What’s in your pet’s diet? Part One

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We all love our pets and love to spoil them excessively but did you know that your pet’s diet can effect them in different ways and could even be causing your pet to have health issues?

What’s really behind the label?

Before buying any cat/dog food check the label. Does it have by-products, preservatives,  and a ton of things you can’t even pronounce? Then walk away. The type of foods you should be looking for would have actual meat in it things like Salmon, chicken even protein meal is fine.  It’s still made from meat while by-products tends to be more of the discarded parts of the animal. Some brands of foods have extra minerals and vitamins to promote a healthy pet as well.  Their are limited ingredients, weight control, hairball management, digestive aid brands and much more. The price can be a bit higher  but in the end is worth the extra cost.

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Counting calories

Pets who are overweight can have loads of medical and behavioral problems. It can lead to diabetes, arthritis, decreased life span,  cats not able to fit or get into a litter box, and not being able to clean themselves properly. If your pet is getting hefty you can pick up weight control food, limit the treats and do not give table scraps.  Free feeding can lead to obesity if you just keep filing up the bowl without measuring so a strict meal plan would be a better alternative. Some pets just eat and eat. Look for dry food that has weight control or has low fat %, 16% or less would be great and put your pet on a feeding schedule.

Food allergies

It is more common in pets then you think. If your pet is constantly scratching or licking, has dry skin, bald patches, a high frequency of hot spots, hives, ear infections, skin infections, diarrhea, and vomiting then your pet might be allergic to their food. The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish. Bring you pet to the vet if those symptoms do occur, and get your pet tested for what allergies they have. There are brands that have limited ingredients, and raw food is also something that can be looked into.

Stay tune for part two of our What’s in your pet’s diet. Coming soon!

Purrsday Tidbit: Single Kitty Verses Two or More?

 

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One kitten is cute but what about two? It comes to the age old question: Is two better then one? Well it depends.

With two kittens the pros are:
– Twice the cuddles and laughter.
– They can keep each other company while you are away.
– They can amuse each other verses one kitten bugging your senior cat or dog or you.
– They can play with each other to tire each other out! No more bugging you to play or play aggression due to not enough play time.
– It can help prevent separation anxiety.
– Siblings often get along well (but some cats/kittens do perfectly fine with a friend who isn’t their sibling).

Cons:
– A bit more in cost especially in regards to insurance.
– More food and litter. (You want one litterbox per cat plus one extra).
– Two can means more training and dealing with behavioral issues.
– If you are renting it can be harder to find a place that allows multiple pets verses just one.
– Your cat might not appreciate the new kitty.

leswkrYou need to weigh the pros and cons of your situation. However, some cats really do need a source of companionship and can get lonely or even depressed without a feline friend. We have many cats who do require a friend and a few who would prefer to be a single cat. It all depends on the individual cat.

If you do make the decision to get a companion for your resident cat, or or want to adopt two together there are some things to look for in compatibility. A dominant bossy kitty would not do well with a timid kitty but a confident kitty would be fine. A timid kitty would do great with a cat who doesn’t care about other cats or a somewhat more confident kitty. If you have a cat who is used to other cats and is still playful you’d be fine with either a kitten or an adult. For a senior who is used to other cats, an adult who is more calm might be more appreciated then a kitten unless you get two or are willing to play out your kitten multiple times a day. Some cats do find kittens less threatening but the key is proper introduction and frequent play time for the kitten. Play aggression is common in kittens and young adults so tiring them out is key.

Once you’re ready to bring your new cat(s) home, check out our blog post on how to introduce them!

 

Transformation Tuesday: Quinn

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We received word of a beautiful cat who looked to be pregnant out on the streets. We didn’t want her to give birth in the freezing cold so thankfully we were able to catch her. She looked rather plump so we figured she must be due soon. Weeks passed with no babies and her foster started to question this pregnancy.

“I think she might just be fat. No babies yet.”

We gave it a few more days then brought her to the vet to have x-rays done which verified that she was indeed – fat.

She was put on a diet. (Jon understands her pain, but thankfully with being a male we never thought he was pregnant. I don’t think he could ever live that down.) Once she was at a good healthy weight she was brought to Tailblazers South to find her forever home.

We would like to apologize to Quinn for calling her pregnant and then after that, fat. We understand that kind of struggle. To make up for it we promise her an amazing forever home with lot of treats (just not too many please, one can only live with being called pregnant when you’re not once in your lifetime!).

If you are looking for an extremely cuddly cat, look no further then this girl. Check out her bio!