Raw Feline, A Subsidiary of Crescent City Animal Shelter

Crescent City Animal Shelter 
Official Adoption Handbook


Thank you for adopting this kitty(s) from Crescent City Animal Shelter! The information found within this packet has been compiled after years of research and experience raising and caring for felines of all types, ages, and health conditions. Please take the time to read through the contents within keeping an open mind to ideas and concepts which may be new to you. The topics of health and nutrition are subjects which have been the focus of years of study. They are by far, the most important aspects of animal rearing and wellness. Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation circulating the health profession in regards to feline diet. Frankly, the motivation for these fabrications is simply one of financial means. It is up to the pet owner to research on his/ her own and thoroughly investigate the issues at hand to come to an informed decision. I hope this is informative to the reader, and he/ she can take something away from it which will affect them for the better. I think its said best though with the phrase, "The proof is in the feeding!"

Good luck with your new companion, and remember that every bit of love and energy your put into your relationship with your new fur kid, your will get back ten fold.

Best wishes,
Michelle Rossi
CCAnimalShelter@gmail.com


The Domestic Cat

Cats can be found in over 90 million homes across the US alone. Originating in Africa around 3,500 years ago, the domestic cat is far from home, but has readily adapted to its new environment. This versatile little animal is a formidable predator and reverts back to its wild state within as little as two generations. While being an adaptive success for the cat, this has proven to be a detriment to our native wildlife populations. Amphibians, reptiles and native song birds are effected most heavily by free-roaming domestic felines. Furthermore, a single unaltered female cat can contribute to the production of litterally hundreds of thousands of offspring. Free roaming cats have average lifespans of 3-5 years, compared to those kept indoors who often live to 15-20 years or more. The worlds oldest domestic cat is reported to have died at 36 years of age!



Diet and Nutrition

Cats are obligate carnivores, evolved to feed exclusively on animal carcasses. Evolved from wild cats in the jungles of Africa, and domesticated in Egypt just a few thousand years ago by agricultural societies, the cat made itself at home where the food was easy and plentiful.Grain crops attracted the rodents which would create an opportunity for felines to become useful to man. It was to be the beginning of a equally beneficial relationship. To this day, cats thrive most on a diet which is composed of whole animal sources such as rodents and birds. Commercial feeds are a very recent advent, invented in the late 1800's, and not popularized until WW2 when it was marketed as a convenience product during a time of hardship and tribulation. The pet food industry has since evolved into a multi-billion dollar revenue generating source. Grains, other plant products, and meat products unfit for human consumption are main stays in the most commonly used commercial feline diets, including veterinary recommended Hill's Science Diet. Such ingredients are extremely cost effective and allow for a much greater profit margin then quality, whole, raw animal sources could ever afford.

For the cat owner wishing to offer the best possible nutrition for their furry friends, providing an appropriate diet of raw  animal sources is far more economical then purchasing commercially developed and processed foods.
Ideally a cat should be consuming as much whole small animal matter as possible. Chicks, young rabbits, small whole fish, rodents, etc., make a perfect diet for companion felines. While the average person may not have ready access to these food items, the grocery store can be a valuable resource. As long as the cat's diet consists of  the following ingredients, he will thrive:

75-80% un-trimmed meat (including muscle, skin, fat, tendons, etc)
10-15% bone
10% organ (1/2 of that being liver)

A ten pound cat will consume approximately 4-8oz of food per day, divided into two or more meals.  Adjust the amount of food offered based on the body condition of the cat. Depending on individual metabolism and level of daily activity, different cats will have varying caloric requirements.

Game hen, chickens, fish, pork, beef, organ meats, and other raw meats found at the grocery store are all usable foods.

Purchasing these food items when on sale or clearance, will prove to be a very cost effective way of feeding kitty. The over all cost of feeding can easily average under $1/lb. For a household feeding 2 cats, this will total approximately  $15-$20/ month!

*For more advise on how to start feeding an appropriate feline diet feel free to contact Crescent City Animal Shelter (CCAnimalShelter@gmail.com) or visit www.rawfedcat.org for more in depth information an feline nutrition.

Also view  the web page of Dr. Lonsdale DVM for further reading on species appropriate diet for cats and dogs.
www.rawmeatybones.com

For online, interactive support:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawMeatyBones/

Sources of Whole Prey Foods:
(I am working on fixing improperly linked sites, so please bare with me.)

