I got this message from Billie and Mark, which they addressed to “Dr. Hotchner.” While I am humbled to be trusted by my listeners, I recommend that anyone with a troubling medical situation turn to the Official Second Opinion Vet of my radio shows, Dr. Donna Spector (link to her website is www.SpectorDVM.com).

Our 10-year-old male cat was diagnosed with diabetes last Monday. Since then we have been treating him with two units of Prozinc (protamine zinc) insulin. Last night Jack had difficulty walking and became extremely lethargic, from the literature that we have read we thought that he was hypoglycemia. So we started treating him with honey at around 2:00 AM when it appeared that he was worsening we took him to the emergency room. His glucose was 557, twelve hours later his glucose level 550. They are administering insulin via an intravenous drip.

He will spend tonight at the emergency facility and we will take him to our vet in the morning. If you were his Doctor, would you expect any improvement? I know that this is a difficult question not having seen Jack, but I would value your opinion.

I replied:

First of all, I am not a doctor, just a pet expert!

I am honored that you have sought my advice, but you need to turn not just to a veterinarian, but to one who is a board-certified veterinary internist — someone who has a big perspective and can work long distance with you and your own vet. Dr Donna Spector (CC’ed here) is the Official Second Opinion vet of both my radio shows and I recommend you contact her immediately to help you understand exactly what is going on with Jack and to make sure you know how to deal with it. It is so valuable to have a “veterinary detective” — which is how I think of internists! — who is aware of all the latest research and can support your own vet’s decisions or give you other ideas, too.

In your situation I would get in touch with her right away.

I can also urge you to go to my website www.TheCatBible.com to learn the dangers of feeding dry food, which is the only known cause of type II diabetes in cats. “Kitty crack” is a harmful and addictive product for obligate carnivores, who need canned meat only. My website has a printable list of Cat Chat approved flavors and brands.

Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins is the official Vet of Cat C hat and her book YOUR CAT is a valuable resource you should have on your shelf, too!

Good luck
Tracie

I got this question from Jan on my FB page (I really prefer getting questions on the PETS BEST Facebook page where I have an Ask Tracie section):

Hi Tracie!! I love your show. I am emailing you rather than calling your show because I need an opinion asap.

I just went to a cat show on Saturday in search of a Persian breeder. (I live in Minneapolis.) Just as I was leaving the show I saw a 5 month old kitten who won me over, so I adopted him on the spot. I noticed as soon as I got him home he had BROWN liquid-y discharge from his eyes and [his] nose was running (not sure if the liquid coming from his nose was clear or also brown) and he was sneezing. The kleenex I used had a splotch the size of a quarter stained brown. I went to the vet this afternoon and she said he has Feline Herpes Virus, and some other infection. Looking at him, his eyes are runny, nose runny, she said he had some tan discharge and swelling – she called conjunctivitis or epiphora.

Here is my dilemma. While he’s not TERRIBLY sick, on death’s door, he IS sneezing and has the abnormal discharge. Should I return this kitty to the breeder? Is the FHV a condition that I will have a lot of maintenance issues with medication through the years? I understand that FHV is very common and rare it would progress to a chronic illness. What are your thoughts? I am not attached to him yet, mainly because he was sick and knew I had to get some answers before I made a decision.

The breeder would probably get him well and then adopt him out again. Is that ethical? Or is this virus so common and rampant it’s more the norm than the exception? My vet referred to it as “a cold,” but is it really MORE than a cold? I’d appreciate any response as soon as you can, I need to make a decision. Your opinion is just that, an opinion, and I’m gathering them and doing reading on the subject so I can be educated about it. Anything you can say would be much appreciated.

I replied:

Did you BUY a kitten or adopt one?? You speak of a breeder, and going to a cat show, but adoption is not purchasing and there would be no breeder involved. Please clear this up as it is relevant to both your understanding of how you got your cat and their obligation if you bought the cat from a breeder.

Feline herpes is well described in Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins book YOUR CAT and you MUST get it ASAP — yes, this illness can be a lifelong problem is not handled properly but it involves a lot of treatment and medications.

I believe that all cat owners need a copy of this book on their shelves to help make good medical decisions in partnership with their vet. My book THE CAT BIBLE is thorough on all topics, but Dr. Elizabeth handle the medical issues in great detail and clarity.

If you bought the kitten from a breeder they should be paying all your vet bills and supporting your medical decisions. Only the vet knows how severe the case is, what the kitten is responding to (or not) etc. Asking opinions of people who have not examined the kitten is not a good way to make a decision.

–Tracie Hotchner

I got this appeal from Dee in North Carolina — the length shows how attentive she is to her pets’ symptoms and how aware she is of dangers and nutritional issues too — a really great owner!

