Top on the list of health concerns is proper nutrition. A nationwide survey commissioned by 9Lives of feline pet parents across the country called the "Pet Parent Purrception Survey" had some interesting findings:
"94 percent of American cat owners are confident they feed their felines the most nutritious meals possible
Nearly half (48 percent) admit they have fed their cat table scraps which do not provide the essential nutrients that cats need."
"30% know that giving your cat milk may not be a healthy practice due to the common incidence of lactose intolerance in adult cats"
"Morris The Cat" informed me that 9Lives now has "Advanced Nutrient System" where "pet parents everywhere can rest assured knowing that the essential nutrients their cat needs are available to them in the food they love, at a price they can afford. With 40 percent of cats suffering from obesity and more than a quarter of felines having never visited the vet "Morris The Cat" and 9Lives want pet parents to know that armed with the right nutritional information, they can give their cats the food they need to live a long and healthy life. To receive nutritional advice and information on selecting the right food for your cat with the 9Lives Nutrition Simulator, visit http://www.9lives.com/
Thanks to Danielle Paleafico of Coyne Public Relations, 9Lives and of course "Morris The Cat" for this information and for your continued dedication to enriching, protecting and informing all of us who are Kitty Moms and Dads and helping us to be the best kitty parents that we can be!
I am surprised you don't speak of feline hydration which is a major cat health issue. Cats' natural dislike of standing water has given rise to an entire industry of cat fountains and there are even some handmade ceramic cat fountains which are supposed to be really good for cats.
ReplyDeletethis is so interesting! by the way, visit this page http://petapparelfashion.com and will find everything for your pet! see you there! :)
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYes you are correct that feline hydration is a huge and serious issue and I will cover it in a future blog. The subject of this blog was "nutrition" and that is what was covered. I do thank you for the fabulous idea for a future blog!
Pet Apparel, thanks much! I will check you out soon!
ReplyDeleteHey! Really like your blog!
ReplyDeleteGina thank you!
ReplyDeletePlease be sure to "follow" my blog if you haven't already. You can either follow directly from this site (I don't know how but 2 people figured it out) or...go to Facebook and look up Networked Blogs and Search "Cat Chat" (it is under blogs with 20 or less followers I believe, I am 3 away from 20!!)
Also....please do not hesitate to contact me with any topic that you may want me to write about or any stories you may want to share! Thanks so much!
Hi Caren! Since Feb. is Cat Health Month, I would appreciate hearing some blogging about proper cat nutrition. While "Dr. Morris" from 9 lives is very cute, I don't think he or the folks at 9 lives have a clue what cat nutrition is (nor do any of the major cat food makers.) Their food contains many ingredients that cats don't need (wheat, corn, by-products, etc.)...ingredients that can actually make them sick. I have a 3 yr old female cat recovering from bladder stone removal surgery and have been doing a lot of research about a new diet for her now that her stones are gone. I am excited to be starting my Roxy on a raw food diet (since cats are carnivores) and would be interested in your thoughts on that subject. Like your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous (Roxy's Mom)....first let me say that I hope that your Roxy is feeling much, much better, the poor thing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for bringing up the subject of a raw food diet for cats....to be completely honest with you I have never heard of it and just did some research online. I wanted to let you know I will be doing a blog on it either today or in the next few days. Since I am not a vet I rely on information for topics that I am not familiar with to be either sent to me (as in the case of 9Lives) or searched on my own and I thank you for this suggestion.
If you have any information that you care to share about raw food diets and cats, etc., I am more than happy to feature it in my blog.
Thanks so much for reading my blog(and please follow!) and I thank you again! Hugs to Roxy!
(Roxy's mom) Hi Caren! Roxy is feeling much better, thank you. She had oxylate stones which are pointed and very painful. I've been flooding my brain with information about diet/nutrition/urine ph levels since Roxy was diagnosed with this problem in January. Once I was able to diffuse some of the immense guilt I felt (and still feel) about feeding her the food that made her sick, I found out some rather upsetting info about commercial cat food. Most food contains the grains or corn that I mentioned in my earlier post giving our kitties empty calories with no nutritional value. Also, pet food manufacturers have been adjusting the levels of ash & magnesium in the food therefore causing many of our cats to create either struvite/oxylate stones depending on the levels. Also, I have been at odds with the advice that my vet has been giving me about diet. The food he recommended for her after the surgery is supposed to prevent stones, but the nutritional value of the food is horrible. Also, I learned that our vets are sponsored and trained by many of major commercial food manufacturers. If their food is not good for our animals why are our vets being trained by them and given recommendations for pet nutrition from them? This seems wrong. Cats are carnivores…mice are 75% water! Their organs, like the liver & heart, are where cats get most of their nutritional value. The ground-up bones keep their teeth clean. I have been reading a really good book by Elizabeth Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq., “Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life.” The raw food I am starting Roxy on is Primal Raw Food: http://www.primalpetfoods.com I’m very interested in what your research comes up with. Hope I piqued you interest some. I’d like to get more cat owners talking about this. Don't get me wrong, I trust my vet. I just don't think he has all the information about a proper diet for my kitty. Thanks for listening to a frustrated cat mommy.! =^^=
ReplyDeleteHi Roxy's Mom Again!
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note.......I researched bladder stones and the raw diet and will cover both very, very soon. Ironically I am having a lithotripsy tomorrow (my 4th) for myself for kidney stones. I have medullary sponge kidneys and have to watch my oxalate consumption.
What I will mention really quickly is that for bladder stones in cats the stones must be ANALYZED to find out what the cause is (not all of the bladder stones are formed as a result of a poor diet....high sodium, infections, etc can be to blame)...I just read this......my 18 yr old cat that passed 2 years ago had kidney stones (totally unrelated to bladder stones, he had 6 of them and after removal he was fine)....the reason I may have to wait a bit to do the blog is due to my own procedure coming up tomorrow but I didn't want to leave you hanging. Once again I am not a vet or a nutritionist....I am an out of work Michigander who LOVES CATS so any and all info that you offer me is a learning experience for me as well and I appreciate it! Some things I know from experience with both of my cats, other things I have to research like everyone else but I sooooooo appreciate your input and yes you DID "pique" my interest!
Also....for something like food/diet, whenever I blog on something it may not necessarily be what I would endorse!!! I was contacted by a rep from 9Lives and put in her info since she was nice enough to contact me. I would do the same for anyone who contacts me because I appreciate that someone out there is reading!!!
Also...if you don't trust your vet completely there are other vets! Are you from Michigan? I go to a great vet!
Will do both blogs just as soon as I can!
(Roxy's mom) Good luck with your procedure, Caren! I look forward to reading your blog once you feel better. Take Care! =^^=
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks!! I was hoping to get one posted today but it doesn't look like that is going to happen....I am planning on getting one up this weekend.....as I said I am not a vet so believe me whatever I put up is just from searching that I did.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't say, are you from Michigan?