Category: Pet Supplies

Cats and kittens, Pet Supplies , , , , , , , ,

How often should you feed your new cat ?

by Jamie May 28, 2021 No Comments

Pet parents are mostly confused about the quantity of food they should provide to their cat. And this results in an increase or decrease in body weight. Cats are usually more prone to the increased body weight or obesity. And therefore, it is important to have an adequate balance in their diet to provide them all the essential nutrients in the required quantity.

For this purpose, I will educate you in this article about the number of daily food requirements for your cats. In addition, I will also educate you about the frequency of meals per day.

Various factors that affect cat feeding

Cat’s feeding largely depends on various factors that affect them throughout the life. So, if you are a pet parent and want to know the transition in feeding habits of your cat, you need to know the factors that are affecting your cat.

1. Age

There is a difference in the feeding of a kitten and an adult cat. A kitten needs more nutritional requirements than an adult because of more growth and development. A kitten’s diet is more comprised of proteins.

2. Size

Larger cats require more nutritional value to carry out their metabolism and fulfill the body’s needs. Larger cat breeds require more food – similarly, bigger cats of the same breeds also require more nutrition.

3. Activity level

Activity level mainly affects the metabolic rate, and cats with higher activity levels have higher metabolic rates – and thus need more nutrition. At the same time, cats who live a more sedentary lifestyle require lesser nutrition.

A monthly box of fun toys, healthy treats, and other goodies for your cat!

4. Reproductive status

Neutering and spaying affect the overall metabolic activity of cats. A cat with functional reproductive organs requires more nutritional value than a cat with non-functional reproductive organs. Likewise, in pregnancy, cats need more nutrition to meet the intense nutritional demands. And this is true for kittens whose reproductive organs are developing – they also require high nutrition to meet the required demands of the body.

5. Body conditioning and health

Body conditioning is also a factor that affects the food intake of your cat. You need to know that where your cat falls in a body conditioning score. Only then will you be able to devise a good diet plan for your cat. Ask your vet to tell you the body conditioning score and to devise a good diet plan accordingly.

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to how much cat food your cat needs. How much a cat needs to eat depends on a variety of factors, including size, age, metabolic rate, the amount it exercises, and even environmental temperatures. In addition, the same volume of different foods can have varying caloric and nutritional contents, showing that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work

How Much Should I Feed My Cat? | PetMD

How much should I feed my cat?

Now that you are well aware of the factors that affect the feeding habit of your cat, I will educate you about the feeding requirements of your cat at different stages of life.

Newborn to four weeks of age

Newborns frequently feed, especially during the first week of age. They typically feed every two hours a day. Gradually the decrease in the frequency of feeding to four to six times a day. It is important to check their body weight to be assured that your kitten is feeding right. On average, kittens should gain fifteen to twenty grams of weight each day. If your kitten is not gaining weight, you should consult your vet to change the food to a high-quality one.

Four weeks to six weeks of age

This is the age of weaning, and cats start to shift from a liquid diet to a solid diet. You should provide them access to solid food several times a day. You can also go for a gruel that you can make by mixing canned food with warm water. A gruel will help digest better. At the age of five to six months, there is no need for a gruel as your cat’s teeth are coming, and they will take care of the solid food.

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Six weeks to eight weeks of age

By this time, kittens are habitual to eating solid food, and they have started drinking water on their own. You can start providing dry foods but adding a tablespoon of water will help ease the chewing and digestion.

Eight weeks to ten months of age

 After eight weeks of age, most of the kittens’ feeding requirements start to decrease. The development period is over by this age, and their calorie intake starts decreasing down. The body conditioning score can help determine the number of calories your cat should intake at this age. If your cat’s body conditioning score is low, your vet will advise you to give a diet rich in calories.

More than ten months of age

At this age, your cat can switch from kitten food to adult food. Kitten food is rich in calories, mainly proteins, and fats. Some cats should switch earlier, while some cats should switch later depending on their physiology. Your vet will help you in this case.

How often should I feed my cat?

