Fur, Jaws, and Claws

posted by fmoore on Oct 30

Curiosity killed the cat.  This saying has stood the test of time. Partly because, well, cat’s are curious and because people just plain love a great story. Today’s post is to prevent this from happening to your cat.

It is very important that you keep your environment as safe as possible for your cat. They are very inquisitive animals and will get into all sorts of trouble given half the chance in a moment’s glance.

You really need to use your common sense and look about the environment that your cat is living in to determine any areas that could be a danger to it.

Living near a road may become a major concern for any cat owner. Cats love to wander around the neighborhood in search of company from other cats or from other people. It is not uncommon for cats to wander a long distance, particularly at night. The best bet is probably to keep your cat confined inside at night so you know where it will be when you wake up in the morning.

You can either keep your cat locked inside the house or have an external area that is fenced in such a manner that your cat can’t climb out, taking into account, that cats are extremely good at climbing and escaping from any enclosure. Having a cat door that will provide your cat with unrestricted access to the house is essential for any cat that prefers to spend some of its time outside during the day or night.

Your cat needs to be protected from other animals, in particular other cats and dogs, that can become quite vicious in the pursuit of your cat if they have not been properly socialized. In addition, your cat can pick up infections, such as rabies from other animals or from the feces that has been left about by other animals. So, you need to know where your cat is wandering and whether those places could be endangering its health in any way.

If you choose not to keep your cat within a confined area then you will need some form of identification on it should it ever get lost.

By having your cat neutered there is less chance that it will wander about the neighborhood looking for other cats. This issue is always a hot topic of debate. However, if you are not a breeder, neutering your cat eliminates riks to various types of cancer if the reproductive organs are removed. We will claw into this subject on tomorrow to get a better understanding on both sides of this issue.

posted by fmoore on Oct 29

holistic [hoh-lis-tik]

-adjective

identifying with principles of holism in a system of therapeutics, esp. one considered outside the mainstream of scientific medicine, as naturopathy or chiropractic, and usually involving nutritional measures.                                                                                                                                 

That word is what this blog is all about. You can help your cat maintain a much healthier and happier lifestyle by adopting a holistic approach. We are about alternatives to what conventional medicine says HAS to be the status quo. If you want the best for your cat, start with an open mind.

Cats spend 15% of their waking hours washing and grooming their fur with their tongue. They ensure that their claws remain in good shape by scratching trees, and sometimess,  your good furniture. They help to keep their teeth clean by eating meaty and poultry when they tear food while feeding. 

Now, here are the things YOU can do to help your cat stay in better condition for longer.

Ideally, your cat should be brushed or combed every day to reduce the constant shedding hair. If the hair is not kept well brushed on a regular basis it can become matted and create uncomfortable knotted balls of fur that will need to be cut out. More importantly, much of their fur will end up in the digestive system causing fur balls that can lead to constipation or vomiting.

Be sure to check regularly for cat fleas and mites that can get into their ears and become very uncomfortable. If there are mites it may be necessary to conact a holistic vet to get this problem solved.

Regular maintenance is a much simpler and easier solution and one of the benefits of combing and brushing a cat is it will reduce your stress levels considerably. Using a brush also gives the skin a light massage which helps the skin stay in good condition. So both you and your cat benefit from this action.

If your cat is one that is unable to get outside as often as necessary, you should provide them with a scratching post for them to maintain the condition of their claws. If you choose to help them with this on a regular basis, be sure to have them professionally done or invest in a good pet claw filing system that will keep them from getting injured in the process.

If you are looking for specific information that will ensure your cat not always looks, but feels beautiful, be sure to check out our holistic cat guide. You will NOT be disappointed.

posted by fmoore on Oct 28

What should you be feeding your cat? As of 2008, this has been THE top question on cat owner’s minds. 2007’s pet food recalled far more kittens than it should have. We made the mistake of trusting big corporations too much with the lives of our companions. However, once you begin to consider what cats will need in the wild, you can then determine the best food sources for your cat.In the wild, cats will eat mice, cats will eat birds, and cats will drink water. It’s diet is that simple.
This is a diet high in protein and it is essential that your cat gets sufficient protein to maintain a good healthy diet.

What many people have failed to realize, even today, is that if you feed your cat too many carbohydrates, it has a high probability of contracting diabetes. By constantly feeding your cat carbohydrates it can become insulin resistant and unable to keep its blood glucose levels at a suitable level.

