The Cat Bible Q&A
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
Human Baby Food Instead Of Cat Food? (Update)
Progress report on Patsy...
I thought you might be interested in our report on life for Patsy after dry food.
Before we finally went cold turkey off of dry food, I kept trying to find a wet food that she would like and kept throwing away prodigious amounts of it after she'd turn her nose up at it. Finally I realized that we'd never even be able to get her to like wet food until we got rid of the dry "kitty crack" as I think you called it.
What really helped is that I finally got disgusted with having to throw away so much perfectly good food and I just said "That's it! No More!" Patsy hasn't had dry food for a couple of weeks now and she's really starting to have an appetite for more and more of the quality canned food.
At first I would use the Osterizer to puree canned food with some amazingly high-quality home-made chicken or turkey broth Jane has been making for the two of us for some years now ... when heated it's a wonderful thin broth, when cold it's solid and gelatinous ... so you know it's almost pure protein. I did that because Patsy is crazy for pureed BeechNut pureed chicken with broth (the vet suggested we use that to get the antibiotic down her when she had a urinary infection soon after we brought her home from the shelter). But now, as time passes, she seems happier and happier with various kinds of wet food straight from the can, so it's getting easier for us.
Once a day I still give her a dollop of BeechNut pureed chicken mixed in with her daily dose of Platinum, so she gets her taurine, etc.
She's a happy being now. This morning she crawled under the covers and snuggled up next to my chest and went back to sleep, purring. She alternates between sweet affection and fierceness, just like any perfect cat.
Thanks for being the inspiration and driving moral force behind all of this. Patsy is a source a joy (and therefore healing) in our lives, and thank you too for your contribution to that.
Best to you,
Don, Grass Valley, CA
The information contained in the answers posted on this board comes from THE CAT BIBLE: Everything Your Cat Expects You To Know, and from CAT CHAT™ The Radio Show, broadcasting live on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Channel 112 on Sirius Satellite Radio, every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. EST.
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DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the advice I give on the air or in emails – or those you see posted here – are not intended to take the place of a veterinarian's advice or expertise. I say this to protect myself from being misunderstood or from your over-reliance on my advice in situations where your pet may be seriously ill and you would mistakenly delay seeking medical intervention. While I am confident in the research-based facts and common-sense advice I can offer, it is never meant to be used at the exclusion of trained, accredited and board certified professionals. But I also have this disclaimer to protect your dog – because what you learn from me is not intended to take the place of medical care or professional evaluation – on the contrary, my desire is to equip you with information that will allow you to enjoy your pets to the fullest, and also to encourage you to seek professional medical attention whenever there are physical symptoms or an overall change in your pet's attitude.
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
