recommendations for dehydrator?/cat food

[Guest guest]

I kind of expected this answer... LOL

But, there is a way around it. You feed them ground meat for a week or three, then start introducing small pieces for another week or two, then introduce a little bigger pieces next and go slowly like this until they eat bigger chunks of meat. You do the same with tiny bones from chicken until they are crunching chicken legs with no problem. Mine do.

 

There is no question that even ground meat is 1000% healthier than any commercial cat food but.....feeding large pieces gives them clean teeth. It prevents gingivitis and tooth loss. It also prevents hundreds of dollars you would have to spend on professional teeth cleaning at the vets. It also gives the cat a satisfaction of a great meal. I think it is worth the extra work in the beginning...

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

I want to be able to grind up meat and bones. My cats don't recognize whole meat as food, lol.

 

Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

I've tried that, with dismal results, lolol. I haven't dedicated myself to it yet, since it requires a LOT of persistence. I can "hide" ground chicken in their canned food, but the ground chicken from the store doesn't have any bones in it. Every time I chop up chunks of chicken to add to their food, they don't eat the pieces. So, my plan is to make my own ground meat, and then slowly work them up to chunkier pieces, and then finally whole.

 

None of the "quick" start diets have worked for me. I have THE most stubborn cats! I can't even get Leo to eat canned food-he is a die hard kibble fan. :-(Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/15/2007 10:07:09 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

I kind of expected this answer... LOL

But, there is a way around it. You feed them ground meat for a week or three, then start introducing small pieces for another week or two, then introduce a little bigger pieces next and go slowly like this until they eat bigger chunks of meat. You do the same with tiny bones from chicken until they are crunching chicken legs with no problem. Mine do.

 

There is no question that even ground meat is 1000% healthier than any commercial cat food but.....feeding large pieces gives them clean teeth. It prevents gingivitis and tooth loss. It also prevents hundreds of dollars you would have to spend on professional teeth cleaning at the vets. It also gives the cat a satisfaction of a great meal. I think it is worth the extra work in the beginning...

 

Barbara

 

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[Guest guest]

LOL! I am VERY stubborn! I WILL convert them, even if it takes TEN years. :-)Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/16/2007 12:03:02 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

I know Cyndi, cats can be very stubborn. Some cats took a year or two to convert but they did. All will eventually do but you have to be more stubborn than them.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

I've tried that, with dismal results, lolol. I haven't dedicated myself to it yet, since it requires a LOT of persistence. I can "hide" ground chicken in their canned food, but the ground chicken from the store doesn't have any bones in it. Every time I chop up chunks of chicken to add to their food, they don't eat the pieces. So, my plan is to make my own ground meat, and then slowly work them up to chunkier pieces, and then finally whole.

 

None of the "quick" start diets have worked for me. I have THE most stubborn cats! I can't even get Leo to eat canned food-he is a die hard kibble fan. :-(Cyndi

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See what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

I'm going to try one of those commercial raw mixes they sell at WF to help me transition them. (I forgot to mention this in the last email.) It's expensive, so it can't be a permanent thing, but at least it's more complete than plain ground chicken. I'm trying to use plain ground chicken mixed with raw egg etc. to supplement their diet and help transition them, but as you know, it's not a complete diet. I have ALL SORTS of PLANS, lol. ;-)Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/16/2007 1:30:13 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

LOL....Atta girl!!

Best of luck to you but mostly to your cats!

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

LOL! I am VERY stubborn! I WILL convert them, even if it takes TEN years. :-)Cyndi

 

 

See what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

I know Cyndi, cats can be very stubborn. Some cats took a year or two to convert but they did. All will eventually do but you have to be more stubborn than them.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

I've tried that, with dismal results, lolol. I haven't dedicated myself to it yet, since it requires a LOT of persistence. I can "hide" ground chicken in their canned food, but the ground chicken from the store doesn't have any bones in it. Every time I chop up chunks of chicken to add to their food, they don't eat the pieces. So, my plan is to make my own ground meat, and then slowly work them up to chunkier pieces, and then finally whole.

 

None of the "quick" start diets have worked for me. I have THE most stubborn cats! I can't even get Leo to eat canned food-he is a die hard kibble fan. :-(Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

The ground chicken does not have bones or organ meat in it, so it can't be used by itself for a cats diet, just to make myself clear...they still need the bones and organs, and that's what will make it "complete." In my mind, "complete" is "completely" different than what the pet food people mean, lol.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/16/2007 2:47:08 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

Cyndi, I don't think you have to worry about "complete" diet.

That was the commercial food concept, really a gimmick to entice people to buy their "food".

 

Cats (and dogs) get everything they need from just meat, bone and organ meats. They do not need anything else to be healthy.

Eggs are great though.

 

When you buy the commercial frozen chose the ones without veggies. They certainly do not need them, only make their digestive systems work harder trying to process them.

 

Hope at least some of your plans work!

 

Barbara

 

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[Guest guest]

Wow, that is GREAT to know! Thanks!

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/16/2007 4:44:54 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

You can add a 1/2 tsp of powdered egg shells for every pound of ground meat (any kind) if you are worried about calcium and other minerals that are in bones. You can also add 5% to 10% of liver and kidneys to ground chicken (or any kind of meat) to make the diet complete the way you understand it.

