#right now he just gets kibble and wet food :( we try to keep him hydrated though

[stinkrascal]

the videos on tiktok where people feed their cats those fancy wet foods with the quail eggs and the probiotics and the pumpkin powder and the little dried fish and the bone broth and the dried blood powders are so addicting. like dude why does this cat eat better than i do

[pawsandfurrs]

Wet And Dry Cat Food: A Cat Food Guide For You

You need to speak with your veterinarian because feeding your cat is to be planned unlike your cat’s sleep time.

A lot of new cat moms and dads try to figure out what exactly should they feed their baby. Here’s a guide for you to look through so you have a rough idea at least. Before getting into it, keep in mind the following to choose better:

1. Age: This is pretty self explanatory. With growing age, food and nutrition requirements change. If your cat is a rescue cat, you can still find out its age with the help of certain factors.

2. Weight: An ideal weight needs to be maintained for your cat so their heart functions properly. If she/he has gained weight or is underweight, get a diet plan to get that ideal number.

3. Lifestyle: Certain cats are playful and active while some are not. A playful cat might just have the energy level or might require more food during the day. A cat that loves to be a pile on its pillow throne might not need much calories or else it will get overweight.

4. Calorie Consumption: All foods differ in calories despite the quantity. Calorie count must be maintained always and spread out during the day to maintain energy in the body.

5. Weather: Hot weather and cold weather affect the food intake for cats too! Keep that in mind when deciding the meal plan for your furbaby.

6. Hormone: If a cat is pregnant or is going through changes in the body hormone levels, it directly affects the hunger of your cat. Less food during this can make the cat angry and irritable and a whole lot sassy.

Now that we have this checklist let us move on to the main meal plan. You might think that when it comes to cat food, it really must be wet vs dry. That’s actually not the case at all. Both these types of food have good options to choose and should be given equally or accordingly to your cat.

Wet Cat Food is basically the ones you have seen in cans and pouches at the Pet Store Kuwait .The one plus point is that since it’s moist it helps keep the cat hydrated. The different textures and ingredients make the food more enjoyable and easy to chew.

Dry Cat Food is kibbles available in large bags at pet stores and supermarkets. The plus point it offers is that since it’s dry, it has a longer shelf life. There is no need to worry about food getting spoiled due to moisture content.

Another common comparison between the two is that wet food needs to be consumed by the cat in at least 40 minutes. On the other hand, dry food can be eaten throughout the day whenever he/she is hungry.

Here’s the real deal though, what you feed your cat can only be chosen by your cat and the tiny taste buds in his/her mouth. Your vet and you could decide the meal plan and choose from the wide range of Caru Wet Cat Food and dry food(link here) but ultimately your cat must enjoy meals.

You can track eating habits and come to terms with that. See to it that your cat is happy when eating and isn’t hungry for more after the meal. Also, notice if he/she wakes up at night for more food. You can also measure the weight to know whether you are feeding her or him the right quantity.

[azworkingdogs]

Why is My Puppy Not Eating

Ohhhh puppies!!!!  They are such simple yet complex little creatures of unconditional love.

They can also be busy and a bit fickle when it comes to eating.

I remember picking up my current female dog, a long trip to West Virginia from Georgia and offering her an early morning tater tot, she immediately thought I was trying to poison her.  Thinking about it from her perspective, tater tots are real food, so she was kind of right.

Now if I offered the same dog a tatter tot or something even shaped like a tatter tot she would probably try to eat it!

Again, puppy appetites can be fickle.  One of my puppies wouldn’t eat his puppy food until he had scattered his whole bowl of puppy food across the floor.

But I learned these endearing tidbits about their puppy appetites and behaviors fairly early on after their arrival.  It was normal for that pup. 

What is normal for one pup may not be normal for another!

Basic Puppy Feeding

There are about as many puppy feeding charts out there as there are charts on training your puppy.

Many of these puppy food charts are compiled by large dog food corporations, and believe it or not, that is a good thing and a bad thing.

Modern skepticism would tell us that a dog food leader in the dog food industry would recommend over feeding.  And, most of the time, I would agree.  Typically feeding a little less than they recommend is wise.

But, dogs, like humans have different metabolisms.  Puppies also have different metabolisms.  And, food is essential to growth.  No one wants a fat puppy (hard on growing joints) but also no one wants an emaciated puppy; one that can’t grow and is considered abused.  So the food companies are trying to come up with a general statistical “mean”. 

