Vegan Cats: Fact or Myth?

Can cats truly be vegan, or is it just another passing trend? Explore the facts, humorously, about feline diets and why cats are obligate carnivores by nature

                  The picture is the property of the author of this article and it is done with an AI program

Medium members read the full post here.

Written by my wife Xena

Introduction

Have you heard, have you heard?

My cat ate an entire broccoli today, and yesterday she had a veggie mix!

It’s a miracle like no other!

Yes, yes, and my sheep just ate a whole rooster, feathers, and all!

My cat has officially gone vegan, and from now on, that’s how it’s going to be!

Oh yes, and my sheep has turned carnivorous and will only eat raw meat from now on!

Oh, what the hell is this chaos happening in my yard!

New Trends in Nutrition

Of course, this is all satire, and most of you probably won’t believe it. But some might. Especially considering that we’ve been exposed to various new nutritional trends for some time now, and in recent years, even trends in pet diets.

We’re increasingly being bombarded on social media with posts about “VEGAN CATS,” so much so that it’s becoming a bit tiresome. But can cats actually be vegan and live that way for 15 or more years?

For a cat to be vegan, its diet would have to consist entirely of vegetables and non-animal-based products.

In other words, cats would have to become herbivores. Is that what your feline friend truly wants, and are you putting her health at risk by denying the fact that she is a predator and an obligate carnivore?

It’s as absurd as saying lions are herbivores and graze alongside antelopes — after all, lions are cats too. They may be big, but they’re still cats.

I won’t deny that there might be isolated cases where a cat might nibble on some fruit or vegetables. But it’s a rarity, and they only do it occasionally.

My Personal Experience with “Vegan Cats”

From personal experience, I can say that my cat Neo has done this too.

           The picture is the property of the author of this article and it is done with an AI program

He will eat anything you give him from your hand, and on a few occasions, he has eaten: cabbage, stuffed cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, pees, beans, and even “Čokolino” (a chocolate-flavored cereal).

But Neo is a glutton, and he only eats this from my or my partner’s hand while we’re sitting at the dinner table.

If we put the same food in his bowl, he wouldn’t touch it. Instead, he would ask for meat, fish, or his favorite canned food and treats.

Is vegan cat food animal abuse?

Answer (1 of 17): Yes. A study found nutritional inadequacies in the commercial vegan preparations it tested [1]. And…

worldofcatsdogs.quora.com

Some of you may argue that cats eat grass, so they could be vegans or maybe even herbivores. But that’s not the case. Cats eat grass to help them expel hairballs that build up in their system when they groom themselves by licking their fur or paws.

Grass isn’t food for cats. Animal-based proteins are the most important part of their diet. This has been true for the 3,500 years that cats have lived alongside humans, and I believe it will continue to be true unless scientists in some lab create something different.

But at that point, it wouldn’t be a cat anymore — at least, not the kind we know today. It would be some new creature, but that’s not our topic for today.

Do we Choose Cats or do Cats Choose us?

Here, in this article, we will try to answer the eternal question that bothers us humans. Do we choose cats or do cats…

medium.com

Conclusion

In my humble opinion, the concept of “VEGAN CATS” is a trendy fad, nothing more than a fabrication by someone who’s clearly bored with life. This trend will likely fade away with time, just like all others.

I also believe that trying to make cats vegan amounts to a form of animal cruelty and abuse by suppressing their natural instincts.

And to you, dear readers, I leave the choice of whether your feline friend will be a “VEGAN” or a “CARNIVORE,” as she has been for thousands of years.

What do you think? Write your opinion in the comments!

Teica and Beyond, a Sad Story About my Cat

A heartfelt tribute to our beloved 18-year-old cat Teica, who fought bravely like a lioness and filled our lives with…

medium.com

If you want to support my work buy me a coffee for $1.

https://ko-fi.com/neo77

Greetings and until my next article!

Neo77

Read More

Teica and Beyond

A heartfelt tribute to our beloved 18-year-old cat Teica, who fought bravely like a lioness and filled our lives with unconditional love

                                                     The picture is the property of the author of this article

Medium members read the full post here.

