Yes, we are getting so good at our trade, here, that we need our own jargon or trade language, too!

Hi, Davis and everyone, the soil I use is usually some organic gardening mix that is good for tomatoes, etc. I can't think of the name right now. I also use Black Gold for houseplants and that is the best, by far, for your plants!

Hurray!!! As of this week, my stubborn cat Sharkey, who refused to eat my home-made recipe, has been successfully weaned off all dry food. She was being transitioned from outdoors to indoors and so insisted on junk food during her transition (at least, that's what SHE said!) It took about 3 1/2 months altogether. My other two cats love my homemade recipe more than anything-except a bowl of dry food- so I had to keep her dry food in the bathroom and let her in and out of the bath to eat. I started by offering her baby food (turkey or chicken stage 2) in the AM, mixed with water. She would eat this while the others got their homemade. Then she would beg for the dry the rest of the day. Next, I started adding water to her dry food and giving it only in small amounts to prevent spoilage.  Gradually I reduced the number of times per day she was allowed to eat this "wet-dry food". Finally, I found a canned food she really liked, after trying many, many brands. That happens to be Merrick's Surf N Turf. At last, I stopped the wet-dry mix and just offered canned. She is now getting canned food three times a day, and I hope to eventually cut back to twice a day. Then everyone will be on the same eating schedule, at least! Who knows, she may even learn to like my cooking! Hey, if I can do this, anyone can! Her whining was tough, and I was sorely tempted to start drinking and smoking, but we all survived!

I know that some of you don't feel that "green stuff" is good for our felines, but if you agree with me that it certainly doesn't hurt, here is a neat trick! I got this tip from a pet store salesperson. I was asking for organic cat grass, which he didn't happen to have. He said to take an empty, washed soy-milk carton and slice it in half, lengthwise (like this l______l  )   Leave the pop-top opening on the bottom half and discard the top half. Fill with a little soil (I use organic) and sprinkle organic Wheat Berries on top, covering with a bit more soil. (Wheat berries are usually available in the bulk section of the market.) Place in a sunny window and water daily. I let the seed soak about 1/2 hour, then drain the water via the carton spout. In about a week you have organic cat grass! Start another one a week later, as they don't last forever. Cats love having something green they can nibble on that belongs to them! And it's a real treat for indoor kitties who feel deprived of the elements! I had to experiment a bit with how much soil and how many seeds to use. Good luck!

I just tried Feline Pine and was sold by everything the package said
(organic, great smell, no new trees sacrificed, blah-blah) but one small
problem: my cats wouldn't touch it! The particles look like large
broken pretzel pieces and obviously hurt their paws. They would
stretch out to walk on the edge of the box to avoid walking on the
litter if I put them in it. And the smell- like a barn-full of cow or
horse dung. Awful!! Next.....

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I can not say that I know exactly what Therese and Karatemom2 are going through, because when the pain of losing a pet hits, it is always worse when it happens to us. It just is! But I can remember when I lost my 18 year old Binky Cat. She was all I had left and we spent every minute together when I was home. The most terrible ache I ever felt came when I saw her slipping away. Then there was this gaping hole in my life, mind and heart for several days; you just sort of go numb. When I came out of it I was still missing her, but knew I had done all I could to make her life happy. A friend said "You were her best friend and there for her throughout her whole life" and that helped. Knowing you did your best helps! Therese, let us know how you are doing each day.   

Does China have an equivalent to our FDA? Is there such a thing as an equivalent to our FDA???(hope not!)  Anyway, Geff and Davis, you have me ROTFLMAO! Davis, you are so very correct! What is China's point? I am pretty sure their public reads the internet news, just as we do. Sigh...

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In between batches of home-made, I have been using whatever flavors of Merrick's canned I can get for my cats. They loved the Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Turduckin. A few weeks later one vomited Thanksgiving Day up just after eating it, and the other 2 wouldn't touch it (all at the same time).   (Isn't that scary!!) I bravely offered Ocean Breeze today and all 3 ate it passionately! I sure don't like trying new things but it is impossible not to run out when I make big batches of homemade. You have to have a back-up!

Well said, Davis. This whole business was an awful lot of stress for the pet-lovers. A respite from all of this is needed, and while we are not out of the dangers of food poisons and toxins, a little quiet time when there is no recent news is well needed. I am sure we all think of it every time we set a plate of food down for our critters and remember the ones that weren't so lucky. Yet it would be unhealthy to stay stressed when there is a moment of quietude. Trying to forget for a bit is an automatic survival mechanism! Hugs to all, Mary

My smaller "pets" are wild birds that I feed various seed to. I try not to get it at Walmart, now, and make sure that it is made in US. You just don't know with wild birds. They may go off and die, and be replaced by others that look the same. Many brands of bird seed are "pumped up" with protein and other vitamins. I asked myself why they do this; obviously to make up for the deficit caused by eating the processed seed! Nature would do a better job. Dilemma, as we birders love to watch them eat, and they certainly seem to prefer feeders to foraging. Guess I made mine lazy. There is something put on by Cornell Lab of Ornithology called Operation Feeder Watch, and this could show a decline in backyard bird numbers in the coming years. I hope not!

Hi, Lacy and all, I started typing the recipe for you but I changed my mind!! That is because others will no doubt find various flaws in it, and also because I have revised the recipe to fit the needs of my cats and also to make it easier for me. I make a different recipe each week to make up for any possible deficiencies I may have in the diet. I am sorry, because I would love to share it. I guess I will recommend that interested people get the Dr Pitcairn's "Complete Guide to Natural Health for Cats and Dogs". There are many recipes in this book. I don't endorse these recipes, but they are working for me until I have completed my studies of Home Cooking and Raw Feeding (self schooled!) I know many of you would honestly appreciate the recipes I use but many more will not, and I am not up to taking a beating this week! Good luck and I am always happy to share ideas via e-mail for those more adventurous feline feeders!   

Hi, Guys, I finally broke open one of those cans of Merrick I have been looking at. (I ran out of my "batch" home-made recipe yesterday AM.) Reluctantly, I gave my 3 cats some Merrick's Turducken. One cat took a lick and walked away (my dry-food lover). One looked at it and quickly walked away. The 3rd one, who usually eats anything, ate a small amount and then walked away. We are talking early AM hungry kitty time, here!
I quickly snatched up what I had put down and gave baby food. Later on that day I made my recipe from Pitcairn's book called Feline Feast. I used organic brown rice for the grain, only I halved the amount. I added one organic carrot. After blenderizing my recipe, I compared it to the Merrick's Turducken on a plate and I could not tell the difference. It was exactly the same consistency, color and look. Well, ok, mine did look a little bit better. And my cats loved what I made and completely devoured it! Maybe I should go into the cat food business!   

Hi, I failed to include the quote by Raw4pets above in my last post to explain my last  statement. Raw4pets states "

The domesticated cat has the same organs and insides as does the lion or tiger.  When was the last time you saw a lion or tiger eating veggies, or kibble?

I basically agree that cats were designed to eat meat, but I couldn't help myself but to mention about the grass and plants above in reply to that quote !   

The domesticated cat has the same organs and insides as does the lion or tiger.  When was the last time you saw a lion or tiger eating veggies, or kibble?

My cats have always liked nibbling on non-poisonous houseplants and grass. They do this by choice, and seem to love it (despite me doing everything I can to discourage them from getting my plants.) I imagine many others have also observed this. Sometimes they vomit just afterwards, so are using it as an emetic, but usually they do not.

Davis, How about giving your kitty a little ice-cream now and then!