Cat addicted to Tender Vittles won't eat dry foods
nos...@pacbell.net
A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
Does anybody have a solution to this problem ?
Please reply to newsgroups or send email to Indy at
pacbell.net (not the above nospam address).
Thanks
Indy
Ricardo Meleschi
On Sun, 13 Apr 97 03:39:48 GMT, nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
>
>A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
>skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
>and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
>she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
>foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
A fine connoisseur of cat foods I see. :-)
>
>The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
>a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
>until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
>to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
>at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
>happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
>them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
>Does anybody have a solution to this problem ?
Why don't you just get the cat off of tender vittles? My cat used to
eat only Tender Vittles when she was young, and she grew to hate it so
much she wouldn't eat it if we spoon fed it to her. Now, she lives
off a combination of 1 can of Fancy Feast a day, and a bowl of dry
food, which we refill about once every three days.
I'm sure if you feed the cat less of her regular food, and leave a
bowl of dry food next to her, uhh, plate, sooner or later shell come
around and start munching on the dry food when she wants a snack.
Sometimes, my Risky get's really mad at the Fancy Feast food we give
her (My dad can't remember what kind she likes, and I don't have time
to go out shopping) and she bitched and complains for about an hour,
then she'll eat a little of it and eat the dry the rest of the day.
My cat's 14 years old, and still has a little life left in her. :-)
Now, if I could only figure out why she lays on my clothes! She
prefers the clean ones, but doesn't have a problem with the dirty ones
in the corner either. ;)
See yas,
Ricardo Meleschi
o...@stopspamlynx.bc.ca
On Sun, 13 Apr 97 03:39:48 GMT, Indy wrote:
<snip>
> Now she's not too skinny anymore but
>she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
>foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
While it might sound harsh, just put out dry food for your cat and
ignore the complaints. You would be surprised at how quickly a finciky
cat will adapt to dry food when there is no other choice.
<snip>
> All of my other cats are very
>happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
>them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
Also, I would suggest feeding your cats a better type of food, (ie)
Scinece Diet or Iams or TechniCal. Most commercial brands are not as
nutritious and are often full of fillers. You should discuss this with
your vet.
The Wizard
==========
Please delete STOPSPAM before replying by e-mail.
Todd L. Sherman
On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
> A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
> skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
> and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
> she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
One of my kitties tried to train me the same way, too. But now she knows
better.
> The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
> a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
> until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
> to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
> at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
> happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
Tender Vittles and wet cat foods should really be used as a cat TREAT
rather than a food the way cats tend to _expect_ them after getting them
regularly. I stopped feeding my cats that stuff because I noted they almost
seemed addicted, literally, to them. They'd accept nothing else. (With wet
and moist foods, why the heck let cats keep thier teeth? Might as well
_pull_ them. No need for them.)
Well, with me, they learned to accept the change or starve.
Let them meow. Expect it for a while. Like a crying baby, it's going to
be a pain; but after a while, when thier stomachs start hurting, they'll go
right back to that dry food again. Trust me.
I have two cats who tried to do that to me. Now, one scratches at the
dinner bowl if the _dry_ food is over a few hours old. I look at her, to
let her know I've noticed her...
...Then I flip to the next page in my newspaper with the utmost of
urgency...and a yawn. :)
> Does anybody have a solution to this problem ?
Yes. :) See above. The question "do your kids rule you? or do you rule
your kids?" works just as well with cats. Cats are just like kids, only a
little more cunning. :) They have a little mind with gears, and those
gears do turn and click together just fine. :) OUR'S however, as humans
go, are a little bit dusty and worn. Cats know very well that humans are
just about the _stupidest_ animal on earth, and very easily pushed into the
direction _they_ want with a well-aimed meow of just the right amplitude and
tone (or inflection and intonation, if you will).
Also, a little bit of variety is always nice; but teach them that what
they get is what you give them and not that what they get is what they yell
loud enough for. :)
Think of cats as little three or four year olds and you'll understand them
purr-fectly then. :)
Todd
/-----------------------------------------------------------------\
| Todd L. Sherman, A.R.S. KB4MHH -\\- E-mail: afn0...@afn.org |
| -//- Home Page URL: http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/ -\\- |
| Hale-Bopp currently visible 20-degrees up in NW beginning in |
| the evening twilight after sunset. Very bright. Don't miss it! |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------/
Jane Reid
Get them off Tender Vittles, one f my cats had to be put to sleep for
urinary tract problems and now the other was diagnoised with kidney
failure yesterday vet blamed food we now switched to K/D canned food - I
wish I could sue these manufactueres the way people sue tobacco
companies for them getting cancer from cigerettes!!!
Jane Reid----dont worry---be happy!!!
SHREDDED M
I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
robert a. moeser
In article <Pine.GSO.3.96.97041...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>,
SHREDDED M <phe...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> wrote:
:I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
:have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
how about an unofficial bath? :-)
there are cats who need baths. i have never met one.
there are cats who like baths. i have never met one.
there are cats who just don't keep themselves clean properly. again,
i have never met one.
so unless your cat presents you with a really good reason to bathe it,
or asks you "pretty please", or you are looking for a challenge (and
you've forgotten the color of blood) then leave the cats be.
-- lennie
SHREDDED M
My cat used to be addicted to Tender Vittles too until she got way too
overweight, I know exactly what you are talking about with the food drying
out and so on, to slightly alleviate that I buy smaller cans now, from
IAMS, I stopped feeding the Viddles all together, I'm still trying to
break my cats of wet food, they are way to spoiled with it and only eat
dry food as a last resort.
mark
SHREDDED M wrote:
>
> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
--
MZ
JLR
Todd L. Sherman wrote:
>
> On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
>
> > A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
> > skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
> > and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
> > she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> > foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
>
> One of my kitties tried to train me the same way, too. But now she knows
> better.
>
> > The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
> > a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
> > until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
> > to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
> > at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
> > happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> > them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
> Tender Vittles and wet cat foods should really be used as a cat TREAT
> rather than a food the way cats tend to _expect_ them after getting them
> regularly. I stopped feeding my cats that stuff because I noted they almost
> seemed addicted, literally, to them. They'd accept nothing else. (With wet
> and moist foods, why the heck let cats keep thier teeth? Might as well
> _pull_ them. No need for them.)
>
I don't see anything wrong with feeding cats one meal of a canned cat
food. It's palatable and has more water then dry. People eat things
that are tastier (but not always the very best thing for their teeth) too
so why not allow the cat to have one meal of it? Dry food might help
reduce plaque buildup but getting your cat used to having it's teeth
brushed is another idea. Also I've heard large bones like knuckle bones
(not chicken or other small, brittle, and easy to splinter bones) will
work too if the cat will knaw on it. I never tried it but it's what I
heard.
