More Tips on Feeding Your Cat

Cat Crazy Newsletter Tuesday March 25, 2008

Last week I talked to you about the pros and cons of dry vs. canned foods. Today I wanted to give you a few more tips on my favorite approach to feeding cats. 

Cats naturally are nibblers. If given the opportunity they prefer to have frequent small meals throughout the day. The problem with dry food (especially those that keep the bowl full) is that it is hard to know if/when/what a cat is eating – especially if it is full and ESPECIALLY if you have more than one cat. This is important because cats are very good at hiding when they are ill and one of the first signs they will show is lack of an appetite

So… I think the ideal is this. (This works great if you have more than one cat and they are able to maintain a fairly ideal body weight.)

Leave dry food down and feed a small amount of canned or pouched food twice a day. This allows the cat to nibble and also give you the ability to assess your cat’s behavior, energy level, interest and appetite during the moist food feedings. If you have a cat that normally comes RUNNING for the canned or pouch food and one day is under the table with no interest – there is a problem.

If you only had dry food down, it make take you two more days to notice that your cat is not acting right.

Of course, it really helps if your cat likes his food. There are a number of excellent high quality cat foods in the market. Hills Science Diet has recently introduced a new product in the market that contains fish, chicken and beef in every bite.

Go to: HillsPet.com/ChunksOfGravy to learn more about this new product.

Remember, good quality food will make your cat healthy from the inside out. Low quality food (or too much food) will have a negative effect on a cat’s quality of life.  Always feed high quality foods and treats.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

Bob-Cat Rescue Stories

http://southwestwildlife.org/PDF/rehab_stories/anthem_bobcat.pdf

http://southwestwildlife.org/PDF/rehab_stories/bobcat_kittens.pdf

http://southwestwildlife.org/rose.htm

DOGGY “ETIQUETTE 101”

Seattle Humane Society’s Most Popular Dog Training Course is Open for Registration

BELLEVUE, WA – Registration is now open for the Seattle Humane Society’s “Basic Manners” dog training course, a six week course designed to teach dogs and their guardians all the basics!

Register by calling (425) 641-0080, or download the registration form at www.seattlehumane.org/training.shtml and fax it to (425) 747-2985.  The cost for the course is $120 for general public and $95 for Seattle Humane Society adopters.  There are only 8-10 spots per course to ensure one-on-one attention, so dog lovers are encouraged to register right away to secure a spot.

 “Basic Manners” is a six-week training course for dogs, at least five months of age, and their guardians to learn basic commands, leash manners, techniques for preventing unwanted behaviors and solutions to common behavioral problems.  Dogs will be able to socialize with other dogs and will learn to work around distractions. All of the Seattle Humane Society courses use positive, gentle, and fun training methods, including clicker training.  Clicker training is a very effective, science-based system for teaching new behaviors with positive reinforcement. 

There are five “Basic Manners” courses beginning in April that will meet for one hour every week:

¨        Wednesdays, 4/9 – 5/21, 12:15 p.m.

¨        Fridays, 4/4 – 5/16, 4:15 p.m.

¨        Saturdays, 4/5 – 5/17, 11:30 a.m.

¨        Saturdays, 4/12 – 5/24, 2:15 p.m.

¨        Saturdays, 4/12 – 5/24, 4:45 p.m.

The courses will take place at the Seattle Humane Society, located in Bellevue at 13212 SE Eastgate Way.

The Seattle Humane Society was founded in 1897 to bring people and pets together.  The Seattle Humane Society does this today through its low-fee spay/neuter surgery program, pet workshops and training, pet food bank, humane teen club, visiting pets program and more. The Seattle Humane Society is located in Bellevue, at 13212 SE Eastgate Way.  For directions and more information, visit www.seattlehumane.org or call (425) 641-0080.

# # #

Oklahoma 4th Graders Launch 4th Annual Event To Help Handicapped Pets Nationwide

March 14, 2008 – Velma, OK

Summary: Children raise money to save Special Needs Animals while learning about disabilities and how to care.

