Beware of people who dislike cats - Irish Proverb

contact@catdefence.com.au 

 "Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain

• Cats need a greater amount of protein in their diet than dogs or people.  Proteins are muscle meats, organ meats (heart, kidney,liver), fish, chicken, egg yolk and milk, all of which supply complex proteins.  Kittens need a greater proportion of their food to be supplied by protein - 1/3 more than a grown cat requires.
• Small kittens need frequent small meals, decreasing in number and increasing in quantity as the kitten becomes young cat.
• Cats, unlike humans, need a fair quantity of fat in their diet.  Unlike humans, the fats need not be unsaturated fats (eg. corn soybeans, maize oils).  Margarines can destroy Vitamin E which is vital to a cat's well being.
• Cats require a larger percentage of Vitamin A (much more than dogs) but a much smaller amount of Vitamin D than humans or dogs.  Fish liver oils which supply Vitamins A & D in ideal proportions for humans are dangerous for cats and should never be given; the proportion of D is too high and can induce a condition called yellow heart, which can kill.
• Unlike dogs, cats cannot manufacture Vitamin A in their bodies and must obtain it from food.  Liver is an excellent source of Vitamin A, but should not be given more than 2 or 3 times per week (bone problems and diarrhoea can result from too much).
• Cats require twice as much of the B vitamins as do dogs.  One of the complex B vitamins, thiamine, can be destroyed by raw fish.  Egg white (uncooked) has no nutritional or caloric value but will destroy the B vitamin, Biotin.  Too much fish, cooked, uncooked or tinned can be hazardous for cats (2 or 3 served a week is ideal).  The hazards of too much fish are an excess of mercury which can kill, and Vitamin E deficiency (in any predominantly fish diet) and particularly caused by cheap red meat tuna (use with caution and sparingly) which is vital in a cat's diet.  Sources of vitamin B:  liver, kidneys, yeast (found in Vegemite but is too high in sodium for frequent use).  In essence, it's ideal to give your cat a mixture of cat foods and not let it get hooked on any single taste.  Chicken is a good basic food for felines.

It is prudent for cat owners to keep a regular check of their cat's mouth & seek veterinary attention if they notice anything amiss. Things to look for include;

• Bad breath (this is one of the most common symptoms of a dental problem)

• Drooling              

• Lumps or bumps                                                 

• Red, inflamed or bleeding gums

• Reluctance to eat, especially hard foods

• Reluctance to groom

• Facial swelling

• Bleeding from the nose

 

Untreated  dental problems can lead to serious health problems like kidney disease. 

 

Flea Products

 There are many good, simple to use products on the market for flea control. Never use products made for dogs, as they can cause severe health problems in cats, including death. If you are unsure which one to use, consult your vet.