Well, cats prefer eating small meals many times a day. For a kitten, you should make the food available throughout the day. If you want your cat to eat both dry and wet food, you should make the dry food available all day and provide two to three canned food meals depending on the nutritional requirements.

Furthermore, here are some tips that will be beneficial for you.

6. Cats prefer multiple small feedings in a day

7. You should provide a minimum of 3 meals at four to six months of age

8. Minimum two meals a day for ten months old cat

9. Well, a total of six meals per day is better.

Final thoughts

Well, being a pet parent is no less than being a parent to a baby. You enjoy every stage of your cat growing from a kitten to an adult. But you should be conscious of some mistakes like providing less water, providing only dry food, providing too much or too little food, etc. you should learn from other pet parent’s mistakes and try to cater to your cat better. Not to mention, feeding depends only on your cat’s nutritional requirements, and many factors affect the nutritional requirements. And you should consult your vet for this matter to have a better understanding of your cat’s nutritional needs.

Cats and kittens, Our Favorite Products, Pet Product Reviews

Is Weruva a good cat food option ?

by Jamie May 25, 2021 No Comments

When choosing a cat food, I look for proteins as a first ingredient and a LACK of fillers. Cats have certain dietery needs and a reputation for loving food. It is important to provide them with high quality options to keep them happy satisfied and healthy. Weruva cat food is good choice and offers real proteins, and variety.

Cat food ingredients

The use of high quality products like boneless skinless chicken breast and dolphin safe tuna, is a definite selling point for me. Weruva locally sources other ingredients near their manufacturing facility in Thailand. The company focuses on simple recipes, , providing “hydration focused” filled products with low plant based fillers. Several varieties are carrageenan free, gluten free and grain free with no artificial ingredients and NO MEAT BY PRODUCTS. It is real food with real meat.

They offer a wide variety of flavors for even the pickiest cats. Lamb, Mackerel, Tuna, Beef and combinations a plenty. I have had my feline boss test both the pate and the pouch varieties, he gets really excited “Cats in the Kitchen”

In addition to actual meat, Pizza is enjoying new vegetables like pumpkin. Being a middle age cool cat ( like myself) its is even MORE important to keep him on a healthy diet. Being an indoor only, spoiled old guy, he is healthy for a 12yo, I’d like to keep it that way for as long as I can.

Are vegetables and fruit good for my cat or dog ?

Pros

Weruva prides itself on using ingredients “fit for humans” and manufacturing in a facility where human food is also made. All varieties are high in protein, lower in carbs and also low in fat.

The packaging is BPA free. and recyclable. I recently contacted to enter the recycling program at TerraCycle but still waiting on more information. But recycling is important and I am happy to see this is an option.

Cons

I don’t have a lot of cons, honestly. For the food itself, it is lower calorie that some other choices, if you have a very active feline youngster, they could require more pouches that the recommended amount. That CAN get costly. IMHO though , in the long run, providing the best food can prevent costly vet bills later in life. But for chonky kitty, who requires a lighter meal, they won’t be missing anything. In fact, my theory is , the lack of plant based fillers, and high protein keeps my guy satisfied for longer, without the added calories. Cats are obligate carnivores and and can thrive on nothing but muscle meat, organs, bones, and other parts of their prey. Fillers drive the cost production and cost down in cat food, but extra things like cornmeal etc, also can cause obesity and other health issues..

My one pet peeve is the pouches can be hard to empty. Most of the food slides out but I need to go back and scoop out the corners. Using scissors to cut the pouch in half makes it easier and makes scooping easier.

Another con, but a few years ago, Weruva B.B.F. line in Australia, was recalled in 2017 with low levels of thiamine . However, their products from their main Thailand manufacture were not. Australia has a difference processing facility and only affected that country. They were quick to put the recall into affect.

Family Owned

I prefer to support family owned businesses when I can. Weruva was the brain child of a small family dedicated to provide the best food for their rescued pets.. We- Ru-Va is a combo of their beloved pets name. The recipes are well crafted and enjoyed by their own pets.

