Natural Care For Pets

Linda FortuneAuthor of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

Tux and Her New Food Experience
Tip 10: You have to go with the flow and make food adjustments gradually.

Welcome,

As I said briefly before, I have gotten another cat and quite unexpectedly. A dear friend had suddenly become ill and with a poor prognosis, the need for new feline homes became apparent. My friend had two older felines, Millie and Tux. They were sisters, about 13½ years old, and were beautiful calicos. Millie went to a relative and Tux eventually came to me. The delightful story of Tux, by the way, is being told on http://petstoriesblog.com. It is called ‘The Evolution of Tux and Linda’ and will be a fun read if you are interested.

Having brought Tux home, I knew that I wanted to follow through with my new found knowledge and feed Tux in healthier ways while making sure that she had plenty of enzymes. I immediately went to a natural pet store and got a variety of high end natural cat foods filled with animal products rather than animal by-products. I also got some frozen samples of raw prepared cat foods which consisted of those animal products that a cat would eat if it ate naturally. And, I brought a bottle of digestive enzymes.

Felines can be pretty finicky about what they eat and I knew that I would have to experiment with what to feed Tux, to see what she would accept. Also, being an older cat, she had been trained to eat the processed foods and I was not sure what she would be willing to try. I started with one variety and, over the following days, presented other varieties to her. Some she was hesitant about while others seemed pretty enticing and she ate them with relish. When I offered her the thawed frozen raw sample foods, she would not try them. I eventually settled on three or four varieties that she seemed to enjoy, sprinkled them with digestive enzymes, and enjoyed watching her adjust to these new foods which were much healthier then her previous ones.

Being an older feline, I knew that her whole system had been geared toward canned foods, not raw, and I wasn’t going to force that upon her. I have subsequently included some bits of raw meats in her diet and she has eaten them with relish. Once this is established, I will again try to introduce the raw samples and see if she is ready to expand to this more natural cat diet. If not, we will just continue on with the high quality prepared foods fortified with digestive enzymes.

Tip 11 and Digestive Enzymes are Absolutely Necessary for Good Health!

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent FelineDeepok Chopra Doesn’t Mix Words about What to Avoid
Tip 9: Deepok Chopra says “don’t eat anything that comes out of a can or has a label on it.”

Welcome!

It is always amazing for me to see how the Universe brings us what we need at the moment. As I am writing this blog content expressing my concerns about processed foods, especially those with by-products rather than animal products, and knowing the value of fresh alive foods, I heard this statement my Deepok Chopra while listening to a CD of an interview with him. When asked how he takes care of himself with his intense speaking and traveling schedule, he listed a number of things i.e. goes to bed regularly by 10PM, gets up to meditate for two hours at 4:30AM every morning, writes for two hours, exercises, etc. He ended with:

“Don’t eat anything that comes out of a can or has a label.”

When I heard blunt statement, I was thrilled to hear it. I was reinforced in where I have come to in my thinking and experience. And, I know the truth of it does not only apply to human beings but also to animals. For the best health, we all, animals and humans like, need fresh, living foods. For the best health, we, animals and humans alike, need to refrain from consuming processed foods or at least minimize their intake. Much of the nutrition and all of the natural enzymes in fresh foods are diminished in the heating process.

More grist for the contemplation mill!

Next Entry: Tip 10 and Tux and Her New Food Experience

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent FelineConsider a Holistic Approach to Health Tip 8: Take the time to study about holistic health.

Welcome!

The last book that I will mention at this time is a book that does cover information on the raw diets for felines as well as incorporating a comprehensive view as to the care of cats. Sandy Arora’s book, Whole Health for happy cats, is a complete guide to keeping your cat naturally healthy and well-fed. She also provides information on the area of prevention and holistic cat care. She covers the area of wellness that includes veterinary care, home care utilizing holistic remedies, and understanding cat behavior. Her book is beautifully done with wonderful photographs and excellent information.

As you ponder this information, maybe you have already been checking out the ingredients on the labels of your animal food cans. Contrast what you find with other labels at a good natural pet store. See the level of animal products compared to animal by-products. You might want to consider buying one of these books as an additional support for your own learning on preparing your own animal meals. Of course, maybe you are already way ahead of me. If so, great! If not, this exploration could well benefit your animal friend’s health. You can find this book on www.catacumen.com in the bookstore section.

Next entry: Tip 9 and Deepok Chopra doesn’t mix words about what to avoid eating!

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent FelineAnother Wonderful Book on Pet Diets Tip 7: Take the time to study about the quality of animal foods.

Welcome!

For me, it has been important to raise the questions that have come up regarding our animal foods. As I said once before, there is a growing awareness as to the concerns regarding processed foods and there are solutions to these issues. It feels good to find these wonderful resource books and to share them with you. Since I am in the learning stage, I feel these authors, who have the expertise in this field, are the best ones to give you specific directions on how to feed your pets naturally. Let me share another resource I have found.