One of our cats, a 2 year old neutered male named Pumpkin (picture attached), has not been eating well the past few days. He’s one of three cats (two boys and one girl, all siblings) who each eat a normal 5.5 oz can of wet cat food (Friskies) twice a day — totaling 6 cans/day– and the only one not eating the food. We have a variety of flavors so I thought it was a specific one and changed which one he was eating. Still not interested… Would try to take some bites but then walk away. His urine and fecal movements are okay and we do have water down for them, too. Out of frustration and desperation to get him to eat, I cooked up some ground beef and he’s had about 1 C worth over the past 24 hours. Also ate a vienna sausage (I use those to give my12 year old dog a daily pill — gave him one without a pill obviously), and some baked ham so I know he’s hungry. Turned up his nose to some turkey gravy (also opened up a can of this out of desperation), but I’ll try him on some chicken tomorrow — still frozen.

Fur feels kind of oily like it gets when they are sick but not overly oily — he’s normally a very soft (almost angora like his sister) and fluffy kitty. I had been adding in the oil of one fish oil capsule to the boys’ food as they were having a bad time with flea dermatitis (their sister doesn’t like the fish oil at all) so I’ve stopped that for the meantime. He’s really not changed behaviors, just a little sluggish at times. Just gave him some more hamburger and he’s happy — I’m just glad he’s eating! What else should I give him besides chicken? He’s the known butter thief in the family too — but I’ve had it locked up and he can’t get to it (room temperature butter for spreading on toast — locked it in the cabinet above the toaster).

I’ve also attached two pictures of plants I’ve recently brought into the house when these freezing temperatures descended upon us last week. Nearly killed my huge Aloe plant and HUGE Macho fern (forgot them on the front porch — we use the carport for going in and out), two bridal veil plants (dark green pots), and my jasmine plant which I had in the back yard in full sun. Not sure if he’s chewed any of those — though the aloe is suspect as it was weeping for a bit when it thawed out (and STUNK! I need to trim the bad leaves off now), and he did play a bit with the macho fern (likes to play hide and seek under it). I do know someone or all three of them have been munching on my artificial Christmas tree as I’ve seen urps with that stuff in it on the floor. Nothing like more cleaning of carpets…

We have recently changed (in Nov) all of their flea meds from Frontline to Advantage and I’ve seen such a DIFFERENCE in their skin. They’re not breaking out anymore! We’ve been vacuuming (which the vet’s tech — their daughter — said activates the hatching of the eggs with the vibrations) every other day and cleaning the carpets with HOT water every two weeks to keep on top of it. The cats are indoors only but we have the large dog (1/2 Boxer- 1/4 German Shepard 1/4 Labrador Retriever) and our daughter’s year old Australian Terrier who do go in and out. We do try to remember to spray the yard during the spring and summer but it’s been a very tough season here in the south for fleas.

I do wish we could afford the Weruva and Vectra for the cats and dogs but we also have a horse (5 year old American Quarter Horse, sorrel/chestnut, named Buster) so our pennies are stretched out very thin for animal upkeep, and my husband will be retiring from the Army this next year. I don’t work, do homeschool our youngest daughter, and we have a wedding for our eldest daughter next year to pay for in October. Her dog and horse will go with her too–so then I could possibly afford the Vectra. which I’d like to invest in as we live in a very sandy soil area (“sand hills” of North Carolina). I’ve also looked into the cost of making our own cat food and have found the supplements I’ll need online — just need to buy a meat grinder and find who has the best prices for the meat. That will be a gradual transition, too. Until then, bonuses of homemade meat balls once in a while are given to all of them (they like them raw and I don’t add anything to them).

There were a couple of things I told Dee when she called into CAT CHAT® that night (she doesn’t have SiriusXM satellite radio but I told her anyone can call the toll free number 866-675-6675 between 8-9 PM EST any Wednesday night!) First, I think something is definitely up with Pumpkin — his greasy fur and change in appetite is a big tip off so I think a vet visit is need for a physical exam and blood work. Secondly, while I understand financial constraints, the science behind Frontline is 17 years old so it is markedly less effective than Vectra, which has been formulated and newly developed with the newest technology and research. Also, Frontline is now sold over the counter and on websites and there is no quality control and no way of knowing you are getting a genuine product (there are a lot of websites selling fake product), even if it is less effective than Vectra! (many people find it stops working after about 2 weeks so they put on another application which is really unsafe and unhealthy since it is a 30-day product, even if it does not work effectively for that long). The really awesome Christmas Stocking Stuffer news is that Dee is going to get some complimentary Vectra for her kitties from Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins (the Official vet of CAT CHAT® who is now the head of Vectra’s Veterinary Services — congratulations Elizabeth!) One reason why is that Dee knows about Vectra from me, would want to choose it over any other brand, and has budgetary concerns right now — we know she’ll one day be able to be a loyal and satisfied Vectra customer for her dog and kitty cats!

Lastly, if she wants to make food at home it needs to be chicken-based and the grinder she gets must be capable of grinding whole chickens, bones and all, with added organ meat. Beyond that, she is going to need to supplement with Platinum Performance for a fully balanced meal (taurine, etc.) and overall health benefits (Dr. Elizabeth and many vets I know suggest all their dogs and cats are on Platinum daily, as are my dogs and mini-donkey and my husband and I!) so there are monetary considerations in all this, too!