To get the cat to start eatting dry also try mixing a few pieces in
with the cats canned. If the cat don't notice it, gradually increase til
the cat can eat dry as one meal.
Our cats get dry and canned. I think it's pretty good idea for our
cats and they love it!
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr.
SHREDDED M wrote:
>
> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
While it is seldom NECESSARY, (from the feline point of view), to submit
to the indignity of being bathed by a mere HUMAN, there are some time
when it becomes necessary from the human point of view to bathe the
feline.. to wit;
---when the feline is so overweight that he/she can no longer get
his/her south end to meet with his/her north end for the purpose of
personal feline hygiene.
---when the feline is an outdoor cat who has had a close encounter of
the skunk kind.
--- when the cat, for whatever reason smells like a cat box that's been
used by a cat.
--- when there is a member of your household who has an allergic
reaction to cat dander, and fluffy is causing their eight sinus cavities
to slam shut simultaneously
--- when the great out-of-doors, (in the guise of a colony of fleas)
have decided that your cat is the restaurant-du-jour.
For any or all of these reasons, it is somewhere between advisable and
imperative that you bathe your cat.
For those who are interested in this ancient black-belt martial art, I
have published information on my web site, http://www.cats-by-pat.com
and have also distilled 14+ years of experience in dealing
professionally with cats in a new video; "Common Sense Cat Care Volume
#1---Grooming & Bathing Your Cat", (available for $29.95 + $4.95
shipping & handling through Skyline Video Productions 1-773-878-9137
Visa & Master Card Accepted). It shows you step-by-step how to give your
cat a bath and not end up with fur all over your tongue!
Have a GREAT day.
Regards,
Pat Kansoer --- Holistic Companion Feline Specialist
http://www.cats-by-pat.com
Danielle Oviatt
nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
:
: A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
: skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
: and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
: she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
: foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
: The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
: a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
: until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
: to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
: at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
: happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
: them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
: Does anybody have a solution to this problem ?
:
: Please reply to newsgroups or send email to Indy at:
It may sound cruel, but just give her the new cat food and nothing but
the new cat food and try not to relent, I know it's hard, I went through
it with my cat when she changed to the special urinary tract health brand
the vet wanted her to eat, and sooner or later she will eat the new food.
Cats are finicky, but they won't starve to death on principle.
My cat still would prefer a different kind, but she's used to the new
stuff and is just a healthy and happy as before although she does have
her "please feed the sweet starving kitty" act down to a science.
Danielle
Owned by L.C. alias pickle puss
David McKittrick
At the risk of embarrassing my female cat, (hopefully she won't read
this,) I will tell you she is a stinker. She has a pooey smell to her,
but I live with it. Maybe she thinks she smells good. Sometimes I rub
her down with a wet washcloth. In the summer I give both my cats a bath
with a pyrethrin shampoo maybe once a month to help control fleas.
Susan Mudgett aka little gator
SHREDDED M (phe...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU) wrote:
: I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
: have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
No. Cats rarely need bathing.
Show cats are bathed to keep them looking as perfect as possible. A
bath may be needed for medical reasons if a cat has a skin disorder or
fleas, or for cats who are too ill to groom themselves. Cats who get
sticky or toxic substances on their fur may need bathing. But other
than that I can't think of any reason, and most cats don't need it.
If your cats are healthy, fleafree, and keep themselves clean, don't
bother. Even if they have flease there are easier ways to treat them,
though bathing helps in some cases.
Kami
SHREDDED M wrote:
>I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
Not unless they got themselves into something they can't clean off
themselves.
The thought of giving any of my 3 kitties a bath, well, I have to
ROFLMAO!
Kami
P.S. Have your cats really got you shredded? (-: (-:
--------------------------------------------------------
Dogs think they're human. Cats wouldn't stoop that low.
Visit Bootsie, Gizmo, Sassy, canine pal Princess,
and some of their fur friends at
http://www.users.interport.net/~kamiscot/petpage.html
Spam Protection On.... If you're emailing.... change mew to net
Kathryn Cullen
On Mon, 14 Apr 1997 12:50:47 -0500, mark <mark...@bankpds.com> wrote:
>SHREDDED M wrote:
>>
>> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
>no
Cats are the cleanest animals in the world. Cleaner even than humans
I'd say.
Kathryn :)
kathryn cullen, easynet web designer
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
kat...@easynet.net, w...@easynet.net
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
David McKittrick
If you decide you are going to bathe your cat, call up a groomer or
kennel owner or vet for tips on how it's done. This WILL save you and
your cat alot of trouble! Don't be shy, pick up the phone. I could give
you some hints as I have my own way of bathing my cats, but I'm no
expert.
Todd L. Sherman
On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, SHREDDED M wrote:
> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
I've had my two kitties for four and five years, respectively, and have
only given them one bath in that time...for fleas.
They're pretty good at keeping themselves clean...with that raspy wittle
tongue. You note how much they sit and lick themselves when not playing,
eating, or sleeping. :) A residual instinct from the wild.
A. Hutchinson
Todd L. Sherman wrote:
>
> On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
>
> > A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
> > skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
> > and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
> > she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> > foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
>
> better.
>
> > a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
> > until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
> > to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
> > at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
> > happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> > them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
> rather than a food the way cats tend to _expect_ them after getting them
> regularly. I stopped feeding my cats that stuff because I noted they almost
> seemed addicted, literally, to them. They'd accept nothing else. (With wet
> and moist foods, why the heck let cats keep thier teeth? Might as well
> _pull_ them. No need for them.)
>
>
> Let them meow. Expect it for a while. Like a crying baby, it's going to
> be a pain; but after a while, when thier stomachs start hurting, they'll go
> right back to that dry food again. Trust me.
>
> I have two cats who tried to do that to me. Now, one scratches at the
> dinner bowl if the _dry_ food is over a few hours old. I look at her, to
> let her know I've noticed her...
> ...Then I flip to the next page in my newspaper with the utmost of
> urgency...and a yawn. :)
>
>
> your kids?" works just as well with cats. Cats are just like kids, only a
> little more cunning. :) They have a little mind with gears, and those
> gears do turn and click together just fine. :) OUR'S however, as humans
> go, are a little bit dusty and worn. Cats know very well that humans are
> just about the _stupidest_ animal on earth, and very easily pushed into the
> direction _they_ want with a well-aimed meow of just the right amplitude and
> tone (or inflection and intonation, if you will).