Andi Brown’s book, The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats, also makes the case for and provides the information necessary for understanding and implementing a home-prepared fresh-food diet for your animal friend. With his guidance anyone can learn to provide his or her pet with an optimal diet. Dr. Pitcairn, author of Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, wrote the Foreword to this book and expresses his understanding of the value of a fresh food diet gained from his own personal experience. He too acknowledges his embarrassment that it took him so long to apply the healing benefits of fresh living foods learned from his own health issues to his animal patients. He is very supportive of Andi’s efforts in this area. You can find this book on www.catacumen.com in the bookstore section.

Next entry: Tip 8 and Consider a Holistic Approach to Health

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent FelineMy Second Discovery
Tip 6: Books are now available that teach about preparing animal appropriate, fresh, living foods that are naturally rich in enzymes.

Welcome!

Having contemplated the time when I would be getting other feline companions (and which happened fairly recently, quite unexpectedly by the way.), I am determined to feed all future my animal friends the healthiest of foods. I want food that is natural and filled with living enzymes. Dr. Pitcairn and Anitra Frazier’s books certainly started to steer me in this direction.

I have resolved to either prepare the all foods naturally myself or to do a combination of some home prepared and some high quality natural canned food that I would obtain from an excellent natural pet store. Needing information, I was pleased when Amazon.com brought three new titles of books to my attention on this very topic. This was my second wonderful discovery. There are recently published books written by authors who were committed to feeding animals naturally and better. You can find them all on HYPERLINK “http://www.catacumen.com” www.catacumen.com in the bookstore section.

The discovery of Kymythy R. Schultze’s, C.C.N., A.H.I. book, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet, was a particular thrill. She not only provided the information that I was seeking but also confirmed the same conclusions that I had come to regarding the problems of processed foods, the value of a natural diet, and the importance of enzymes. An easy read, she provides both the rationale and understanding for feeding our dogs and cats a natural, healthy diet but also provides all the information needed to make that possible and seems very doable. Drawing upon years of study and teaching about animals and their nutritional needs, Kymythy has clearly defined a workable nutritional program that anyone can follow to provide natural home prepared meals for their pets. This book is brilliant in its simplicity and clarity. It is very clear that natural foods far surpass processed foods in their nutritional value and positive health benefits to animals.

To say the least, I devoured this book immediately and became very hopeful that with further study and integration, I would be able to fulfill my commitment to feed my next feline naturally and easily.

Next entry: Tip 7 and Another New Wonderful Book on Pet Diets.

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

Quality Foods are More Available Tip 5: High quality foods are available in good natural health pet stores.

Welcome!

I have made two great discoveries in the past months. I will share the first one in this blog. It was the discovery of a wonderful natural health pet store in my city. I had never been in such a store and it was an eye opening, uplifting experience for me. Not only did they have two beautiful felines gracing the store with their presence but also they had a large variety of food items that were new to me. These were labeled as natural, animal products, organic and seemed more nutritionally rich then anything that I had previously seen. I reveled in what I saw. The difference was mind-boggling.

There were a large variety of canned foods under different labels that contained all animal products. I also discovered a whole new selection of food products that have been developed containing those ingredients that animals would literally eat naturally. I found that while some of these foods have been heat processed which unfortunately kills the enzymes needed for the body, other varieties were mixed raw and then immediately frozen. The labels also indicated that these food ingredients were made from meats of the same quality as those sold for human consumption (I’ve learned since that because there is no governmental standards for this statement, we cannot be sure of its validity). What is important is that that statement draws us to the awareness that animals need food of high quality just as humans do. Their health depends on it just as good healthy food supports our good health.

While I cannot be sure of the true nutritional value of those pet foods found in natural pet food stores, I can say that compared to what I had experienced in the supermarket, they appear to be of a much higher quality. And, I think the important thing to keep in mind is that foods that are fresh, of the kind that meet the digestive and system needs of the particular animal, and provide living enzymes may ultimately be the best.

Next entry: Tip 6 and my second discovery.

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

Disturbing Information about Animal Processed Foods Tip 4: Select processed foods that are composed of animal products, not animal by-products!

Welcome!

Today, I will briefly share what I have learned about processed foods for animals.
Initially, I consulted with two books that gave valuable information on natural pet care. These books were HYPERLINK “http://www.catacumen.com/bookstore/” Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM and Susan Hubble and HYPERLINK “http://www.catacumen.com/bookstore/” The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners by Anitra Frazier. Since that time I have discovered three other excellent books about feeding dogs and will share more on these later.

Here is a summary of what I learned and wrote in the Appendix, Notes on the Care of Felines in my book HYPERLINK “http://www.catacumen.com/” Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline:

“Probably the most disturbing bit of information regarding food quality that I acquired during my reading concerns the ingredients that are put into many commercial foods. Many content labels list animal by-products as the main ingredients rather than animal products. I compared the content labels of Regal’s regular food and the food obtained from my vet for kidney patients. The difference was enormous. The ingredients of her regular food were mostly animal by-products, while the kidney food was mostly animal products. Animal by-products may consist of animal parts that cannot be sold to humans, or they can contain body parts from decayed, diseased, or disabled animals. These animal parts generally have little nutritional value.