Here were Dr. Elizabeth’s comments on Pumpkin:

The Friskies is not a bad alternative to dry food if the owner can’t upgrade to whole chicken or similar. The Platinum only costs 5 cents/day/cat so that really shouldn’t be an issue. Unfortunately, I doubt that cold weather is affecting this cat’s appetite. Hot weather can, but generally cats will eat more during cold weather. She doesn’t say how old this kitty is but I suspect there is something medical going on and if it persists, she will have to take him to be examined as it may be serious and it will be cheaper and easier to deal with the earlier she acts. The change in the fur is also troublesome so I think unless he snaps out of this soon, a vet visit is in order.

Here is a comment about Pumpkin from Dr Donna Spector, DOG TALK® and CAT CHAT® Official Second Opinion Vet (www.SPECTORDVM.com):

While the decreased appetite does happen to some cats… I wouldn’t necessarily want to just chalk it up to that. I took a look at the picture and he is looking a little greasy/unkempt. Being a young cat… they can get into a lot of things… sometimes GI foreign bodies look like this, pancreatitis, dietary indiscretion, etc. These are the questions I would ask of a client: with the holidays… do they have tinsel up or other decorations that he might have nibbled on? Does he have access to the tree / tree water? I once had a 3 year old cat who ate so many pine needles from the Christmas tree he was impacted from the stomach up to his mid-espophagus. No vomiting… just didn’t want to eat. So this isn’t necessarily something like that… but this can be a digestively stressful time of year… any parties? People who fed fatty treats? New treats recently?

I don’t think trying a different brand of food is a bad idea and in the short term (one or two weeks) she can home cook for him… especially if he is sick (like with a pancreatitis, etc) the very best thing would be lean meats she cooks at home. Sounds like he liked the burger she gave him and he actually ate a decent amount. But I think she needs to get the vet sooner rather than later.

Thank you to my wonderful veterinary colleagues who are so swift and generous with their time and knowledge! And wishing good health to Pumpkin, of course.

UPDATE: Pumpkin Pulled Out of It!

I was so happy to get this message back from Dee in North Carolina — who was ready to take Pumpkin to the vet, but was very glad not to have to!

Last night Pumpkin came and slept with us, something he’s not done in a very long time. This morning he ate an entire can of food (gave half with the others at breakfast and then the other half about an hour later), and again this evening he just ate a full dinner without any problem. His fur is feeling and looking almost normal again. Whatever it was it has passed (of course I was praying for him, too . I’ll still continue to monitor him and will call in tonight as promised.

I am so thankful for this gift of Vectra! Honestly it is a true surprise as I was not expecting anything but a suggestion of what to feed Pumpkin, etc. I am truly thankful to both you and Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins for this unexpected but very welcome gift.

We have two vets we use. One is the vet clinic on the Army base (Fort Bragg) where my husband is stationed and retiring from and they only carry Frontline for the cats. I take the cats there for their annual shots, but we can’t do much beyond regular check ups and minor things there. I can pretty much say it will be a no go for the military to add Vectra to their clinics — they’re extremely tough to get things changed there.

I will look into the Platinum Performance supplement Dr. Elizabeth mentioned, and the fish oil was normal human fish oil by Sundown Naturals (1000 mg). Obviously I have listened to you about fish oil but thought this would be as good as Nordic Naturals and even more obviously now I have a LOT MORE to learn! My cats have been off “kitty crack” since March and I will look more into what would be best for them at the level that I can afford. If it’s staying with Friskies then so be it unless there is something better out there which is better and pretty comparable in price. I can say our cost for cat, dog, and horse food/litter/meds is pretty expensive each month, but I love them all as I do my children. They are my furry children! I’ll be calling in tonight, I promise. Thank you, again, for all of your generosity and helping me get them on the right track.

I replied:

Dear Dee — It was terrific that you called into CAT CHAT® tonight – wonderful to get to know you in person! I have three things to straighten out for you which I didn’t have time for on the air.

1)   The vet on the base is WAY “OFF BASE”! No cats should be getting annual shots of any kind — holistic vets and health-conscious vets of any kind have known for years that yearly vaccinations are unnecessary and possibly harmful. The AVMA (which is the organization all vets belong to) has a stated policy that vaccines should only be given every 3 years (although many of the more educated vets would say that is often overkill for many pets). So you can save some money and definitely some potential harm to your kitties right there!