Signs that your cat is becoming diabetic include drinking a lot of water and eating considerably more than they usually do. You might also notice a sign of weakness in the back legs as they tend to wobble a bit when walking.

The only way to be sure whether your cat is developing diabetes is to have your veterinarian administer a blood test. This is the best way to determine whether the cat has diabetes or not. Although you can do a urine analysis to check blood glucose levels, this is not as accurate.

Fortunately, it is possible for cats that have diabetes to go into remission provided their diet has been changed with an elimination of high carbohydrate foods. Offering more protein will help to stabilize the blood glucose levels in your cat.

Dry food and dry treats are particularly bad for your cat as they are generally very high in carbohydrates and even though your cat might love eating them, because of the additives that have been put into these dry foods, it certainly is not a good idea concerning their health.

The reason why these dry pet food products are so popular is because of the convenience and the fact that cats can be very fussy eaters. Corporations have catered to cats that are picky and have engineered food to fit their tastes but, to the detritment of their health.

I want to end by saying that there is no reason that your cat should come in contact with the disease diabetes. Start taking the same care in feeding your cat as if it were foraging for itself in the wild. The closest you can mimmick your cat’s natural diet, the healthier and happier it will be. Plus, it will reduce your visits to the vet.

Trust me, you will not be looking forward to the long term care of your cat if it is not able to fight this disease through diet alone. This is so unecessary being that this disease is 100% preventable. I have read horror story after horror story of cats that have developed complications from diabetes and the bills went into the THOUSANDS.

If your cat is suffering from diabetes or you wish to prevent this disease from happening to your cat, make sure you pick up a copy of Fur, Jaws, and Claws before you go. Every type of diet is discussed in this guide from holistic, to wellness to raw even a handful of human grade commercial brands we have approved is immediately accessible once you pick up your copy. Look at your cat, right now? Isn’t he or she worth it? Take care.

posted by fmoore on Oct 25

As you care for your cat, you will find out that taking care of it is much like caring for a child. There are things that you must keep out of their reach for their safety and your sanity. More importantly, if your cat does get into something it cannot talk to you to tell you that it may be lethal. Let’s discuss some simple ways to keep this from ever becoming an issue in your home.

Many pet owners have yet to realize that even the cleaning products that they use on their floors can have quite an effect on their cat. As they pick them up on their paws and fur, they proceed to ingest the particles themselves when grooming. As all the grooming is done with its tongue, any foreign matter that comes in contact with its paws or fur can end up in its digestive system and create health problems.

There are many different products that can make your cat feel ill including insect sprays and air fresheners, even though the manufacturers claim that they are “pet friendly”. These types of irritations can cause runny eyes, a lack of energy, and a very unhappy cat. Always shop for household products that have “all natural” on the labels. The best rule of thumb is the fewer ingredients on the label, the better for the health of you and your cat.

Sneezing and coughing are other signs of irritation that can be brought on by household products that are not fit for pets. However, this can also be brought about if the cat has been lying in a draft, or where there have been rapid changes in the weather conditions, or the temperature within the house changes from hot to cold and vice versa. Always consider what the conditions might be down at floor level as these are the conditions that your cat will be experiencing for much of its life.

Cleanliness in the house will assist your cat’s health even though in its natural state, a cat will be lurking about in the dirt and the garden. Because all cats are inquisitive, it is important that you don’t leave any medication or supplements, or other types of medicine or products that can be swallowed. This mistake could prove fatal for your cat.

Generally cats are very careful in what they will eat but there is always the possibility that they will be unsure whether a particular product is dangerous or not and end up swallowing it. Usually a cat will vomit if it has eaten anything that isn’t agreeable, but if you are sure that it has eaten something that could cause health problems, get it to your vet immediately. Toxicity levels are much lower due to their size and problems can occur more rapidly in them than in humans.

One thing that many people are unaware of is the danger of engine coolant, better known as antifreeze. This could leak from the hoses or the radiator on your car. Antifreeze can kill a cat very rapidly. This can happen just from having your cat walk through a puddle of radiator fluid that has spilled onto the driveway and then it begins to groom itself. So be sure to take the simple precaution of having no leaks from your car that your cat can get near, as this may prove fatal.

