I got this heartening note from Kristin, a new listener to my new show DOG TALK & CAT CHAT at 10 PM (EST) Saturday nights on WOR 710 AM from NYC (but anybody can listen live online at www.WOR710.com) I was so thrilled to know that smart New Yorkers are getting my “Kitty Crack” message loud and clear!
Dear Tracie – I listen to your show on WOR in NYC. You are an angel!
I have a questions regarding kitty food. You mentioned that you recommend a wet diet and spoke about several brands. I looked at your website but I could not find the information that you said is there. [Webmaster's note: Tracie's Approved Cat Food List here.] I specifically wanted to know which flavors of food that are made by Friskies brand was the best. Right now my budget does not allow me to purchase the premium brands.
My cat is addicted to dry food, which you call “Kitty Crack”. I want to wean her off of this.Thank you so much for all of your wonderful work!!
Thank you so much for writing and for your enthusiasm. I am really psyched to have passionate NYC listeners like you. The list of Cat Chat Approved foods is on my main website, TracieHotchner.com but I apologize because that list should be easy to find on the website for my WOR show, www.DogTalkandCatChat.com. I am going to get that fixed ASAP — I want the experience of coming to my website to be rewarding and satisfying once you’ve gone to the trouble of finding it and looking for advice and information. I have GREAT NEWS for you about an affordable canned cat food that is also premium quality. AND you’ll get a discount as my listener! Weruva, my favorite cat food, is now making a special affordable brand just for PETCO called Soulistic. It comes in many flavors and uses the same high quality ingredients as fancy expensive Weruva! So go to a Petco near you, or go to Petco.com and put in the discount code mydogtalk or mycatchat in the coupon code box at checkout. I hope you’ll call into the show one of these Saturday nights! I’d love to meet you on the air. And if you get THE CAT BIBLE do tell me because I’ll send you an autographed bookplate to put inside the book and lots of surprises!
Tracie
The Cat Bible
Tags: coupon code, dog talk and cat chat, kitty crack, mycatchat, mydogtalk, petco, soulistic, weruva
Hello Tracie- I was listening to you today on Sirius w/Mario and I heard you mention contacting you via your blog with questions. I didn’t see an email address, so I hope this is the proper venue.
My question has to do with my one year old female Himalayan, Violette. Violette came to us this past January via a breeder at 12 weeks of age. She arrived at the time we were about to lose our 18 year old Persian Ashleigh, and just after losing Ashleigh’s 16 year old daughter. To say we’ve spoiled our new baby is probably an understatement.
Anyway, when Violette arrived, the breeder had been feeding Royal Canan Persian (also their kitten food initially) and suggested we do the same. Not long after we got Violette, I started listening to you and knew we had two very healthy Persians who only ate wet food and decided I didn’t want to continue feeding the dry food and attempted to switch to wet. I have tried every food out there and they’re all rejected. I’ve tried cooking chicken and fish and blending into a smooth consistency, no way. For a time she would eat wet food very sporadically, only if I added organic chicken broth to it. Getting tired of throwing away half eaten cans of anything (only going for the “quality” brands at Pet Smart from your recommended list), I resorted to what I had left on hand from my ailing Persian, human baby food chicken or turkey (turns her nose up at beef, ham and veal). Well, don’t you know she eats one jar a day, but still we supplement with the Royal Canan.
She is not a kitty that begs for food, EVER, but seems to eat only as an afterthought. Her weight is good and she’s had her teeth checked, but I’m stumped as to why I can’t get her to eat any canned food. Baby food has a very smooth consistency and this seems to be what she prefers but yet she chews the kibble. Oh, and she does adore the kitty treats I’ve tried…Greenies, et. al.
So, what do you think is going on? Why won’t she eat a food she must chew and is there a problem long-term if we stick to the baby food?
Thanks so much,
Ellen
O dios mio!! I really love that you have gotten my message on the air and in The Cat Bible that any and all dry food is terrible cats, many of whom are so terribly addicted to it that they cannot even relate to canned food, which is all they should be eating. You knew this because of your two previous Persians, and you didn’t realize that little girl is such a serious kitty crack addict – the “food scientist” spray the dry food with an appealing “secret sauce” that can be highly addictive substance (every company has different recipes). My website has clear information about how to get a cat off the kitty crack and you need to stick with it – if she won’t eat half a can, give her one teaspoon and then use any of the enticements I list on my website. Lamb baby food is meant to be used ONLY as a tiny topping (1/2 teaspoon??) to get a cat to eat the nice cat food beneath. Can you use it as her only food? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! It is human baby food – to be used for very sick cats who cannot eat anything else. Or to stimulate appetite. But it is not properly balanced for a cat’s needs (lacking calcium and taurine). Buy some HALO Dinner Party (freeze dried pure human grade protein in beef, salmon or chicken) and sprinkle it on top of any good canned cat food. PETCO’s own new brand is made by Weruva and is called Soulistic – all cats seem to adore it. Right now all the Dinner Party flavors are on 50% off discount on the HALO website (linked from my website) so grab a few jars and get that kitty crack out of your house for once and for all!