2)   WERUVA, my favorite cat food, is definitely costly because of the very high quality ingredients it contains, but they also make BFF (Best Feline Friend), a less costly yet high quality cat food. Both these foods and even the Friskies your other kitties eat and many brands both value-priced and premium can be found at my newest sponsor www.PETLFOW.com! With a minimum $60 order you will pay NO SHIPPING even for litter (all the Dr Elsey Precious Cat litters are there and imagine how nice to not have to lug them home but let the UPS man bring them without charge!) Simply put dogtalk (one word) in the code box at checkout and you will not be lugging stuff home from the market anymore! Also, Petflow.com carries the kibble I feed my own dogs — HALO — which I’d love you to try because you can feed less of it because of the high quality of the real meat they use to achieve the protein level. The brand you have been using was recently part of a pet food recall and instead, I’d love to see your dogs getting the highest quality nutrition from a company that does no advertising and instead uses that money for charitable contributions through www.Freekibble.com (you should sign up for their daily quick quizzes — it’s seriously fun and HALO food is donated even if you get the answer wrong!).

3) Other fish oils are definitely NOT like Nordic Naturals — for you, or your pets. There is no comparison between the seriousness with which the Norwegians treat their oceans and responsibly choose the fish they will use for their omega-3 oil — it is a country with a centuries old tradition of making fish oil in a safe, sustainable and healthy way. The oil is filtered with the highest level of care and is third-party tested for purity — one of the worst things you can put in your body or your pet’s body is oil that is tainted with pollutants or has become rancid, both of which would do more harm than good. So please get Nordic Naturals — you can puncture one capsule and squeeze a few drops on the cat’s paw each day to lick off — for the dogs, each pet capsule is dosed for 20 lbs of dog, so feed accordingly. If you are going to make the really good decision to include the anti-inflammatory and overall health benefits of omega-3 fish oil in your diet and that of your pets, an important use of your resources is to make sure you have a really fresh, pure product or it’s better not to do it at all (but I do definitely recommend doing it!)

–Tracie Hotchner

Somebody posted on my blog that they used Vectra and their dog still had fleas so they were off to buy another product. I suspected that this was a planted comment, put there by the competitors to Vectra who are very nervous about the “new kid on the block” having newer better technology and taking a bite out of their apple. But if I was wrong — and there truly were still fleas after applying Vectra — I turned to Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins to see if such a thing was possible. Here’s what she explained about how flea infestations are destroyed by Vectra — if you give it a chance:

When I hear a comment like this, I always ask for particulars, like what (if any) product was used previously and how many doses of Vectra were used. When a pet that has had no previous product or an inferior one that does NOT rid the premises of flea immature forms, applying Vectra for the first time will occasionally result in what appears a lack of efficacy during the first week after application. If there are lots of immature fleas and flea eggs in the environment, as when no product has been used or when products like Advantage (with no insect growth regulator (IGR) at all), or Frontline (with its light-sensitive IGR) is used, there are still hundreds or even thousands of immature fleas developing in the environment off the pet because the flea spends 90% of its life off the pet in the home environment. When the flea becomes an adult and jumps onto the Vectra-treated pet, it begins to move around frantically prior to death. At this point, it may appear that these new fleas are unaffected by the product, but this is not the case. If owners just wait a day or two they will see that the new adults arriving on the pet die off as we guarantee. Continued use of Vectra will start to eliminate even the immature fleas in the environment, because of its superior IGR, and eventually no new fleas will be around to jump onto the pet.

Another problem is that Vectra will cause healthy fleas that are living at skin level at the time of application to quickly move up the hair shaft and move around to try to get away from the product. These fleas are essentially “dead fleas walking” but people may not realize that they are trying to flee from the surface of the pet, and they will subsequently die. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.capcvet.org), all pets should have regular, year-round application of effective ectoparasiticides in order to control not only the adult parasites, but all of the generations waiting patiently in the carpets, furniture and hidden corners of the home for their turn to infect the pet and even the people who live there.

We know Vectra works as Summit says it does, not only because it has been tested by Summit during research and development of the product, but because it has been tested by all of its competitors, with the same, excellent results.

I just recently received satellite radio (in my car only) and started listening to your program. I appreciate all your concern in regards to cats, and wish I could listen to you everyday.

My little 11-year-old female, Scout, has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She was vomiting for about a month and down to 6.5 lbs. (down from 11 lbs. a few years ago) when I finally took her to my vet. She gained a whole pound in 5 months after being on medication (.25ml of methimazole in the a.m. and .5ml in the p.m.). In the last 2 weeks, I’ve put all my 3 cats on wet food (store brands you recommended) and took them off of the dry “kitty-crack” (Scout’s brother, Addicus, is a big boy so I’m hoping he’ll lose a little weight on the wet food). Scout did fine last week on the wet food, but now has vomited 2 days in a row. My question(s): Is there an alternative to giving her the methimazole that the vet says she will need for the rest of her days? Do you have any suggestions for the vomiting issue?