Mike Dupoy Hawk Food
Mice, rats, chicks, quail- free ground delivery with some orders
http://www.mikedupuyhawkfood.com/mdhf_price_aug06.pdf

Pet Icebox
Mice and rats, no minimum order and flat rate shipping of $28.
http://www.peticebox.com/

Screaming Pinky
Pinky mice and pinky rats
http://www.screamingpinky.com/

Hare Today
Chicken(whole chicks and adults, whole pieces, organs, feet, ground,eggs), duck(ground), goat(bones, organs, ground), beef(bones, ground, organs,tripe, gullet), mutton (ground, organs, bones), pork(bones, organs, feet),rabbit(whole rabbits of assorted sizes, ground), turkey (ground), pheasant(ground), salmon (ground), various dehydrated meats
http://www.hare-today.com/

Big Apple Herpetological
Mice, rats, chicks, quail, rabbits- frozen and live
http://www.bigappleherp.com/

Lazy S Rodents
Mice, rats, gerbils, african soft furred rats- NO SHIPPING- located in FL
http://www.lazysrodents.com/

Rodent Pro
Mice, rats, guinae pigs, chicks, quail, rabbits- *HOT DEALS*
http://www.rodentpro.com/index.asp

Mice on Ice
Mice and rats
http://www.miceonice.com/

Kingsnake.com Feeder Classifieds
Mice, rats, pigs, guinea pigs, chicks, quail, rabbits, insects (crickets, roaches, worms, etc, etc)
http://market.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=28

VenomousReptiles.org Feeder Classifieds
Mice, rats, pigs, guinae pigs, chicks, quail, rabbits, insects, etc
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/classifieds/results/7

Apex Rodents
Mice and rats
http://www.ApexRodents.com/

Frozen feeder pigs not much bigger than colossal rats. Add more weight to your snakes cheaper. More of the pig is used for nutrients than rabbits or even rats. Pigs ranging from 2-6 lbs. VERY LARGE reliable source. Currently about 3500-4000 lbs available. Minimum order of 50 lbs. $1.50 per pound 50-150 lbs $1.25 per pound for 150-300 lbs $1.00 per pound for above 300 lbs Shipping is not included in the price. Shipping is pretty reasonable either via 2 day or Airlines. Thanks Matthew www.monster-cages.com

More Information About Natural Feeding:
http://www.rawfedcats.org
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawcat/
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com
http://www.rawfed.com
http://rawfed.com/myths/cats.html

Easy Start Diet Recipe

    * 7.5 lbs muscle meat with bones(try and offer a good variety here, with at least a few different types of meats)
    * 6 oz of organ meat (such as kidney or spleen)
    * 6 oz liver
    * 1000 mg salmon oil caplets and 100IU of vit E

  1. Cut meat and bones into palm sized chunks.
  2. Divide into baggies with 3.6 oz of food for each.
  3. Cut up organs, adding a tiny amount into each bag. Amounts do not need to be exact, as long as over the course of the month, kitty gets the appropriate amounts.

*For boneless meats, be sure to compensate the calcium with ground eggshells or raw bone meal. -Approx. 1 ablespoon per lb of boneless meat. Its good to use a variety of meat, and feed fish such as herring, salmon, sardine, etc 1-2x per week for natural omega 3 oils. >>>Keep in mind that it is very important for cats to eat primarilly whole, bony pieces, as this will promote sound oral health, one of the most important benefits of an appropriate diet.<<<

Thaw as you go. The food shouldn't be left thawed in the refrigerator more than 48 hours before serving. To serve, warm under hot water in the sink. NEVER microwave the food. Cats like their food at something approximating "mouse body temperature.

*Sprinkling fresh salmon oil from a newly-opened capsule on to the cats' food. The Essential Fatty Acids in salmon oil are extremely fragile, and since we don't know exactly how much gets lost during freezing, I think it's wise to use a bit of fresh salmon oil directly on the food daily.. 1000mg per cat is fine. Also, add 100IU of vit E to complement the fish oil for optimal benefit.


Training

Contrary to common thought, domestic cats are not entirely solitary animals. They thrive emotionally when kept in groups and it is most advisable to raise 2 cats together as opposed to a single individual. Opposite sex pairings make the best companions to one another. In the long run, cats who grow up with the company of another cat mature into more emotionally balanced adults. This makes all aspects of cat rearing much easier on their human guardian. Litter box use is further reinforced when the kittens see each other displaying these good habits. Rough play such as biting and scratching can be out-letted on each other, rather then the human caretaker. The fact of the matter is that a tired kitten, is a good kitten. Wrestling and rough housing all day while the human parent is at work, will result in cuddly, tired kittens to come home to at the end of the day. There is less to worry about then, instead of having a bored kitty at home getting into mischief and indulging in destructive behaviors such as couch scratching, etc.

Common behavior problems in cats are things such as inappropriate elimination (urinating and dedicating outside the litter box), destructive scratching of household furnishings, and biting/ scratching of the human parent.