For More Information: Contact Deborah Winters, HandicappedPets.com (603) 566-5764

            Each year, teacher Kathy Barton introduces her 4^th graders to her blind dog “Hope” and creates a flurry of excitement as the kids shower the dog with affection. They’re usually surprised at how well the sightless Shepherd runs and plays. With the help of the HandicappedPets.com website, the boys and girls learn that disabled, elderly, and special needs pets can live happy, healthy lives with a little bit of help.

            They choose a pet in need from the website’s rich photo gallery and raise money with bake sales, handicapped pet parades, and coke floats. They invent handicapped pet equipment, draw pictures, explore websites and, by the end of the class, donate a pet wheelchair(s) to an animal in need.  In 2007 they raised $1200 and donated three carts, this year their goal is $1500.  Will they do it? Absolutely!

Johanna, abused by teenagers, saved by 4th graders	Xavier, a quadriplegic cat, takes his very first steps
Scooter, born with no front legs, can run and play.	13 year old Zack is a happy old dog.

 

For stories, photos, inventions, and to view an amazing handicapped pet quilt, go to http://www.HandicappedPets.com/school

or call Deborah Winters at (603) 566-5764.

To read how Kathy and her kids inspired The Marvin Fund go to http://www.HandicappedPetscom/marvin

Easter Lily Deadly To Cats

Cat Crazy Newsletter Saturday March 22, 2008

Happy Easter! As many of you get together with family and friends to celebrate Easter there will be lots of good food, chocolate bunnies, Easter eggs and many other festive decorations. Did you know that there is a traditional Easter decoration that can be very dangerous to both dogs and cats? Well there is. The biggest Easter danger to cats is toxicity from Easter Lily ingestion.  They are toxic and dangerous. They cause kidney failure in cats and can be deadly. So PLEASE! Either don’t bring Easter lilies (which is the best thing to do) or keep them out of the reach of your cat. Remember, cats can be both curious and sneaky. It only takes them a minute to jump up on the counter and take a nibble. And that nibble could be fatal. So be safe, keep the lilies away from your cat. Also please be careful of other Easter dangers such as the grass that goes in the Easter baskets. Some cats will eat it leading to a gastrointestinal obstruction that could require surgery. Accidents can happen at any time, all we can is to be educated and to take reasonable measures. This is one of the reasons I recommend pet insurance. Unexpected illnesses or accidents can happen at any time. . If you can’t afford an unexpected $1,000 – $2,000 expense, then you really should consider pet insurance. Take a minute to learn about the benefits of pet insurance and to get a free quote Go to veterinarypetinsurance.com. Please, what ever you do on this lovely Easter weekend, keep your cat safe.  I don’t want to hear that any of you ended up at the emergency clinic. Have a great holiday weekend. Until next time… Dr. Jon

Is Your Cat a “Fatty”?

Cat Crazy Newsletter     Is Your Cat a “Fatty”?

Is your cat overweight?  Don’t worry – you aren’t alone!

It is estimated that nearly half of cats are overweight or likely to become overweight. Of them, a large percentage of people don’t believe their cats are overweight.

That is denial. Or…maybe it is blind love?

Obesity can exacerbate several underlying conditions including arthritis and diabetes. Excess weight is just as unhealthy for cats as it is for us.

But we can do something about their weight. They depend on us for food and we can control their food. But loosing weight isn’t just about controlling what they eat but also how much they eat.

Hill’s Science Diet® recently came out with a program called “Pet FitT Challenge “.  I like this program because it covers what cat owners need to do to help their cats lose weight (and maintain their ideal weight). It is a combination of feeding the right food in the right proportions and combining it with a healthy lifestyle (yes, that includes some exercise).

If you think your cat could benefit from this program – please consider it.

Go to: PetFit.com and take the challenge.

If you follow this program…your kitty will be healthier!  It’s free. All you need to do is go to this link petfit.com and follow the instructions.   It makes a great reference and a great guide.

If you are not sure if your cat is overweight – ask your veterinarian. Most vets have scales and wouldn’t mind if you even stop by for a weight and compare that to a previous weight. Call and ask. Your vet is your partner in keeping your cat happy and healthy.

Until next time…

Dr. Jon

P.S.  When you go to Petfit.com - it then asks you for your state. Go ahead and enter it, as it will then take you to a page where you can download a coupon or download your weight management record book. This is good – it gives you the body scores – pictures of cats of different shapes so you can determine if your cat is overweight.