I really don’t want to see her waste away again and you seem to be in the “know” when it comes to our furry friends’ health. I hope this is enough info for your response…

Thank you in advance for your answer and thank you for caring so much,
Rhonda in Washougal, WA

Dear Rhonda- So sorry to have taken so long to get back to you because I know you have an urgent medical situation with your kitty Scout. I was trying to get an answer from Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of CAT CHAT®, but she has been traveling. Only now did I realize that you need to get a copy of her book YOUR CAT right away – there is a whole chapter on hyperthyroidism that will help you understand it – and also help you get Scout off of medication. Dr. Elizabeth has her own page on my website and you can click right there to buy the book – which is now in paperback and very affordable. That medication,  and the hyperthyroidism itself,  can cause gastrointestinal upsets, so the sooner you follow Dr. Hodgkins’ advice in her book, the sooner Scout will be on the mend.

However, I will tell you that one of my most devoted listeners on CAT CHAT® is Michelle in Chicago and when her pussycat Samson had a bad stomach she went to the Spirit Essences page of my website and ordered the Essence called Happy Tummy. These are holistic remedies based on the Bach flower essences (like Rescue Remedy for people) and Michelle said it really fixed Samson’s stomach problems. There is also an immune system booster in the Spirit Essences and Scout is going through some difficult physical challenges and can use any help you can give her. And please let me know whether YOUR CAT answered your questions and whether the Spirit Essences made a difference. Good luck to you!

P.S. If you have SiriusXM radio in your car then you automatically have it in your house, too! You can use your computer as a “radio” by going to the Sirius website, getting a password (any subscriber can get one) and then you can listen to anything on the channel from your computer (but especially CAT CHAT®!)

Tracie

Hello I am writing to you for your opinion about my cat Merlyn. He has hyperthyroidism and is on methimaz 5mg a day. His vet is recommending radiation isotope or something like that. His other option is surgery. He has lost 5 pounds since diagnosed. He weighs 10 pounds 9 oz. His breed is Ocicat and we are waiting on blood work to determine if his kidneys are failing. After the vet injected subdermal fluid due to dehydration he perked up. I was wondering what you have heard about for his condition. Thank You Very Much for your time. Sincerely, Richard

Richard – I am answering your query before dozens of others because this is the breed of my official vet, Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, who also shows her Ocicats –- and it sounds like you need some emergency advice.

I am going to get her respond to your question but I know she will want to know — as I do — whether you are feeding kitty crack (dry food) of any kind? If so, it is dreadful for the health of all cats, but one with a tumor on the thyroid, especially so. How old is he?

It would seem that the fluids are related to kidney issues. Dr H will let us know whether a thyroid tumor would also dehydrate like this?

Where are you located? Is there a feline-only vet anywhere near you? (the website for the feline-only vets- AAFP – is linked on my website or www.catvets.org)

Please send back any lab test results you have in order for Dr H to be able to comment. She also can do a paid consultation with you and/or your vet which I would highly recommend. She has been able to give my listeners valuable assistance this way

Good luck with your sweet little kitty.

Tracie

Thank you, Tracie. I will get the test results tomorrow I took him off dry [food] months ago after I started listening to your show. He turned 15 on Thursday the 19th. The medication he is on has a side effect of excessive thirst and within the past week he has started drinking quite a lot. When the vet took a urine sample he said it was mostly water. For the next 5 days we are in Southgate MI. We travel around the country with him and one other cat in a semi truck. Thanks for getting back so soon. I know your time is valuable.

Richard – this was Dr. H’s comment:

“The hyperT chapter in my book YOUR CAT is very informative for any owner with a cat with this problem. It is pages and pages long and now that it is in paperback, quite the deal for all that info. I think Richard should grab a copy and read and then we can answer his questions if he still has any.” So will you please do that ASAP and we’ll go from there?”

Tracie – I just came back and the vet said his kidneys are just showing signs of degradation. So we put him on meds to combat the hypertension. We took him off of raw chicken which he is fanatical about. We are doing the radio isotope but we are going back out on the road for 2 months to generate revenue to cover it. He ate a little more today as well as more fluid intake. He also is on an antibiotic to fight gingivitis, something he has had a problem with since he was about 2. The first time we had him on an antibiotic for this the script was prescribed at too high of a dose and he started having seizures. I will order YOUR CAT tonight from Amazon if it isn’t at Borders.

Thank You,
Richard

I was distressed to learn that your vet might sway you to abandon the excellent diet you’ve been providing. Nothing could be better for him than a raw chicken diet professionally prepared with ground bone and added taurine. Is this the same vet who overdosed your cat on antibiotics? Why do you stay with him? I feel terrible that you are driving extra truck routes to pay for vet advice this questionable. And what is up with the blood pressure medication — taking a cat’s blood pressure is rarely done, and is unreliable because in a vet’s office it is always sky high. So the measurement is dubious at best but then the vet is giving this poor cat even more medication for it??

Here is Dr Hodgkins’ comment:

“If he gets my book he will read what I say about the MYTH of low-protein diets for cats. Yes, the chicken has helped the cat for sure and making the cat’s life miserable with a horrible diet is not the solution now, that’s for sure. Between the hyperT and CRD (chronic renal failure) chapters, Richard should be better informed about both diseases when he finishes.”

–Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, Esq.

