The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health: Lesson 5: Home-Prepared Diets for Cats

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The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health Lesson 5: Home-Prepared Diets for Cats From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats Since the first commercial pet food was developed in England in 1860 (a dog biscuit), the industry has expanded to a multi-billion dollar business - good for the economy, but not always so good for our cats. Over a decade ago, a veterinarian developed the B.A.R.F. diet for dogs (Bones and Raw Food). Since then, the concept of feeding "raw" has expanded to cats, with thousands of anecdotal acclaims to its success It's hard to dispute the idea that cats are healthier when they eat a diet that is close in composition to what they would eat in nature, e.g., mice and other rodents, birds, chicken, and an occasional rabbit. Nutritionists have spent years researching and developing diets that closely approximate those foods, and the result has been a groundswell movement toward feeding cats "naturally." Disclaimer: I am not an expert in feeding raw, but I can pass on what I've read and learned, so you can make an informed decision for your cat, with approval of your veterinarian. Feeding Raw Before You Try a Raw Food Diet for Your Cat Why switch to a raw food diet? Some experts believe that cooking robs the food of essential nutrients, which can not effectively be "put back in." Here's a brief synopsis of the hows and whys of feeding cats a raw diet. Raw Food Diet for Cats: A Natural Solution If you've absorbed Lesson One's articles on Tips for Choosing Cat Foods and Understanding Cat Food Labels, you may have come to the conclusion that there is no perfect commercial food for your cat. Indeed, because of the heat processing necessary to meet government standards, even the best of these cook out some of the nutrients. What is a concerned cat owner to do, then? Review: Raising Cats Naturally, by Michelle T. Bernard This book is, in my opinion, the best book available on feeding cats raw, as well as other aspects of natural care for cats. Michelle breeds American Shorthair cats, and she has successfully fed them raw for more than a decade. Their health attests to the validity of a raw diet. The book not only provides the diet itself (a variation of the original Feline Future diet), but includes a detailed analysis of each ingredient as it relates to your cat's health. If you are inclined toward a raw diet for your cats, you can't go wrong, with this book. Top Picks: Supplements to Raw Food Diets The recent emphasis on cat food ingredients has caused many concerned cat owners to turn to a home prepared raw food diet for their cats. However, finding the necessary supplemental ingredients to round out the nutritional requirements can be daunting. These raw food diet supplements take out the guesswork and save time, as well. Home-Prepared Cooked Diets Kitty Is What Kitty Eats Guest writer Donna Watkins tells about adding herbs, supplements and veggies to your cat's diet to help stave off potential health problems. This might be a good way to accustom your cats to the taste and appeal of fresh ingredients. Note; although Donna mentions garlic for an additive, I don't recommend its use in cat food, since it is suspect for a condition called "Heinz body anemia." A Few Recipes from the Experts I've assembled several recipes that provide the essential ingredients for a home-prepared cooked diet for your cats. It's best to alternate these meals to ensure your cat gets all the nutrients she needs over a period of time. You may want to start by offering a home-cooked meal once a week, as an alternate to your cat's normal commercial foods. The End, But a Good Beginning The About Cats Forum If you didn't join at the beginning of this course, be sure to do so now. Our caring forum members come from a wide background of experience and knowledge, and will be happy to help you with any future problems or concerns about cat food. We have our own folder about food, and the members often engage in lively and spirited discussions about various foods and other aspects of cat nutrition. I hope to see you join in! Coda: Feedback on the Course Was the Class Helpful to You? Your feedback is important to me in helping to make this class as complete and understandable as it can be. I'd like to know your opinions. Did you like it? Was it too long or too short? Were there any important basics that you felt were missing? Please complete the form linked here, and I'll be in your debt. Although the form asks for a name and email address, you can choose to remain anonymous. In any case, I'll respect your privacy, and you won't be added to any mailing lists by virtue of completing the form. Thank you! This email is written by: Franny Syufy Cats Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Missing a lesson? Click here. About U. is our collection of free online courses designed to help you learn a new skill, solve a problem, get something done, or just learn more about your world. Sign up now, and we will email you lessons on a daily or weekly basis. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the About.com 'The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health' email. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement