Kudos to Tracie!
Reader and Listener Praise for Tracie's Books and Radio Shows.
This is Hailey K. in Idaho - her Mom Angie works for Pets Best insurance and said her darling daughter picked it up and started reading on her own. I guess you can't start too young!
"I love my kitties even more since I found you! You are a godsend!"
—
Shelly
I just got this lovely greeting from Joan in Riverhead New York, whose rescued Beagle Scarlett was Dog Talk's Miss May of 2009. It feels so wonderful when my listeners take my advice to heart and choose the products I love best for the four-legged family members pets they love best.
Wanted to let you know how Scarlett is doing. She is great. Boy, do we love this beagle. She eats Halo Wet and Dry. Takes Platinum Plus, Dr. Harvey's Veggie, Wagatha's Biscuits, Nordic Naturals Fish Oil. We could be a commercial for all this good stuff. This dog is thriving. Scarlett says thanks Auntie Tracie. You really helped me and Joan when we most needed it. God bless and stay safe.
—Joan
Maltese Breeder & Groomer Loves Dog Talk®
Ann Lambert was on DOG TALK® discussing her in-home grooming business on Long Island (31-523-4213) and her devotion to the Maltese breed. I am grateful for her very kind words and the wonderful compliment of sending other dog professionals to the show.
Tracie – I really enjoyed being on Dog Talk® Sat. morning. Just wanted to thank you for making the interview so easy. You covered all the important information during the segment. Your segue way into the subject of grooming was perfect — thank you for the business promotion. The info and photo you chose of my dogs on your website are great. Hopefully, I will be able to counsel people interested in owning a Maltese. I do that now for the American Maltese Association. Your views on puppy mills mimic my own. For so many years now, I have wished they would close down all the puppy mills which are places of torture. They recently open a "puppy" store on Rte. 347 in Stony Brook. Every weekend people are picketing to close the store and discourage would be buyers. May be you could have them on your show. The story you were discussing before my interview was so tragic and heartbreaking. I will be listening to both your shows in the future. Plus, I am telling all my friends and customers about your show and website.
Christine Loved the Signed Bookplate for her The Dog Bible
I received the bookplate packet of samples and brochures. What fun! Thank you so much! Can't wait to read all the info. I feed one of my dogs The Honest Kitchen — Thrive and Force - but have wanted to try Preference and you sent me a sample of it! I give a small amount of Halo dry food with THK. I have been giving Nordic Naturals to both dogs; their coats are so shiny and soft. Pumpkin has hypothyroidism and he was scratching and biting himself pretty bad: he has practically stopped now. I am going to ask my vet about Vectra and will show him the pamphlet; I would like to try it. I also wanted to try Platinum Performance and I got that too! I had a question: is it ok to give Nordic Natural fish oil and Platinum Performance or should it be one or the other? Can't wait to put the bookplate into the book. Thank you so much. It is really wonderful to have someone so informed and trustworthy to help me keep my furry friends healthy and happy.
With much appreciation, Christine.
You’re doing wonderfully! I myself feed The Honest Kitchen at every meal with a small serving of Halo kibble good choices! So glad the Nordic Naturals fish oil is a success — it makes me so happy when my advice really helps! Yes, you can give the Platinum Performance supplement along with the Nordic because one is a marine-based (Nordic is all fish body and liver oil) while Platinum Performance used plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, So all that remains is for you to get Pets Best insurance I sent you a brochure for (and believe me, if you think you cannot afford it, you certainly cannot afford the costly choices now available to diagnose and treat ailments. Oh! And the Vectra and Vectra 3-D for flea and tick control — if your vet does want to get the free samples, great. Give me the name and number and I’ll pass it along to Dr. Elizabeth. BUT if your vet decides not to carry Vectra, you only need to find a Banfield vet clinic (by going on the internet) and after just a question or two about your pets heath they will sell you First Shield, which is the name for Vectra at Banfield — it’s made especially for them.
Meowy Mew Year Auntie Tracie
It's your favorite Florida kitty Zyma. Momma is letting me send you a note to say how much the Cat Bible and Dog Bible books were enjoyed as Christmas gifts. My uncle Johnny is loving the Cat BIble. His twosome Jade and Jasper whose photo you have on your website are enjoying being read too. They also like their photo up in the famous section on your website. Murray's photo in Memoriam is appreciated. Even Kohl their rescued Sheltie gives the book a Paws Up.
Our friends who received the Dog BIble sat for a Christmas photo op. I'll try to send one to you. Of course, we still enjoy our copy. Mom reads to us often.
Wishing you a purrrrrrrfectly blessed New Year,
Zyma, Zara, zMuddy, Zinfandel, Ziva and our ma
Pumpkin & Pierre love THE DOG BIBLE
I got this super nice email from Claire in Northern California:
Hi Tracie,
I recently heard about your Dog Bible book, had to run out and buy it. Love what I've read so far. Would really like an autographed book plate. I have 2 dogs who are the joy of my life. Pumpkin, an 8yr old Golden Retriever from Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue and Pierre, a 7yr old Papillon. Both my dogs and I will benefit from your book. I also listen to your dog podcast. I subscribe to quite a few pod casts, yours is one of my favorites. Keep up the good work!
—Claire
I just got your book The Cat Bible and it's wonderful, full of info. Well, I have a great team of advice vets for my 3 cats between you and Dr. Martin Goldstein. I am in great shape!! Thank you for putting SNOBBY'S picture up on your Web site. I will be a faithful listener of your show Cat Chat®. It's one of the best shows on Sirius. And happy holidays .
Sharon (CT) and Yasmine & Canada & Brooklyn
Good Morning, Ms. Tracie
Our mom just received your book The Cat Bible as a gift. She tells us that she has learned many new and informative kitty info. She likes it so much that she is going to buy one for grandma. Meow! We are a diverse group of mischievous felines that bring joy and happiness to our ma each and every day! Or so we have been told.
Thank you for sharing your feline knowledge with us kitties and our adoptive parents.
Purrs,
Zyma, Zara and Zmuddy
Hi, Tracie!
I just wanted to thank you SO MUCH for the many things you have done for myself and Caring Hands! Making my dogs the 'dogs of the month' has been a great honor and I'm so proud of my babies being on your webpage... and grateful for featuring us on your show as well! I'm not sure of the following you have, but I'm sure it's great and the exposure to shelter animals (especially ours that day!) is MOST EXCELLENT! I can not thank you enough! I hope many people will adopt from a shelter or rescue as opposed to the puppy mills breeders, etc!
I love my DOG TALK® baseball cap, by the way! It's a great fit. I also wanted to let you know, I am going to purchase the Platinum Performance supplement - it's PERFECT for my older dog Missy. Not that it isn't perfect for them all, but we are still adjusting to the financial changes of adding a 5th human to our already large family! In time, I'd like to have them all on it. So thank you for bringing that to my attention. The fact that it has Gluclosamine in it is an added bonus! Forcing pills down an old stubborn lady's throat is no fun! I'm grateful it's in the ground up form and she loves it! (You sent me a trial size awhile back.)
I just want to thank you for the honor it was to be featured on your show and website. Thank you for this opportunity!!
Lori Smith
Kennel Manager,
Animal Behavior &Training Consultant
Foster Home Coordinator,
Caring Hands Humane Society
1400 SE 3rd St.,
Newton, KS 67114
Because of this letter and the sentiments behind it, I made Carol's kitties Cats of the month for September.
Hi Tracie -
I am a huge fan of yours by virtue of the Martha station on Sirius. You have taught me so so much about kitties: food, health, neutering, behaviors. You are a Godsend.
Our babies eat only wet and are healthy and happy, and I preach your sermon as I walk thru life - both to my vet who still refuses to drink the koolaid and also to friends when they tell me about health and weight issues with their feline babies. I'm your southern soldier!
Please send me a personally signed bookplate for a book for my husband. He is known as Doc. We have two feline babies, Bones and Grease a/k/a Baby. Our address is below.
I know you hear and read kitty stories until you can't hear or see straight but ours are just so special I feel compelled to share short versions:
We were having a party to celebrate our Hurricane Katrina rebuilt house in the Summer of 2007, and when I was at the florist ordering arrangements for that big night and cute orange tabby worked his way in and out of my ankles. I commented to the florist how sweet the kitty was and that my husband was begging me for a cat, and without missing a beat she said he was ours, that he was a street cat mainly and she just fed him. The florist said the cat showed up at her shop in the months just after Katrina when she was rebuilding so we use 2006 as his birth year. A few days after the excitement of the party was over, my stepson and I bought a carrier, picked up the cat, and surprised Doc one night after work with his new baby. He was elated, named him Bones as a nod to his profession, and they have been inseparable ever since. Bones and Doc sleep many a night with arms wrapped around one another. Bones is the sweetest, most cuddly baby we ever could have been adopted by.
Or so we thought.
A month ago Doc's office called me frantic on Friday morning. The employee on the phone said a patient walked into the office from Violet, LA, which is 10-15 miles south of our town, saying her car had a weird screeching sound coming from it in the parking lot. The patient said she had heard the screeching from her motor on her drive to the office when she was stopped at red lights. One of the chiropractic assistants went outside to investigate, opened the hood to look further, reached her arm down in between all the hot and dirty auto parts, and pulled out a solid black tiny fluff ball covered in oil and grease. The CA put a bowl of water in a copy machine paper box, punched holes in the lid, stowed the tiny thing in the staff restroom and called me in despair. "Doc wants him," she said. Our vet squeezed me in and was amazed at the automobile story, says it's the first one he's heard of that survived such a ride in a very long time. After some tests, the vet pronounced him a healthy 1 pound baby boy, and the groomer swept him away to bathe him for his new life in Casa Shoemaker. His name: Grease - but we call him Baby.
Baby literally fits in the palm of our hands, Tracie. He's the tiniest thing we've ever seen outside of hamsters. We have always adopted grown animals and needed much help from your Bible with him. We gave loaded up a room of him his own with food and water bowls, comfy bed, a stuffie toy from the greyhounds basket, and left the television on for company. The first couple of weeks he did nothing but hide from us in this garage bathroom. We've taken it very slowly with him, and, as Baby shows us he is comfortable, we enlarge his world. When Baby started purring around our ankles and let us hold him in his garage bathroom house, we gradually let him into the whole garage for periods of time play then we picked him up and returned him to his house after awhile. This past week, at the one month point of having him, I opened up the garage door into the house to let him explore. Amazingly he follows me wherever I go in our home. Slowly but surely we can see his progress and know that he is coming around.
We have yet to introduce him to Bones full on. We have put Baby in his carrier and let Bones sniff around him, and vice versa. That process, too, will be a slow but sure kind of deal. At the second vet's visit, Baby was 1.5 pounds but we think he is still a little too small to defend himself around Bones should some territorial dispute begin. We are feeding them separately as your Bible says, separate litter boxes, and playing with and showing love to each individually.
Your Cat Bible has gotten us thru many a situation, as does listening to your cat show. Thank you so much for your service to our feline world!