Last word from Richard was that Merlyn was eating and drinking well and begrudgingly taking his medications. I just wish he could get to a good feline-only vet, or better yet a holistic one who isn’t so fast to take away good nutrition and throw so many medications at the problems.

UDPATE:

Richard wrote back:

“The vet likes the idea of a wet diet but he said the raw chicken had too much sodium for hypertension. I did not think chicken had high sodium without adding it. I will be getting YOUR CAT today.”

I wrote to him: You are sensible and smart and logical — seems more so than the vet. After you read Dr H’s book you will be even smart and more logical!

Here is Dr. H’s last comment:

“I’d be interested in knowing how high this cat’s BP is actually is as few vets even measure it. Feeding chicken isn’t going to complicate this cat’s hypertension even if he did have it. I think I liked it better when vets KNEW they didn’t know anything about this stuff.”

A lady called into Sirius when I was on Mario’s show in the afternoon and said her 5 year old cat has gingivitis and had four extractions and her dental vet said that too much vitamin D in the diet causes (worsens??) osteoporosis in cats and therefore she shouldn’t feed wet food!? He wanted to feed only the Royal Canin dry food he was selling (surprise!) What made no sense to me was how a young cat could have osteoporosis — and how they would even know? So I got in touch with Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official Vet of Cat Chat. She told me:

Vitamin D toxicity is largely a problem for pet consuming commercial diets that are oversupplemented with Vit D. The signs of this toxicity do not include osteopososis but are more acute signs like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and even death in severe cases. I think this lady either misunderstood her vet or the vet misunderstood someone else. Ironically, Royal Canin is one of the brands (esp in Canada) that has had recalls due to known oversupplementation of their foods with vitamin D. It is all over the internet. But we don’t look for it the way we do in humans so I can’t say we really know, but spontaneous fractures in cats are very rare so we can assume it is not a common problem. Oseodystrophy is the closest thing we have to osteoporosis in animals and that is caused by hyperparathyroidism secondary to kidney failure (the renal variety) OR the feeding (long-term) of calcium deficient diets (the nutritional variety).

Tina in British Columbia had responded to an earlier blog that she couldn’t imagine how I could continue to crusade against dry cat food against all the opposition from cat lovers themselves. When I wrote her back that it was the shared conviction of people like her that inspired me, she wrote back once again as follows:

Thank you Tracie for responding to my reply: that was very nice of you. I guess being on the internet on different sites like Catster I get shot down a lot in the forum discussions, so that is what frustrates me. It just makes plain sense to me to feed our pets a species appropriate diet, not kitty krack!

I know though that I have helped a lot of cats in the last 2 years, so I’ll just keep on trying. Thank you for the signed bookplate you offer and my cats Shadow and Wilson look forward to getting it. Another question though is it all right for me to give your website link to people on Catster for nutrition info? Or to subscribe to your podcasts? Also it seems that I always get the question about the vets that I get my info from, they want credentials, and bios. I wonder where I can find this info? As they seem to think that I get this info from people that are not educated enough. Also I’ve just read the book Not Fit for a Dog, and it was excellent. I already have 3 people waiting to borrow it. I hope that maybe you will write another book too.

Dear Tina – Delighted to hear back from you and will be sending your autographed bookplate along with samples for some important additions to your kitties’ diets, like Nordic Naturals omega-3 fish oil and Platinum Performance joint supplement. It’s funny that you should have problems on the Catster forum because I write a daily tip for Catster that goes to those who’ve signed up for it, and I haven’t had a lot of resistance to ideas I’ve put out there, but I think forums in general can get sort of overheated and discouraging. OF COURSE send them to my website, there’s no better place for them to get the messages they need to hear! And the podcast of DOG TALK® often has cat-related guests and callers, so that’s a great resource, too. As far as skeptical vets or others who are threatened by novel nutritional theories (i.e. logical concepts about obligate carnivores that threaten what they learned to sell out of a bag in vet school) you can steer them to my book and to Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins book YOUR CAT (she also was a co-author of Not Fit for a Dog.) On my website there is also a listing of cat nutrition-related websites like the one run by Dr. Lisa Pierson, a vet renowned for her championing of feline nutrition with her website www.catinfo.org. Another excellent site is www.catnutrition.org. These two and other sites can be accessed through www.felineoutreach.com.

Tracie

The Cat Bible

I got this letter from Marianna, which, while it saddened me terribly to learn her cats had died, was equally distressing that her own misinformation and the ignorance of the vets she consulted would have her thinking that the switch to wet food could have done this harm.