>
> Also, a little bit of variety is always nice; but teach them that what
> they get is what you give them and not that what they get is what they yell
> loud enough for. :)
>
> Think of cats as little three or four year olds and you'll understand them
> purr-fectly then. :)
>
>
> /-----------------------------------------------------------------\
> | Todd L. Sherman, A.R.S. KB4MHH -\\- E-mail: afn0...@afn.org |
> | -//- Home Page URL: http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/ -\\- |
> | Hale-Bopp currently visible 20-degrees up in NW beginning in |
> | the evening twilight after sunset. Very bright. Don't miss it! |
> \-----------------------------------------------------------------/
You are damn lucky your particular cats decided the food you offered was
acceptable to them. My vet has told me that a cat CAN and WILL literally
starve to *death* rather than eat something it truly objects to.
After only a few days (approx 48 hrs) of not eating at all, a cat's body
can start to shut down and liver damage can result. Trying to force your
will on a reluctant cat may result in very serious health problems!
Not such a good idea to be so control-oriented if it means the loss of
health or life in ones pets, is it?
Amber
Deby Gerrard
Cats aren't clean - they're full of cat spit!!!
Sorry - couldn't resist quoting Alexei Sayle here!
--
Please remove the last two letters from my address when replying by email.
This is to prevent spam.
Helen and Charles Goodwin
nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
>
> A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
> skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
> and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
> she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
>
> a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
> until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
> to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
> at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
> happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
>
> pacbell.net (not the above nospam address).
>
> Thanks
> Indy
I feed my cats whatever they want which is mainly fresh food and some
canned but I would never feed dried food only because I think it causes
urinary problems. I do give it as an extra as they like it but not in
huge amounts.
A. Hutchinson
> >she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> >foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
>
> ignore the complaints. You would be surprised at how quickly a finciky
> cat will adapt to dry food when there is no other choice.
>
> <snip>
> >happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> >them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
> Scinece Diet or Iams or TechniCal. Most commercial brands are not as
> nutritious and are often full of fillers. You should discuss this with
> your vet.
>
> The Wizard
>
> ==========
>
> Please delete STOPSPAM before replying by e-mail.
A major warning here! If the cat won't eat the dry food you leave out
and is not eating for 48 hrs GIVE IN and give her the Tender Vittles.
My vet told me that a cat can and will starve to death if it doesn't like
the food and 48 hrs is as long as any cat should go without eating.
Also, be sure the cat is drinking water or she will get dehydrated.
Amber
Malinda McCall
A compromise position might be what many people on pet newsgroups have
recommended: rather than switching abruptly from preferred food to
disliked food, slowly over a period of days or even weeks if you are
patient enough mix the foods together, increasing the new/healthier food
ratio to the old/to-be-phased-out food ratio until you get to an
all-new-stuff bowl of food. If kitty balks by picking out the preferred
food, s/he won't starve or risk liver damage but won't get the same
amount of food unless s/he tries the new stuff. Most cats will choose to
eat the new "ickier" stuff eventually.
Jacqueline A. Jones
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr. wrote:
> Dear Shredded;
>
> While it is seldom NECESSARY, (from the feline point of view), to submit
> to the indignity of being bathed by a mere HUMAN, there are some time
> when it becomes necessary from the human point of view to bathe the
> feline..
When I had Wussy in the basement prior to introducing her to my other
cats, she was also being treated for ear mites. Well, Cerumite is really
sticky, and she shook her head and scratched a lot and got it all over
her cheeks. Then she managed to climb into a hole in the sheetrock that
covered the basement ceiling. When she came out--oh my, did that cat
need a bath.
But, boy, do I wish I had taken her to the vet and let him do the job!
She climbed out of the water, onto my shoulder and onto my back. I had
foot-long scratches on my back from trying to drag her back off. Ouch!
-jackie
Raymot
In article <Pine.GSO.3.96.97041...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>,
phe...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU says...
>
>I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
No it isn't usually. The one time I had to bath one of my cats was
after he climbed under my warm car engine one cold winter
evening and smeared engine oil all over him.
Even then, he could probably have cleaned himself up, but I
didn't like the idea of his ending up with a stomach full of
20W/40.
I do think it's amazing what cat's systems seem to be able to
tolerate though!
Raymot
=======
Brisbane, Australia
rmot...@powerup.com.au
http://www.powerup.com.au/~rmottare/
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Chris and Rami Haught
In article <3357b854...@news.interport.net> Kami <kami...@interport.mew> writes:
>From: Kami <kami...@interport.mew>
>Subject: Re: Washing Cats?
>Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 19:07:41 -0400
>SHREDDED M wrote:
>>I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>>have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
>Not unless they got themselves into something they can't clean off
>themselves.
>The thought of giving any of my 3 kitties a bath, well, I have to
>ROFLMAO!
>Kami
>P.S. Have your cats really got you shredded? (-: (-:
I bathe cats for a living and while it is extremly challenging it can be
done. I only bathe mine if I see fleas and if they start stinking. Anyway,
I usually get my husband to help me. We do it in the bathroom with the door
closed. He holds the cat in the tub while I wet them and lather them up. Of
course, we have to let them soak so I just let them run around the bathroom
and when the time is up we rinse them. Some cats will put up with it, some
are a little jumpy just trying to get out, and some are down right mean. I
would give it a try if you feel that it is necessary.
Rami
Heather A Barton
Todd L. Sherman (afn0...@afn.org) wrote:
: On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 nos...@pacbell.net wrote:
: Tender Vittles and wet cat foods should really be used as a cat TREAT
: rather than a food the way cats tend to _expect_ them after getting them
: regularly. I stopped feeding my cats that stuff because I noted they almost
: seemed addicted, literally, to them. They'd accept nothing else. (With wet
: and moist foods, why the heck let cats keep thier teeth? Might as well
: _pull_ them. No need for them.)
Good, don't feed your cats that crap unless you want to have huge $$ vet
bills for pulling teeth and you want to start brushing your cats teeth.
Happened to my old cat and I'm sure that he died prematurely (at 13) cuz
of the junk we used to feed him (tender vittles, soft food out of tins)
i...@ix.netcom.com
I have tasted several kinds of cat foods including Friskies,
9-lives, IAMS and Science Diet dry foods, Tender Vittle moist
food and Fancy Feast (salmon, ocean whitefish, cod-sole-shrimp)
canned foods.
I've found that dry foods are like biscuits with very little
taste and Tender Vittles Gourmet moist food is a lot tastier
than all of the dry foods.
Among all the canned foods I've tasted, Fancy Feast Salmon
seems to be the tastiest one.
So it's easy to understand why some cats won't eat dry foods.
Jacqueline A. Jones
Raymot wrote:
> The one time I had to bath one of my cats was
> after he climbed under my warm car engine one cold winter
> evening and smeared engine oil all over him.
> Even then, he could probably have cleaned himself up, but I
> didn't like the idea of his ending up with a stomach full of
> 20W/40.
> I do think it's amazing what cat's systems seem to be able to
> tolerate though!