Carol, Chalmette LA
This came from Gracie's Mom - it refers to the goody box for her being Dog of the Month, with a big bottle of Nordic Natural omega 3 pet oil.
Thank you so much for Gracie's package. I was traveling for work last week and when I arrived home on Friday night Gracie and I opened it together. She was very excited about how good it smelled. We laid everything out on the bed so she could sniff and examine all of the items. The samples are fun to try and the Nordic Naturals was a very generous gift. The care package for my friends, Mark, Lisa and Kira was very sweet and thoughtful too.
I will be giving the copy of The Cat Bible you donated and the literature to Emily at Furry Friends Rescue, hopefully next weekend for their next auction. You are a wonderful soul and I so appreciate your thoughtfulness as well as all of the information you bring to all of us weekly.
Thanks again for everything. I will look forward to talking to you soon. Gracie sends a big woof thank you too.
Fondly, Laurel and Gracie
Great show on DOG TALK® today! We happened to be riding in the car when you gave the “shout out to Henry”. He is so alert and listens in to all conversations, and of course, the radio, so it was not surprising when you mentioned his name that he tipped his head as if to say “did she mention my name??”
Thanks for all you do for dogs and their owners! (and for posting Henry's photo in your dog gallery, too)
Regards from Ellen in Niantic Connecticut
Brenda in Michigan really touched me when she kindly wrote to say:
I can't tell you how much you have improved the lives of our two rescue pets, Emmie a Chocolate Lab and Butterscotch the kitty. We have followed the orders your give listeners on Sirius #112 to feed off the approved food lists for both. Butterscotch did not appreciate his transition off of kitty-crack about 1 1/2 years ago but he dropped nearly 30% of his weight, is very healthy looking, and very energetic now. Emmie is such a joy and her coat just glistens. Thank you for giving us the knowledge to extend the quality and length of life of our two beloved pets.
I thought I would send you a couple of pictures to laugh about. Kitty was enjoying an evening of relaxation and Emmie loves to lay with my son while he is on the computer playing game or two. (NOTE: Both photos are on the website.)
—Brenda
I got this from Mary M. who runs the German Wire-Haired Pointer Rescue in Olathe, Kansas. I had sent her a copy of THE DOG BIBLE to raffle off to support her rescue work - and then she had bought a copy of THE DOG BIBLE, which I inscribed to the first GWP she rescued, who inspired her to rescue many others. She said:
We got your book today and my husband was so touched. Thank you!
I got to actually sit down and read portions and I was blown away. I would like to purchase several for my adopters as part of their packets. It is an incredible book!
Hey Tracie,
My name is Heather and I live in Lurgan, Pennsylvania. Love your book and would be even more excited to receive the personally signed bookplate from you. My dog is a 10 month old Shih Tzu named Abby. I have had her since she was 3 months, and she was a Christmas present. Since I was not prepared for having a puppy, your book certainly has helped along the way.
Hi Tracie,
I just want to thank you for the bookplate you sent to Ruby and myself. We received it in the mail today, and it has already been put in our THE DOG BIBLE. Thank you also for the other information included in the package.
I rescued a Female Shih Tzu, (RUBY) from the Newton animal shelter the last of June. She has been to her vet and has checked out just fine. She was one of 70-80 Shih Tzu's rescued from a hoarder, and when I brought her home she was bald. They had to shave about 98% of her hair, but it is beginning to grow back, and she is looking better then ever.
Thanks again from both Ruby and me for the nice things you sent.
Ruby and her mother (Paula)
Tracie,
I got the goodie box in the mail on Tuesday and cannot thank you enough for all of the wonderful items!! I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness. The Omega 3 oil is fantastic, Glenn loves the added oiliness in his food and Cuddie, and Trixie LOVE licking it off their paws each day! Indeed, Cuddie has gotten into the habit of offering up her paw in the mornings during the feeding rituals!! As for me, I started proudly enjoying my hat the same day at my dog walking job, its perfect!! I will treasure the name plates you wrote for my books for years to come and I am an avid NPR listener so I will be excited to download the Dog Talk® series and share them with other pet lovers! Take care and thanks again for ALL you do!!! You have positively changed my family's life :)
—Best, Marisa
Tracie, as we continue on with our quest to give Oscar more opportunities for a richer and happy life, we shall always be grateful to you for taking interest in us, standing by us, leading us in positive directions, and especially for caring. You have such a busy life and yet you took us on and expended your valuable time/energy to try to guide us. We will always be indebted to you just as so many others whom you have helped over the years. Again, profound thanks.
We just wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to our dog blog, Barkzilla and share with you a post we did about your book, The Dog Bible (Barkzilla review.) We can't tell you how much we treasure it! Having grown up with dogs my entire life, I thought that there would never be a question that I didn't have an answer too... Surprise, surprise: not so true. Your book is a fantastic resource and we are pleased we can share our thoughts on it with the rest of the online pet community on our blog.
In addition to providing fun tips about the NYC dog community, Barkzilla reviews dog products from toys and toys to leashes and bowls. We would love to know if you have any plans to write more books? Please let us know if you have any questions!
Best,
Samantha
Barkzilla- A Dog Blog for Dogs and the People Who Love Them!
www.barkzilla.blogspot.com
I got this nice note from Julie in Fair Oaks, California – who bought THE DOG BIBLE for her perfect pair of Papillions:
I would love a book plate made out to Missy and Jetta our lovely Papillon’s.
Thank you so much for helping us all learn the best we can for our family members.
I found you on the radio and also found your podcasts and have downloaded 26 of them so far.
Thanks again for what you do, we need you!
—Julie
Thank you so much for sending an autographed bookplate and I am totally excited to try the new Cat Attract litter with the free coupon! The Liv-a-Little treats from Halo are great, and so is the Power Pattie dried tripe treat from Dr. Harvey's. I really appreciate you taking the time to send the bookplates and cool stuff. Cat Chat and The Cat Bible are great resources.
Thanks again,
Laura
Hi Tracie! I've never heard your radio show since I don't have Sirius, but I am a BIG fan of The Cat Bible. I purchased it recently and devoured it in a few sittings (okay, I skipped over the kitten and multi-cat parts since it doesn't apply), and I just loved it.
I'd had some idea about the problem with cat food even before I picked up your book. I belong to a messageboard at http://community.livejournal.com/cat_lovers/, and there are some pretty well-informed people with some choice things to say about dry food. But I figured, I'll just feed my cat, Lola, dry food during the day while I'm at work, and wet food when I get home. I told myself that it would be okay if I hunted down the best possible bag of dry food, and with that in mind, I headed to the pet store. The next day, I read the section titled Meat By-Products. About an hour later, I returned the dry food to the store and stocked up on the canned food that you listed. I'm just.... so GROSSED OUT by the prospect of this wonderful animal eating... that. I can't even list it, I'm still so nauseated.
So, a big THANK YOU for the wake-up call. This is my very first cat, and I intend on spoiling the hell out of her! I certainly can't do that by feeding her something I can't even think about. Thanks again for such an entertaining and enlightening read!!
I sent a signed bookplate to Diana in Florida for her pooch Chase, along with a whole lot of samples as I do for everyone. The coolest thing was that she was already a customer! Now I jsut have to get her to use Vectra 3D on her dog and she'll be a 100% DOG TALK® follower!
Chase wants to thank you so much for the goodies you sent him. He thinks you have excellent taste, as he is a big fan of Dr. Harvey and loves both Veg-to-Bowl and Power Patties! He also loves Nordic Naturals and takes their Omega Pet product!
I tell folks who buy either of The Bibles that I will send them a personally autographed bookplate to put inside the book. It's pretty expensive (6 or 7 times more than I will ever receive on the sales of a book) but to me it's a chance to really thank someone for buying the book, to make that personal connection and also to put right in their hands some of the products I rave about on the air. Whenever I wonder if I am using my time and resources well by sending a packet of goodies I get a note from someone like Brenda in Ohio and it reassures me that generosity is its own reward.
Hi Tracie - I wanted you to know how excited I am to receive the bookplate inscribed to my Beagle Libby Lou - and how touched I am that you also mentioned my first Beagle and forever friend, Maggie May, in the inscription.. She was my love. I can’t wait to give Libby Lou the goodies you sent. I actually cook almost all of Libby’s food, so I love the veg-to-bowl of Dr. Harvey's. She loves peas! I will cherish this always.
I was so pleased when this came from Dr. Jean Hofve, who developed the Spirit Essences and lives in Colorado with her beloved kitties — and has been a guest on both shows talking about the horrors of declawing cats.
Hi Tracie, listened to today's Dog Talk® about Lyme disease prevention and treatment and it was really good—fascinating stuff! Fortunately we have very little Lyme in Colorado so far (and God willing never!), but it's an area that I have been looking into but at this point mainly from the human aspect. So your great info was timely! Thanks!
Cheers,
Jean
Dear Tracie
It was an absolute joy to be on Dog Talk®. Thank you for having me. You are a wonderful interviewer and all of your shows are fabulous—consistently interesting and filled with enthusiasm.
The only thing I forgot to tell your listeners is that I recommend The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible to all of my clients.
I say to them the more knowledge they have about their animals, the better they can help them through stressful situations—and both books truly are Bibles on dogs and cats.
Wishing you the best,
Charles Regal
Thanks for the info and of course for the personal replies. Having the "personal replies" affords a person the comforts that a "real person" one of knowledge... is concerned, caring and willing to help. Sometimes one cannot get an answer via a book because each animal is different and/or the situation.
It’s always a strange and confusing place to be when we love our animals. We try to do what’s best for the animal, though our vets are saying completely different things than what we might read in a book.
Thanks again for your personal replies.... as I'm sure I am not the only person who appreciates them.
This is from Monica in New Mexico, who has the gorgeous whippets running with a frisbee in the photo gallery.
I love your show. Such good information. It's much appreciated! My whippet Marquis says hello to you Tracie. She continues to do verrrrry well at 13 years of age. You may remember I had a growth removed due to your show and the oncologist you have as a guest here and there. The growth was inconclusive in status so I said remove it! So I (mom) do not worry anymore.Thank You for all you do.
From Karen in Bermuda (her cat Paco is in the photo gallery):
Your web site is just wonderful, I could spend hours in there!
Thanks for all that you do for animals! It's very exciting to connect with people who are passionate about animal care & animal nutrition.
Tracie,
Thanks so much for all your time. I will take your advice. Love your show by the way. I listen to it whenever I get the chance. I've learned so much even though I have had cats and dogs for over 35 yrs. You are a wealth of ideas
Thanks again,
Della
My dog's name is Mormon and my name is Danny. My training is on schedule - Mormon's schedule that is : ). Please send us an autographed bookplate for our copy of The Dog Bible, a wonderful book. Good luck with your radio show. We always listen because Mormon insists on it, hehe.
Hello. I have heard you speak on XM Martha Stewart radio stating that hard food is bad for cats and that one should make their own homemade. Please, I have always heard that it is the hard food that cleans their teeth and keeps them from falling out. How would the homemade food substitute for this? Or is this a myth? Please, let me know. I appreciate your dedication so much and my Ma and I love listening to your show. It is immensely informative. Thank you from Alexandra
[Webmaster's note: Please see Q&A on this issue.]
