A while back, I posted a blog about “No Poop!” and asked Barbara in Littleton, Colorado to give me some more information about the change in litter box habits of her cats, who came off “kitty crack” and left a lot less to clean up in the litter box. I asked if they seemed uncomfortable and she replied:
No constipation or any signs of discomfort. Actually, this morning, I did find a pretty healthy sized poop in the LB. However, this isn’t a daily occurrence. I have read some where on some website that it is common to find less stools in the LB when switched over to a more protein diet. I’m guessing because they are able to digest it better.
We have two male cats, both born on April Fool’s one year apart (Tigger, soon to be 16 yrs and Billy, soon to be 15 yrs). Both cats are mixed breeds. Tigger looks like an American Short Hair and Billy, I am told, looks like a Maine Coon. I have noticed weight loss in both since they have been on the new diet.
We have noticed a big difference in Tigger with his new-found energy. He’s recently found his voice! It’s still not a loud meow, but he does seem to try. He has been getting into “trouble” by just merely being a healthier, happier cat: hopping up onto counters and eating out of dishes left there! He’s discovered our aquarium and has a real “interest” in our crayfish, Claws. He runs all through the house, playing with small things found on the floor. Keep in mind that our cats in the past have never been interested in table food, but Tigger has recently discovered that he loves chips, Doritos happen to be his favorite and goes nuts if there is a bag around. Just after everyone has gone to bed at night, we will hear a distinctive sound from Tigger just before he bites Billy on the back of the neck and proceeds to, well, you know… It’s like this new diet is like Viagra or something.
Billy on the other hand, prefers to be left alone. He does want to be around people, but off to the side. He is an affectionate cat, however, on his own terms. He is a vociferous cat. He is known to go down to the basement and will howl at the top of his lungs as if someone is murdering him. Then, when someone comes down there after him, the meow is toned down to what seems to be like him saying, “thank you for rescuing me”. Sometimes, he won’t touch his food unless you are standing by him watching him eat. He’s always been this way, so no real difference in mannerisms, but he is slimming down, which is good because he was a little over weight.
Both cats seem to be doing fine on this new diet of wet food. I have bought your book THE CAT BIBLE and there are some really informative information in there… especially about what by-products are made of. I just about gagged after reading that!
I am trying to get my cats to eat homemade food, however, I am having trouble getting them to eat it. Basically, in a food processor, I am making it with a boiled roaster chicken, carrots, a few peas, spinach, some brown rice and I use the broth that I boiled the chicken in. I also add some cod liver oil and taurine to the mix. Primarily, its all chicken and they still will not touch it. I read from your book that cats have a high smell sensory and that is what draws them to their food. I have to admit that the food smells pretty bland, but since onions and garlic are toxic to cats and tuna isn’t great for them either, what can I mix in this food to make it more palatable?
What great news this all is! A much older cat acting like a youngster, both cats losing weight, and knowing that we have improved the quality of their lives, while probably extended them, too. As far as cooking for them, I’m guessing it may be the processor that has turned it all into a mush they don’t like?? Because it’s impressive that you even got your own taurine and figured out how to dose it. If you really want to cook, I’d suggest leaving the chicken in pieces (the way Weruva does) which makes it so much more appealing to many cats. The book The Ultimate Pet food Guide has good recipes in it, too — but it’s so frustrating with cats when you go to all that trouble and they reject your loving efforts! As for what you’ve already made, if you still have it around in the freezer or something, buy one can of mackerel cat food (very smelly and a good teaser to put on top) and put a spoon on it on the homemade. Maybe that will kick-start their engines! In any case, congratulations for your good decisions and the much happier, healthier kitties you have because of it. Also, so glad you got THE CAT BIBLE. Send me your mailing address and I’ll send you an autographed bookplate to put in it, inscribed to your beauties, along with some fun samples.
Tracie
The Cat Bible