It always amazes me that a cat who will lick its rear, and who will lick
filth off its body, scratches over and covers perfectly fresh, unliked
cat food!
-jackie
Miche
In article <Pine.GSO.3.96.97041...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
SHREDDED M <phe...@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> writes:
> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
Not under normal circumstances.
The only real reasons I know of to bathe a cat are:
1) if they've gotten something on themselves which would do them
damage if they swallowed it (eg antifreeze, petrol, oil, pesticides
etc)
2) if their owner is allergic to cats (periodic bathing of cats can
help keep allergens under control).
Miche
------------
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Pamela Stricker
> > >I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
> > >have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
> >
> >
I have found filing clean plastic milk jugs with (just warm to the
inside of wrist) water before bringing cat into tub area helpful. I warm
the tub with warm water but dont put any water in tub. I put a little
liquid Dr. Bronner's soap (a very mild castile soap you can even brush
your teeth with) in one of the jugs. I wet them with water and then add
some soap and rub in a bit. Then rinse and do a last rinse with weak white
vinegar and water mix which helps get rid of soap. Then wrap in one towel
and sometimes another. If it's not a hot day I also have put a blowdryer
on warm not hot and low and hold it about 6 inches form them and try and
gently dry their fur more. Usually I dont bathe them unless it's hot. I
have three cats and have bathed them 1-2 a year since they were kittens.
They still dont like it but tolerate it. It is a trick with my two
"big" girls - 18-22 pounds of wet fur can be hard to keep in a slippery
tub. I try to get them to like stand on inside and put paws on the edge of
tub. That makes it easier for me. Good luck. I also try to gently comb
them with a fine flea comb before to get extra fur out.
Pam
--
Pam Stricker Enemy of bermuda grass, friend of lacewings.
p...@cts.com
"Bulk e-mailers can be thwarted by adding an
unnecessary 'character' to your e-mail return address.
-Remove the trailing 'x' from
my address if you wish to reply." Thanks.
ted ulch
Has anyone used warm bran to "bathe" their cat? I have heard that
rubbing a cat thoroughly with warm bran is an effective and more user
(and usee) friendly way of cleaning their fur than soap and water.
Ted Ulch
sham...@magi.com
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr.
Hi Ted & Group;
Some folks who show cats will give a longhair cat with a slightly greasy
coat a "dry" bath using warm bran or cornstarch. This method, while
effective is also very messy. If you take your time, observe a few
simple rules, (make sure that the water is warm for example) and are
gentle with the cat it is NOT a traumatic experience to bathe a cat.
For further information check out my website at
http://www.cats-by-pat.com or purchase my video; "Common Sense Cat Care
Volume #1 --- Grooming & Bathing Your Cat" which is available through
SKYLINE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS 1-773-878-9137 $29.95 + $4.95
shipping/handling, (ask for the internet discount when you call). VISA &
Master Card accepted.
Regards,
Pat Kansoer --- Holistic Companion Feline Consultant
http://www.cats-by-pat.com
Jordan H. Orzoff
> Has anyone used warm bran to "bathe" their cat? I have heard that
> rubbing a cat thoroughly with warm bran is an effective and more user
> (and usee) friendly way of cleaning their fur than soap and water.
When I first read about that technique, I had to wonder how much free time
the person who first thought it up must have had.
"Experiment #54 is a failure. Bathing the cat in corn flakes was no more
effective than the popcorn bath, birdseed bath, or packing peanuts bath.
Next week, we'll move on to the wheat-based cereals."
Jordan
Richard Doodles Ericka Dana
i...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
: I have tasted several kinds of cat foods including Friskies,
To help avoid urinary tract infection, etc., it's better to feed a high
quality canned food like Old Mother Hubbard, Iam's, Triumph, or Petguard
(more appealing than S.D. canned food) than grocery store junk - 9-lives,
friskies, purina, etc..
You can usually buy these by the case or half case for a good price at
your pet supply store - they'll let you mix the flavors in the case.
A. Hutchinson
I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
stuff from fancy expensive pet stores). My vet has fed dozens of cats on
9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is nothing
wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
In some specific instances with cats with particular problems it may be
necessary to go to a particular type/brand of food. But laying the blame
for many feline illnesses on store brands of food is hardly fair. Nor is
any claim that because a beloved cat died at 12 or 13 and not 20 the
food must have been the cause! I've know plenty of cats fed premium
brand foods that lived the average 10-12 yrs. Conversely, I've seen cats
fed nothing but Purina live 18 yrs.
Amber
A. Hutchinson
FYI: 13 is not necessarily "premature" for a cat to die. According to
the literature I've seen and several veterinarians I know, the average
life expectancy of your everyday housecat is 10 yrs old. That takes into
account the fact that some cats die young and some make it to 18 or more.
But a cat that makes it to 13 is past the average. So attributing your
cat's passing to Tender Vittles is hardly appropriate.
Amber
Charles Platt
A. Hutchinson (ah...@cas.albany.edu) wrote:
> I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
> stuff from fancy expensive pet stores).
What bothers me is that the same vet who says, "You shouldn't feed your
cat 9-Lives, you should feed him [some special dietary stuff]" just
happens to be the guy who wants to sell me the special stuff, at a
substantial markup! Conflict of interest, here? If a doctor told us, "you
should change your diet and eat special food--which I just happen to have
in stock here at my clinic," wouldn't we be a little suspicious?
My cat urinated a little blood. I took him to the vet, who concluded that
the cat's urine was overly acidic, and demanded that we feed him
balanced-pH food. "Otherwise, I know your cat will be back here again and
again and again." Well, I checked some ingredients, including pH value,
and the reduction that would result from switching to double-the-price,
special-diet foods seemed trivial. Also, my cat hated the sample that I
gave him.
So I thought about it, and realized that if MY urine was dark yellow and
felt acidic, I wouldn't change my diet, I'd simply drink more fluids. Then
I realized I had never seen my cat drink water (though the bowl always has
water in it, which the other cats drink). So, I started mixing some water
with each daily portion of his (wet) food.
In the five years since then--no sign of a problem.
No doubt I will receive mail telling me that my cat will die of kidney
disease. But where are the numbers proving cause and effect, here? Where
are the studies showing that supermarket food really does cause kidney
trouble? Haven't been able to find any....
Gloria Edith Keays
Miche (michelle...@no-ads.stonebow.otago.ac.nz) wrote:
<<SNIP>>
: Not under normal circumstances.
: The only real reasons I know of to bathe a cat are:
: 1) if they've gotten something on themselves which would do them
: damage if they swallowed it (eg antifreeze, petrol, oil, pesticides
: etc)
: 2) if their owner is allergic to cats (periodic bathing of cats can
: help keep allergens under control).
: Miche
You missed possibly the most important one of all... SKUNK!!!
