Feeding your cat right

For years veterinarians have been telling us to stick with one food, to open a can in the morning and at night, and to leave the dry food out for the cat to nibble on all day (rather like raising a child on Spam an Coco puffs!) And how would you feel about eating these boring diet left out all day to spoil? Would you ever dream of even tasting it? Of course not! It’s not fit for human consumption. No wonder cats get a bad rap about being finicky! With their food left out all day to go rancid, some cats may never show interest in their regular meals.

Remember, cats are carnivores, not grazing animals, and they need time between meals to fast so the system can become acidic. Smelling food and nibbling all day keeps cat system alkaline, which is a condition that lowers the immunity. Feline urological syndrome (FUS) is directly related to this nibbling. Studies show that dry food fed-free choice causes the urine to be more alkaline for longer periods of time, creating an environment conducive to the formation of urinary crystals an calculi. Adult cats that have been freely fed (dry food left out throughout the day) should be cut back to one to two meals a day. If you notice your cat has a better appetite at one meal or the other, you can even fed only once a day, just discontinue the meal of less interest. Cats that are ill or very old may not fare well with any change in meal scheduling, so consult an animal nutritionist or holistic practitioner for special problem.

Leave food down no longer than 45 minutes per meal. This is a good rule on two counts, you will guard against spoilage, and you will get your cat used to being fed at specific times rather than free feeding on kibble all day long.

Is this any way to feed your best friend?

Do you actually believe coloured kibble makes it really tasty? Kibbles are not part of a cat’s natural diet. Their digestive system is not designed to deal with synthetic dry food. In fact, there seems to be a clear link between kibbles and more allergies, sickness and cancer in cats. Not only do kibbles look unnatural they’re full of unnatural ingredients. That includes flavour enhancers, synthetic nutrients and artificial colouring. Not forgetting preservatives, for a nice long shelf life.

The reason that kibbles have become so popular is convenience and the low price. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. The only way to really take care of your best pal is to take more time, find recipes with natural local ingredients. As close as possible to the food of their ancestors. And closer, if not the same, quality of ingredients as you would eat yourself.

If you’d like to know more about fresh food and cooking for your best friend, you can order tailor-made recipe and start cooking healthy food for your pal within 24h.

Food enzymes

Enzymes are an important addition to the diet especially if you suspect your cat is not digesting her food thoroughly, check her stool for color and consistency. If abnormal, contact your holistic veterinarian or feline nutritionist. Also, freezing and refrigeration, even of the fresh food diet, may cost us some enzymes loss. Since enzymes are destroyed by cooking, commercial pet foods are missing these vital substances, yet another reason to switch to the freshly made food.

Dr. Tatang Cahyono, MSTCVM, reports that the routine use of food enzymes is beneficial to cats suffering from asthma, allergies, diarrhea, constipation, gastritis, colities, obesity, poor weight gain, arthritis, liver and bladder problems, excessive shedding, an oily or dry coats, to name but a few ailments.

Before going for commercially prepared enzymes, as a preventive measure for above mentioned issues, you can consider adding from time to time kefir or plain yogurt in moderate amounts, which is probably the most generous source of enzymes both for cats and humans.

Catnip cat and mouse

Put a catnip mouse inside an open paper bag. Lay the bag on the floor and watch your cat go into a trance. Your cat will have no choice but to enter the bag! Be aware that catnip is safe and non-addictive, but not all cats react to it.

Get your cat to play ball

Put a ping pong ball inside an empty tissue box, or another box your cat can easily bat around. Hours of feline fun.

Make a comfy cat bed and they will lie in it

Remove the flaps from the top of a cardboard box. Cut out one side, so your cat can enter and leave easily. Use a scrap of blanket as a mattress. Voila! You have a very happy and content, purring and sleeping cat.

Make a fishing rod for your cat

Cats like toys that fall apart, so forget your local pet store. Make your own fishing rod toy out of things you have lying around the house. When your cat tears it apart in the hunt, no problem, just make a new one. Do be careful, cats like eating string and thread, which can make them quite sick.

How to make your cat’s rod:

1. Tie a string, about as long as your arm, on the end of skinny stick.
2. Wrap plastic tape around the tip of the stick, to hold the string in place.
3. Tie a lure to the string: a feather, a small strip of aluminium foil, or short pieces of ribbon.
4. Now think and act like a mouse.
5. Snatch the lure quickly away from your cat, not towards them, as if you’re running away.

The biggest cat stars: the cat in the hat

The funny bow-tied top-hatted cat appeared in a story published in 1957 and written by Theodor Geisel, famously known as Dr Seuss. He wrote the book with the very noble attention of helping children to read and he certainly succeeded. It’s in the top ten of best-selling children’s books of all time.

Create a puzzle for your cat!

How do you get a fit and healthy cat? By making your cat work for its supper. Try the following, because searching for it is great exercise for their brain and they certainly won’t get bored.

1. Find an empty plastic bottle.
2. Cut large holes in the sides.
3. Put a little dry cat food in the bottle. Measure the amount you put in and deducted that from your cat’s supper. Otherwise, he might become overweight.
4. Screw on the lid, and let your cat paw out the food.
5. Once your cat figures it out, make another feeder with smaller holes.

The biggest cat stars: Garfield

This overweight lazy orange cat first appeared in a newspaper cartoon strip in 1978. Named after creator, Jim Davis’s grandfather and based on various barn cats that Davis grew up with, on a farm in Indiana, USA. Today, Garfield is published in 131 countries and seen by over 200 million people.