I’m writing to let you know that I used to never miss your show. I followed your advice on cat food, etc. I understand that we proceed at our own risk when we take the advice of someone who may not actually be a formally educated nutritional consultant or nutritionist. I understand that one doesn’t need to be a paper tiger and hold a certification if they have proper experience. I switched my cats off of dry food and on to all canned with which I thought was wonderful results at first. I was feeding Wellness turkey, sometimes chicken. My Cat Frosty started to loose weight rather quickly so I had a full panel drawn, he was in renal failure. Unfortunately he didn’t last long. Then without warning my cat Princess presented jaundice. Her liver was failing. After her traditional vet gave up I took her to a wonderful homeopathic vet who helped clear her up for a little while longer, but after a couple of weeks I lost her. I know that you are wondering what my point is so I will tell you. At first for a split second the doctors and I thought that it could have been a coincidence but then I asked my homeopathic vet if their body chemistry was shocked from the diet change. He said it was VERY possible. After that I called a friend at Cornell University who thought the same thing. Please tell your listeners to check kidney and liver functions BEFORE making any extreme or diet changes in ANY cat especially ones who may have been used to eating the same old dry food for even a couple of years. An animal’s physiology gets set in one path and too sudden of a change or even a gradual change can tax it. What their organs were used to dealing with can’t keep up with the extra waste if the canned food is higher in protein, or if it is a grain-free dry which are over the top in protein levels. Yes cats are carnivores, BUT in domestication we have messed around a lot with things. Now if you have a litter of kittens that you wean on to canned food, and or even raw food that is different. From experience I know. I have since gone back to school to become a canine/feline nutritional consultant, and I’m still continuing my education. After deeply studying the chemistry, physiology, and learning how every animal is different in the way their body utilizes proteins, carbs, lipids, and other nutrients I understand. Once protein is used where it is needed for skin, muscle, hair, nails, etc and there is excess the body can recognize it as an antigen. That can cause inflammation and itching. The excess urea and ammonia can cause kidney and liver damage. I NEVER advise or agree with clients that want to jump on a band wagon, or feed something that is “in.” I never demand that they switch from the garbage to the wonderful foods. What is good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. I know it can go a lot deeper than this, but I wanted to let you know.

Sincerely,
Marianna

Dear Marianna – I am so very sorry to hear of your loss – accept my condolences. However, it is disturbing that you have been misled and misinformed about what could have ended their lives. I shared your letter with Dr.Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of Cat Chat® and one of the most knowledgeable feline-only vets in the country about proper nutrition for cats and switching them off of harmful dry food and onto canned or raw food. I have been researching the topic of feline nutrition for going on five years now and thousands of listeners to both my radio shows have abruptly and with great success gotten their cats off of “kitty crack” and immediately onto wet food –- from kittens to middle-aged cats. Your tragic circumstance is not related to change from bad food to good. I will share Dr. Hodgkins’ letter and add my own comments afterward.

From Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, Esq.:

I, and others I know, have switched hundreds, actually more in the thousands of cats from dry to canned commercial foods and done it “cold turkey.” Thousands of cats that did nothing but improve. This lady’s cats did not die because of their switch. Now, could the blood tests have shown her cats’ problems? Yes, and that fact remains whether she had switched their diets or not. Her cats died so quickly after the switch, from complete organ failure it sounds like, and THAT does not happen quickly from nutritional causes (except poisoned food), EVER.

I see this all the time. Lay people (and make no mistake, this is a lay person) always use a small sample size to make sweeping generalizations. Usually it’s their own cats or friend’s cats, and I understand that fact amplifies the significance of such cases. However, not even a pet food manufacturer would agree with this person’s assessment that the switch from dry to canned caused her two cats to die so quickly. There’s irony for you! You and I and the pet food industry being on the same side of even one argument!! Imagine!

Coincidence is the answer, as unsatisfying as that would be to her. But the scientific method, upon which our entire society is based (believe it or not), is designed to separate out just that, the coincidences from the actually cause and effect of things. In the “olden days,” people took coincidental events as having cause and effect relationships. For example, if a person said they wished another person would die, and that “cursed” person did die, presto, the cursing person was obviously an agent of the devil because they could make people die just by saying that they wanted them to die. Obviously, the number of such erroneous conclusions, large and small, upon which people have based their deepest beliefs would fill many books. The scientific method was developed during the Renaissance because clearer minds realized that it took more than one or two cases of seemingly associated events to establish that the one event had caused the second one. They realized that when we allow our lives to be directed by beliefs that are really just superstitions, we make all kinds of bad decisions about how to live our lives and get along with other people and the animals in our world (burring witches didn’t reduce the mortality rate in Salem or anywhere else. In fact, it increased it by the number of witches they burned).

This is exactly the same kind of superstitious thinking that science has tried for the last few hundred years to eradicate. And while we have managed to pretty much base most of our more important beliefs about the world around us on scientific methodology, there is no law against individual humans continue to be superstitious and to draw crazy, illogical conclusions about the causes of the things that happen to them. Imagine how many people STILL believe that going out in the cold weather is the CAUSE of the common cold! Until about 5 years ago, my own husband, a very smart man, believed this!!