Statistical means refers to the average that is used to derive the central tendency of data in question; how much food should I be feeding my puppy?  Here is a great chart on puppy feeding.

Typically I tend to feed my puppies more and then cut back when they regulate into adulthood.  Adult dogs eat less.

Most Puppies Self Regulate

Most puppies self regulate if you are feeding them often enough.

I had always been taught by my mentor in veterinary medicine to feed puppies under 12 weeks old 3 times daily if possible and allow them to self regulate.  Give them 5 minutes of having the food bowl down and what isn’t eaten gets picked up.

A hungry puppy will probably eat until he is full.   Remember he has a tiny puppy stomach and a tiny puppy bladder (for potty training) and that he likely doesn’t need much to become full.

Make regular trips to your veterinarian.  Hopefully you are scheduling regular trips for vaccines and wellness checks, but they are certainly better educated at helping you keep your puppy on the right weight track.  A good vet will tell you when you have a fat puppy (and you are risking his growth plates) and if you can up his food just a smidge.

Adult dogs have more of a problem with over eating and gaining weight even with their dry kibble .

Know Your Puppy’s Eating Habits

I have had puppies that would never skip a meal or a treat; and I have had pups that seemed to constantly have attention deficit disorder (ADD) and have trouble focusing on anything much less a meal.  After a very short period of time it is apparent that skipping a meal here and there for these puppies is normal.

I still have one of these!  Sometimes he eats, sometimes he doesn’t.  I can see his ribs but he is healthy and self regulates.   I probably offer him 6 cups of dry kibble dog food a day for a 55 pound dog (that is A LOT).  But he is constantly in motion, has some anxiety, and sometimes just doesn’t feel like eating.  If the problem progresses I know something is wrong, but I also know his eating habits well because I believe in meal feeding.

If my other dog doesn’t want a treat I know she is seriously ill!  Eating habits are important to know and recognize.

The FDA has recently approved an appetite stimulant for dogs, 

Illness

Puppies really do need to eat.

If your puppy skips meals for more than 24 hours there may be something seriously wrong with him. An adult dog that isn’t eating may have less of a serious problem.  But a pup with a significant loss of appetite is a concern.

Most will never go this long without eating “something” or a small amount because they need those calories to keep up with the puppy zoomies!

One of the first signs of illness is refusing to eat, and it should be taken serious.  Even if you have a frequent meal skip-er or puppy with ADD when it comes to eating be sure you are at least mentally charting their skips or misses.

Water is the most important!

As we know your body can go days without food (not recommended) but after a few days without water dehydration becomes deadly.

Fewer people monitor their puppy’s hydration intake but it is even more important than monitoring his food.  Make sure that he is drinking.  A dehydrated puppy can get very sick and need hospitalization quickly!  Remember dehydration leads to death.

And adult dog that isn’t eating is much different than a pup that isn’t eating or has a loss of appetite.

Wet food can stimulate your pup to eat but it may mask a problem or give him diarrhea if he is not used to eating wet food. 

I actually try to avoid wet food with my puppies, because dry food is best for their teeth and I don’t want to teach them bad eating habits or to create an adult dog who won’t eat or who is refusing to eat.

Your adult dog’s health can be contingent upon some of the habits you build when he is just a pup.  Your dog’s diet is dependent on what you expose him to when he is a puppy.

Vomiting

Anything more than random vomiting should be of concern.  Yes, if you see your puppy drink a large amount of water, then chase a butterfly, then vomit; chances are you know the cause.  Some puppies do drink too much too quickly.

But vomiting is a sign of distress and the body trying to expel something. 

Vomiting also leads to dehydration (BAD)!

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can also be a cause for concern.  Again, it is one of those symptoms that can lead to dehydration (BAD).

Sure, I think all puppies get loose stool on occasion but it shouldn’t last too long and it should never effect their activity level. 

A lethargic puppy who isn’t eating with vomiting and diarrhea is bad news!

It can also be the body’s way of trying to deal with infection or disease.

Parvovirus is marked by dehydration, vomiting and serious diarrhea.

These can all be signs that your puppy has ingested a foreign body that may need surgical removal, and if not removed can cause death.

So, be prepared to allow your veterinarian to run blood tests and x-rays.  Puppies can be much more fragile than adult dogs, so in order to ensure his well being sometimes lots of tests and IV fluids are required.

Remember your dog’s health is crucial.