Written by Xena

In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Cat Teica

This article is dedicated to our 18-year-old cat Tea, called Teica, who will live in our hearts forever, even after she’s no longer with us.

I believe all of us, at least once in our lives, have faced the heartbreaking illness of a family member. The pain, sadness, and helplessness can be overwhelming. And when it comes to a beloved pet, who is also part of the family, the intensity of that sadness and pain doesn’t lessen.

We want to help that helpless creature, or at least ease their suffering a bit, but we often find ourselves powerless. And the thought that the moment of farewell may have come is what hurts the most.

This is exactly what happened with our dear and sweet cat, Teica, who had been saved from the jaws of certain death by veterinarians — and perhaps by the grace of God — six times already.

Now, everyone at the veterinary clinic calls her “The Lioness” because she fights for her life like a lioness and has an excellent reason to. Teica has been pampered and loved all her life — all 18 years of it (which is equivalent to 88 in human years) — and never lacked for anything.

Although she lives with three other cats in the house, and there are three more outside who respect and admire her for being the eldest (cats understand hierarchy well), Teica has always been special. She has shown this since her earliest days.

                         The picture is the property of the author of this article

She’s always acted atypically for a cat. Honestly, her behavior is more like that of a dog. She’s always been attached to me (and later to my partner) and would follow me everywhere, just like a little puppy.

She craved affection and attention and was happiest when I took her into my lap and petted her. She would then purr loudly, like a small tractor. If anyone in the family got sick and lay in bed, she would stay with them for days, as if trying to absorb all the negative energy and heal her human.

Whenever we came back from a trip, she would sleep with us at night, making sure we held her paw to assure her that we were there and wouldn’t leave her. If we dozed off and let go of her paw, she would start meowing until we held it again — and this would continue for nights on end. Only when she felt reassured that we were truly there, and not leaving her with the “cat-sitter,” would she agree to sleep in her own fluffy bed.

For every bit of love she received, she gave back tenfold. That’s just how Teica has always been — loyal, devoted to our family, and filled with unconditional love for her humans.

Then, one day, just shy of 18 years, she fell ill. She can no longer see or hear, her teeth and back legs don’t work as they should, and the vets say that in addition to neurological issues, her kidneys, heart, and lungs are slowly failing.

                                 The picture is the property of the author of this article

According to them, surgery is out of the question. Due to her age and her fragile body, weakened by illness, she would likely pass away on the operating table.

So now, she only receives medication to help maintain some quality of life. With their help, she walks, eats, uses the litter box, and seeks out cuddles. She doesn’t feel pain, nor is she suffering.

How long will this last? I don’t know. All I know is that we must help her and repay her for all the love she’s given us over the years.

We pray to God to keep her with us as long as possible, without pain or suffering. And Teica has a powerful reason to live — our endless, unconditional love, which she feels deeply and which keeps her going. She will live in our hearts forever, as long as we are here.

https://www.catdogwrld.com/2023/01/a-happy-catsmas-fairy-tale-sretna-macja.html

A Happy Catsmas Fairy Tale

This is a tale of love and understanding between a man and a little kitten who was lost and all alone on the cold…

medium.com

If you want to support my work buy me a coffee for $1.

https://ko-fi.com/neo77

Greetings and until my next article!

Neo77

Read More

CAN PETS PREDICT AN EARTHQUAKES? EXPLORING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR BEFORE NATURAL DISASTERS

WRITTEN BY XENA

Introduction:

Images of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria are still vivid. For some of you, it is much more, because you yourself have been victims. Nature sometimes surprises us with its cruelty, and a significant role in all of this belongs to man. 

He is the one who, with his irresponsible actions, largely influenced climatic changes, and thus most likely severe natural disasters such as earthquakes. 