If you want to find out what products are safe in and around your home for your cat, be sure to check out Fur, Jaw, and Claws: The Definitive Guide to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. This guide will tell you everything you will need to know when it comes to the safety and comfort of your cat without introducing it to harsh medication or harsh chemicals. Your cat will thank you for it.

posted by fmoore on Oct 24

Today’s subject is a sensitive one. Even though it has been over 18 months since the pet food recall, many cat owners found out that if they had just spent a little more on healthy diet options, they may not have been faced with the high price of veterinarian care once their cat’s became sick. Or even worse, if their cat had to pay for this unintended negligence with their life. This post speaks to preventing this from happeningn to you and your cat.

While we all expect to pay for pet food on a regular basis when we own a cat, it is those times when we need to get recommended additional prescriptions for medical supplies where the expenses quickly build up.

While you should always listen to the recommendations from your veterinarian, there are alternative places where you can buy medical supplies that are considerably cheaper than many of the outlets we commonly use. These savings have been the result of internet sites and blogs, like this one, that offer advice for pet prescriptions and at discounts that are not available elsewhere. 

The majority of these sites all offer the same products that you would expect to find at your veterinarians, but with reduced overheads and widespread distribution throughout the country. You can save a considerable amount of money and ensure that your cat gets optimal treatment without having to worry solely about the financial aspect that is so often the determining factor for many people with their pets health.

In addition to the prescription medications, you will also find the usual worming tablets, powders and alternative pet health products that you would normally buy at the local pet store, at cheaper rates online.

Even though I am recommending this advice, I will be offering alternatives for your cat that will keep your cat from ever becoming dependent on drugs to become well.

I would like to even take it one step further. Prescriptions should be your last resort when healing your cat. Be sure to do your homework on holistic veterinarians, alternative medicines, and complementary procedures when it comes to healing your cat.

At this point in this post, you no longer have to make decisions that are determined primarily on finances becuase I will continually share and update information in this blog for you to make the best decision for your cat, versus emotion, which many veterinarians play on so they can pitch you THEIR products.

You can even get advice from some of these sites that will help you to resolve minor problems rather than having to take your cat to the vet once they have contracted a major illnesses. You would only need to use this where the problems are minor. You would not like to endanger your cat’s health by making incorrect decisions concerningn its health.

Many of the ailments that your cat might get however, can quite easily be resolved through the use of good information (that you can always find here), common sense, and quality products and services that are designed specifically for problems concerning your cat. If you are looking to reign in the costs of caring for your cat, you will want to read: Fur, Jaw, and Claws: A Definitive Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. This will definitely be a decision you can live with.

posted by fmoore on Oct 23

I wanted to move on to a new subject today but I need to make sure that you, the cat owner, understand that you are the deciding factor on how well and how long your cat lives. We are living in a time right now where many things are uncertain and seem out of our control. One thing that I want you to be sure of is that you control how long and how well your cat’s lifespan will be. Be sure to take this post to heart.

The one thing many people don’t consider when getting a cat is the lifespan of the pet. You will need to plan to be responsible for the health and well-being of your cat for between 15 and 20 years. I would like to discuss 7 factors that need to be taken into consideration when becoming an adoptive parent of a cat.

First, you should map out the expenses of owning a cat. You are going to need to factor how much money you will spend each month for healthy diet so your cat can reduce its visits to the vet to just routine checkups. When the time comes in choosing a veterenerain of your choice, make a concerted effort that it is practicing holistic care. You will want to make sure you have a concrete idea of how often the visits will be and how much procedures will cost when necessary.

Secondly, as with people, cats are long on personality. You will either find the cat whose personality is matched to your own or that balances the personality that you have. There are many excellent books available at libraries, bookstores and on the internet that will give you a good description of the type of personality to be expected from the various breeds of cats.

Thirdly, you will need to find out early how much attention you will be able to offer your cat. There are breeds of cats that require more attention than others. This is true particularly for those cats that tend to live inside. Breeds of cats that are happy to run around outside and keep themselves occupied tend to need less attention than most of their indoor companions.

Fourthly, aside from personality, cats with longer fur will tend to shed more fur than cats with short coats. They will require more grooming and they will require more cleaning. This means that you will have to want to spend more time to give them the attention they need and deserve to be comfortable.

Fifthly, the one major difference, besides diet, is that cats are much more independent than dogs and are usually more difficult to train. This is something that you need to realize and accept before you make your decision in becoming an adoptive parent of a cat.