When I was a kid (~12), my Siam (fresh from Africa, and therefore
didn't know better) tried to play with a skunk. I have never
seen a more dismal, upset, worried looking cat. He had strings
of slime hanging off his face. His mouth had perma drool. He
was miserable. He showed up in the morning, and the whole
neighbourhood stunk. Poor thing.
He _asked_ for a bath. He was distraught. We placed an old dish
towel under him to catch any dripping slime, and carried him into
the kitchen. We proceeded to rinse him off with water, and then
carried onto the tomato juice. After repeated washings, he
smelled significantly better (and was slightly pink). This cat would
normally have destroyed anything trying to give him that sort of
treatment. He didn't even complain this time.
At that age, my brother and I fought over who would get the cat
at night. Me being older (and bigger, at the time) usually won.
I was starting to sleep when I realised I was getting ill. The
slight smell of skunk was turning my stomach. I quickly put the
cat into my brothers room and closed the door. About ten minutes
later, I hear the door open and close. About ten minutes after
that, my folks door slammed shut. The cat didn't understand why
nobody wanted him. This lasted about 3 weeks. (so did the pink
tinge...) He was a lonely cat, and he didn't like it.
Oh yeah. He did it once more in his nineteen years. He went
about 12 years without skunk at the end, and that was after
moving to the country, and I KNOW there were many skunks around!
rod (on his wife's account)
Rachel Walsh
>On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, SHREDDED M wrote:
>> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
> I've had my two kitties for four and five years, respectively, and have
>only given them one bath in that time...for fleas.
> They're pretty good at keeping themselves clean...with that raspy wittle
>tongue. You note how much they sit and lick themselves when not playing,
>eating, or sleeping. :) A residual instinct from the wild.
I have three cats, and two of them clean themselves very well, but one of
them just doesn't lick himself enough, so his coat gets matted and greasy
and gross. We have to give him baths and I know he really hates them. I
think he may not lick himself because he's kind of obese and he may not
be able to reach certain spots, but cats are very flexible.
Does anybody have suggestions on how I can encourage him to lick
himself?
Paula Anderson
In article <335BC5...@cas.albany.edu>, "A. Hutchinson"
<ah...@cas.albany.edu> wrote:
> I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
> stuff from fancy expensive pet stores).
Thank you Amber. I have used store bought on my cats and one had live to
be 22. Another thing these people probably don't know is that most store
brands have the name Waltram (?) on them - isn't that one company that
sells their premium food at the Vets? My cats get their Fancy Feast,
Friskies, etc. and always have dry around when they want it.
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr.
birdman
nos...@pacbell.net wrote in article <5ipki4$1ks...@pbinews.pacbell.net>...
>
> A couple of years ago one of my cats Crystal was too
> skinny so I started feeding her a lot of canned foods
> and moist foods. Now she's not too skinny anymore but
> she won't eat anything other than Fancy Feast canned
> foods and Tender Vittle moist foods.
>
> The problem is that these foods usually go bad after
> a couple of hours and then Crystal would keep meowing
> until I open a new can or a new bag for her. If I have
> to go out for more than a few hours she would be upset
> at me when I come home. All of my other cats are very
> happy with all the different kinds of dry food I give
> them (Friskies, 9-Lives, etc).
>
> Does anybody have a solution to this problem ?
>
> Please reply to newsgroups or send email to Indy at
> pacbell.net (not the above nospam address).
>
> Thanks
> Indy
>
> You should take to a vet to have her teeth cleaned and make sure she does
not
have any tooth problems. Second, if you want your cat to be healthy and
live
a long life feed a very good diet like IAMs or SCIENCE DIET, some canned
food
is okay, but most dry food in grocery stores have to high an ash content
which can lead to kidney or bladder problems.
John & Melinda Sheridan
Waltham's is the name you're thinking of. When Spike had to go on a
kidney diet, low-protein, we put him on Waltham's K/D canned from the
vets. He wouldn't have anything to do with it. After carefully reading
the labels on the cans in the grocery store, I found that (here in
Canada) Kal Kan Optimum for Seniors, also made by Waltham's had just a
smidge more protein than the prescription food from the vet. Spike
loved it and it kept him going another five years. -Melinda
John M Angeles
It is only necessary if you or other famly members of your family
has an allergic reaction to them. They naturally clean themselves on a
daily basis and keep themselves imaculously clean. It is not wise to
give them a bath if they have a clean coat. You may also note that cats
do not like water. If you decide to give them a bath, then you might
need the military gear to keep them form getting loose because they will
resist you with force if necessary. Also, if you have a cat like me, you
should have started to bath them at an earlier age, so that they can get
use to it. I started mine when she was only 6 months old and thats
because I have an allergic reaction to their dander. Rinsing with
distilled water decreases the protein that triggers an allergic response
dramatically and has helped me live with her for 7 years. Think hard and
fast if you want to give your cat a bath. :>
Robyn
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr. wrote:
>
>
> You are WRONG about bathing cats for all of the reasons I stated
> earlier. It is true that cats constantly bathe themselves... and it is
> also true that they are constantly covering themselves with their own
> saliva which produces the protien that becomes dander to which many
> humans are allergic. Further, the cats are ingesting copious amounts of
> hair which in many cases become hairballs barfed up on the floor... (if
> you're lucky), or worse become impactions which need to be surgically
> removed.
>
> Consider this, how pleasant would YOU be to be around if your daily
> toilette consisted of you licking yourself all over after eating a lot
> of fish-based food?
My VETERANARIAN said that it is NOT necessary to bathe a cat unless there is
some particular reason. I think John is right, cats DO keep themselves very
clean. I have not needed to bathe my little boy. He still smells fresh and
clean. Good brushing, some salad greens, and a little hairball remedy works
just fine to decrease hairballs and to keep the risk of a hairball impaction to
a minimum.
Robyn :-)
--
/\*/\
. @ @ .
. =*= .
. ^ .
Patrick C. Kansoer Sr.
A. Hutchinson
Melinda,
Thank God for store brands! (Kal Kan). Five more yrs with Spike were
worth any price, but luckily you and he found something he could stand to
eat! None of my cats has ever been fond of fancy premium brands. But
who knows, maybe one day I'll have a kitty who likes nothing else!
Anyway, all I really wanted to make clear to people is that if a food is
balanced, it can be ok for your cat no matter what "label" it wears! And
Melinda's post backs me up.
Amber
Shannon Waller
I have three cats who occasionally need a bath (e.g., after exploring the
ashes in the fireplace. Evidently ashes taste too nasty to groom
properly). This technique works for me: Get into the bathtub with the
cat, kneeling down with the cat between your knees, facing away from you.
Then you can use one hand to hold the cat by the scruff and keep it still,
and use the other hand to actually wash it. Your cat shouldn't be able to
reach you to bite, and it shouldn't be able to reach you with its claws,
either.