Could this have been foreseen and thus avoided catastrophic consequences of an enormous degree? I leave it to the experts to deal with it in the future because this is a blog about CATS and DOGS after all. However, what I would like to point out with this introduction and what I will deal with in this post, is the possibility of predicting earthquakes by our PETS. So, the question is can pets predict an earthquake or not?

Pets and Their Ability to Sense Cataclysms:

That animal can sense cataclysms has been known since ancient times. Thus, for example, back in the 4th century BC (373 BC), ancient Greece was hit by a huge earthquake, where the entire city of Helikea, where the epicenter was, collapsed into the ground. Just two days before that unfortunate event, rats, snakes, worms, weasels, and centipedes left that city and found refuge elsewhere. 

From recent history, there is a record of the earthquake near Naples in 1805, which talks about the unusual behavior of domestic animals immediately before the earthquake. So, for example, some DOGS will whine and bark "for no reason" before an earthquake, and if they are on the floor in a house or apartment, they will run outside barking. While others will hide among the furniture, stare blankly or seek protection in the lap of the owner, and some will not return to the house for some time after the earthquake, due to the closed space. 

Cats, Dogs, and Other Animals:

CATS, but also snakes, frogs, and fish, can also sense an earthquake. CATS get nervous before an earthquake because they react to sudden changes in the Earth's magnetic field due to their heightened senses. Namely, they can feel tremors, changes in temperature, the smell of stagnant water, and noise. CATS actually react to the increase in static electricity in the air that occurs just before an earthquake. 

It is believed that a CAT predicted the earthquake in Albania in 2019, because a surveillance camera recorded its agitated behavior, just before the earthquake. And that video went around the world and became viral. 

Chickens literally go crazy before an earthquake (clucking in panic, flapping their wings, they behave as if some predator attacked the chicken coop), and during and after the earthquake they become even crazier. These are the words of the author Tributsch, who studied the ability of animals to predict earthquakes and published this in his book "Omens of Earthquakes". In it, he analyzed as many as 78 collected descriptions of unusual animal behavior around the globe. Thus, he states that "aquatic animals", such as crocodiles and frogs, are particularly sensitive to earthquakes, affecting them more than other animals. 

Scientific Evidence and Opinions:

There is a whole range of opinions on this topic, and scientists in Japan have been dealing with it for the last few years, which is understandable if we take into account that Japan is located in a seismic area. Earthquakes are an almost frequent occurrence there.

Conclusion:

My humble opinion on this topic is that our PETS and animals in general can sense and therefore predict cataclysms. Moreover, there is more recent scientific evidence about this, that is, evidence from the age of developed seismology, and it cannot be said that it is just empty speculation or superstition. I leave it up to you to decide for yourself whether it is superstition or scientific truth.

 "We take care of our pets as for ourselves."

Read More

CELEBRITIES AND THEIR PETS

WRITTEN BY XENA

Many of us read social chronicles and like to peek into the private lives of celebrities from time to time, so of course I do too. We are all only human and we are interested in the lives of the rich and famous. 

But what I am particularly interested in are the PETS of celebrities. Are they really PETS, or just fashion accessories to show off in public? I want to find out which celebrities have PETS, especially CATS and DOGS, and what exotic species we can see in their homes.

 

Nicholas Cage, Cameron Diaz, Karl Lagerfeld, Kim Kardashian, George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nicole Kidman, as well as Mike Tyson and Melanie Griffith, are just some of the well-known names and passionate animal lovers. 

Some of them have exotic animals as PETS that it borders on the bizarre. So at one time, Melanie Griffith's parents kept a real, 200 kg LION as a PET, and the famous former boxer Mike Tyson is the owner of even 3 BENGAL TIGERS (Kenya, Storm, and Boris). Unfortunately, or fortunately, TIGERS no longer live at the Tysons' house, because one of them tried to eat the DOG next door. 

But they are not the only ones. Many world-famous "stars" keep exotic and unusual animals for PETS. 

So, for example, movie "strongman" Arnold Schwarzenegger keeps 2 donkeys in his home, an irresistible charmer and seducer, George Clooney had a Vietnamese pig named Farewell Max in his villa for 13 years. He even shared a bedroom with him. 

