Recently in Cat Food Category

Pet owners in the U.S. and Canada will be getting reimbursed for their medical expenses from the pet food recall. This settlement is supposed to cover the costs incurred by pet owners who got medical attention for their pets after the recall. The article claims that 236 cats died or were treated, but independent researchers claim the number of affected cats was actually in the thousands. You can read some of their stories here.

We all make fun of really fat cats. They are cute and lazy and we love them. But really fat cats are not happy, healthy cats. As a matter of fact, really fat cats are prone to diseases that can shorten their lives. Diabetes, hear disease, cancer, all those horrible diseases are much more common in really fat cats than in slimmer, healthier cats.

If you truly want your cat to slim down, there are several ways to help them that doesn't require starving them or buying a kitty treadmill. But don't expect weight loss to happen too quickly, cats can safely lose about 1lb per month. Any more than that and your cat might not be healthy.

So here is how you can help your really fat cat get healthy:

1. Switch from dry cat food to canned cat food is the first step. Dry cat food has been known to cause obesity because of its high grain and filler content and not enough protein.

2. Fresh water every day is a must. Your cat may not drink that much, but having a clean fresh bowl of water ready when your cat does decide to take a drink will be very helpful. Water helps keep tummies full so they don't eat as much, and it helps digestion so their bodies can absorb more nutrients.

3. Don't starve your cat, but if you leave the food in the bowl all day and let him come and eat whenever he wants, you might want to stop that. Some cats, like people, eat out of boredom, they'll wander by the food and take a bite or two even when they are not hungry. So having designated feeding times is a really good way to start limiting extra calories. Set the food out in the morning and again at night for 20-30 minutes each time. Cats seem to need to eat twice a day and they usually eat their fill within 20-30 minutes, so after that time has passed put the food away.

4. Get some exciting toys for your cat and play with him. Cats are very intelligent, and if they don't get stimulation regularly, they kind of show signs of depression. They don't get up and run around, just stare out the window and watch the world go by. But spending time playing with your cat and the new toys will go a long way to getting some much needed exercise for your cat (and you too!).

5. If you have to be away all day, leave your cat access to a window that overlooks a busy street or yard, cars, birds, and activity will keep your cat thinking about things other than food.

This reminds me of Neo at meal times!

Cancer, digestive problems like chronic diarrhea, kidney failure or disease, urinary tract disease, diabetes and obesity are the main diseases that could be eliminated by feeding your cat moist, canned or homemade cat food.

Dry cat food may be convenient and inexpensive, but the time and money you save may end up costing you more to keep your cat healthy. Recently, more and more studies show that dry cat food is too full of grains and fillers to be considered healthy for your cat. A common mistake that vets and common people make is to treat your cat like a little dog. A cat's physiology is completely different from a dogs. What works for dogs, kibble with a bowl of water, does not work for cats. Cats are carnivores, unlike dogs, cats can't be healthy with a lot of grains and fillers in their food.

Here are six diseases that have been directly linked to dry cat food:

Whether it's caused by sunburn, parasites, medication, obesity or dry skin, cat dandruff is irritating and it could signal possible healthy problems. Cat dandruff occurs in healthy cats at the base of the tail because that is a hard to clean area, but some cats get dandruff all over their bodies for several reasons.

Cat Dandruff can be caused by:

*sunburnt skin that dies and peals off

*parasites that are living on your cats body

*lack of humidity in the air

*sensitivity to carpets, perfumes or other irritants in your home or yard

*medications that cause dry, itchy scalp

But the one major cause of Cat Dandruff is:

*DRY CAT FOOD

You see cats don't get enough moisture in their bodies if all they are fed is dry cat food. By nature, in the wild, cats get moisture from the live prey they hunt and eat, but our domestic feline friends don't get that moisture. And it is just not in their nature to drink enough water to compensate for it. So if you feed your cat dry food, start giving him moist canned, homemade or raw food and you'll notice a difference.

But what if you already feed your cat canned food and he still has dandruff?

There is something else that you can do and you'll notice health benefits beyond measure. Give your cat Essential Fatty Acids, you know, the ones you hear about all the time. Omega 3 - there are several formulas out there, but the best source is fish oil. Especially Cod Liver Oil. You can get it anywhere now, grocery stores, drug stores, health food stores. Just put a few drops on your cat's soft food and slowly work up to a teaspoon.

Cats love the taste so you won't have a hard time convincing them to take their Cod Liver Oil!

You should always talk to your vet about any supplements you are thinking about giving to your cat. If you are looking for a holistic vet you can find one at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Finally, good food for cats, feline organic pet food in can and dried food from Halo, Purely for Pets. Halo, actually guarantees that you'll notice a difference in your cat's health after using their products. Amazing.

The ingredients list is very impressive, butcher quality meats, vegetables and whole grains. No fillers or preservatives, and nothing that can hurt your cat. But what would you expect from Ellen DeGeneres? She's always been an animal activist and now she's a co-owner of Halo, Purely for Pets Holistic Pet Food. She even feeds this to her own pets.

The best way to keep your cat healthy is to feed him good quality cat food. Its just like for people, people can't eat only candy, chocolate and soda and expect good health. Too often cat food manufacturers fill their cat food with fillers and by products, and so little nutritional ingredients. Then you feed this to your cat and your cat gets fat, or develops diabetes, or heart disease.

So check out their line of cat food and compare it to what you are feeding your cat now.

Herbal treatment for cats' illnesses seems like a good idea, but beware of the risks. The truth is, most herbal remedies sold for cats are formulated for dogs and are actually toxic to cats. Cats can become really sick or even die with prolonged use.

Pretty scary huh?

It seems that cats process toxins and chemicals very different than dogs do, so even if it says it is safe for cats, you need to look out for....

The final word on supplements. Do cats need supplements? or is this just something that health conscious humans think their cats need?

There are basic requirements that your cat needs daily to live a healthy life. Good quality proteins and amino acids are essential, especially taurine, without it, your cat will likely die or suffer serious medical conditions such as heart disease.

Then there are vitamins and minerals that cats need in the proper ratio and in the proper form. And of course, Essential Fatty Acids - yes cats need fish oil too! Maybe that's why they like fish so much!

So with all these requirements, how do you know if your cat is getting enough? The bottom line is talk to your vet about it. So here are some guidelines for answering the question, do cats need supplements?

Ok folks, serious stuff here. For the second time in recent months, Hartz is performing a voluntary recall of one of their cat related products.

According to the press release, Hartz believes that there may be concerns with bottles of Vitamin Care for Cats within a certain lot; they may have Salmonella.

Salmonella is a serious health concern for cats. If you give your cat the Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, you might want review the bottles for lot code SZ 22771, UPC number 32700-97701. According to Hartz, this effects 739 bottles. If you can't find the lot code or UPC number on your bottle, you should stop using the product just in case.

If your cat is exhibiting symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or fever; you should contact your vet right away.

Kudos to Hartz for reacting very quickly on this one. You can call them at 1-800-275-1414 if you have any questions or concerns.

Source FDA

What is right for the cat?

The latest trend is feeding your cat an all-vegan or vegetarian diet. Not sure about this one. Cats are predators, naturally born killers - ok, so it's hard to imagine neo as a predator - but he could hunt...if he had to...his mom gave him hunting lessons...I'm sure he remembers!

But here’s my problem…Cats are carnivores… but I just heard about someone who feeds their cat a tomato stew with garbanzo beans – Tomatoes?