I know I don’t need to convince you that this woman is retreating into her reptilian brain stem’s archaic system of “logic.” How can any of us believe that switching from dry food to canned causes renal failure and hepatic failure when thousands of such cats have experienced that sudden switch with nothing but excellent results? The numbers tell the real story, they always do. Several of her conclusion are based on faulty information, like, “Once protein is used where it is needed for skin, muscle, hair, nails, etc and there is excess the body can recognize it as an antigen. That can cause inflammation and itching. The excess urea and ammonia can cause kidney and liver damage.” These statements are just not true. She is very misinformed in her facts.

I could ask her a hundred questions about physiology and nutritional metabolism that she couldn’t answer. She hasn’t studied anything deeply. And what can she mean by referring to getting cats off dry food as a “bandwagon,” when we are lone voices in a sea of “experts” pushing bags of kibbled food? Dry food — commercial pet food –- IS the bandwagon. That is as obvious as the nose on one’s face. I think the cat’s million year diet as an obligate carnivore is the opposite of a bandwagon. Sigh. This just riles me up, and frustrates me, as you can tell…

I don’t know what to tell her, if anything. The fact that she jumped to the conclusion that she did without understanding the underlying facts and science tells us that she has made up her mind without being open-minded.

So Marianna – While the good doctor and I share consternation about the faulty thinking, consulting, studying and advising you are engaged in, that doesn’t diminish my sadness at the death of your cats. I am concerned that this “deep studying” you are doing has emboldened you to be “advising clients” about feline nutrition. Unfortunately you not only have a lot to learn, but you already have a lot to unlearn. And your comment is mistaken when you state that anyone who listens to me or reads what I write is proceeding at any risk in taking the very clear advice I give them. On the contrary, I am saving and improving the lives and health of their cats. I never fail to tell those who cats who are fat or obese that their cats are already at risk for fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis, which neither you nor those you consulted mentioned, although it is surely to blame for at least one of your cat’s demise).Your trust in what someone at Cornell said to you is not necessarily well-placed. Although I admire the vets and students at Cornell and other vet colleges, their mindless acceptance of the sales pitch by pet food manufacturers about the untrue benefits of dry food for cats does not enable them to think clearly, independently or rationally about feline nutrition. Doctor Hodgkins and many other conscientious cat vets and breeders have shown this over and over –- ironically, cat owners are much quicker to understand the dangers of “kitty crack” and get off the ship before it sinks, as it were. I DO tell people that when their cat is making the switch to wet food they need to make sure she is eating ample wet food because going without any food for 24 hours or more can be dangerous if not fatal, given the fatty deposits packed around the liver and other internal organs after feeding highly processed carbohydrates for years, which are at the root of that obesity.

Tracie

Following a pretty unpleasant exchange with someone on Catster.com about whether her cats were overweight, I think it’s a good idea to bring up the topic here of how much your cat should weigh. The person arguing with me said her vet wanted to fatten up a 14 lb. cat, which I thought was terrible advice. Talking about average cats, my research indicates that a good rule of thumb for the weight of the average DSH cat is 8-10 lbs. Some can be in the low teens but above 14 lbs and you’re talking overweight – beyond 16 is obese. These are the operative rules that both Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins and I came to independently – she as a renowned feline-only vet and someone who breeds and shows Ocicats and myself researching THE CAT BIBLE with a background as an investigative journalist. In Dr. Hodgkins excellent book YOUR CAT on page 137 she has a section entitled “How to know if Your Cat is Overweight.” It says that an adult female cat should weigh between 7 and 11 lbs. at the most with exceptions being three purebred cats: Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll, in which females can weigh as much as 12-14 lbs. An average male cat should weigh 9-12 lbs. at the outside and males of the mentioned breeds can weigh 13 to 18 lbs. normally.

I brought this discussion topic to her attention – of a vet encouraging weight gain in a 14 lb. cat, or saying that 18 lbs was a healthy weight for a domestic shorthair cat – and this was her reply:

I have oodles of experience with all breeds, not only as a vet but as someone who has been in hundreds of show halls with thousands of these purebred individuals. Maine Coon cats, the largest breed, almost never weigh more than 15-16 lbs (adult MALES) in good show shape. The females are 2-3 pounds less in show shape. I have yet to meet any vet, I mean any vet at all, including my friends who are vets, who actually know what is the correct weight for any cat, and especially the pure breeds. I have heard breeders say they have 20 pounders at home who aren’t fat, but oddly enough, those cats are never in the show hall, leading me to suspect they are not in good enough shape to be shown.

I think that professionals don’t know that a cat should have a waist when you stand him on his hind legs. It has been years since most people (including vets) have seen truly svelte, healthy weight cats. The “norm” has simply shifted, and since no one, including vets, think of obesity as a cause of diseases (all kinds), no one steps back from a cat with, say, IBD or cardiac disease or hypertension, and evaluates whether the poor thing is fat or not…

Don’t look now, but physicians are just as derelict about this….

BTW, no Turkish Van should ever be more than 12-13 lbs. They are very finely boned cats, even though tall, and are not at all heavy, even in adulthood

Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, Esq.