I just got off the phone with my old buddy Joni in San Diego. I called after i got a message that her old Great Pyrenees had to be put down after her arthritis got worse. She was 12. Joni praised you and The Dog Bible up and down — she said that whatever was on her mind when her dog was healthy (and then when the dog got sick), Joni could go straight to The Dog Bible and find the help and advice she needed. She was so impressed with how much compassion and good guidance she got from you in the section about euthanasia. So if your ears were burning, it was yet another, singing your praises!
Love, Barbi
I had Dr. Matt Rooney from Longmont, Colorado on both shows, discussing his pioneering work as a veterinary surgeon in using the "tight rope technique" instead of the TPLO - the more invasive, expensive, painful and possibly complicated procedure many vets are using. It meant a great deal to me when Matt wrote to say:
I have emailed friends of mine, other vets, and close clients to listen to your show. They all like it. Kudos.
Dear Tracie,
Our mommy Marie recently read your book The Cat Bible and we couldn't be happier with the changes that she has made for us. We would love it if you could send her an autographed bookplate for this awesome book!
Sincerely,
Onslow and Fred
I called your show a week ago yesterday to chat with you and Ann Marie, about my newly healthy cats (thanks to you!) and my dogs on “the other side.” It was great chatting with you— the first time I've ever called a talk show! I'm living here in Shaftsbury, VT, across from Second Chance, and I have been listening to you on pod cast for two years or so. VPR does not carry your show yet, so I am always a day late and a dollar short as far as being able to call in. Also, I rarely have Saturdays open for listening—I'm a dog trainer and I see a lot of clients for lessons on Saturdays. Last week was just lucky!
I love your show. I have learned a lot from you, and particularly admire your perseverance in researching subjects and ferreting out the truth. Your guests are amazing, very top class and always interesting. Keep up the good work!
Meg in Vermont
Thanks Tracie for the info on wet food for Gracie and Shae. I am so thankful that I read your blog on vaccines. Your work is wonderful and I have emailed your site to at least 20 others with pets. I tell everyone about your site that has pets.
Thanks a million,
Deanna S.
Thank you Tracie for getting back to me. I really appreciate your time. I have fed my cat ONLY wet cat food, BUT we have a dog and once in a while I catch him munching on dog kibble :( Its a non grain, no additives special food from the same store. (puppy is 10 years old) I will hide the dog food, just in case this is a problem, the dog is getting overweight this winter so he could be rationed and I'll feed them at the same time.I feed them in separate locations as puppy loves kitty food :)
We live in central Alberta Canada, the air is extremely dry. Even for me. I will try the omega 3 fish oil and I think the pet food store I get my food from has Nordic Naturals?? Or I will order from the internet.
I have found his coat to be very staticy so your suggestion to wipe him with a damp washcloth is a very good idea.
I love your show and listen as much as possible. My dad's cat is now a wet-food-only cat as I have told him everything you teach. It was a hard sell as he was under the misinformation that wet food is bad. His kitty is only a few months older then mine and he's doing great too.
Sandi
Dear Tracie,
Thank you so much for your quick reply and kind thoughts. I was amazed that I actually got to confer with you.
The colds spread through all the cat population and everyone has survived nicely. By the time I read your e-mail, it was already too late. They all eat in one another's bowl although we have tried to separate them, the others will hunt it down and make sure cat "A" didn't miss anything. LOL They are quite an amazing little family. They are, I am happy to say, all fine. The cold sneezing and coughing has all passed and everyone is adapting to the wet food.
Skittles has had NO more bowl problems and has returned to her former fastidious bathroom habits. They are all showing signs of being much more agreeable and playful since the switch from the "kitty crack" to the wet foods and we buy from your recommended list. We haven't discovered the one that fits just right but we are trying all to find the ones they like the best and will eat.
I have your book and it has helped us with many things we weren't sure of. It is good to see many of our common-sense ideas were right on the money. When you see affirmation in B&W it gives you confidence that you are doing the best you can for your pets.
As I said before, when I rescued this bunch I promised them a better life. I know that goal is attainable on so many more levels with your help. Thanks again for The Cat Bible and your personal involvement.
Sincerely,
Carol
Dear Tracie,
First.....thank you for responding to my call for help. I greatly appreciate your dedication! You will be happy to know that I have officially gotten the cats off "KittyCrack". My little friend Leo is doing much better, as far as I can tell, he is using the litter box again and not peeing around the house. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
In all fairness to my Mom, she has been lecturing me about their food for awhile now, lets say I learned my lesson the hard way on this one and should have listened much sooner. Truth be told there is so much dry food out there I couldn't imagine that it was truly that bad. Well, I get in now! Again, thank you very much and if things do not continue to progress positively with Leo I will try your next set of suggestions!
Fondly,
Jennifer H.
I got this sweet note (and happy news about another kitty off crack!!) from Angie, who owns Two SPoons Farm with her husband Brian, a Community Supported Agriculture co-op we belong to. Her newly adopted kitty was having a LOT of out-of-litter-box issues:
Hi Tracie - congratulations on your Martha show appearance! My dial up couldn't handle the video, hope to see it sometime soon. I have read your blog and your web site. I switched our cat "Bob" to only wet food and he has stopped urinating all over my house. The litter box is still in the kid's playroom, but I can work on that.
Take care, Angie
Thank you, Tracie. I really enjoyed being on DOG TALK® speaking about our European German Sheperds at Shepherds of the Mount. And I appreciate your compliment about how it went. I will tell other breeders about you and I'm telling everyone I know about your show…it's great!
Thanks again, Dana
The January Dogs of the Month got a goody box with a copy of Marcie Jan Bronstein's superb photo book I'LL WAIT IN THE CAR, a tin of Wagatha's biscuits, a sample of Platinum Performance joint supplement and a full bottle of Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Oil. Here's what Lizza had to say:
Thank you so much for the book I'll Wait in the Car and the rest of the goodies! You have given me so much already! I can't thank you enough for all the awareness you have given me in all aspects of my dogs life. I can't believe how aware I am about so much! There's no turning back. :)
I am making Cd's of your podcasts and giving it to my friends who live in Washington state! We will hope to get your show on Washington!
What a wonderful email to receive from you. Thank you for adding this to your blog! I can't wait to see it and tell everyone about the blog and your web site! I honestly cannot thank you enough for everything you have taught me. I read bits and pieces of The Cat Bible each day. Some parts I have read over and over and over so much that I should be able to recite it word for word! I still miss Shadow each day but the tears are coming a bit less with each passing day.
This came from Donna, when she saw the memorial photo I had put up on the website to her beloved, departed pussycat Max. I am so glad when I can ease the pain just that little bit:
Tracie: Just saw the website. Through my tears, Max looking at me... I thank you so much. What a loving and kind act. He would be so proud
Dear Tracie,
I'm a fairly new trainer (though have been extremely passionate about dogs and training since I can remember) based in a small town in B.C. I recently purchased Ann Martin's book Food Pets Die For and, though a lot of the shocking facts I had already heard rumors about, was completely blown away by it. In an effort to find more information and a possible way to contact Ann and thank her for writing this excellent book that I believe every pet owner should have on their shelf, I came across the interview you did with her in August. I listened to it and then sought out more of your show to listen to and browsed through your website.
I think the information you provide for pet owners is so great and I think I just might have to order myself a copy of The Dog Bible as well.
I run a dog forum called Dog Gone Good Training Forum and have been trying to provide as much information, as humanly possible for one person; to dog owners to answer many popular questions and to open their eyes to very important issues they may have never been aware of before. I have many dog related links that are approved by myself on the forum but I think for your website, a special, individual post needed to be made so that it would stand out from the rest. And so that's what I did. You can view it HERE.
Also, I still haven't been able to find a way to contact Ann Martin via e-mail and was wondering if you may have her e-mail address so I can give her my thanks for writing such an absolutely amazing book that I have no problem recommending not only to every client I have but every pet owner I come across on a daily basis!
Once again, thank you for providing such a wonderful service to pet owners who are otherwise oblivious and being fed so much misinformation at every turn.
Yours Truly,
Shara
I love your book & wish I had been able to get it sooner or had heard your show sooner. About two & half years ago my cat passed away from kidney failure. She had eaten nothing by dry food. We tried to give her wet many times but she never took to it. I would have worked much harder if I had known how bad it really was for her. We now have two rescue cats & we have put them on an all wet diet. We cannot quite afford the really good stuff yet, but you lists of grocery store brands has been very helpful. They both switched from dry at the shelter to wet here with no problem at all!
I would love to get a book plate for my book. The cats are Stinkerbelle & Buddy
Thanks,
Brandee
This is from Romeo, the Dog Talk® Holiday Dog on the bulletin board of my website:
Oh wow!!! Thank you, Tracie. Oh...and I want to tell you that I LOVE Weruva wet food. Yum. I was a picky eater but not anymore.
Thank you and I hope your web viewers will like my picture. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
xoxo, Romeo
P.S. Hi Tracie, your show is terrific. I give Romeo and his brother, Tiger, Nordic Naturals Omega-3. I've seen a great change in Romeo after only a few days on it. He has a lot more energy now and can catch up with his lighter weight and quicker little bro.
I bought The Dog Bible as recommended. I should have gotten this years ago. I recommended The Cat Bible to several friends.
Thanks,
Diana
The people who live with Crookshanks wrote to ask for an autographed bookplate for their The Cat Bible and they got a goody package as everyone does who writes to me. I hope they tried the little bottle of Omega-3 pet oil from Nordic Naturals that I send to folks - it's the cherry on top of good nutrtion choices:
We definitely did receive your package! Thank you so much for everything. We signed up for kitty health insurance because of all the information you sent us about it. The flyer for Weruva is adorable, and they seem to be a great food company too... except I did take the plunge and transitioned her to a raw diet. Good news is, she loves it. Her entire attitude has changed, her chubbiness has turned into strong muscle, and her dental and oral health is amazing. We also found a more holistic vet in our new neighborhood, and he actually supports my choice for her diet. It's such a nice, clean, feline only office... Such a relief after my last vet. Thanks for your support.
Hi Tracie,
I have been listening to you for a few months now on Sirius radio and just had to tell you an incredible story. Sorry it is a bit long but I thought you would appreciate it.