My cats complain at the tops of their lungs during baths, and occasionally
make a break for freedom if they see an opportunity, but they have never
tried to scratch or bite me during the process. Maybe they are just
unusually well-behaved! :)
Shannon
Jayne and Brett
In article <33555E...@lily.pad.net>,
Robyn <tad....@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>x-no-archive: yes
>
>Hello
>I have had my cat for 3 years and he still smells good!
>
>Tadpole
Yes, so does mine- except for right after she's eaten. Yipes! It's ol'
tuna breath!
jayne
Raven
does not smell. She uses a patch of dirt outside for her litterbox, so
our house doesnt smell either. Even friends say she smells good for a
cat who does not have a bath.
Of course after eating, her breath does kill :)
i...@ix.netcom.com
In article <335E3C...@cas.albany.edu>, "A. Hutchinson" <ah...@cas.albany.edu> wrote:
...
>Thank God for store brands! (Kal Kan). Five more yrs with Spike were
>worth any price, but luckily you and he found something he could stand to
>eat! None of my cats has ever been fond of fancy premium brands. But
>who knows, maybe one day I'll have a kitty who likes nothing else!
>
>Anyway, all I really wanted to make clear to people is that if a food is
>balanced, it can be ok for your cat no matter what "label" it wears! And
>Melinda's post backs me up.
>
>Amber
The manufacturers of premium-brand pet foods must have done
a good job promoting their products by saying that everything
else is junk food (and can kill our cats).
Pat Reskey
A. Hutchinson wrote:
>
> I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
> 9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is nothing
> wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
> saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
> store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
>
> In some specific instances with cats with particular problems it may be
> necessary to go to a particular type/brand of food. But laying the blame
> for many feline illnesses on store brands of food is hardly fair. Nor is
> any claim that because a beloved cat died at 12 or 13 and not 20 the
> food must have been the cause! I've know plenty of cats fed premium
> brand foods that lived the average 10-12 yrs. Conversely, I've seen cats
> fed nothing but Purina live 18 yrs.
>
My Abby, who celebrated her 24th birthday on February 14, is a Purina
kitty, with Friskies as occasional variety. Abby and Amanda, age 8, each
get their bowls filled with Meow Mix, with a spoonful of moist canned
food mixed in.
Baby, age 3, eats Iams lamb and rice, served as above (dry food, with a
bit of canned mixed in) because of her severe allergies, which, two
years ago, caused her to lick and scratch herself to the point where she
was nearly hairless, with raw bleeding lesions literally from head to
toe. After eliminating a number of other possibilities, our vet
suggested that a systemic food allergy might be the cause, so suggested
this. It has done the job, so Baby was indeed in need of having corn,
wheat, chicken, and fish eliminated from her diet.
Conclusion: Supermarket-brand pet food is no problem to most cats. Pets
with certain health challenges may benefit from special foods. Do
whatever works best for your pet.
Pat Reskey
JC
> A. Hutchinson wrote:
> > I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
> > stuff from fancy expensive pet stores). My vet has fed dozens of cats on
> > 9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is nothing
> > wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
> > saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
> > store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
Hi everyone... I've been lurking for a bit. Just got one-year-old Sweet
Pea and three-year-old Mosu from the pound. Have had a vet in twice for
shots, etc., and asked her specifically about what the best food was for
cats. She said that unless a cat had special health needs (was sick or had
allergies; very old or very young; very fat or very thin, etc.) that
regular old supermarket cat food was fine. The only thing she advised
against was getting store or house brands as opposed to name brands like
Purina, Friskies, etc. Also realize that there's some disagreement about
this topic among vets and pet owners....
Just my two cents.
Many blessings.............., JC
"Live simply so that others may simply live..." Gandhi
* alt.future.millennium usenet newsgroup
* The MILLENNIUM Matters... http://www.m-m.org/jz/intro.html
* The Millennium Matters... newsletter: email to: jcp...@cris.com
Ophelia Marquad
> A. Hutchinson wrote:
> >
> > I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
> > stuff from fancy expensive pet stores). My vet has fed dozens of cats
on
> > 9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is
nothing
> > wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
> > saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
> > store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
> >
> > In some specific instances with cats with particular problems it may be
> > necessary to go to a particular type/brand of food. But laying the
blame
> > for many feline illnesses on store brands of food is hardly fair. Nor
is
> > any claim that because a beloved cat died at 12 or 13 and not 20 the
> > food must have been the cause! I've know plenty of cats fed premium
> > brand foods that lived the average 10-12 yrs. Conversely, I've seen
cats
> > fed nothing but Purina live 18 yrs.
DUH. Don't you think that some cats, like people, are just more hardy. My
granddad lived to 82 and smoked and drank before he was a teenager and only
quit drinking in his 50-60's. He ate the worst foods possible and lived to
this age. Some people exercise, eat well, don't smoke, etc. and die early.
It's genetics. But food does contribute and I've read about some pet food
manufacturers buying carcasses from shelters and putting these in their pet
foods. CATS and DOGS. And the meat in pet foods is usually the diseased and
inadequate that they feel isn't fit for people. It is probably all bad for
cats.
John M Angeles
Its apparent to me that you do not have an allergic reaction to cat
dander. If you did, then you would probably find my idea useful,
provided that you started bathing them early. If I didn't my cat would
not have lasted more than a year in my home and we would have to give it
away. Furthermore, I find my method of reducing dander helpful and is
the reason why my cat was not turned over to a shelter. Also since this
is allergy season, the combination of the two kinds of allergen would
prove dentrimental to my health. I also find it much cheaper than going
to the allergist to get annual injections to provide relief from my
symptoms. I suggest you read the literature at your local veterenarian.
bosscat
I am not sure where we disagree. I stated that it was, in fact a good
idea to bathe cats... you said that you bathed cats to alleviate your
allergies. I said that cats can agravate allergies due to their
dander... you stated that you bathed your cats to help eliminate their
dander.
I must have missed something. Where exactly do we disagree?
Regards,
Pat Kansoer --- Holistic Companion Feline Consultant
http://www.cats-by-pat.com
Look for our new video "Common Sense Cat Care Volume #1 --- Grooming &
Bathing Your Cat" $29.95 + $4.95 s/h 1-773-878-1988 VISA & Master Card
Accepted
badad...@ix.netcom.com
In article <01bc543a$df84f400$1207a0cd@default>,
"Ophelia Marquad" <ernes...@wellins.net> wrote:
>...
>DUH. Don't you think that some cats, like people, are just more hardy. My
>granddad lived to 82 and smoked and drank before he was a teenager and only
>quit drinking in his 50-60's. He ate the worst foods possible and lived to
>this age. Some people exercise, eat well, don't smoke, etc. and die early.