Nicole Kidman keeps her PETS alpacas on a ranch of 111 hectares near Sydney. 

And the late American actress Kirstie Alley had as many as 14 lemurs in her home. She explained that in Los Angeles, the climate is similar to that of Madagascar, the island state in the Indian Ocean from which these lovely creatures originate. 

We must not leave out Bubble the chimpanzee who lived in Neverland with his famous owner, the late Michael Jackson, and Justin Bieber's monkey, which was infamously taken from him in Germany at the Munich airport when he intended to take it with him on tour. And on top of that, he still had to pay a hefty sum to the shelter that took in the little monkey. We learn that he still lives in a zoo in Germany. 

In this sea of bizarre or at least exotic PETS, we must certainly mention the veritable treasure trove of reptiles of Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash, who at one time had several hundred: snakes, lizards, and even crocodiles. 

However, chickens are an absolute hit among celebrities. The leader here in this is Jennifer Garner, whose PET Regina George died in 2018. 

Among the big fans of chickens are Kylie Jenner (star of the reality show "Keeping up with Kardashians"), actress and singer Hilary Duff, and tennis star Serena Williams. 

However, the most famous "world chicken coop" is the one owned by the Duke of Sussex - Prince Harry, and his better half, Meghan Markle.

Despite everything exotic and bizarre, as I have already emphasized, I am most interested in CATS and DOGS. While researching, I found out that they are big fans of CATS: Nicholas Cage, who, in addition to two CATS (Merlin and Tiger) also has 2 albino king cobras, an octopus, and 2 crows. And among the biggest "CAT LOVERS", it is certainly worth mentioning the late Karl Lagerfeld and his beloved BURMESE CAT Choupette, who was taken over by his former housekeeper Francoise Cacote after his death. 

Passionate fans of CATS are also: Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, Martha Stewart, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Ian Somerhalder, Ricky Gervais, Ed Sheeran, Nicole Kidman, Jenna Fischer, Drew Berrymore, Robert Downey Jr., Russel Brand, Gigi Hadid, Mandy Moore, and many others. 

On the other hand, the Obama family with their PORTUGUESE WATER DOGS, Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, etc., are just some of the names that chose DOGS as their PETS.

Whether it's about the latest fashion trend or true animal lovers, decide for yourself. However, what I would like to point out is the fact that WILD ANIMALS have no place in a house or apartment because it is not their natural habitat. In addition, with their perhaps involuntarily aggressive behavior, they can injure someone.

 

Wild animals have never been, nor will they be PETS. Those in captivity will never be happy, and you who hold them will never be safe in your own home. So think carefully when you decide to "tame" large predators!

 "We take care of our pets as for ourselves."

Read More

CO-EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE CATS IN A HOME

 

WRITTEN BY XENA

As we know, CATS are ANIMALS with character and do only what they want, they do not tolerate any changes and they like routine. They are often jealous. What is the mutual coexistence of multiple CATS in a home? We will deal with this topic in this text. 

The relationship between two or more CATS depends on their first meeting. Getting to know each other can be very demanding. If they get to know each other in the right way, it will affect their further relationship, which in that case can become even friendly. 

Any aggressiveness should not be tolerated, as it could mark their future relationship. CATS that have grown up with several CATS will accept a newcomer more quickly than a CAT that is used to being the only one. 

Aggressive, sick, non-sterilized, visually impaired, and deaf CATS will also show displeasure upon introduction. The direction in which their future relationship will develop largely depends on the individual character of each individual CAT. So, for example, if it is about dominant CATS, it is very likely that there will be a conflict over shared resources or the owner's attention. 

The best prospects for adaptation are

 

1. KITTENS peers and young CATS of the same age, because they will learn and communicate with each other through play, 

2. KITTENS and adult females, because of the maternal instinct. Moreover, they will teach them a lot. 

3. Adult males, if they are friendly towards other PETS. 

Acquaintance must not be stressful and must take place under supervision, in order to avoid possible conflicts over territory, food, toys, etc., and CATS themselves will establish a social hierarchy in the group. Just before the introduction, it is recommended to take the "newcomer" to the vet, to avoid the possibility of infecting other CATS and other PETS, if you have them. 