I have had one of my cats, Maggie, for 14 years. As a kitten she was sweet and affectionate (even slept on my head). We had her spayed and she didn't come out of the anesthesia right away and I really nursed her back to life... even giving her water with a eye dropper. The vet discovered at the same time that she had kidney disease and to start her on KD. So after she was better, I did what he told me... .(it is only now that I see the connection). She changed so much (all these years I thought she had brain damage from not coming out of the anesthesia)... .she didn't like being petted or would not sit on my lap. She never liked being groomed either brushing or trimming of nails. She also started leaving little presents around the house. After a few months, the vet suggested I put her on Buspar because she had separation anxiety. I did that and initially Maggie was better but went back to leaving presents everywhere after a few months. (I eventually stopped the Buspar with no change in her personality) Sometimes she would let others hold her but she never let me touch her without trying to bite or scratch me. Recently, Maggie got an abscessed anal gland and although the vet only sedated her, she wasn't doing well afterwards. She wasn't eating at all... .so I started giving her turkey baby food. As she got stronger, I added canned cat food. I have been listening to your show and about nutrition for cats and Pet Food Direct. Although I haven't done Pet Food Direct yet, I decided to use some of the cat food on your list. I have been feeding both my cats this way for several weeks now. During Maggie's recovery period, she let me hold her and even slept with me. I, of course, thought she was just in pain and would go back to her old crabby self. Well, thankfully she if back to my sweet, affectionate and loving cat... .everyday, I kept saying I can't believe she is so sweet. The only reason I c an see for her remarkable change is her diet. I know it seems incredible and my family thinks I am crazy but they are coming around because they can't believe how nice she is to me. It truly is a miracle. I only wish I had known this 14 years ago.
So I wanted to thank you for helping me... if it wasn't for Cat Chat® I probably would never have heard of the special diet. thanks to you I have my adorable cat back. I will keep listening, because you always have useful info that I use with great success.
Sincerely,
Della D.
Hi Tracie,
I'm a big fan and have read my copy of The Cat Bible many times. I also listen to your show as often as possible & think you are wonderful! Can you please send me a bookplate? My cats are Berkeley & Amelie. Thank you!
Melissa & Michael, Northport, NY
Hey Tracie, I really wanted to get back to you last week to say that the Cat Chat® show with your new Official Veterinary Dermatologist was really great. I loved listening to Dr.John Gordon. He was so easy to listen to. Being a lay person I really appreciate a doctor that speaks clearly. He totally supported your belief that kitties should be on an only wet food diet. All that dry processed stuff is go bad for them! My kitty Ginger is very happy I'm sure. She has the softest fur and no signs of allergies….knock wood.
Keep spreading the great information and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Ciao for meow,
Debs (Human) and Ginger (Cat)
I got this adorable email from Alicia in Brooklyn New York when she wrote asking fro a bookpalte inscribed to her beloved new kitty cat.
Tracie:
Just got my copy of The Cat Bible today from Amazon and even though I grew up with cats, I haven't put it down except for when Henbane insists. Henbane is my new 4 1/2 month old Maine Coon kitten who is, in a word, energetic! Thanks for writing the book. (Now I have to go play with Henbane before he goes to sleep.)
—
Alicia in Brooklyn
I'm a bit sad! I am almost caught up on all of your podcasts. So now I REALLY DO have to wait every week to listen to your show...bummer. It is so FUN to listen to show after show after show. Really kind of addicting.
—Janelle with the US Armed Forces in Germany
So Happy to hear Martin Deeley on your show! He's an incredible trainer and a
wonderful man! I was fortunate enough to learn from him and continue to train
using his methods!
Good Job!!
Sincerely,
Jenn G.
Canine Behavior & Training Specialist - www.bigcitydogs.net
Dr. Hodgkins and I had been corresponding with Janelle, who is on a U.S. military base in Germany, one of four moves she has made always bringing her cat Mr. Kitty along for the ride. Now he's got some health issues we were helping with and she kindly wrote to say:
I just really want you both to know how much I appreciate your work, your time and effort, your books, your websites and your passion to help animals and those that care for them. Cheesy to say, but I don't know where I'd be without you both. I feel like I finally have someone in my corner when I go to the vet's office now. Before, I WAS CLUELESS! And now I question EVERYTHING that happens to my cat, especially his nutrition, thanks to you both!
We finally received our Amazon book order yesterday in our PO Box on base! And that only took three weeks! Military mail can be slow at times, so now we have THE CAT BIBLE and Dr. Hodgkins' book YOUR CAT.
Thank you for all of the kind gifts you are sending to me for Mr. Kitty being the Cat Chat Cat of the Month for December. Take care, Tracie. I still hope to call in one day to give you the happy ending to Mr. Kitty's story. Hopefully that will happen SOON!
Janelle
Hi Tracie!
I love The Cat Bible — it has been an amazing resource since I adopted my kitten, Knox. Knox is a DSH I rescued from the shelter. He is also polydactyl, extremely polydactyl (7 claws on the front paws and 6 on the back!). In fact, for future versions, perhaps you could include more about polydactyls...? I know Knox and I would enjoy it! But the book is fantastic, particularly the section on nutrition. I was considering kibble for Knox until I read your arguments, and now he is solely fed quality canned food.
We would love an autographed bookplate for our The Cat Bible!
Many thanks,
Rachel & Knox
Brooklyn, NY
Hello, our names are Adam and Kristyn from Louisville, KY. Just yesterday we checked out your book The Cat Bible from our local library. We were blown away by your information about dry cat food. We have always been confident that we provided our cat, Hank, with a healthy diet and were taken aback by the garbage that goes into making dry cat food. If we hadn't read your chapter on nutrition, our cat would have just gone on eating the unhealthy dry food that he's eaten all of his life. But instead, today we threw away all of the dry kibble and nasty treats and Hank has had his first really healthy meal of his life.
We just wanted to write you and let you know that you have made a huge impact on these two cat owners and we will let everyone we know who owns a cat in on the information.
Thank you very much, and Hank appreciates your advice as well.
Sincerely,
Adam B. & Kristyn E.
Hi Tracie,
I love your book The Cat Bible, despite growing up with cats, I have learned a tremendous amount of new information from your book.
I have searched your website and blog but don't find anything on suckling feet. My male cat (7 months old) suckles the pad up his leg (not the one he stands on) when he settles down with his sister to sleep. He used to suck her feet but that has stopped.
Why does he do this? Is there any danger to him? Should I stop him? Or is it a comfort measure for him? I try to keep an eye on this pad to make sure he isn't causing any skin breakdown.
Thanks,
Sandra in Ontario, Canada
I am so incredibly lucky to have so many lovely listeners like kenn in Minnesota.
With an extremely dear letter like this, how could I not share it with others? Kenn puts so much of himself into everything he does - Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue in particular. I also sent him and his partner David congratulations on their new family member - and told Maxwell that Auntie Tracie said he's the luckiest cat in Michigan.
Dear Tracie,
I wanted to take a minute and extend my condolences to you and your family with the loss of Paul Newman. I know you mentioned your father's connection as a partner with Newman's Own and I'm sure it's a loss of a friend.
I hope you're doing well. We're all doing great here and anticipating the colors of the season. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is cooling down... as a matter of fact, last night was the first time I had worn a pair of jeans since last May!
All the cats are doing well... even our 'stray' friend that has taken up residence on the property. He's returned from the vet with a clean bill of health, shots, and minus a couple 'parts' so he's not creating more stray cats in the world. His name is Maxwell and he's a gem. Here's a picture of him:
DON'T FRET! Yes, that's dry cat food you see in his dish... I wasn't sure what was going to happen with him when this picture was taken and I bought a small bag to warm up to him and give him something to eat. He's now on all wet food and has gained a healthy amount of weight. He looks healthy and is loving life! I know the rules!
He hangs in the garage for the most part. He has a 'house' that we got for him and he's made it his home. At least he's healthy, dry when it rains, and I spend time with him so he knows NOT all humans are thoughtless and careless. He loves to be loved, that's for sure!
We're all sending big huge hugs to you… we love you!
Kenn (and all the rest!)
Hi Tracie,
My name is Isis. I met you at Camp Unleashed 2 weeks ago. I was there with my arthritic sheltie mix Kobe and my one eyed Shih Tzu, Lexi. I was wondering what type of dry dog food do you recommend? I bought your book The Dog Bible and I am currently reading Anne Martin's "Food Pets Die For" I am sooo confused! I am currently feeding them Wellness. The more I learn, the more confused I am! I need help!!
Thank you for your time!!
Isis, Kobe & Lexi
btw, I LOVE your book!!
Hi Tracie,
We are truckers and have listened to you on Martha Stewart radio from day one, you have without a doubt the best pet show anywhere today. We had a Shih Tzu (Lucky) that traveled with us for the past 12 years regrettably she passed away. When your living is driving a truck you are together 24 hours a day, I jokingly say to people we know it's like being married for 150 years, well the same applies to pets, everything you do on the road includes our pet.
The past two weeks on the road without the dog were incredibly lonely, everywhere we went and did, every time we listened to your show it reminded us of Lucky and brought tears to our eyes. The emptiness left from the loss of Lucky was to much so we picked up a new Shih Tzu puppy yesterday. The second thing we did was to purchase a copy of The Dog Bible.
Could you please send us an autographed plate our book. Please address it to Mary and Lucky.
Terry
I am humbled by this devoted listener's comment, which I am posting so you know there are many business opportunities I turn down constantly because they include advertising on my website (which i don't allow) or supporting products and services that I don't think are the very best. It may seem holier than thou but I really cannot bring myself to endorse anything that I haven't verified as WAY better than the competition.
Let me tell you, I always look forward to Wed nights because I know you're one of the few people on the air who tells it like it is. I really got to hand it to you ... last week I think it was, you had the Morris the cat trainer on. And a caller came on to ask about some canned food with a wholesome name that you looked up during a break, and announced it had corn syrup in it. I am not certain, but think it's the same company your guest was working for, but either way, you told the truth. That is what we need! More people like you telling the truth no matter who is on the show that is affiliated with a certain food, product, service. Yep. I'll be listening tonight!
Hi Tracie:
I first want to say that I love your show! As a regular and habitual listener of WLIU while driving, I first stumbled on your Dog Talk® shows several years back and loved hearing your opinions as well as those of your guests, and this was without even owning a dog! We are now in the process of getting a German Shepherd puppy through a breeder in PA which we are picking up in early November, and I am in heavy nesting mode as well as trying to crunch as much information as I can into my wee brain to prepare myself and my family.
My question is about crates. I bought your Dog Bible and have also been doing a lot of homework online and realize that we need to get a crate for many reasons. I also recall a show where you talked about a particular crate that was considered the "Rolls Royce of crates" that you found to be exactly the opposite. Are there any particular crates, whether brand names or what to look for, that you can recommend?
Your advice and expertise/experience in this matter would be invaluable!
Thank you!
Best, Monday
Aquebogue, NY
Tracie-- you are the best and very kind! Thanks for the info on Pets Best--but, having heard you talk about them previously, I have been a client for about 5 months! Additionally, based on another one of your recommendations, I have been using platinum performance (most recently on Trevor, my 16 yr old sheltie that just recently passed away-- I will never use rymydal again!) as well. The people there are so well educated on the product and couldn't be better to work with! So you see; not only am I an avid listener--but I practice what you preach. Trust me, I am spreading the word about you (both regarding dogs & cats!) here in the Chicago area. (I actually live in Naperville, IL) As a dog owner my whole life, just when you think you know everything about raising and taking care of dogs--think again! Now, I'll wait for the "Kids Bible"!