 

Apart from that, the cats and dogs can go without organ meats and without bones for several weeks without any damage to their systems. You don't have to worry about the diet being complete every day. You can also feed them canned Jack Mackerel which is with bones and organs, canned (or raw) salmon or canned sardines. My animals go bananas over sardines in tomato sauce. They absolutely love them

 

Barbara

 

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[Guest guest]

LOL....Atta girl!!

Best of luck to you but mostly to your cats!

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

LOL! I am VERY stubborn! I WILL convert them, even if it takes TEN years. :-)Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

Cyndi, I don't think you have to worry about "complete" diet.

That was the commercial food concept, really a gimmick to entice people to buy their "food".

 

Cats (and dogs) get everything they need from just meat, bone and organ meats. They do not need anything else to be healthy.

Eggs are great though.

 

When you buy the commercial frozen chose the ones without veggies. They certainly do not need them, only make their digestive systems work harder trying to process them.

 

Hope at least some of your plans work!

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going to try one of those commercial raw mixes they sell at WF to help me transition them. (I forgot to mention this in the last email.) It's expensive, so it can't be a permanent thing, but at least it's more complete than plain ground chicken. I'm trying to use plain ground chicken mixed with raw egg etc. to supplement their diet and help transition them, but as you know, it's not a complete diet. I have ALL SORTS of PLANS, lol. ;-)Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

You can add a 1/2 tsp of powdered egg shells for every pound of ground meat (any kind) if you are worried about calcium and other minerals that are in bones. You can also add 5% to 10% of liver and kidneys to ground chicken (or any kind of meat) to make the diet complete the way you understand it.

 

Apart from that, the cats and dogs can go without organ meats and without bones for several weeks without any damage to their systems. You don't have to worry about the diet being complete every day. You can also feed them canned Jack Mackerel which is with bones and organs, canned (or raw) salmon or canned sardines. My animals go bananas over sardines in tomato sauce. They absolutely love them

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

The ground chicken does not have bones or organ meat in it, so it can't be used by itself for a cats diet, just to make myself clear...they still need the bones and organs, and that's what will make it "complete." In my mind, "complete" is "completely" different than what the pet food people mean, lol.

 

Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

RealSimple , cyndikrall wrote:

>

>

> I'm going to try one of those commercial raw mixes

 

 

 

I have ALL SORTS of PLANS, lol. ;-)

>

> Cyndi

 

 

Have you seen this website?

 

http://www.rawfedcats.org

 

It has loads of tips, hints and tricks, as well as some other very

good information, on how and why to transition cats to a diet of whole

(NOT ground) raw food.

 

You can also join this list,

 

http://pets.rawcat/

 

where you can get advice and support from a bunch of very experienced

folks who have sucessfully transitioned their cats to a diet of whole

raw meats, meaty bones and organs, which is in fact, exactly what our

feline friends (all of whom are obligate carnivores) were born to eat.

 

 

 

elan

[Guest guest]

Thanks, i will check it out!

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 5/20/2007 3:39:04 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, elan_spire writes:

Have you seen this website? http://www.rawfedcats.orgIt has loads of tips, hints and tricks, as well as some other verygood information, on how and why to transition cats to a diet of whole(NOT ground) raw food.You can also join this list,http://pets.rawcat/where you can get advice and support from a bunch of very experiencedfolks who have sucessfully transitioned their cats to a diet of wholeraw meats, meaty bones and organs, which is in fact, exactly what ourfeline friends (all of whom are obligate carnivores) were born to eat.elan

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this tip Barb! My cat is 12, almost 13 -- & is beginning to

have some tartar, even though I only feed her dry food. I think I'll

do this for her -- and see how she likes it.

 

Kate

 

RealSimple , " Barbara " <barbara3 wrote:

>

> I kind of expected this answer... LOL

> But, there is a way around it. You feed them ground meat for a week

or three, then start introducing small pieces for another week or two,

then introduce a little bigger pieces next and go slowly like this

until they eat bigger chunks of meat. You do the same with tiny bones

from chicken until they are crunching chicken legs with no problem.

Mine do.

>

> There is no question that even ground meat is 1000% healthier than

any commercial cat food but.....feeding large pieces gives them clean

teeth. It prevents gingivitis and tooth loss. It also prevents

hundreds of dollars you would have to spend on professional teeth

cleaning at the vets. It also gives the cat a satisfaction of a great

meal. I think it is worth the extra work in the beginning...

>

> Barbara

>

>

>

>

> I want to be able to grind up meat and bones. My cats don't

recognize whole meat as food, lol.

>

> Cyndi

>

[Guest guest]

Kate, your cat has some tartar because she eats commercial food. The fact that it is dry food means nothing, dry foods do not keep the teeth clean. It is that it is made of grains that produces gingivitis. Grains are carbs. I hope you will be able to convert her to raw foods. It would be so much healthier for her. Some cats take to raw foods right away.

 

Barbara

 

 

Thanks for this tip Barb! My cat is 12, almost 13 -- & is beginning tohave some tartar, even though I only feed her dry food. I think I'lldo this for her -- and see how she likes it.Kate