cats Care: -Tips for using healthy natural flea control

cats Care  

Tips for using healthy natural flea control 

Fleas are parasites that don’t just agitate your cat--they can also cause more

serious problems like anemia and tapeworm.

If you don’t use the chemical flea control, what options are left?

Unfortunately, most of the natural flea control products on the market may

not be healthy for cats!

Let me explain why and then I’ll tell you what I like to use instead...

1. Avoid herbal essential oils. Most natural flea control products have herbal

essential oils in them, which are now considered toxic for cats. In was recently

discovered that cats are deficient in a liver enzyme called glucuronyl

tranferases, which is needed adequately detoxify many compounds. Essential

oils contain terpenes, and cats don’t have enough of the liver enzymes needed

to break the terpenes down either.

2. Avoid garlic. Many of the natural flea products have garlic as a main

ingredient. Because of what we now know about garlic causing hemolytic

anemia in pets, I won’t use garlic for flea control either. We don’t know exactly

what amount causes it, but if I’m going to be using flea control regularly, I

don’t want to risk the accumulation. Garlic may be perfectly safe in tiny

regular amounts, but until I am absolutely sure, I prefer to avoid it.

So here’s my favorite alternative flea control

Many years ago, I stumbled upon the B-vitamin flea repellent method and was

surprised it worked. I was giving my cat a B-vitamin-filled wafer for pets and

she didn’t get fleas even though another cat in the house had them.

Since then, I’ve shared this tip often and continue to hear that it works for

others. I have also heard of holistic vets recommending it.

B-complex, taken in the right dose, somehow makes the body repel fleas and

ticks. It can take up to 10+ days to take effect. It just works.

Flea Treats are a B-vitamin-based “treat” that’s easy to use because most cats

love the taste. It comes with a money-back guarantee and also guards against

ticks.

Just give the tablets to them with their food each day – especially during flea

seasons — and the repellent ability kicks in about 10 days later.

Another option--especially if there are yeast allergies

I’ve seen only one bad consumer review of Flea Treats: someone gave it a low

rating because their dog had an allergic reaction to it. I’m sure the dog was

allergic to the yeast in the product, as yeast allergies are more common in dogs

than cats.

But, if your cat has a reaction to yeast (e.g., digestive or skin flare-ups), Flea

Treats won’t be right for her.

You can do this instead: Mix a 1/8th capsule of Jarrow B-Right into food daily

(divided over 2 meals is ideal), at least during flea seasons. Jarrow B-Right is

recommended because it’s one of the few quality choices that don’t contain a

lot of other substances that may not be good for your cat.

Just “eyeball” the 1/8th amount. B-vitamins are water-soluble and don’t

accumulate in the body, so a little more here and there is not considered a problem.

Wet food as part of diet

Wet food as part of diet

At least 80% of the 20+ year-old cats in my survey had wet food as a regular

part of their diet.

They ate it several times per week, though not necessarily exclusively. Many

had dry food in addition to wet food.

Considering that most people feed their cats dry food almost all the time--and

most vets are still in the habit of encouraging dry food--this high percentage of

long-living cats eating wet food strikes me as significant.

Why would wet food promote longevity?

I believe wet food, whether canned, homemade, or raw, is longevity-promoting

because it helps prevent kidney problems (CRF), urinary tract disease

(FLUTD), and diabetes. Each of these conditions can shorten a cat’s life.

Cats don’t eat anything dry in nature. Even the grass they chew has a lot of

moisture in it.

Plus, 75% of kidney function has to be lost before serious abnormalities even

show up on blood tests. By the time you find out, a lot of damage is already

done. But there’s a bright side to being aware of this. It means that, even if

our cat is prone to kidney disease for a non-diet reason, it’s never too early for

us to take measures to prolong the onset of the disease.

Compelling expert statements on how wet food helps prevent

diseases

Cats and Raw Diets

Cats and Raw Diets:

It can be difficult to switch a cat’s diet. Unlike dogs, who are usually

willing to investigate any potential food source, cats often imprint on the

specific smell and taste of the food they are used to eating. So, while a

few will immediately appreciate the raw food offered to them, most will

look at you as if y

ou are trying to poison them. But with a little patience

on your part, your cat will make the transition.

The key to success with these finicky felines is to go very slowly. In

some cases, you will mix only a finger-full (yes, a finger-full) of raw food

into their current diet. Just enough to let them get used to the slight

smell of the new food in their bowl. Very gradually increase the amount

you mix in with their food. Over the course of a month, most will make a

full transition, and no longer tolerate anything but raw food. One cat, who

did require a 35-day transition, now swats the dogs in his household so

he can steal raw food from their dishes.

Rabbit and venison tend to be very popular with cats, as are the poultry

items. Organ meats (heart, liver and kidney) are very important to feed

at least a few times a week. And while some cats love vegetables, they

aren’t really necessary.

How Do I Choose a Food for My Cat?

How Do I Choose a Food for My Cat?

High-quality commercially prepared cat foods have

been scientifically developed to give your cat the

correct balance of nutrients and calories. Basic minimum

nutritional requirements for cats have been

established by the Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE)

Subcommittee of the Association of American Feed

Control Officials (AAFCO), and pet-food manufacturers

use these standards in producing cat foods.

When you’re shopping for a healthy food for your

cat, reading the nutrition label on the packages is the

best way to compare foods. Pet-food manufacturers

are required to supply certain nutrition information

on the package. Labeling regulations are established

by the AAFCO (www.aafco.org) and the United

States Food and Drug Administration. All pet

foods that carry an AAFCO approved nutritional

guarantee, often referred to as the “AAFCO statement,”

are considered to be complete and balanced.

These standards were formulated in the early 1990s

by panels of experts on canine and feline nutrition.

A food may be certified in two ways: (1) by meeting

AAFCO’s published standards for content, or (2)

by passing feeding tests or trials. Most researchers

agree that feeding tests are superior in assessing the

nutritional adequacy of a food.

Throughout a cat’s life, there are stages in which

the cat requires different nutrients. These stages

include kittenhood, adulthood, pregnancy, and lactation.

The nutritional claim on the cat-food label

should state the stage of a cat’s life cycle for which

the food is a complete and balanced product. It

should also state that it meets the requirements of

the AAFCO. Feeding a cat a product that does not

have a nutritional claim on the label cannot guarantee

a complete and balanced diet for the animal.

Often owners will find products that say they have

been formulated for “all life stages,” which simplifies

things for owners with multiple cats of different

ages or circumstances.

Canned Food for cat

Canned Food for cat

Canned Food

Canned cat food has a moisture content of at least

75 percent, making it a good dietary source of

water. It is generally the most expensive type of cat

food, but it also is highly palatable to most cats,

and different varieties are plentiful, which can be

helpful if your cat is a finicky eater. Canned food

has the longest shelf life when unopened, but any

unused portion of opened canned cat food should

be refrigerated to maintain quality and prevent

spoilage. Gourmet canned cat foods generally

feature meats, such as kidney or liver, and whole

meat byproducts as primary food ingredients. Some

brands, however, may be nutritionally incomplete,

and it is important to read the nutrition labels carefully

on such specialty cat-food items to ensure that

they have a nutritional guarantee.

How to Pick Cat Names