>It's genetics. But food does contribute and I've read about some pet food
>manufacturers buying carcasses from shelters and putting these in their pet
>foods. CATS and DOGS. And the meat in pet foods is usually the diseased and
>inadequate that they feel isn't fit for people. It is probably all bad for
>cats.
I hope this is not the case with the brands I give to my cats
because I usually taste them before feeding my cats.
I've heard that Mel Gibson also likes to eat dog foods.
John M Angeles
I apologize for the misconception, I read your response too
quickly and came to an unjust conclusion. You are correct in your
response. There is no disagreement here.
Neil
iSN';T IT USUALLY ABBATOIR carcasses that go into dog food - BSE cows.
sick sheep etc?
Horses go into cat food and probably dog food too?
Neil
On Tue, 22 Apr 1997 20:10:30 -0700, "Patrick C. Kansoer Sr."
<bos...@cats-by-pat.com> wrote:
>Rachel Walsh wrote:
>>
>> >On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, SHREDDED M wrote:
>>
>> >> I have 2 cats, one is a little over 3 and one is about 1 + 1/2. Neither
>> >> have ever had an official bath, it is necessary?
>>
>> > I've had my two kitties for four and five years, respectively, and have
>> >only given them one bath in that time...for fleas.
>>
>> > They're pretty good at keeping themselves clean...with that raspy wittle
>> >tongue. You note how much they sit and lick themselves when not playing,
>> >eating, or sleeping. :) A residual instinct from the wild.
>>
>> I have three cats, and two of them clean themselves very well, but one of
>> them just doesn't lick himself enough, so his coat gets matted and greasy
>> and gross. We have to give him baths and I know he really hates them. I
>> think he may not lick himself because he's kind of obese and he may not
>> be able to reach certain spots, but cats are very flexible.
>> Does anybody have suggestions on how I can encourage him to lick
>> himself?
>Cover him with chicken fat --- SHEESH!
And why not?.. or Crab Sticks..
Seriously, my 7 year old has only had 2 baths - I have the scars to
proove it - and they were only needed as he walked into a bucket of
oil... my 5 year old never bathes.. but either sleeps, sunbathes,
washes or plays.... in that order
D. Reed
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What's in a name?
bosscat wrote:
> John;
>
> I am not sure where we disagree. I stated that it was, in fact a good
> idea to bathe cats... you said that you bathed cats to alleviate your
> allergies. I said that cats can agravate allergies due to their
> dander... you stated that you bathed your cats to help eliminate their
> dander.
>
> I must have missed something. Where exactly do we disagree?
>
> Regards,
>
> Pat Kansoer --- Holistic Companion Feline Consultant
> http://www.cats-by-pat.com
> Look for our new video "Common Sense Cat Care Volume #1 --- Grooming &
> Bathing Your Cat" $29.95 + $4.95 s/h 1-773-878-1988 VISA & Master Card
> Accepted
Because it's a protein in the cat's saliva that usually provokes
allergic reactions inpeople. WHen cats groom themselves they spread the
saliva. They shed and some degree of the dried protein aerosolizes.
Obviosuly, washing the cat eliminates the likelihood fo the response.
D. Reed
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Neil
>> A. Hutchinson wrote:
>> >
>> > I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
>> > stuff from fancy expensive pet stores). My vet has fed dozens of cats
>on >> > 9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is
>nothing >> > wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
>> > saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
>> > store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
Well, in the UK a MAJOR consumer magazine called Which? did a survey,
as well as a top WatchDog BBC Primetime TV program on these so called
super health foods for pets.
And the conclusion?
AVOID them. They don't have any extras that a tin of brand name cat
or dog food has - Whiskas, Felix cat foods etc, .. My two cats are 5 &
7 and eat these tinned foods, one likes milk, one water... one eats
"Crunchies" Friskies , Go-Cat etc dried foods... but as an extra as it
does not go off.. and my cats are (too ) bouncy, energetic, playful
and cuddly... even my 2 year old son!!!
The IAM and Waltham dry "premium" foods were NOT worth the money and
could actually HARM the pet if not VET recommended...
Just to let yoy know the UKs view...
C U L8R
--
Ace Rimmer's Stunt Wig
e-mail me, news me but don't abuse me!
Brian Costello
Neil <neil.b...@mail.virgin.net> wrote:
: >> A. Hutchinson wrote:
: >> >
: >> > I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
: >> > stuff from fancy expensive pet stores). My vet has fed dozens of cats
: >on >> > 9-Lives and Friskies Buffet for many years, as have I. There is
: >nothing >> > wrong with the 'premium' foods like Iams or Science Diet. I'm simply
: >> > saying that anyone who trashes a person for feeding their cat grocery
: >> > store (good quality "complete") foods is do so without cause.
: Well, in the UK a MAJOR consumer magazine called Which? did a survey,
: as well as a top WatchDog BBC Primetime TV program on these so called
: super health foods for pets.
: And the conclusion?
: AVOID them. They don't have any extras that a tin of brand name cat
: The IAM and Waltham dry "premium" foods were NOT worth the money and
: could actually HARM the pet if not VET recommended...
I always thought ash was BAD for cats. I guess that those two UK programs
told me <snicker>. Your personal examples are like me saying "I ate
mcdonalds every day for 60 years and I'm not dead - so McDonald's isn't
bad". And it's not extras that good foods have, it's LESS - as in less ash,
less bone meal, less chemicals/preservatives. As far as I can tell,
nutrition seems to be similar in both.
Danielle Oviatt
A. Hutchinson (ah...@cas.albany.edu) wrote:
: Todd L. Sherman wrote:
: >
:
: You are damn lucky your particular cats decided the food you offered was
: acceptable to them. My vet has told me that a cat CAN and WILL literally
: starve to *death* rather than eat something it truly objects to.
:
: After only a few days (approx 48 hrs) of not eating at all, a cat's body
: can start to shut down and liver damage can result. Trying to force your
: will on a reluctant cat may result in very serious health problems!
:
: Not such a good idea to be so control-oriented if it means the loss of
: health or life in ones pets, is it?
:
: Amber
Yes, by all means if it looks like the cat is starving for real, or
getting dehydrated then feed it, but be aware that just because you don't
see the cat eating the food that it isn't eating a little of it when you
aren't watching. Cats are smart
little creatures and sometimes they'll eat the food if it's all they get,
but will continue to put on a show for "mom" and/or "dad".
About the control thing, control-freaks in general are bad, but you've
also got to remember that to some extent, as smart as cats are, they're
like kids, as an owner, or maybe that's owned, at any rate if you take
care of a cat, you have the responsibility to do what's best for it and
sometimes, just as in child rearing you have to make a decision and
enforce a rule that the subject isn't going to like.I have never actually
heard of a cat starving on principle, I think I even read in a book,
written by a veterinarian that they won't, but of course you've got to
use your own judgement and if the cat is in trouble, do something for it.
btw the book is: All my Patients Are Under the Bed by Alfred(?) Cammuti.
