Let's face it - cats can be picky eaters. In my house, anyway. Especially some of my rescues, with spotty eating histories and numerous health problems. Feeding time used to be an absolute nightmare. Fancy Feast? Innova? Wellness? Grain-free?
How about none of the above? I know, I know. For those of us conditioned by years of well-meaning veterinarians about the health benefits of things like Science Diet, this can be jarring. But if I’ve learned nothing else from my veterinary homeopaths and my own research for my Pawsitively Organic Gourmet Pet Food Mysteries, it’s that “off the shelf” dry and canned food should not be our top choices for feline diets.
My first experience with doing cat food differently was thanks to Tweetie. My little friend was adopted with severe chronic upper respiratory illness. When I found my homeopath, she told me to feed him raw food, and said if he could get off dry and even canned totally, he’d be much better off. Luckily, Tweetie took to the raw easily. Some of my others, not so much. It took a lot longer to get them to eat raw food, and some of my cats still refuse it. In that case, I do canned or try to prepare food.
Consciouscat.net has more on dry food. (http://consciouscat.net/2011/07/25/how-to-your-cat-off-dry-food/)
If your cat doesn’t like raw yet and you’re able to cook for him or her, that’s the next best thing.
It’s perfectly natural - and a whole lot healthier - to feed human meals to cats. My guys love meat. They are carnivores. They need a balanced diet, of course, but it’s easier than you think. Tweetie loves broccoli and green beans. You might be surprised at what your cats will try - rice, potato, eggs, apples, bananas, even asparagus are possibilities.
Ecolife (http://www.ecolife.com/green-home/natural-pet/homemade-cat-food.html )has some good tips, including ingredients to stay away from, and a couple of starter recipes too. If you’ve been thinking about trying it, start small and see what happens.
You know the saying, you are what you eat? It’s true for the fur-babies too. The less processed, the better. And if you’re buying meat and veggies, local and organic is best. They’ll love you for it - and they’ll be around even longer to show their appreciation.
Liz Mugavero is the author of the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries. The first book in the series, Kneading to Die, is an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. A Biscuit, A Casket, is available now. As you can imagine, her canine and feline rescues demand the best organic food and treats around. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime New England, Mystery Writers of America, and the Cat Writers’ Association.
Blurb: The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan "Stan" Connor's new business--preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer. . .but one local farmer won't be so lucky.
As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a "haunted" corn maze as an added attraction.
When Hal's lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies--from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can't extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm. . .
My Review: I am absolutely giddy about the wealth of Halloween-set cozies coming out this year! In this second book in Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively Organic Mystery series, organic pet treat baker Stan Connor is catering a doggie costume party at the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Since farm owners Hal & Em are having financial difficulties, they are also offering a haunted corn maze for party-goers. The pup's party gets postponed when Hal is find murdered in the maze, stabbed by a corn scythe. When Em asks Stan to work at the Happy Cow on farm finances, she ends up discovering many people had reason to want Hal dead.
This book had extra special meaning to me because my father grew up on a dairy farm, and I have many wonderful memories of spending time in the barn as a child. Stan is as much of an animal lover as I am, and she worries about the happiness and well-being of the sweet bovines. She really is a woman after my own heart and a cozy character that I can completely identify with. I love that she is making a life for herself by starting a home-based business that incorporates her dedication to animals.
The debut book in this series, Kneading to Die, was one of my favorite books of 2013. I loved this one even more.
How about none of the above? I know, I know. For those of us conditioned by years of well-meaning veterinarians about the health benefits of things like Science Diet, this can be jarring. But if I’ve learned nothing else from my veterinary homeopaths and my own research for my Pawsitively Organic Gourmet Pet Food Mysteries, it’s that “off the shelf” dry and canned food should not be our top choices for feline diets.
My first experience with doing cat food differently was thanks to Tweetie. My little friend was adopted with severe chronic upper respiratory illness. When I found my homeopath, she told me to feed him raw food, and said if he could get off dry and even canned totally, he’d be much better off. Luckily, Tweetie took to the raw easily. Some of my others, not so much. It took a lot longer to get them to eat raw food, and some of my cats still refuse it. In that case, I do canned or try to prepare food.
Consciouscat.net has more on dry food. (http://consciouscat.net/2011/07/25/how-to-your-cat-off-dry-food/)
If your cat doesn’t like raw yet and you’re able to cook for him or her, that’s the next best thing.
It’s perfectly natural - and a whole lot healthier - to feed human meals to cats. My guys love meat. They are carnivores. They need a balanced diet, of course, but it’s easier than you think. Tweetie loves broccoli and green beans. You might be surprised at what your cats will try - rice, potato, eggs, apples, bananas, even asparagus are possibilities.
Ecolife (http://www.ecolife.com/green-home/natural-pet/homemade-cat-food.html )has some good tips, including ingredients to stay away from, and a couple of starter recipes too. If you’ve been thinking about trying it, start small and see what happens.
You know the saying, you are what you eat? It’s true for the fur-babies too. The less processed, the better. And if you’re buying meat and veggies, local and organic is best. They’ll love you for it - and they’ll be around even longer to show their appreciation.
Liz Mugavero is the author of the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries. The first book in the series, Kneading to Die, is an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. A Biscuit, A Casket, is available now. As you can imagine, her canine and feline rescues demand the best organic food and treats around. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime New England, Mystery Writers of America, and the Cat Writers’ Association.
Blurb: The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan "Stan" Connor's new business--preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer. . .but one local farmer won't be so lucky.
As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a "haunted" corn maze as an added attraction.
When Hal's lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies--from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can't extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm. . .
My Review: I am absolutely giddy about the wealth of Halloween-set cozies coming out this year! In this second book in Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively Organic Mystery series, organic pet treat baker Stan Connor is catering a doggie costume party at the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Since farm owners Hal & Em are having financial difficulties, they are also offering a haunted corn maze for party-goers. The pup's party gets postponed when Hal is find murdered in the maze, stabbed by a corn scythe. When Em asks Stan to work at the Happy Cow on farm finances, she ends up discovering many people had reason to want Hal dead.
This book had extra special meaning to me because my father grew up on a dairy farm, and I have many wonderful memories of spending time in the barn as a child. Stan is as much of an animal lover as I am, and she worries about the happiness and well-being of the sweet bovines. She really is a woman after my own heart and a cozy character that I can completely identify with. I love that she is making a life for herself by starting a home-based business that incorporates her dedication to animals.
The debut book in this series, Kneading to Die, was one of my favorite books of 2013. I loved this one even more.
7 comments:
oh! I want to try cooking for them! Well, actually, they're all on raw, except Rocky, but maybe I can cook for him. :) I cook for Doodle sometimes!
Looks like a cute book. i'll have to pick up a copy. I come from farm stock background too.
Great post! I feed a raw diet to my cats too. Like your Tweetie, my Sophie had chronic upper respiratory infections and irritable bowel syndrome. The raw diet fixed it all. And the cats LOVE it! It's amazing.
Does Liz have a blog?
So True " you are what you eat" LOVE the illustration of the book cover. Golden Thanks for sharing. Golden Woofs
cats, being obligate carnivores, do not have a need for plants, so offering rice, potatoes, apples or bananas isn't necessarily a good thing. An occasional treat is one thing, but it shouldn't be a main portion of the diet. Also cats need organs and bones to have a complete and balanced diet..
What an adorable book cover! Great post.
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