Pizza’s Opinion

Well, the boss approves. before this we were strictly fancy feast fans. Pizza is not considerably picky however, after spending so much one on one time with him this year, I have observed he prefers, chunky vs pate, Although he will eat seafood, he is much more excited about chicken or beef. We decided to try the food options that came with our Kitty Poo disposable litter box delivery order, Weruva cat food looked fun. ( I am a sucker for bright packaging it caught my attention to research it more)

Overall Weruva has converted me to a providing a more elevated diet for my guy. Other personal observations, Pizza’s stinky breath has subsided. He has also really cut back on his snacking on dry food. He is happy and satisfied eating a better quality food. I will continue to buy this although, I have heard Bobby Flay has come out with a new cat food…

Can Weruva Beat Bobby Flay ?

Cats and kittens, Pet Supplies, Uncategorized , , , ,

Ten Tips when bringing new kitten home

by Jamie May 9, 2021 No Comments

Cats and kittens are easy to care for and relatively inexpensive to care for. However, once you know the basics of feeding, litter boxes, grooming, general health, and safety, it is easier to care for your new family member. So, here is the top practical advice and things to consider when bringing a new kitten home.

If you are a new cat or kitten owner or are bringing a new kitten home, you may have many queries about caring for your new feline friend. As you may already know, cats can do many things like they often do fun. They are playful, free, loving, curious, intelligent, and entertaining. Because you need information about cat care, your pet is lucky to have a caregiver.

We’ll start with the tip that your cat loves and is the most important in feline care and management.

Here are the Ten best first-time kitten owner tips:

Tip 1: Assist Your Kitten in Feeling Safe

Since your cat can be nervous at first, make your home as inviting as possible. If your cat is anxious and hides from you, that’s perfectly natural. Cats dislike change in general, so it can take some time for her to adjust to all of the different smells and sounds in your home.

You can assist your cat by providing her with her room or space to escape and feel secure. Put a soft bed in there for her to curl up in. Some cats may prefer an enclosed bed to hide when they are stressed. Add a pair of catnip toys and a fuzzy blanket to the mix.

Is catnip good for my kitten?

Tip 2: Pay a visit to the veterinarian

Find a good veterinarian for your pet, make an appointment for a checkup, and make sure his vaccinations are up to date. It is very important to make sure you microchip your new family member as well. The cost of spay , neuter and microchipping is usually included in the cost of adoption at local shelters. It is imperative REGISTER YOUR KITTENS MICROCHIP NUMBER ON THE NATIONAL DATABASE. If your new cat escapes, keep the microchip number and a picture of him on your computer or another safe place.

Tip 3: Feed your cat healthy and balanced food:

Your food choices have an enormous impact on your cat’s overall health, so you’ll want to make sure you’re feeding him or her some nutritious food.

If you know the cat food brand that your cat is eating previously before adopting it, you must give a small amount of the same food to your cat to be maintained / on a regular diet. Then, gradually change the food to a new diet. It requires a minor adjustment and a gradual transition, preventing stomach upset.

Kittens (cats under one year old) should eat a kitten formula because they are still growing and need a high-calorie diet.

If your cat possesses a significant health problem or is overweight, underweight, or senior, it is best to seek help from your veterinarian and let him choose the right food. For example, if your cat needs to drop some weight, it needs to do so slowly for health reasons.

On average, for a healthy cat or kitten, these types of food found in the grocery store or pet store.

Canned food

Most cats love to eat canned food, also known as ‘wet food.’ This type of food provides high water levels and extra hydration when the cat is used to it.

Canned food comes in various textures and tastes, such as chunks, slices, chunks in gravy, patties, or minced pieces. Some cats have specific preferences others will eat anything.

Dry food

Some people prefer to give dry food or wet and dry food mixture to cats. Like canned food, read the ingredients label and find brands in the first few ingredients with meat. Try to avoid by-products, fillers, and artificial flavours.

Only buy a small new bag unless you’re sure your cat likes it.

How much should I feed my cat?

