I have a cat who is 15 or 16 and who eats only dry food and meat that I offer her from my dinners. Cats, I heard this morning, are true carnivores. She will lick mayo if you don't guard your sandwich and will also lick butter . . . but not if I give them to her in a dish!

Her fav people foods are shrimp (seldom served), tuna and turkey.

I think I will try fish oil. What does anyone know about mercury in fish oil. I restrict tuna for me and kitty because of mercury.

Mary B -- Non petroleum jelly is salve based on vegetable oil. It is better known in its lip balm form. Find it at a health food store.

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I've never heard this...it's great!

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I give my cats good dry food and expensive can food as I do not see horse only eating dry hay. Some cats are different, some like yogurt, some like mushroom, some like eggs-found out by breaking one on the floor wich would be natural in their natural environment.
People go gaga sometimes and I'm sure some like cheese or ham or chicken in small portion. what's bad are always excesses for people or animal. I have a big tabby but not fat, I have a 1/2 siameese that weight as much.
Just different type of cats and if they have to expel fur ball I just say: not again.....
They also spew grass that they eat to make them trow up=like put your finger in your throat if you.....It's natural to them. Why try to change the course of nature if you like natural??? Gee I don't understand some of the comment. Buy a robotic cat....or animal,
that why they are called animal....if you don't like their comportment, don't get one.

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My cats were brought up on dry food & speciality canned food for cats. They do not like fish or fish oil even less cereal and do not eat veggies but as their nature when I let them go outside, they eat their special grass for hairballs, which ever they puke in or out is irrelevent to me it's natural phase.
People want to change things that they don't like that is natural because it soils and they have to pick it up. If you read this and did not know don't get a cat. Get a mouse or a hamster away from your bedroom: very active at night...Fish aquarium: lot's of work....go walk the dog before he ies on the floor...

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These are great suggestions on this article!

My 14 year old kitties (sisters) had two problems: one had signs of hyperthyroid and chronic urinary tract infections, and the other cat had hairballs.

About a year ago, I put them on a new kind of diet: Organic wet food, and then I mix in a squirt of fish oil, a teaspoon of homemade chicken broth, 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin powder, a few drops of "Tract Ease" herbal urinary tract supplement, and a small dab of organic coconut oil.

The fish oil is dual purpose - AMAZING health benefits AND it helps hairballs.

The coconut oil helps with digestion, skin and coat, and hairballs!

The chicken broth aids in digestion and provides additional nutrients.

The vitamin powder is especially useful for senior cats. It includes probiotics for their intestines, along with other ingredients to help their aging joints, and much more.

The "Tract Ease" herbal drops is wonderful for cats who have urinary tract infections or kidney issues.

In the past year, since changing their diet, the hairballs have dwindled down significantly to about one hairball every other month. There are no longer symptoms of hyperthyroid and not a single urinary tract infection.

The food mixture takes me about a minute to prepare, once per day. At their other feeding, they get wet food without everything added.

These may seem costly, but they'll last you quite awhile!

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Nutiva-Organic-Coconut-Oil/255005.aspx

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http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Super-Daily-Vitamins-Enzymes-Senior/999067.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Tract-Ease-Herbal-Formula/999017.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Newmans-Own-Organics-Canned-Cat-Food/144018.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Pure-Icelandic-Cod-Liver-Oil/999160.aspx

And the chicken broth...well, you'll just have to make that. Or buy some organic chicken broth at the store.

Hope that helps!

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What is NON-petroleum jelly ?

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I've decided to go with butter. I can keep getting it on their noses and we have to lick it off so it's a semi battle.

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is this true?

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Susan, you could try a type of grooming tool called a shedding blade. There is something about this type of "brush" that most cats really love. Of course, you'll have to keep being patient with kitty until he decides to tolerate being brushed. My cat asks to be brushed with this shedding blade. Jennifer, the answer to the wet food question is "Yes", because wet food, if it's the canned kind is closer to what the true carnivore's diet really is. Unless the cat doesn't like fish oil for some strange reason, you should have no trouble convincing kitty to eat the food with the fish oil mixed into it. My cat would love this. I'll have to try it. Although, with the shedding blade "brush", we don't usually have trouble with hair balls. But, the fish oil will likely help her skin and coat. I would ask a vet about the olive oil, though, since I don't know. I would still err on the side of caution and use fish oil, because cats are true carnivores and can't be vegetarians.

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