The Most Important Take Away

Puppies don’t have the immune system or bodily strength of an adult dog when it comes to illness.

Know your puppy!  Your dog’s diet is up to you!

Watch him eat, watch him drink, go outside and watch his bathroom habits. 

Keep an eye on him so that he won’t eat something he shouldn’t like a sock!

And, if he gets sick watch his signs and get him into a vet.

Yes, puppies get diarrhea, yes puppies vomit, they eat too much, they drink too much the run around like crazy people; but they need to be monitored like you would do to your own child.

If they become lethargic it becomes even more dangerous.   To find a vet near you click here.

Knowing the signs is one of the most crucial pieces of knowledge for prevention.

Then, keep an eye on him and monitor him until his good behaviors become conditioned and you don’t need to keep as close of an eye on him anymore!

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[ssteezyy]

Tiffanie McCullough: Passionate About Cats, TNR, Feline Nutrition, and Busting Stereotypes

I first met Tiffany McCullough at Cat Camp NYC earlier this year, but didn’t have much of a chance to chat with her until we saw each other again at CatCon. We only talked for a few minutes amid the (wonderful) craziness that is CatCon, but I knew right then and there that I had met a kindred spirit, and that I wanted to introduce you to this amazing woman.

Tiffanie is the Director of Trapking Humane Solutions, working with Sterling Davis to help the cats in their hometown Atlanta through TNR and adoption, and to bridge the gap in communication between black communities and animal rescue and local shelters.

Tiffanie is a Virginia native who has always loved animals. After getting her degree in business marketing, she spent eight years in corporate America, until one day, she had had enough of the stress and the mundane treadmill of the business world. She quit. “I flat out said forget this and walked out on my corporate job and never looked back,” writes Tiffanie on the Trapking website. “That night, once I actually had time to realize what I had done , I went online and saw a job for a cat attendant at Lifeline Animal Project.” She got called for an interview the next day. “I sat in a cat room in heels and a business skirt, with cats climbing all around me and purring.” She was hired four days later.

She served as an owner surrender counselor, worked with shelter cats, and became interested in animal nutrition. “My affinity for animals has become a full fledged movement,” writes Tiffanie. “I aim to break the stereotypes associated with not only black women and cats but black women and animals. That one risk of quitting my career has led me on a journey that has blessed me in so many ways and it continues to do so every second of every day.”

I wanted to learn more about Tiffany and her work, and I’m delighted to bring you this interview.

How did you get started with Trapking and Sterling?

I’ve known Sterling for years. He would let staff tag along on trapping sessions and that’s how I developed my love for TNR . I remember we were both working at the shelter. I was working the front desk at the clinic right before I was promoted to Owner Surrender Counselor. Sterling was the sole person doing TNR for the organization (a private shelter and two county shelters.) He would always talk about how there had to be a better way to spread awareness and to get more men and diversity involved with feral cats and TNR .

As time went on, it went from casual talking to him really wanting to see the change. One day he came to my desk and said “Pika, I’m starting a nonprofit – I have to do it. I want to do something different to help these cats and I’m calling it TrapKing. I want you to be my director. You can help keep things running smoothly and you have the background knowledge.” I was super excited, of course, and it blossomed from there.

How did you get interested in nutrition?

My initial interest came when I was working at the shelter. I’ve worked in intake, the kennel, the feline department, the shelter clinic, and a private vet clinic (editor’s note: Tiffanie is Fear Free Certified.) I’ve seen multiple facets of how diet affects shelter animals. They are usually fed whatever is cost effective or donated. I saw how a lot of the animals had skin issues and allergy symptoms. When a shelter is stretched to the max on a budget, it can be hard to meet nutritional needs.

It wasn’t until I began working at the private veterinary clinic in patient care that I was able to really be hands on and learn about food allergies, prescription diets and raw feeding. I noticed some of the owners would bring in freeze dried raw food or home made food for their pets who were boarding. A lot of them complained about how the prescribed diet wasn’t working. I looked at the back of a prescribed bag of food one day and was amazed at all of the corn, wheat gluten and other additives inside. My interest peaked from there.

You are an advocate for raw feeding. How did you come to understand that raw is the optimal diet for cats?

Education and research. The best thing any owner can do is arm themselves with knowledge. I’m not saying don’t take the advice of your vet, however, preparing yourself for more healthier options is a win for the pet and the owner. I took a job at a specialty food pet store that is a huge advocate for raw feeding for pets. I went through several months of training, and meetings with representatives of some awesome raw food companies.