I found it in the animal section at Barnes and Noble here in SLC, but it
might be under biography instead. It has some "cat raising" advice, but
it tells the story of a veterinarian, unfortunately now deceased, who
worked mainly with cats in New York and made housecalls, I know I could
use a vet like that. There are a lot of great, some sad, some funny,
stories in it.
Danielle
The Untamed Shrew
Owned and disciplined by L.C.
Danielle Oviatt
Charles Platt (c...@panix.com) wrote:
: A. Hutchinson (ah...@cas.albany.edu) wrote:
: > I'm really sick of these attacks on regular cat foods (not the primo
: > stuff from fancy expensive pet stores).
: What bothers me is that the same vet who says, "You shouldn't feed your
: cat 9-Lives, you should feed him [some special dietary stuff]" just
: happens to be the guy who wants to sell me the special stuff, at a
: substantial markup! Conflict of interest, here? If a doctor told us, "you
: should change your diet and eat special food--which I just happen to have
: in stock here at my clinic," wouldn't we be a little suspicious?
:
: My cat urinated a little blood. I took him to the vet, who concluded that
: the cat's urine was overly acidic, and demanded that we feed him
: balanced-pH food. "Otherwise, I know your cat will be back here again and
: again and again." Well, I checked some ingredients, including pH value,
: and the reduction that would result from switching to double-the-price,
: special-diet foods seemed trivial. Also, my cat hated the sample that I
: gave him.
:
: So I thought about it, and realized that if MY urine was dark yellow and
: felt acidic, I wouldn't change my diet, I'd simply drink more fluids. Then
: I realized I had never seen my cat drink water (though the bowl always has
: water in it, which the other cats drink). So, I started mixing some water
: with each daily portion of his (wet) food.
:
: In the five years since then--no sign of a problem.
:
: No doubt I will receive mail telling me that my cat will die of kidney
: disease. But where are the numbers proving cause and effect, here? Where
: are the studies showing that supermarket food really does cause kidney
: trouble? Haven't been able to find any....
I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but just a warning don't necessarily
assume your vet is trying to sell pet food. It turns out my cat had a
magneseum deficiency, which makes her have repeated urinary infections,
and if you've never tried to get a "specimen" from a cat, you have a
truly interesting experience awaiting you. The vet actually said, you can
feed her any kind of cat food, but it has to have a certain magneseum
level, which the special food had. I checked the food I was giving her
and all the food at the local grocery store. I think I found one brand
that had the necessary level, so I went with the stuff the vet
recommended. One of the neighbors was also feeding her, and we broke down
and gave her a little bit of the old stuff occasionally and her infection
came back. May be it was just coincidence, but she was a very
uncomfortable, unhappy cat, she definitely had a fever and she was
listless and probably dehydrated, and I was a very nervous human, so I'm
not taking any chances with my "fuzzy little buddy". If you can get away
with the store kind, go a head, I don't think it means instant death. I
know cats who have eaten nothing but the cheap kind and lived to a ripe
old age, my aunt's cat was around 20, but don't dismiss the
veterinarian's advice.
Had this situation happened to me, I would have started looking for a new
vet and I hope you did too.
Danielle
Jason Sheehan
I updated my Ragdoll site last week; just forgot to come here and
promote it. Sorry bout that.
Updated items
-------------
Added 10 Pictures from when Joe was 5 months old.
Added Links to other cat pages
The url is:
http://members.aol.com/lcssheehan/joe/joe.html
Enjoy,
Jason
SmokinDave
badad...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>In article <01bc543a$df84f400$1207a0cd@default>,
> "Ophelia Marquad" <ernes...@wellins.net> wrote:
>>...
>>DUH. Don't you think that some cats, like people, are just more hardy. My
>>granddad lived to 82 and smoked and drank before he was a teenager and only
>>quit drinking in his 50-60's. He ate the worst foods possible and lived to
>>this age. Some people exercise, eat well, don't smoke, etc. and die early.
>>It's genetics. But food does contribute and I've read about some pet food
>>manufacturers buying carcasses from shelters and putting these in their pet
>>foods. CATS and DOGS. And the meat in pet foods is usually the diseased and
>>inadequate that they feel isn't fit for people. It is probably all bad for
>>cats.
>
And to think............just the other day, I took a taste of my cat's
canned food. Yewwwww! By the way, just in case you ask......
no, it DIDN'T taste like chicken!!!!!!!
-------------------
When you're a conservative at 20, you have no heart.
When you're a liberal at 40, you have no head.
-Winston Churchill-
i...@ix.netcom.com
In article <33892777...@news.pipeline.com>,
magi...@pipeline.com (SmokinDave) wrote:
>...
>
>And to think............just the other day, I took a taste of my cat's
>canned food. Yewwwww! By the way, just in case you ask......
>no, it DIDN'T taste like chicken!!!!!!!
>
Have you tried Fancy Feast salmon or cod, sole & shrimps dinner ?
I think they taste better than the other kinds of canned foods.
Susan LaBarre
If you've never read this one, hold on to your sides:
Cat Bathing as a Martial Art
Some people say cats never have to be bathed. They say cats lick
themselves clean. They say cats have a special enzyme of some sort in
their saliva that works like new, improved Wisk - dislodging the dirt
where it hides and whisking it away.
I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind
believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary, the
kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that
cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.
The time comes, however, when a man must face reality: when he must look
squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and
announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."
When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice
you might consider as you place your feline friend under your arm and head
for the bathtub:
-- Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of
concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on
that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an
open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom.
If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get
in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were
about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk
cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician
can shift positions.)
-- Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin
from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to
dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into
high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet,
a hockey face mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.
-- Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel
when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water.
Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make
sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in the
water.
-- Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to
simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your
strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If
he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a
product testing experiment for J.C. Penney.)
-- Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a
single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure,
slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with
shampoo. You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.
Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the
problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more
than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must
remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll
then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself
off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect
too much.)
-- Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part
will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this
point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying
is simple compared to what you have just been through. That's because by
now the cat is semipermanently affixed to your right leg. You simply pop
the drain plug with you foot, reach for your towel and wait.
(Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your
army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him
loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is
drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the
cat.
In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He
will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a
lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become
psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.
You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As
a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure
you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath.
But at least now he smells a lot better.
Kathy Buhler
Thank you for the gut-splitter! We needed it here!
Kathy, Kashmir and Annie
Dirk. de Boer
Joe is really cute....
You should see for yourself!
Dirk, Candy and Daphne