Great talking with you on todays local show--hope to talk with you again soon. All the best,
Scott
Chicago, IL
Good morning! I heard your show last night and I love your POV about the creatures that brighten our lives! Thank you! And I love that you have such a great sense of humor about that guy that wrote in and said something rude about 'bat dung.' Your laugh made his note that much more stupid and mean. Brava!
Kindly send me a book mark for my Dog Bible.
Simply, you rock! My two Cavalier's Bolo & Willy send you their best as well!
Best regards,
John, Upper West Side, Manhattan
I got this adorable note from a lady in Cheyenne Wyoming whose son just got a puppy bulldog named Diesel. She said she wanted to buy books for herself and her son so I sent off my usual packet of the personalized bookplates inscribed to the pets, a CD of one of my favorite episodes of DOG TALK® or CAT CHAT® and then a bunch of samples of Wagatha’s biscuits, Platinum Performance supplement, the Honest Kitchen raw dehydrated food, a tiny trial bottle of Nordic Natural Omega-3 fish oil and information about Pets Best insurance, Weruva food, etc. Sending out these packets winds up costing me over $5 a person for a book where I will someday start getting about 75 cents when I do finally start getting royalties – but meantime it makes me feel that I am really making a difference by putting the right goods and services into peoples’ hands. This letter shows that my time has been well-spent when listeners are so appreciative.—Tracie
Dear Tracie,
I picked up my copy of The Dog Bible today. Wow, you must have researched for years, this is a thick book. Looking forward to putting the little bookplate in. I can’t thank you enough. I will certainly look into all the info you sent me. It all sounds very good for the girls. And thank you for all the goodies. You are so appreciated. My son was like, really mom? Now this isn’t another one of your sick jokes is it? LOL. I like to kid him sometimes and when I told him the author of his book is sending him a personal autograph for him and his puppy and all the little extras, he was in awe.
Right now is a great time for some “Me time.” With the drizzly rain before winter, a favorite blanket, it is a good time to snuggle up with some tea and start on your book. Thank you for everything. I will spread the word on your books. I have saved your emails to put in my book so that when I show people the book they will see how awesome the author is. You are AWESOME!!!
Take care, Ronnie
Hi Tracie! I have recently discovered Cat Chat on Sirius and have enjoyed the few programs I have managed to catch while on the road (I only have Sirius in my car). And while I have had two other cats in my life, I bought your Cat Bible when getting our new Bengal kitten. It has a lot of information that even us "seasoned" cat owners may not know which just goes to show you can teach an old cat new tricks, eh? Even our Bengal enjoys the book...but on a completely different level. I thought I'd share this photo with you of Scamper taking a nap this afternoon with his head on your book:
Just wanted to bring a smile to your face today. ;-)
Joy M.,
Portal, AZ
Of all the kind and thoughtful words of praise I have received for both the Dog and Cat Bibles, nothing has meant as much to me as the honor of having helped to save the life of this dear little Tortie in Arizona (with the even greater help of her very smart human, Thomas)
I've had your book for about a year now and it was nice to learn how to understand cats and get information from.
This week it paid for itself 10 fold.
I came home from work and sat down to watch some tv when my young calico tortishell came over and jumped up into my lap and was panting heavily and unable to catch her breath and had a blank stare. I instantly knew something was wrong and grabbed your Cat Bible and looked up the symptoms and the answer I immediately found the answer.....heat exhaustion. She had played so much while I was at work and in combination with the hot humid weather here in Arizona, she over-heated.
I dropped the book and scooped up my cat and placed her under cold running water to wet her fur down. She didn't fight at all while the water was running over her. Her panting immediately stopped and her breathing slowed back to normal. I then dried her off and she groomed herself and she curled up in my lap and started purring so loud I couldn't believe it. And now she loves water and we are closer than ever.
Without the answer from your book, I would have lost her.
Thank you,
T Morgan,
Arizona
UPDATE: This is Snickers, the one on the left standing on her back legs - whose life was saved by his owner Thomas in Mesa, Arizona, with information about hyperthermia from THE CAT BIBLE. His other calico tortoise shell KitKat is 50% Persian and both cats have near identical coloring patterns -despite being born 12 years apart from totally different parents.
This lovely letter came from a lady with two West Highland White littermates who were squabbling – so I asked the training advisor of DOG TALK®, Allison Denlea of Paws 4 Positive Training to jump in and help me give some advice. We do this often and never know whether our time and effort are fully appreciated, but we want to be there to help folks solve their dog issues. So look how sweet this letter was that came backto me:
Oh Tracie, You are a peach. Bless your heart. It is great to know there are people like you and Allison out there for us new people and so willing to help. You are a blessing to us and to the animals. My husband was so happy also that you wrote. He took me right over to Barnes and Noble and of course in our small town of Cheyenne Wyoming they had to special order my book. It will be here next week. My husband is such a softy for animals. Two fox around here with their kits just leaving mom, they know my husband feeds them daily. I don’t know if that is good or bad but my husband sleeps better at night knowing they have food and not to mention the skunk that know where dinner is. LOL..If he finds an abandoned baby of any kind he will bring home lots of tiny syringe tubes from the hospital to hand feed them, even a baby mouse and turn them over to a rescue place or rush them to a vet if he can’t do anything. I could tell countless stories of the baby birds, mice, bunnies, cats, dogs, that somehow end up in our yard and my husband is there to do what he can to save their life. Maybe that just comes with the job of saving lives in the human world and animals steal his heart.
Anyhow my son is going to be so so delighted. I called him about your email and he was so in awe. He swears by your book and was telling me all about it. He will really be happy, His name is Nathan Iverson, his new baby Bullmastiff is named Diesel. You can send it to me and I will send it to him as he is in the process of moving. My Westie puppies are Emma and Lexi. Again thank you so very very much. Can’t wait to start reading your book.
Take care, and God Bless,
Ronnie
UPDATE:
Ronnie and her son received their special DOG BIBLE package from me with samples of Wagatha's biscuits, of the Honest Kitchen food, of Platinum Performance supplement, a card about Weruva and one from Pets Best with a discount. It's what I send everyhone along iwth their signed bookplate, but I never really know what people think of it or do with it. A response like this makes all my time, effort (and postage!) worth it when people really appreciate it.
Tracie, thank you, thank you!!!! I received everything and wow, there are so many cool things to try. Loving your book, so much info in there that I am learning. My son thanks you as well. You take care and I will continue learning the things I need to learn. You have info in there that answered so many little things I had been wondering. Again, Thank you and best of luck. We are lucky to have you and for sharing a wealth of info.
Dearest Tracie,
Wow, you are a peach. First thank you for your personal email and the research you did for me. It wasn't just another hired person to answer emails like so many do. I thank you for this. I read Allison's answer and advice. I thank her also. I will follow like a receipt. I have separated crates and they have started dog school, half-hour for one, then separately half for the other. I am practicing my role as the leader. I have my fingers crossed that they never do get to that inter-bitch aggression. I am going out this weekend to look for your Dog Bible. My son said he just got it and loves it. Thank you so very much Tracie.
Take care,
Ronnie from WY
Dear Tracie,
Could you please send us a Cat Bible bookplate as well as a Dog Bible bookplate....
I am owned by 3 cats Sully, Ruckus and Steele and one GSD named Mica.
We are avid listeners of both shows and you can add Maine to your states that listen!!
The pet food list it is very helpful... My 3 cats are now all meat eaters. My 20 week old Steele is growing up on meat only!! (However I had to convert two dry food junkies)
Thanks for two great shows,
Jan in Gorham, Maine
Hi Tracie,
I stumbled on your show a few months ago and love it!
Funny thing though – I was getting more and more excited listening to you, thinking that I need to tell my vet about you. She has been telling me the same thing almost word for word! I checked out your site and then was really surprised! My vet is your official vet – Elizabeth Hodgkins! (Ask her about Dee and Bo sometime). When I told her this, she said you had been working together for a while now. What a small cyber-world after all!
Anyway, I just had to put my 14 MONTH old kitty, Maya, to sleep Tuesday morning (the 29th). She suddenly developed renal failure and there was nothing we could do. We don't know why. I am heartbroken and so are her littermate-sister, Bailey, and my 3 year old female, Kai. But that is for another email, and not why I am writing now.
I tuned in late on Wednesday, and I never heard you mention the name of the guest, other than calling her Ann (I think). I was interested in her book, but don't know who she is!
She was discussing food.
Also, I have The Cat Bible, and would love a book plate!
I am attaching the last picture taken of Maya, and thought you might get a kick out of it. This was my first time grinding raw chicken & bones for them, and they couldn't wait. That is Maya sampling it right out of the chute. I miss her so much, I don't know how I'll get through. . .
Thanks for reading this and hopefully providing a name for me to try to get the book.
Take care,
Dee
Dear Tracie,
I was listening to Cat Chat® last night on my way home when you were speaking with Ann Martin about her book and what goes into the dog and cat food that we buy in the stores. I was totally shocked and appalled at what is going on and plan to keep on top of the situation, so thank you for that. The conversation changed my whole mind-set. I have two dogs, a German Sheppard who is two, and an Akita Sheppard mix who has been sick lately, he is 5 and just keeps throwing up. The vet couldn't tell what was wrong and he seems healthy otherwise, so you can imagine what my thought was the whole drive home. I informed my husband that we would no longer be serving them the bag o' crap that we have been led to believe is our only option. My question, now that we won't be serving them bagged is "How much food do I give them?" Is it based on weight, do I feed them a certain amount of times a day and just make sure that it is protein and vegetable fiber-based? I am confused and want to do the right thing for them and hopefully make them healthier.
Thanks again for tackling a tough issue, I can't wait to hear more.
Casey in Colorado
Tracie -- you are the best and very kind! Thanks for the info on Pets Best -- but, having heard you talk about them previously, I have been a client for about 5 months! Additionally, based on another one of your recommendations, I have been using Platinum Performance (most recently on Trevor, my 16 yr old sheltie that just recently passed away -- I will never use Rimadyl again!) as well. The people at Platinum are so well educated on the product and couldn't be better to work with! So you see; not only am I an avid listener--but I practice what you preach. Trust me, I am spreading the word about you (both regarding dogs & cats!) here in the Chicago area. (I actually live in Naperville, IL) As a dog owner my whole life, just when you think you know everything about raising and taking care of dogs--think again! Now, I'll wait for the "Kids Bible"!
Great talking with you on todays local show -- hope to talk with you again soon.
All the best,
Scott (from Chicago!)
Hi Tracie,
I just wanted to personally thank you for providing me with a wealth of great (and most importantly, proven) information over the past year. Unfortunately, I couldn't write down the information mentioned by you & Dr. Marty while I was on the call; so if it wouldn't be too much trouble, please let me know of the Dr. you spoke of in the Chicago area, as well as the 2 shots that a puppy should be given.
I'm looking forward to reading your book (just ordered it today) and to many more great conversations via your radio show.
All the best,
Scott F. from Aurora, IL
Dear Tracie,
I just want to tell you how much your book The Cat Bible has helped my husband and myself when it comes to caring for our cat Smila. She came into our lives about six months ago when we rescued her. When we took her under our wing, we did not know much about cats, caring for them or their nutrition, so we bought quite a lot of literature, and among them The Cat Bible. It really is a wonderfully informative book, and I enjoy reading it a lot. It is the best cat book by far that I have come across.
