (Natures Variety) that I bought with a little enzymes and they would NOT touch it!! I had to throw most away and add more canned then they ate a TINY bit. It's going to take weeks to transition them, but I feel it's worth it.

I guess I will find out soon if it was the food - the things she is allergic to were not in the kibble or the wet food, but what about the stuff that is not disclosed? It is one of the best canned foods out there (Wellness, no grains, only meat and a few veggies, which I also read they do not need).

I just found this holistic vet - some say he is a kook, but oh well! They all said hippies were kooks in the 60's when they said to eat organic and who is laughing now??? I hope some of them are laughing all the way to the bank!!! lol.

Kathi

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 9, 2008 at 8:06pm

Kathy:

The vet tested for 70 things and 29 are positive, a few trees, a few foods, and wool. Crazy. The trees I can do nothing about, but she does not go outside. The wool, well, you know the story.........

As for the things in food - oats were high on the list and I used to feed her a dry food that had oats in it. That was over a month ago. The vet said it takes up to 4 months to get the foods out of her system completely - how could that be???? I don't know if I believe that. The new holistic vet that I have no gone to yet also sells mice and rabbits and has RAW milk and cheese, so I am happy to hear that.....I think I will give him a shot. His sister was a very famous movie star in the 30's - Gene Tierney. Ever heard of her??

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 10, 2008 at 9:44pm

Michelle, my cats are crazy!!!!!! Did you see their pics? Aren't they the cutest? Dev Rex breed has the best fur, not hair, and they do NOT shed, and they are hypoallergenic. HAHAHAHA, they are hypoallergenic, but SHE is allergic to life!! Funny. I truly believe her allergies were caused by the crazy food she was eating the first few years and now that I have seen the light she will improve.

The other one is the pickiest little darn thing I ever did lay eyes on. She will ONLY EAT CHICKEN - canned wellness, and kibble. No turkey, No beef. No fish. What a royal pain in the butt. Tonight she took 3 bites of the food and I literally had 1/2 teasp of the raw in it!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Lord, how am I going to get through this..............

Yeah, send me some mice and they will play with them and that's it! lol.

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 10, 2008 at 9:46pm

Kathy:

That is not cruel at all! I did read that you should never starve a cat more than 24 hours or they could get a serious liver disease, so I am very nervous..........this one picky little S*** will not touch anything but what she is used to. Now, the other issue is you shouldn't leave the raw food out more than 1/2 hour! So how on earth am I going to do this?

I know what you mean about people saying they are kooks, and I am ok with that. Whatever is right for me might not be right for others, so what, big deal! I am over it. I am going to take her if the foot doesn't get better soon. You know what? After only 2 days since we took up the big wool rug, her foot looks much better!

Anybody wanna buy a great, beautiful, 8 x 10 foot wool rug? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 11, 2008 at 11:56am

Hi Kathy:

I read it here: "Second, it is strongly recommended that cats eat every day. It is not wise to fast a cat for more than 24 hours, and especially if the cat is overweight! Due to their unique metabolism, cats can suffer from 'hepatic lipidosis' if they do not receive adequate amounts of food. Thus, when switching a cat to a raw diet, one must be very careful that the cat eats something every day—even if that means mixing commercial food in with the raw food so the cat eats. For more information about hepatic lipidosis, please click here. The Mar Vista Vet site is purely informational and is not endorsed in any way by Rawfed.com." http://rawfed.com/myths/cats.html

It scared me! I did mix in some kibble with it, but she ate them out and didn't eat the other food, which was just her NORMAL wet food mixed with 1/2 TEASPOON of raw! OMG, she is so picky!!!

Little s*** was starving this morning, so I gave her kibble. I am going to keep giving her the wet mixed with raw every night until she eats it. I am not having it any more, her telling me what she is eating. lol. I guess if she is eating the kibble in the am she will be fine.

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 18, 2008 at 2:10pm

Hi Kathy:

I think the article meant if they won't eat what you give them, do not withhold food from them (i.e., take it away and say well, you're not getting anything!). My one cat will literally not eat for 2-3 days if she doesn't like what I put out. That is what was worrying me.

One thing you should maybe take a look at, because I did not know this before, is that giving only dry food is not good for cats. They don't have a "thirst" mechanism like we do that tells them when they are hungry, and in the wild they get lots of water from their live prey, so they don't drink enough water if they are only given dry food.

I found this article that makes sense too, check it out when you can, VERY interesting and opens the eyes to the dry food industry...http://www.blakkatz.com/dryfood.html

This is just what I read that makes sense and some people believe. So, I put mine on 1 dry / 1 wet each day. Then my one cat developed all these allergies, and I believe it's the extra crap they put in the foods - even though I am feeding them the best health food a cat could get.

Therefore, the switch to raw.........I can control what's in it and what they get.

Kathi

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 10, 2008 at 9:49pm

Michelle:

LOL, aren't they cute as buttons? To feel them is to love them. Their fur feels like velvet or the softest fleece blanket you could ever buy, no, that's not even close, nothing on earth like you've ever felt. Unbelievable.

Ok, I am very close to tring the inliven, but a little broke right now, and am looking at many different things and am a little confused. I am also reading about a company called The Wholefood Pharmacy - did you ever hear of it? http://wellnesshealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com/2005/CAT2.asp

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 10, 2008 at 11:25pm

Michelle:

I thought the 7 and 13 day cleanse sounds good. I really don't have the time or energy to go to the store and purchase all of the fruits and veggies to do the cleanse on this site - it seems very overwhelming to me. This one sounds so easy - purchase the foods, eat them. Wala. Plus they sound very yummy - I love dried fruits and nuts and such. I don't think they are really bulk, but maybe?

I don't know, just a thought.........I am so busy and it's so hard to make a salad to take to work - I never seem to be able to do it! I try and try, but end up eating an apple or a piece of cheese for lunch which does not cut it. I put my efforts into trying to find something to make for my kids lunches - they eat the CRAP they give them at school and it makes me want to cry when I can't give them a good lunch.

Wanna laugh??

My 16 year old son had an eye opening experience with his sandwich today. I made him one with organic turkey, mayo, a slice of cheese and SPROUTS. Well, he came home and said, "What the HECK did you put on my sandwich today??" I told him what they were and he said they tasted HORRIBLE and that he threw the sandwich away!!!!!! Now you see what I am dealing with here?? Oh, it's awful.....I am going to keep trying though.

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 11, 2008 at 11:45am

Kathy:

They were making their own lunches, but now they ask me to do it. I feel guilty because I am always working or at school, so I do :)

If they make it, they will not put in fruit - they will not take fruit to school!!! They will eat it when they get home, though.

I am even questioning bread, after all I am reading about raw diets! It's so discouraging.....

Kathi

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 11, 2008 at 11:47am

Honestly, I don't think sprouts taste strange, but I guess they must to him! Or he was just being a pain in the A** because it was different.

I can't trust them to make their own lunches, isn't that horrible? It will take a while to get them used to it I guess.

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Permalink Reply by Kathi Kirschner on January 18, 2008 at 2:44pm

Ha, good point about rebelling! What I am angry about now is that MY mom didn't take the time or interest to research what foods really are healthy for you! She fed me pasta and white bread and said it was healthy, but then again, so did most folks. I am thankful she made me eat 1 veggie a day!

For my kids, I am trying to make them eat a little bit of raw, not a lot, just once a day at least, some carrots or cauliflower with ranch. The organic is not their choice - they get it or nothing. The organic snacks I am trying, but that's not easy, most don't taste very good.

I would appreciate any ideas!

Thanks.

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