The first thing I learned was that cats are obligate carnivores. Even the best kibble is still kibble. Not only can a raw diet improve digestion, the stool is greatly reduced in volume and odor, there is also better dental health and less shedding of the coat, which leads to fewer hairballs. I remember reading, and taking pages and pages of notes. It was like college all over again. I also met with a couple of veterinarians who advocate raw feeding.

How do you approach counseling potential adopters or cat parents who have never heard of raw feeding?

I encourage everyone to start slow. There are so many options in regards to raw feeding . Which is good, because cats are creatures of habit and change for them can be hard. I always try to give a little background on cats and how they function. For example: The amino acid taurine is exclusively found in animal-based proteins. Humans and dogs can easily synthesize it within their bodies with usually no problems. Cats, however have to get taurine from their diet. So what we feed our feline companions is super important. I talk to them about how taurine is critical for heart muscle function, fetal development, the immune system and vision. Salmon, red meat and poultry (especially organ meats) are great natural sources of taurine. You would be hard pressed to find a wild cat with a taurine deficiency.

Most of the time, switching from kibble to raw should be fairly easy. However, factoring in lifestyle of the owner and the cat, thawing out frozen raw food may be a challenge. Freeze-dried raw (which may require re-hydrating) is a great way to add raw to the diet or to transition. Raw goat’s milk is another way to add a raw element. I’d like to note that I wouldn’t give kittens raw goat’s milk. Their systems are much too sensitive. If kittens can’t nurse, a commercial kitten milk replacement is ideal.

Can you share some success stories you’ve had with raw food? You mentioned a cat named Lenny to me?

Lenny!! Ahh, my heartbeat. Lenny was pulled by Sterling from a county shelter, where he was facing euthanasia because they deemed him too feral. We ended up taking him to a vet for a severe open gash and to be neutered. After two more surgeries, Lenny went into foster care, where he was a lovebug. When he was finally healed, he made his way to me.

I noticed he had severe diarrhea. It was pretty bad. The kibble he had been eating was wreaking havoc on his system. I immediately got him some goat’s milk with turmeric and ginger to help with his tummy and to replenish lost moisture. I also started him on freeze dried raw chicken and salmon, which was 90% meat, organs and bone with 10% produce and supplements. Within 3 days, Lenny went from overbearing diarrhea (yikes) to solid stool that was small in size and had very little odor. The smaller stool was also a sign that he was absorbing a majority of the nutrients. He also really loves raw bone broth. Primal is his favorite brand of raw food. As days went, on his coat and overall health dramatically improved. He and I both decided to make it official, and I adopted him.

Tiffanie with Lenny

Tell us about your first cat.

My first cat was a calico named Nadia. I found her in the woods near my campus. I was 19 and in college at the time. She was malnourished and covered in fleas. I was so naive that I just gave her water, wet food and washed her with just a bar of soap. I kept her hidden in my dorm room. She thrived for about a month but was just so sickly. I remember taking my last bit of money and taking her to the vet because she had stopped eating. He told me she had a terribly infected abscess in her mouth, and was anemic. Her little body just couldn’t take it. I cried for days when she passed. I’ve thankfully learned so much more about cats since then.

How many cats do you have now?

Just one. Lenny Katvitz – he is my eartipped renegade but he is pure love and let me tell you, he is quite the entertainer. He is so inquisitive and when he gets excited – especially at feeding time – he becomes a chatterbox. It’s the cutest!!!

What is it like working with Sterling?

With Sterling everything you see is exactly what you’re going to get. If you took Lebron James, Jimi Hendrix and mixed a feral cat in there it would be Sterling… lol. He is outgoing, driven and determined. We are like a bonded pair of felines when it comes to TNR, our love for animals and life in general. We balance each other out, Sterl is more eclectic and stubborn. I’m more calm and open. I make sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes. We always bounce ideas off of each other, too. We may bump heads at times, but we have fun. At the end of the day, we are both here for one purpose, and that’s to advance the awareness of all things feral and TNR. Besides who else could deal with that dude honestly? 😆

For more information about Tiffanie, Sterling and Trap King Solutions and the amazing work they do, please visit https://trapkinghumane.org/.

The post Tiffanie McCullough: Passionate About Cats, TNR, Feline Nutrition, and Busting Stereotypes appeared first on The Conscious Cat.