Thank you very much for writing it!
Best regards from Sweden,
Linnea S. and the cat Smila
Hi, Tracie -
I listen to Chat Chat® and enjoy your show very much. I took your good advise and omitting "kitty crack" and feed my 9 yr. old cat only wet food. She lost weight , stopped vomiting, and looks great. I've noticed her drooling a lot lately. I checked her back teeth and found a heavy tarter build up and the gums are red and inflamed. Would this be a result of her having no hard kibble to chew? Besides the high costs I also have concerns about having the cat put under anesthesia for dental work/extraction. What are your views on this?
Thanks for what you do ! You're the BEST !
Kathy Z.
Goffstown NH
Tracie's Reply:
I am so very pleased that your kitty's life has been enhanced (and lengthened) by removing the kitty crack - as for her teeth, please have a look in The Cat Bible and the Q&A's on my website to learn that the empty claim that dry food cleans a cat's teeth is just that - nonsense! The vast majority of cats in this country are sadly still being filled with kitty crack by people who have not been enlightened about the damage it does - and the vast majority of cats have dental disease! Many vets believe that highly processed carbohydrates sprayed with oily substances are actually a big contributor to dental disease. The claim that dry food cleans teeth is nothing more than a marketing ploy that the vets have sadly chosen to believe, too, despite what they see right in front them - cats with dental problems like yours. Cleaning under anesthesia is the only way to clean a cat's teeth properly and if done by a competent vet on an otherwise healthy cat is a safe procedure. By the time a cat is drooling and having difficulty eating, she really is suffering the kind thing to do is get her mouth comfortable again.
About Kitty crack:
I'm a listener on Sirius channel 112 of Cat Chat® ...my husband and I have two cats along with our dog Wally. (Actually Wally was mine and the cats were Andy's. We're a blended family or pretend to be.) I told my husband about your suggestion of switching to wet food for the cats. He was hesitant because the cats loved the Science Diet dry so much. He'd give them a can of wet once a week as a treat. But he eventually agreed. It took about three days, but the cats are silky, calm and loving as can be. Now miracles have not happened between the cats and Wally yet...my fingers are still crossed for that. But I truly believe that the change in their diet has affected them on a cellular level. They are less anxious and less edgy. They are much more accepting of me -- especially the diva Cadbury who used to paw at me and scratch at me. Now she head butts me and kisses me! They devour the wet food and wait at the edge of the bed for me to bring it to them when I wake up in the morning. So we thank you for all that your advice has done in that area! Their coats are silky; their skin does not flake (so that means less dander, right?) and there's just a ton less hair coming off of them! They also are drinking much less water.
Everything you said would happen, happened.
Thanks again!
Jennifer and Andy
Hi Tracie!
I've recently been adopted by an adorable domestic short hair who liked me enough to come home with me from the Humane Society. It's been a good ten years since I've had any kitties in my life and a whole lot has changed in the pet food business so I went looking for up to date information all over the place. I first found your Cat Bible and grabbed that up, reading it cover to cover in one night. Then I checked out your website for more up to date info on what to feed my new baby. WOW!! Your info is fantastic and so perfectly correct I can't thank you enough.
Romeo started out on Blue Buffalo kitten formula because it was recommended to me by a Blue Buffalo rep in the store and what she said about not feeding my baby all the by products and other garbage that most manufacturers put in their food made sense. At the time I was still in the dark about the dangers of kitty crack so I bought the bag and we did just fine with it, free feeding and all.
Then, after doing my homework and reading everything you wrote about the dangers of the kitty crack and the benefits of canned, I went looking for something better. So I ordered some Weruva from PetFoodDirect and my baby loved it! He'd tried some of the Blue Buffalo canned previously and was pretty indifferent to it but the Weruva was nearly inhaled he liked it so much. Because PFD doesn't sell in single cans or mixed cases I went looking around town for it and stumbled upon a great store that sells nearly all of the Weruva flavors. Romeo has now tried all but three of their flavors and he loves each and every one.
The point here is that I want to urge every single cat owner out there to spend the money on the Weruva. Every single person that has met my Romeo has commented on how incredibly soft his coat is (like silk but softer!), how beautiful it is (he's all black and his coat is so shiny and luminescent you can see the brown, red and blue highlights in it), and how happy and energetic he is. I'm pretty sure that this is all because he never got truly addicted to the kibble but if everyone's furry love can be this way they should do whatever they can to get there. I for one will never ever feed any of my furry loves anything but Weruva ever again.
Thanks again for re-enlightening me about how wonderful it is to have a furry love in my life and making him happy. If I ever need any more advice, you're the first person I'll look to.
Sincerely,
Kathy T, owned & loved by Romeo
Dear Tracie -
I listen to you every week on CAT CHAT® and by the way - I don't even have a cat! I have Dobermanns and they are too anti-cat for me to even think about adopting a cat at this time (OK, probably anytime because I am really a dog person and don't want to put a cat in an uncomfortable environment)! I used to have cats with other dogs I had over 10 years ago, but I just enjoy listening to you and your guests. And I know you entertain occasional dog questions, so it's a really nice show format.
You have a great passion for teaching what is right about food and vaccinations and all sorts of things. Love your psychic segments, too. Glad when you jumped in about the cat being let outside on Ms. Sawicki's last appearance. I was listening to her talk to the guest and said to myself that you weren't going to let that part about letting the cat go outside go by untouched. And you remained true to form and told the audience that you don't believe cats should be outside to roam for all the common sense reasons that people don't see for some reason without someone like you pointing it out to them. I just love that about you. You are consistent and have patience enough to be able to repeat yourself no matter how many times it takes. And you do it with a smile because I can hear it in your voice.
I do get your weekly dogtalk e-mail announcement. I don't have a podcast capability. I'm on a phone line here, so I listen to your show on-line at work when I get the chance because the dial-up is really too slow. So I appreciate your wanting to sign me up for the DOG TALK podcast, but I think the reminder e-mail you send each week is the best reminder for me, so I can see what your topic is and forward it to my work e-mail.
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Helen
I got this lovely comment from Lori in Texas, one of the volunteer coordinators for Big Dog Luke Robinson on his 2 Dogs 2000 Miles walk:
By the way, I call your book the coffee table book because we refer to it so much, we've stopped putting it away in the shelf.
So I offered to send her an autographed bookplate inscribed to her dogs – and some cards inviting hr and friends to get Pets Best insurance and she replied:
That is so sweet of you. We'd love to have an autograph. Our babies are rescued Great Pyrenees Samson, Delilah and Thor. Although they have six and a half acres to roam and play and guard, during the summer they prefer to be house dogs. It can be interesting when a dogs that are 110 lbs to 155 lbs. decide they are going to sit in your lap. They are one our biggest blessings yet.
I look forward to your package. How thoughtful of you. My husband and I have been talking about insurance recently. I'm sure we'll find the info helpful. Always glad to pass on info about good products and services.
Thanks again,
Lori
Dear Tracie,
I recently adopted Honey, a hound mix from Little Shelter. I have had The Dog Bible for a few years now. I would like to request a book plate. I enjoy listening to your show and the information that you facilitate is fantastic. I also purchased The Cat Bible for my sister in law, Keri. Her cat's name is Dr. Phibes. Would you also send me one for her too?
Sincerely,
Kerry D.
Valley Stream, NY
I just purchased The Cat Bible and it is worth every penny! I would really appreciate receiving an autograph plate for my book. My kitten's name is Lexi -- an adorable ragdoll that has been with us for a month. I already feel that I "know" my kitten better thanks to the information contained in your book. The section about feeding was especially enlightening. I feel guilty that other cats in my life didn't receive the care and attention that Lexi will now have when it comes to food choices. Thank you so much!
Diane L.
TESTIMONIAL
Tracie –
Thank you so much for having me as your guest last night. I enjoyed the conversation immensely and was very grateful for the chance to participate in the highly valuable public education that you do on your programs. I hope that you will call me in the future if there is ever a topic that you would like to include me in discussing. I am most admiring of your great contributions for the benefit of animals.
Thanks again so much,
Robin Robertson Starr
Chief Executive Officer
Richmond SPCA
2519 Hermitage Road
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 521-1322
ceo@richmondspca.org
Hi!
I just read on your website that you are offering a bookplate for people who purchased your book The Cat Bible. I have already read a little over 100 pages and I am learning so so much about cats! I grew up around cats, then a month ago, I adopted a cat from my local animal shelter. I went to PetCo and I found your book. I have been reading every chance I get and I am using your advice and information all to my cat's delight! Thanks for writing such a great book! I am thinking about getting [copies of] your The Dog Bible for both my brothers who each have a dog!
I have one quick question if you don't mind? My cat was born in December 2006. He is a male and has been fixed. Like I said, I got him a month ago. His butt smells bad an awful lot and he doesn't really "bathe" himself after every trip to the litter box. How can I get him to start doing that? Whenever he gets on my bed and walks around wherever he sits, he leaves a certain strong odor. Now I have to say that I purchased the same feeding/watering devices that he was used to at the shelter and the same litter box. He has adjusted so well and has not had one accident!!! "knock on wood"! :) He has been an enormous help and therapy for my depression and in turn I was able to give him a good home! He has kept me from being hospitalized for my depression for a month! The APA strongly recomends animals for this kind of therapy. You may have discussed this issue in your book, I just haven't gotten there yet.
My cat's name is Pookie, he is 1.5 years old (human years). he is black and white (a tuxedo cat) and has an awesome personality!!!
My heartfelt appreciation in advance!
Sincerely ~ Carmen & (my little man) Pookie
Greetings!
I was just checking a couple of resources on your website and noticed the offer to send a signed bookplate for your book.
I would like to request one for my copy. The names of my 3 great dogs.....Cooper, Zeke, Chase.
Thanks so much for the kind offer. I am looking forward to adding it to my regularly referenced book!!! Thanks for such a comprehensive,
easy to read and use book!!! Love it!!!
Renee
La Crosse WI
Hi,
Love to hear you on Sirius--I have never owned a cat but I sure can talk about cats to cat owners now! My dog it almost 11 though and for a retriever mix, is in pretty good shape. I will read up on elderly pets now that I have a bible for dogs and the cat one is going to my niece for her birthday.
Thanks for sharing,
Jo Ellen
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dog Bible: for Jo Ellen and Abbey (the dog)
Cat Bible: for Mary Beth's Birthday, and Austin (the cat)
Dear Tracie,
I purchased The Cat Bible today, particularly because I am concerned about buying foods that are not going to kill my cats.
For years I was unaware of the garbage that goes into cat food; and I really thought the Vets had my animals best interest at heart when they sold me products from their shelves.
I am owned by 3 Siamese, Keata age 18, Simon and Nicholas age 7 months and Amanda, a tabby that adoped me 7 years ago.
I think she is about 8-9, she did not bring her birth certificate with her. Keata and Kasey were not troubled when Amanda joined our family.