In contrast, foods made from animal products contain muscle meat or organs of high quality protein, which can be used optimally by the body. This food provides the highest quality protein because it provides the best amino acids ratios. The food that I thought was a high quality food for Regal did not contain one animal product.”

Let me refer you also to Ann M. Martin’s book, HYPERLINK “http://www.catacumen.com/bookstore/” Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts about Pet Food, which confirmed my findings. Ann’s book reveals the shocking and hidden truths of what is allowed in pet food after a thorough seven-year investigation. Her documented book reveals serious problems and raises issues that we, as pet owners, can address when we decide to make better choices in what we feed our animal friends.

Next entry: Tip 5 and, higher quality foods are more available,

Blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

An Emerging Awareness Tip 3: Knowledge of higher quality pet foods is more available now.

Welcome!

For years, I think many of us assumed the best where commercial animal foods were concerned and did not give much thought as to the quality or differences between available brands. However, more thoughtful awareness is now being given to these issues and better foods are being produced. We have made a quantum leap in understanding and accessing the quality of ingredients placed in animal processed foods. In response, many people are choosing higher grades of processed foods and some are returning to the preparation of their own homemade natural food based on the better understanding of animal needs and how animal systems work.

This heightened concern and awareness became especially apparent as we witnessed the recent problem of contaminated ingredients being added to pet foods as a means to cheaply fortify protein level readings. This was done to increase company profits with no regard to the ingredient’s detrimental effect on animals. And, because of this, many animals around the United States suffered and died.

These events have supported the growing awareness and interest in providing more natural and wholesome foods for our animal friends. There is a growing concern for providing human beings with organic and fresh food as well. Sixteen years ago I was fortunate to be in a situation where I learned about living foods, raw and rich enzyme filled vegetables. I saw my health improve significantly and became committed to healthy eating. As I said last week, I am somewhat embarrassed that I did not transfer this learning faster to my animal food understandings. Maybe slow on the uptake, I feel good that I am now making the connection. Because of it, my next animal will be fed more natural and enzyme alive appropriate foods.

Next entry: Tip 4 and the disturbing information about animal processed foods.

With blessings, Linda

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

What Triggered My Quest to Investigate Animal Foods
Tip 2: There are problems with processed foods.

Welcome!

When I realized that Regal was not acting her normal self, I became concerned and immediately made an appointment with the vet. During our visit, the vet asked a simple but very important question which started my process of thinking. “What food are you feeding Regal?” Initially I didn’t think much about the question and proudly announced the brand name of Regal’s food, thinking that I had been feeding her the best thing available in the supermarket. It wasn’t long before this question and the vet’s recommendation of changing Regal’s diet led me to question the quality of the food that I had been feeding Regal. I wondered as to its direct contribution to her kidney failure.

Fragments of information slowly started to surface and I started to learn more about the quality of foods that are available for our pets in supermarkets compared to the quality of foods available now with the advent of natural pet stores. I started to study the labels and saw significant variations between them. Books led me to the disturbing discovery of the meaning of animal by-products and what they consist of compared to the labels listing animal products which signify a higher quality of food products.

As I investigated these issues, I came to the realization that the processed foods that I had been feeding Regal probably were part of her problem. And, with some embarrassment, I have realized that I had not applied the same understandings and principles that governed my choice of food – namely the value of fresh foods filled with enzymes – to guide my decisions for Regal. I’m sorry to say that it did not even come into my consciousness. I just hadn’t given it much thought.

Next entry: Tip 3 and an emerging awareness.

Blessings, Linda

August 1, 2008

Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

Welcome and purpose

Tip 1: What we feed our animal friends either contributes to their good health or fosters illness.

Welcome!

While writing my Regal Cat’s wonderful story, I became aware of a couple of issues which stimulated my exploration into natural health care for animals. Learning some important things, I decided that I wanted to share what I learned and make a contribution to the better care of animals. Thus, I have created this!
blog as a means to share. May you tune in, benefit, and share your knowledge also.

My first entries will focus on the quality of the foods we feed our animal friends. Sadly, I have become aware that I did not feed Regal the best of foods even though I thought I had done so at the time. I have since learned more about feline nutrition and some of the problems facing us regarding processed foods. Having come to the realization that processed foods probably contributed to Regal’s health problem, I am determined to feed my next felines in better ways. And so, I needed to learn a few things.

As a culture, we are growing in the awareness of those nutritional principles that, when followed, enhance and contribute to a good state of human health. It seems that there is also growing awareness of animal nutritional needs and desire to feed animals in more natural healthy ways. I have found that people prepared homemade foods for their animals up until about sixy years ago. This potentially healthier way of feeding pets with fresher ingre
dients gave way to the advent of industrial processed animal foods which then became easily available in the supermarkets. A major shift took place. We are realizing now that this trend toward processed foods has had its costs in both animal and human health.

Next entry: Tip 2 and Guess what triggered my quest to investigate the quality of animal foods.

With blessings, Linda