Sixthly, if you enjoy travel or you are away from your home much of the time, you will need to arrange for a person or a service, that you trust, that can mind your cat and ensure that it gets fed regularly in your absence. It is always worth considering where you’re living and if the environment is suitable for owning a cat.

Lastly, the one thing that many people surprisingly don’t consider before adopting a cat is whether any person in the family, including themselves, is allergic to cats. There are quite a large number of people who are allergic to cats. Make sure that you, or your immediate family members, are not one of these people. If you are, make sure that your love for cats is greater than the remedies you may need to live with them.

P.S. If you want to make sure that your cat has access to the best choices for alternative healthcare, holistic veterinarians, the best cat food money can buy and non-toxic cat accessories, be sure to pick up a copy of Fur, Jaws, and Claws: A Complete Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat, on your way out. Trust me, this one purchase you will make for your cat that you won’t regret.

posted by fmoore on Oct 22

I normally don’t make assumptions. However, there is an exception to every rule. If you have a cat, companionship is probably very important to you. You value the companionship that your cat(s) bring to your life. So today, I would like to speak on the expected lifespan of a cat. I feel this is an appropriate opening topic so you can plan on how long and how full the relationship with your cat can be. Let’s begin.

Lifespan can vary quite considerably, depending on the breed of your cat. If your cat is overweight, as is true of humans, there is a high probability that it will have a shortened lifespan. This has become a MAJOR problem in the cat community. 65% of ALL cats suffer from obesity. This means that there is a high probability that your very cat(s) may be involved in this very epidemic.

Obesity has been consistently connected to health problems including diabetes, respiratory problems related to breathing, and extra weight that places additional stress and strain on cat’s limbs and internal organs. If your cat is well cared for, preferrably fed a natural diet throughout its life, and given adequate attention, it will usually live comfortably into its late teens.

Astonishingly, 85% of all cats over the age of four have gum disease. This can cause infections that can do damage to internal organs. As your cat ages, regular dental checkups will ensure that it will live longer by avoiding problems related to gum disease. Feeding your cat a nutritious diet is only more important.

Cats are quite durable animals. When offered the opportunity, they do try to look after themselves where possible by eating the right food that is natural to them.       

Their keen sense of smell helps them to avoid eating food that can cause illness. Since the common cause of early death in domestic cats is due to their owners feeding them the wrong food, this is by far the sense you, as an owner, can appreciate the most when you unknowingly offer them something that may not be good for them. In reading this blog, this should never pose a problem.

Feeding your cat a variety of foods in its diet will ensure that it is getting all the necessary nutrients to maintain good health. Do not assume that your cat can survive by just feeding it the same dried food every day and not keeping a fresh supply of water constantly available.

Cats will go out hunting, and they will eat what they catch, even if you have been feeding them a nutritionally balanced diet. If their diet is deficient they will be more inclined to hunt and find food that can maintain their health.

Giving your cat a warm, safe, stress-free environment, will extend their lifespan, and help them to be healthy enough to enjoy the geriatric years. Regular exercise will help maintain good health for a domestic cat that will commonly sleep most of the day.

And don’t be surprised to learn that there are many cats that have lived well into the early 20s. In fact, the Guiness World Book of Records list a certain feline living until the ripe old age of 36. Aim high and you will definitely have YOUR cat for years and years to come.

If you truly want to learn how to offer your cat the best life possible, be sure to pick up Fur, Jaws, and Claws: The Definitive Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

posted by fmoore on Oct 21

Good Morning, Good Evening, and Good Afternoon

Welcome to newest blog on the web dedicated to creating a holistic lifestyle for your cat. If you are:

tired of pet food corporations not being truthful about the ingredients in their pet products

tired of conventional vetereinarians not being honest about your cat’s true health needs

looking for alternative, complementary, organic or holistic ways to improve the quality of life of your cat

THIS blog is for YOU!

Fur, Jaws, and Claws is going to offer unconventional, yet effective advice, on how to provide your cat with a longer and livelier quality of life. We will be able to tell you where conventional care ends and alternative care begins for your cat. From nutrition, to mental health to physical vitality, it will be covered here in Fur, Jaws, and Claws.

If you have family members, friends, or co-workers that want to know the truth about how to care for your cat in the most natural and healthiest way possible, this blog is for them. In fact, if you are dealing with an issue that has been a concern for your cat, be sure to check out our guide: Fur, Jaws, and Claws: The Definitive Guide to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. Trust me, you WILL NOT be disappointed.

To your cat’s health,

Fen