Kasey, Keata's litter mate died last year and she misses him. I went to a cat Show in Clearwater, Florida in Feb. and came home with the 2 little boys and Keata was very happy to have the little boys join our family, she loves cuddling and so do they. Amanda and Keata like each other but Amanda has a heavy coat and does not like to cuddle. The 3 Siamese sleep in a bed intended for two, Amanda did not object to the arrival of Simon and Nicholas.
I am very pleased to have found your book on the shelf of the book store today. I would be happy to have a bookplate to put in the front of the book.
Sincerely
Helenanne in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Hi Tracie,
I would like to take advantage of your generous offer! My husband and I are first time cat owners and we received your book as a gift. My friend asked me to pick a book from Barnes and Noble that I would like to have and I chose yours right away. I am so glad I did! We are both learning so much from it. We had chosen Iams Healthy Naturals for the crunchy food as we thought the ingredients were so good. Now after reading the nutrition chapter in your book, we feel we have to eliminate it entirely! We had started using Innova canned food and today I bought the Evo to try as well. Our cats are Maisy and Micah. Micah is a Maine Coon \Norwegian Forest Cat mix and Maisy is a possible Russian Blue\Nebelung mix. That is the best guess of the rescue foster mother who is actually the head of the animal rescue we got them from. It is a wonderful organization, where the animals are in foster homes and are not kept in cages. Maisy was in a different foster home (in the group), so they are really not used to each other yet and she tends to hiss a bit. However, there is nose rubbing going on - cat to cat - so I am hopeful things will work out. They are gorgeous, wonderful cats and we love them already. Our names are Joyce and Dan.
Thanks for a great book!
Joyce R.
Hi Tracie,
My name is Sabrina and I have a question about the cat tree that is on the back cover of 'The Cat Bible'. I am looking for a good cat tree for my two kittens (they are brother and sister and about 8 months old). I noticed while I was reading your book (the best book on any animal I have ever read! Your book really improved the lives of my kits, and I am also switching them onto a raw food diet) that on the back cover is a picture of you with your cats and they are all on this great cat tree with real bark and an interesting layout. I looked at all the websites you recommended in your book but couldn't find a similar one. Where did you get it? I would love to know how I could get one for Molly and Toby. Please let me know what my options are.
Thanks so much for your time and for writing that book!
Sabrina
P.S. I have been buying copies of your book and giving them to everyone I know with a cat. It really is an amazing reference.
Tracie, Debra Drew here, Binky's mom (the one that will be 22 years old in July of this year). I just wanted to let you know that we are now living in the UK. Binky did great with the flight over. We flew on British Airways non-stop from Denver. Then she, along with all her other siblings - canine and feline, was delivered to our home in Chester-le-Street. We are about an hour's bus ride from Newcastle Upon Tyne in the north of England, almost to the Scottish border. I am going to unsubscribe to your emails where you announce about Dog Talk the Radio Show, since I can't get it here in the UK. Tracie, thanks for everything. You are a wonderful person and please keep fighting for the kitties. I am going to order a copy of the Cat Bible and the Dog Bible.
Love and hugs to everyone,
Debra
[Webmaster's Note: As long as you have Internet access and your computer can play MP3 files, you can listen to or download the MP3 Dog Talk® show files right from our podcast page anywhere in the world.]
KUDOS FOR THE DOG BIBLE:
First of all, thanks for the package of goodies you sent and the autographs for the books. It was so nice of you to do that. I also want to tell you how much I am enjoying your book. It has so much valuable and current info, and it's really well-written and easy to read. Thanks for writing it for all of us canine-lovers! Best of luck to you in all your animal endeavors.
—Lori Harper
Jean's dear cat Galileo had already won a CAT CHAT® baseball cap for being in the Biggest Kitty Loser Contest so she lucked out and got a copy of THE CAT BIBLE for having the Cat Chat® Cat of the Month - then she wrote these nice words:
Hi Tracie:
Gali and I wanted to thank you for featuring him as the Cat of the Month and for the wonderful copy of the Cat Bible. I know I will be enjoying it as I read all the great things you have written and Gali will enjoy it because it will make me a better friend for my outstanding kitty.
Thanks,
Jean Teasdale
KUDOS for THE DOG BIBLE & THE CAT BIBLE
This is a photo of a wonderful listener to both radio shows and owner of both Bibles - with his beautiful blonde Lexy before she pased away last year at age 14, and the lovely Evie, who is carrying on in her place. Please meet the Amazing Gil Lutz, who explains his remarkable accomplishments thusly:
"I''ve helped develop a number of high tech devices for the blind and visually impaired. One that I'm particularly proud of is a personal GPS navigation system. I travel to do training and promotion for the system. It's a product that I'm very proud of since it gives information to allow someone to travel independently. My Furry Furrari Evie and I travel completely by ourselves. Using the GPS system I know exactly what's around me, have the ability to virtually explore locations in other cities that we'll be traveling to and I can create both vehicle routes for travel in cars, cabs etc. and walking routes to get us around any location on foot. We also do a lot of hiking and I use it to keep us from getting lost. I use it bicycling , rowing and cross country skiing. Oh, by the way I'm 73 years old and haven't started to slow down, much to my wife's chagrin. As to our furry family, we have quite a crew. We have my guide dog Evie, of course, and eight cats, all of whom have adopted us. We're involved with several feral cat colonies, too, so as you can see animals are a large part of our lives."
Gil on the "Bibles" & the radio shows. . . .
"I have purchased both the Dog and Cat Bibles and use them every time we have a question. I've recommended them to several people and have purchased additional copies that I've given as gifts. I did buy several hats and my daughter in Chicago and i wear both of them all of the time. I'm a huge fan and record Cat Chat® every week on Sirius and listen regularly to Dog Talk® on the Internet.
We lost Lexy, my retired dog guide... on March. 24th. She suddenly started having seizures and there was nothing that could be done that would bring her back without a lot of suffering. She went to the next step very peacefully. She had 14 good years and 9 bad hours. She had a year plus of retirement that she thoroughly enjoyed. She was very happy up to the end. Evie, my very busy black Lab. has blossomed and is an unbelievable worker and traveller. We've been together since late January 2007 and have booked a little over 100,000 air miles."
KUDOS FOR THE CAT BIBLE
Tracie:
I recently bought a copy of your book from Amazon.com & I wish I had Sirius radio so I could listen to your show. The book is great. I have a geriatric cat. She is 16 years old and is in early stages of CRF. She also switched from 100% dry to homemade raw food last November & is extremely happy now. Anyway, thanks for writing the cat bible.
My cat's name is Shiraz for the autographed bookplate.
Roshi, in Towson, Maryland
When I recently discovered WERUVA cat food and sang its praises on the air, little did I know that cats would be clicking their heels in the air for joy, too. This came to David at Weruva, who forwarded it to me:
I have been experimenting with getting my older cats off kibble for YEARS. Sometimes they would like a particular brand for a week, maybe a little longer...sometimes just a day or two. I tried raw, home cooked, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and every type of better quality canned food out there. My neighbor and I swapped a few cans of what we were feeding at the moment when neither of our cats were eating it. Well, I have now been feeding Weruva for 2 solid weeks TWICE a day and the plates are licked cleaned. I can't believe it. I am hopeful this will continue, and the cats can enjoy a diet more suited to their natural needs. I just wanted to let you know, because frankly I am a little dumbfounded by it. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Heidi
Dear Tracie,
I have two beautiful cats, sisters, who allow me to mother them. They are Tabbie and Callie, the girls born in the same litter will be 4 years old August 27th. If you would be so kind to send an autograph to me I will treasure it as I do your book. I have learned a lot about my girls, but am still reading, so expect to learn more. Thank you for writing The Cat Bible I had been looking for over 4 years for a book like this. Thank you again.
Hey there, Tracie,
I've been meaning to write you for quite a while,as I pre-ordered 4 of your Cat Bibles and need plates for them and am very excited about the raw food coupons and catnip toys...
What got me to finally check this off my to do list is a great big...
WA-HOOO! and THANK YOU for hooking us up with the X O Odor Neutralizer - it's been so hard to find - and it's the only thing that really works. (My local PetSmart refuses to acknowledge it even after 6 formal requests.)
Please do send the bookplates and goodies for the 4 books I bought and have already given to my family. Our favorite thing to give each other is books, we love to learn - yet we all find it necessary to have a cat helping us, by either laying on us purring while we read aloud to them - or to have them lay right on what ever we are trying to read.
1) "Sene'" (with a little ' on the second e, French) my daughter's (Crystal's) cat went wet before Crys got the book. Sene' lost her extra weight and now absolutely glows in her part Siamese way.
2) "Dexter Kitty" my son's (Calvin's) cat was intermittently grumpy and scratchy/bitey, he went wet after Calv read the book - and is now a consistent sweetheart.
3) "Maybe Baby" is a spoiled princess also sometimes called "My Precious" because my mom & Dad take her everywhere, put little sparkle studded dresses on her, and have always fed her thee most pristine diet.
4) "Cricket" will be a nickname for my, as of yet unborn, Siberian cat whom will have a formal Siberian name some time this summer or fall - I am so excited :)
Thanks again, Tracie.
Keep preaching that good wet food until Everyone knows.
Happy day!
Ivy
Dear Tracie,
I purchased The Cat Bible last week, and really have enjoyed reading it. I have had at least one cat since I was 10 years old (I won't tell you how old I am now, except that I'm now a grandmother). I've always had lots of good info from our vet, but I still learned lots of great stuff about kitties from your book. We are currently the people of two Siamese cats: Cocoa is almost 10, and Mocha is 1 1/2. We adore our meezers and they are a real source of entertainment and companionship.
I would love to have one of the autographed bookplates you've offered. Thanks again for your wonderful book and the website.
Anne in Missouri
Hi Tracie
I want you to know I'm a dedicated podcast listener of Dog Talk. I haven't missed a show thought I might be listening a couple weeks behind the date aired. I buy both your Bible Books and give them as gifts to friends. I'm one of your biggest fans. I found out about you through my best friend Laura Ellis who you interviewed on show #14. Laura is the dog portrait painter you met at Westminster. She talked about breeding Old Fashion Farm Collies on your show.
I switched my 12 year old Laura-bred collie to Platinum Plus along with home cooked meals. What a difference it made in my old sweet girl with osteoarthritis along with a daily buffered aspirin. I'm a convert now and preach your healthy dog and cat feeding regimen to everyone I meet - most people think I'm a nut case!
I have a question that I have been brewing for you. If I feed my dog and cat homemade meals along with Platinum Plus for their species, will they be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need? Or do I need to feed each an occasional can of high quality dog/cat food to reach this goal. I'm particularly interested in your answer concerning cats.
Thanks so much for helping to educate us pet owners.
Sincerely
Rose in Middlebury VT
You can see my reply to Rose’s lovely comments posted on my blog.
Here’s a lovely letter from an enthusiastic Pit Bull family who knows how much I share their appreciation of a loving and misunderstood breed. I’m so grateful that is the message they took away from THE DOG BIBLE (since a few angry Pit Bull afficionados had sadly misinterpreted a negative bias).