Keep in mind that you must provide adequate living space for a large number of CATS. 10 square meters per CAT is recommended. If you live in a house, it would be preferable to have a fenced area around it for CATS to live in the summer months.

 

Here are some tips from my own experience and on the recommendation of a veterinarian for a successful CO-EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE CATS IN A HOME, which will enable you to support the newcomer, but also not to neglect your current PETS.

• Upon the arrival of a new CAT or KITTEN in the house, isolate it from other PETS, and gradually introduce them to them and their new living environment. Let your new PET gradually explore the house or apartment by leaving it in each room for a short time.
• Accustom the newcomer to her own space.
• Provide the security of the territory to the previous PETS (let them feel safe in their territory) and continue to pay them enough attention, and respect the privileges that they had before the arrival of the new CAT. Give equal attention to both old and new PETS and do not encourage their rivalry. This would mean if you are petting one of them on your lap, and the other is sitting next to you, take the other CAT on your lap and pet them together. In the event that one chases the other away from your lap, stop petting both CATS, and remove the aggressor from the lap. This will prevent one CAT from getting more attention than the other, which is very important for them because they want the same attention.
• Get the CATS used to each other's scents. A good way to do this is to give toys to the newcomer or give the cot to the old PET and vice versa. Also, you can rub the new CAT with some cloth, and then give that cloth to the current PET. In addition, it is recommended to change the rooms in which they stay. And, if you want to speed up the process of getting to know each other CATS through smell, simply buy a spray with synthetic pheromones and continue to follow the instructions on it.
• Try to feed all your CATS together, i.e. in the same room, but each one must eat from its own bowl, which must be close to each other. If they resent it, be patient, because they will get used to it in time.
• Encourage them to play together or cuddle. In case of aggressiveness of one of them, stop the activity that you noticed that she enjoys. This will make them realize that it is unprofitable to be aggressive.
• Reward any positive behavior of your PET with a TREAT, and ignore bad behavior.
• Provide each PET with privacy, i.e. a space where they will feel safe and comfortable, a special bowl for food and water, a special sandbox, toys, etc. Later they will exchange all these things, but in the beginning, privacy is very important.

The mutual coexistence of our CATS largely depends on us, their owners. We cannot encourage them to love and accept each other, but we can provide them with all the essential factors that will create a positive environment and thereby encourage them to adapt and live well with others.

 "We take care of our pets as for ourselves."

Read More

WHY DO CATS BITE AND HOW TO PREVENT IT?

WRITTEN BY XENA

Today I will try to explain to you a very interesting topic, and it is about why cats bite and how to prevent it.

If you are the owner of these wonderful creatures, you probably had, or still have, the unpleasant experience of your PET biting and sometimes scratching you. And it's not light nibbling, while petting, but real bites of a small tiger - until the blood starts to flow. As I own a few CATS and I have such experiences myself. Especially since the new cat, our little Leo, came into the house.

 

(https://www.catdogwrld.com/2023/01/a-Happy-catsmas-fairy-tale-sretna-macja.html)

Leo does not nibble lightly, but bites and scratches like a real tiger. Since everything I did not give long-term results (except for the current one), I decided to research a little and thus help myself, but also all of you who have similar problems. 

So in this text, I will try to bring you closer to why CATS bite so that we can prevent this in a timely manner. What should first be known to avoid and prevent such CAT behaviors, is that they are specific creatures with a very pronounced personality and will only do what suits them at a day, while the DOGS will do what the owner is asking them. 

The scratching and biting of everything that comes under the PAW, and so does the hand and legs of the owner, are entirely natural for a one-month KITTEN. 

They start with the game, from 3 or 4 weeks of age, to acquire skills for survival. As a rule, the KITTEN should not be separated from the mother until it is 3 months old because she teaches it through the game with all the skills needed. 