It depends on the weight and activity level of your cat. Either follow the recommended dose given on the food packaging or consult your doctor.

Kittens (up to year) need high caloric diet to match their active nature.

Tip 4: Choose water bowls and food dishes:

Stainless steel dishes and bowls are ideal for food and water. Unlike plastics, they are odourless and easy to clean. Having more than one dish and cup is a good idea, so you always have a clean handkerchief available to clean the bowl and plates.

Food Dishes:

Cat dishes are best for feeding because they are shallow, making it easy for cats to eat food. Use a dish where the rubber ring is present around their base, so the dish is not pushed around the floor when the cat eats.

Cups of water:

Keep the water bowl in a place where your cat can reach at any time. Cats love fresh drinking water, so change the water at least once a day and wash the cup with warm, mild water at least a few times a week.

To encourage more water use, place the water bowl in two places.

Tip 5: Have a litter box

Here are some things to know about litter boxes and accessories:

Litter Box

You will need at least one litter box for each cat. Covered containers can trap odor, and for some cats, it’s not comfortable, so avoid it.

Whatever box you choose, make sure it is large enough. Small boxes are suitable for kittens, but cats over 10 or 11 pounds can not get in a tiny package. Choose an extra-large if needed.

Box scooping

Scope once or twice a day to keep the box clean for your lovely cat. About once a week, change all the litter and wash the container with dish detergent and warm water or use a disposable litter box.

I have been using Kitty Poo disposable litter box delivery for several years now. It is so convenient and recyclable as well ! You can read my review here.

It can be irritating but check for abnormalities in their feces or urine (such as worms, mucus, or blood). Also, note if there is diarrhea, hard stools, or stool quantity more or less than usual. If you notice something abnormal, call your veterinarian and make an appointment.

Tip 6: Brush your cat

Brushing is painless and does not take much time. Most cats enjoy cleaning because it gives them comfort. In addition, regular brushing removes dead hair, dirt and keeps the skin healthy.

How often to brush?

Short or medium-haired breeds should be cleaned once a week. Like Persian or Ragdoll, long-haired hair should be washed two or three times a week.

Brush type

A regular bristle brush works best for most cats. However, if your pet sheds a lot, you can also use a metal bristle brush to remove more hair. If you are in a good pet store and are unsure what type of brush to take, ask the staff to recommend it.

How to prevent mats:

Mats are rough clumps of fur that form if the coat is not cleaned enough. As the weather warms up, the shedding increases, so it is essential to brush to remove dead hair and avoid mats.

Mats can form any cats’ hair size, but they are more familiar with medium to long-haired breeds.

Once they are formed, they are challenging to compete with. You will need a professional groomer or doctor to remove them.

Tip 7: Bathe your cats

Most cats do a great job of keeping themselves clean. Unless they are dirty from going out or getting old and not cleaning themselves properly, two or three baths a year is usually enough.

Here are some tips for taking a bath:

  • Use a mild shampoo designed for cats and avoid taking soap or water anywhere near their eyes or ears.
  • Avoid flea treatment shampoo (unless your doctor recommends it) because many cats have been affected by certain flea-specific shampoos.
  • After bathing, use a towel to dry it thoroughly, then keep it warm somewhere until it dries.
  • Once the coat is completely dry, a good brush will make it fluffy and beautiful.

Tip 8: Keep your cat’s claws trimmed

You will need a small pair of cat scissors to trim your cat’s claws. Trimming is essential if the claws are long, sharp, broken, or flaky. When claws are significant or not trimmed enough, your cat may snatch your clothing or furniture.

  • Trimming claws two times per month is usually enough
  • The front claws of cats typically grow faster than the back
  • Make sure to use sharp scissors. Once they are dull, they tear their claws instead of trimming, which is painful for cats.

Tip 9: Give your cat a place for the nap

Most cats usually sleep a lot during the day, giving themselves a comfortable place to rest. It could be a comfy cat bed or a soft blanket of its own.

Some cats prefer the sun and warm spots to sleep. Others want to hide in a dark and private place. Consider where your pet often sleeps and make a bed in that area.