Thank you so much for writing this book, it is fantastic and full of so much great information.
My family has two pit bulls, they are girls, Moxie and Shiesta. One is 3 and the other is 9 months. They are the most misunderstood and misused breed. They are so smart and if people actually took time to understand them they could easily help society in SOOOO many ways. I have never met smarter more caring and loveable dogs than these two girls yet we continually run into people in our neighborhood and town who want to ban this breed just because of bad people who abused pit bulls and trained them to have the bad rep that they have today. It's sad that some day there may not be any pit bulls left to share and enjoy life with.
If you have the extra time could you please send an autograph bookplate to us, I would like it dedicated to our incredible "kids", the greatest dogs in the world, Moxie and Shiesta.
Thanks again for all the wonderful work you do!
Sincerely,
Holly
This is from Idella, a sweet-Southern-voiced big-wheeler truck driver from Arkansas – she called into CAT CHAT®, joined her kitties to the Biggest Kitty Loser contest. She’s also going to try a chiropractor (see “bone cracker” below!) for one of the cats. And then came this letter and photo of her gorgeous boys.
Hi Tracie,
Have Purchased 6 cat bibles and 2 dog bibles have to order one more dog bible. These are the best books I have ever read and I’d like bookplates for them.
I have had blast giving these books out and getting people to fed wet food. Have gotten a few to do the insurance. Am proud that I have it. Yoyo goes the bone cracker soon will let you know what is done and how it turns out. Please let me know that if you have gotten this because I am computer dumb but a hell of a truck driver.
Love, Idella
A particularly wonderful show this morning! I am using Platinum Performance Plus for my 4 year old standard poodle now, and based on your recommendation and this morning’s interview, have ordered the human supplement. Very interesting information regarding Omega 3 & 6.
I was lucky enough to get to talk with you in January 2008 when I called about my failing 13 year old standard poodle, Chloe. With sadness, I must tell you that we lost her in February, however, she did get to enjoy the benefits of canned meat and Platinum Performance (thanks to you)…both which she relished…she was sure I’d given her someone else’s dinner!
I have purchased a copy of The Dog Bible and would love to have a signed bookplate for it. My poodle’s name is: Henry.
Thanks for all the wonderful contributions you are making to the animal world and providing such a great radio show. We’ll be listening!
Wishing you continued success,
Your fans in Niantic,
Ellen and Henry
I am looking forward to receiving the book plate. In addition I do want to say that I am thoroughly enjoying your book The Cat Bible. But more than enjoying it, I am learning so much. I only have 1 cat-Angie. My previous cat, Mama, lived to be 19 years old. I loved her to death as I do my present cat Angie. This is why I thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn all I can about cat behavior and nutrition. Your book was a real find and has led me in many additional directions. It is obvious that much effort and research on your part was put into this publication. I thank you again for your dedication.
Very truly yours,
Bruce
Thanks From An Indian Reservation
Dear Tracie,
Upon my return from spring break, I was notified by our secretary that I had a package waiting for me. I was beside myself with excitement when I saw that it was from you! Wow! What a generous and wonderful goody box you sent us! I can’t thank you enough!!! Our impoverished library now has two new (and inscribed) wonderful books to help us learn how to take care of our animals. (I can’t wait to read them, too.) Thanks for the CDs, cards and the hilarious story of Chowder. It’s already circulating through the classrooms at our school.
I will be sending you some pictures and samples of activities from our event as soon as I get them organized. I can’t thank you enough for supporting us in our Read Across America event! You must really care about people and animals. I think that is why I like your style so much on the radio.
With much appreciation,
Patty M.
Reading Coach
Tsehootsoi Elementary School
Fort Defiance, Arizona
Hi Patty,
So glad you got my books and especially the great Chowder book! I told the author, Peter Brown, that it was going to a great deserving, appreciative home. If the kids want to write to him, let them tell him themselves - authors love to hear applause!
I am so glad you're instilling love of pets in your students - as you know, it will make them better humans. I understand that life on a reservation can be a challenge and I am so pleased that dogs and acts are there to make life sweeter for you all.
Best,
Tracie
Just wanted to give you an update on my kitties conversion to canned food and off kitty krack. Both look so nice, my short hair is so sleek she reminds me of a wet seal and even the long hair looks extremely good. Cats being cats sometimes they like the food and sometimes they don't, but both really enjoy the meat canned foods, especially lamb. I've even used baby food (lamb) to help entice them to eat with some food they don't seem to care for. Was having problems with them eating too fast, but solved that by taking the food and putting small portions all over their dishes instead of one big glob, this has worked very well.
Have a great weekend!
Betty, Page & Butterscotch
^..^
^..^
Dear Tracie,
I recently adopted a starving stray cat as my first and only pet. I knew next to nothing about cats so I went to Barnes & Noble and spent an hour looking over cat care books. I purchased The Cat Bible and read it cover to cover in one day. I learned so much and it was enjoyable reading as well. Kit Kat and I both want to say "thank you" for making her life happier and healthier.
I was afraid to have a litter box in the house because of odor, but except for her first night indoors, it hasn't been a problem, In fact, she likes it so much that she'll come inside just to use it and then go right back outdoors!
Before I saw your e-mail address, I read that your blog shoud be used for communications with you. I am reasonably computer literate but had never used a blog. I managed to sign up (susanb) but couldn't figure out how to post a comment. When I learn how, I'll join the blog.
I would love to have two of your bookplates, as I plan to buy another copy of The Cat Bible as a gift. Thank you again for writing such a wonderful book!
Susan,
Sun City, CA
Ms. Hotchner,
My kitty's name is quite interesting, I have to say. She came in as a stray, three years ago and the rest is history.
I just wanted to say that your advice has really helped her. I was initially looking online for a good cat book, and I found Dr. Hodgkins book, which I also have. I looked at a few pages of your book on Amazon, and was really bothered by the information you gave in the nutrition section. I purchased the book and we got rid of all the dry food in the house immediately, and began purchasing the brands of canned food which you recommended. Miawli had been putting on a bit of weight, about 1.5 above her usual weight to almost 12 pounds, since last fall. She wasn't overweight, but the change was visible. In the week after we switched her to an all can food diet, we could _see_ that she had become slimmer. All the carbohydrate content in the dry food was probably the culpit, and we were unknowingly responsible for her weight gain.
Therefore, we are very grateful for all your help, including Miawli.
Hi Tracie,
Jenny Knoblock is a good friend of mine and informed me of Dr. Padrid being on your radio show. I was so excited to hear Dr. Padrid on Dog Talk. He is FABULOUS!
I have two cats, one diabetic and one asthmatic. My diabetic, Mr. Tubs, was on insulin only 3 weeks due to a diet change (thanks to Dr. Lisa Pierson) and has been in remission for over 1 year. He has lost a ton of weight on his canned food diet also. For years he was on carb laden prescription dry food and never lost weight. He, in fact gained weight! He topped out at 25 pounds. He is down to 17.5 pounds and still losing.
After my experience with diabetes, my mother rescued a diabetic cat from euthanasia. She currently uses Dr. Hodgkins' tight regulation protocol. Her cat, Gabby, is the rare type 1 feline diabetic. Gabby was diagnosed at the age of 7 months and is currently over 3 years old. She will never achieve remission, but with Dr. Hodgkins protocol, she can live a very long, healthy normal life.
My asthmatic, Rocky, sees Dr. Padrid for his respiratory issues and uses Dr. Padrid inhaled meds protocol. I'm SO excited to hear Dr. Padrid on Cat Chat radio. I don't know if Jenny told you but you can read more about his inhaled meds protocol on fritzthebrave.com.
I am very fortunate to be acquainted with the best people in the feline world!
Thanks for your shows!
Heather
I have long been a skeptic on dry vs. wet. All my cats, my whole life, had been on dry and have done well. I listened to your show, and I must say, that I have blown you off for quite some time. Then I inherited a fat kitty, as well as having a skinny kitty already (which I attributed to his age). Well, I took my dog to the vet, and asked how to get my fat cat to lose weight. He told me to use canned food; that this was the current thinking. Then, I took the fat cat to another vet (I had to move her out of state temporarily) she said that the current thinking was to feed wet food, as cats are obligate carnivores. I moved all my kitties to wet. Well, my fat one is getting skinny, my skinny one is getting fat and
gaining a great coat, urinating less, shedding less, and now has incredible skin, as well as attitude. He looks better than I have ever seen him, even at age 14.
I just wanted to apologize for blowing you off, but I really was a pretty big holdout, and If I changed then anyone can.
Love your show on SIRIUS.........
Carol
[You can use this message to help others.]
Dear Carol,
I am blown away by your letter - your generosity of spirit in describing your "conversion" to Thinking Outside the Bag, your humility in admitting your skepticism and moving beyond it, and your generosity in taking the time to tell me so that I could use your story to help others "see the light" for their kitty cats. You are MY hero!
This was therefore the coolest letter I have ever gotten - and I want to thank you by sending you a signed copy of THE CAT BIBLE, something I've never done before (wish I could do it more often, but I'd go broke buying them!). Can you send me your mailing address and also your cats' names so I can inscribe it to them?
In addition, I am supremely eager to write a thank you letter to those vets who supported the concept of wet food only. If you could give me their names and addresses I will go hog wild and send each of them a copy of the book, too. It's the least I can do for any professional willing to step off the straight and narrow path, find out the truth about the harm of dry food and then help educate people to do the right thing for the cats they love so much - as you obviously do, too.
You are wonderful - if you ever felt like calling in to CAT CHAT® (866.675.6675) any Wednesday night at 8 PM EST and talk about your skepticism about getting your cats off "kitty crack," it would be a privilege to welcome you.
And since I talk about cats all the time on DOG TALK® which is Saturday mornings 11-Noon EST I hope you'll make that call sometime too to 800-394-8830. I hope I can count on thanking you in person.
Yours truly,
Tracie
I just wanted to let you know that I have changed my cat food a couple of months ago to Felidae wet and sometimes Evo. I still give them a little dry Innova. I have one cat with diabetes who my vet had me feed her IVD(Royal Cannadae) and she would throw it up at least two times a day. He said she was eating too fast. Well now she has not thrown up at all for two months and she runs around like a spring chicken!! She is 14.
On to the dogs. I now feed them Innova dry and Evo wet. In the morning they come to the bed and moan so I will get out to feed them. I had them on the vet recommended which they would scratch and itch all the time. Well guess what now no scratching and itching!!
Thanks for all the great advice and now I have happy dogs and cats!!!!
Take care,
Monica
What great news! I am truly delighted for your animal family
I BEG you,. however, to give up the dry food entirely. It is of no value to the cats and definite harm - and SOOO addictive! That's why we call it "Kitty crack." You have to go "cold turkey" and not look back (you can donate the dry to a feral cat rescue, which can put it to good use).
Thanks for sharing your wonderful news - and have a look on the websites (DogTalkTheRadioShow.com and CatChatRadio.com) to see if you want to get a cool baseball cap for charity - positive resarch for kidney disease in cats.
Best wishes,
Tracie