He will learn how to capture the prey, but also certain social behavior in accordance with the hierarchical position in the group. If he is separated from his mother before the age of 3 months, he will have to learn it with the help of the owner. 

Other CATS in the house, the owner himself or some TOY, replace the KITTEN in the game if he does not have his peers for the same. Given the KITTENS are very intelligent, they will soon understand what they can and what not. Changes in behavior, are observed around the 14th week, and around the 18th week, following before puberty and the KITTEN becomes more serious, grows up, and stops intense play. But by growing up, the game does not stop (only weakens intensity), because it entertains if it is a home CAT. 

The game maintains the skills necessary for hunting if it is a CAT that goes out. In case there are no other CATS near it, they will find a replacement for the game in the owner or some toys. In order to understand why CATS bite and how to prevent it, we need to detect the cause of such behavior.

By exploring this topic, I detected 6 basic reasons why CATS bite:

• HER CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY (HER NATURE)

I have already emphasized that CATS have a specific personality. They are animals with character. Her character is written in her genetic code and that's how she will behave. Genetics, as we know, is inherited. Therefore, if she has inherited such behavior, she will be like this all her life. Of course, with certain socialization and upbringing, this can be corrected, because we definitely don't want a lion in our home.

• THE AGE OF THE CAT

As I said before, KITTENS are very playful and curious, because that's how they learn. They are not at all aware of their actions, nor how strong their bite can be. That is why it is good for them to have a peer or an older CAT in their environment from whom they can learn survival skills.

• DISSATISFACTION WITH THE CAT'S PRIMARY NEEDS

If you haven't changed the water, or the sand, if you haven't fed it at the usual time, it can also encourage your PET to bite you.

• OWNER'S CONDUCT

To a large extent, CATS like to imitate their owner, whether he is happy, sad, calm, or nervous, so they will react accordingly. If the owner is neurotic or tends to raise his voice towards her, the CAT will retaliate in a similar way to protect herself, especially when it comes to an aggressive CAT.

• PROVOCATIONS

A CAT does only what it wants and when it wants. If, for example, she doesn't want to play or cuddle when the owner wants it, it is quite possible that she will react by biting or hitting and scratching the rear paws (BUNNY HOP).

• CHANGES IN THE HOUSE

The CAT is a "slave" to habits and routines and does not like any changes. The arrival of a new animal in the house, changes in the house, moving... All this represents great stress for her, which she will express by biting or scratching, among other things. In addition, some CATS are jealous, so this can also be the reason for her aggressive behavior.

These are the possible basic reasons why your PET will bite or scratch. However, this can be corrected with good socialization and training. Here are some tips, on how.

• Devote yourself to your CAT, give her more attention, play more, and cuddle with her! Sometimes attention is exactly what she wants from you.
• Don't let her play with your fingers, hands, or feet!
• If she pulls out her nails or bites you start blowing and hissing, just like her mom CAT would do. Do not overdo it by any means, rather stop cuddling or playing, or simply get away from it. If it won't stop even then, try shouting at the KITTEN in a high-pitched tone. Do not do this with an adult CAT, as this can further encourage aggression. Try to address her in a calmer and gentler tone.
• Reward her with a TREAT or TOY and be sure to praise her when she doesn't use her claws.
• Place a STUFFED TOY on her, when you see that she intends to bite you.
• If the CAT does not stop biting and scratching, try locking it in another room for a few minutes so that it realizes that it has overdone it. I do this by closing my KITTEN Leo in the transporter until he "cools off". And after that everything is fine, what's more, when I let him out of the transporter, he purrs, caresses, and cuddles.

And finally, what I want to point out: "Never physically punish your CAT!" Doing so will only cause a counter-effect because it will hit you back. If these tips did not help you, and your CAT continues to bite or scratch you, be sure to seek the advice of a veterinarian, in order to avoid unwanted consequences because a CAT BITE is both unpleasant and dangerous.

 "We take care of our pets as for ourselves."

Read More