Tip 10: Give them Treats

Our furry friend love treats us as much as we do. Here are some of their favourites:

Cat treats:

It’s a good idea to have a treats bag around to reward your cat. Buy treats from where you buy food. There are many flavours to choose from: fish, beef, chicken, cheese, tartar control, salmon, and even catnip.

Cat grass:

Many cats like fresh cat grass. It can be found at some pet or health food stores, or you can buy a kit and grow it yourself. It only takes some days to grow, and your pet is happy to enjoy it.

Conclusion

Cats are lovely creatures. They are adorable and playful. But, we all know cats are obligate carnivores. So, their primary diet must be made up of meat. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a great way to give them that. However, raw or spoiled meat could make your cat sick. As a kitty owner, it is your responsibility to keep your cat healthy and fit by providing the best quality food and nutrition when you bring your new cat home. You can do this easily by following our above mentioned practical advice for a kitten.

A monthly box of fun toys, healthy treats, and other goodies for your cat!

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Knead Love Bakeshop – A review you need to read

by Jamie January 27, 2021 No Comments

Knead Love Bakeshop offers homemade pet treats you BAKE AT HOME. It is a fun product if you enjoy a hands-on experience. A great quick project you can do with the kids while encouraging family bonding with your pets. Who doesn’t like to spoil their pets with homemade treats?

dog treats, organic dog treats, healthy dog treats

What is Knead Love Bakeshop?

Knead love Bakeshop offers a variety of “do it yourself ” bake at-home pet treats in a variety of different flavors. It comes in a colorful canister that includes all you need. They offer the following flavors. Although these have been made with dogs in mind, Some flavors are vegan and are safe for other critters like cats. guinea pigs even horses.

Sweet Potato and Chicken ** Peanut Butter and Banana ** Beef Jerky and Cheese ** Sweet Pumpkin and Oats **Cheese and Carrot (grain-free) **

Grain Free Carrot and cheese without added wheat flour.

Convenience/ Ease of use – It’s hard to resist the cute canister it comes in, but there is much more to it. Inside, is everything you need to make the product, AND the canister doubles as the treat container when you are finished baking. They thought of everything.

There is virtually NO WASTE (and no mess- my favorite part) Knead Love Bakeshop even thought of using the canister as the measuring cup for preparing the treats. Amazing!

They use organic ingredients.

Is Coconut good for your pet?

Our Experience -Did it Pass the taste test?

At home, To review Knead Love, I made a batch of Cheese and Carrot treats for the dog and cat at home. The golden doodle loves to play around with her treat ball, so I decided to make very small treats that would fit.

It was really easy to just snip the included pastry bag smaller than recommended and pipe out small shapes. Coconut flour is extremely absorbent and can make a thick easy to work with dough. However, if it is too stiff a little water can be added, but I found it to be extremely easy to work with. I also adjusted the bake time in half, but still just checked on them to make sure they were firm.

The lovely dog quickly ate the new snack. The brat cat did not… he prefers meat. I assume the coconut flour made the treats sweeter than his usual tuna flavored Temptations.

“Dogs are able to taste sweet foods and many dogs actually prefer the taste of sweet foods over any other taste profile”

wag.com

Can Cats even eat Vegetables ?

Our Conclusion

the golden doodle approves

Overall we were pretty happy with this product. They offer a 25% discount if you sign up for a “monthly subscription” and often run free shipping offers.

Free Shipping on all Orders

15% off two PLUS free shipping

Personally, it is important to know what you are feeding your pet. If you enjoy baking, this is a simple, wholesome organic treat that can be a relaxing activity that isn’t expensive or time-consuming.

Aside from the health benefits and unique opportunity to share fresh treats with your pet, purchasing products from Knead Love Bakeshop support a small family run business. Three young siblings wanted to provide healthy alternative snacks for their dog Penny and Knead Love Bakeshop was born. We think that is pretty cool.

We are looking forward to trying their new flavors this month!

April Showers Softpaws