1. Inappropriate elimination

Cats will stop using their litter box for a number of reasons. The first thing to eliminate is health problems. A cat suffering from a urinary tract infection will begin to associate the litter box with the pain of this medical condition, thus compelling him to relieve himself elsewhere. If kitty has a clean bill of health, then other motivations must be sought. Cats are very sensitive creatures that can be upset quite easily. A new baby, puppy, or roommate can all be stressful stimulates for kitty. Even a new couch can be enough to put kitty on guard and result in him soiling outside of his box. There are very effective and natural products which can be used to calm kitty in times of stress and emotional upheaval. Feliway is a popular calming pheromone which is good at curbing felines from spraying and territorial marking. Bach's calming drops are flower essences that act on kitty in the same way aroma-therapy works on humans.
Another common reason for inappropriate elimination is simply an unusable litter box. Some cats are particular about where they relieve themselves. The texture of the litter, scent, depth, size/ type of litter box and cleanliness can all be factors on whether or not kitty will use it. Make sure that the box is kept very clean and pay attention to how kitty reacts to it. If he scratches outside of the box a lot, this could be an indication that it is unacceptable to him.  Try something with a finer texture. Also, some cats appreciate the privacy of a covered box, although by the smae token, a covered box can be unapealing because it can trap in unpleasant ammonia odors. Lastly, spaying and neutering can curb inappropriate litter box behaviors. Hormonal fluctuations trigger territorial responses. Fighting and spraying are common behaviors exhibited by intact cats.

2. Scratching of Household Items

Boredom, territorial marking, and the simple need for physical stimulation are all motivating factors for a cat to scratch. By providing kitty with acceptable places to scratch, such as a couple strategically located scratching posts, he can be trained to use these instead of household furnishings.  Spaying/ neutering can also help curb territorial scratching behavior. Utilization of Feliway calming pheramones will help to calm kitties nerves, and discourage destructive behaviours such as scratching furnishings.

3.Scratching and Biting of Humans

The best way to prevent this bad habit from forming is to not ever allow it to start. Don't use hands to play and rough house with kitty. Instead use a toy such as a kitty "fishing pole" or something else that kitty would delight in chasing such as a laser pointer or jingle ball. When petting kitty, if he bites, there are a few ways to handle it. First, cry out in a high pitched squeal, much like another kitten would do when getting bitten by a littermate. Then distract kitty with a toy and engage him in play. If need be, simply get up and leave. Punishment is not necessary and generally ineffective with cats. The goal is to encourage behaviors that are desirable, rather then punish for those which are not. Kitty will not understand the concept of negative reinforcement, and as time goes by, punishment will do nothing more then cause kitty to distrust his human guardian and ultimately can cause behavior problems to increase.

*A word of caution on de-clawing. DECLAWING IS MUTILATION. Not only is the claw removed, but the entire first digit of the cats toe. It is a horrendous amputation that is not without serious side effects. There are cases of de-clawed cats who end up crippled as the toes attempt to regrow claws and calcification at the amputation site causes serious deformation. Aside from the physical dangers of potentially handicapping kitty for life, there are long lasting psychological scars which can occur as well. Nearly all cats who are placed into animal control centers for behavior problems have one thing in common; they are de-clawed. A cat who has no claws realizes that he is at a serious disadvantage and has no choice but to use his teeth instead. This causes extreme anxiety, and results in a cat who is very quick to bite when uncomfortable.
If training has not been entirely effective in preventing kitty from scratching, opt for a more humane alternative to de-clawing, such as "Soft Paws." They are little rubber sheaths which can be easily glued over the claws. Ask your veterinarian for more information about Soft Paws.


Natural Flea and Parasite Prevention

The absolute best way to keep harmful pests under control is to promote health and wellness in kitty. Everything starts with a proper diet. An animal is meant to harbor parasites. As unnerving as it sounds, parasites are a natural part of existence and play an important role in the animal kingdom. The goal is not to eliminate parasites, but to create an environment in which the host and the parasite can coexist in a manner which does not harm the host. Reiterating once again how important proper nutrition is in this relationship, it is imperative for this to be acknowledged as the most pivotal element of cat husbandry.

A healthy cat does not need to be treated directly for parasites. What needs to be understood is that felines are extremely sensitive to pesticides. Even natural essential oils which are commonly used to repel insects can prove fatal to kitty! The rule of thumb is to never apply pest repellant directly to kitty. If there is an infestation, then the environment must be treated. Well over 95% of the fleas affecting the host are actually in the environment, rather then directly on the cat. By treating the environment (carpets, beds, other furnishings and the areas immediately surrounding the home) and ensuring that kitty is in optimal condition by feeding an appropriate diet, parasites will never be a health concern. For treating the environment, one of the most effective substances to use is something called FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth. This is a powdery mixture of dead sea creatures called diatoms. It is mined from the ocean and refined. Gardeners who grow organically like to use it as a natural pest control on their food crops. Instead of being a chemical pesticide (poison), it works mechanically. When fleas and other parasites interact with it, it physically scratches their exoskeletons causing them to dehydrate and die. Historically, farmers have used it on livestock for internal parasites as well by administering it in the animals feed. For fleas around the home, simply sprinkle over all the flooring, bedding, and furnishings. Wait three days, and then vacuum. Repeat this process immediately and once a month thereafter to prevent future re-infestation from occurring. Since fleas are the vectors of internal parasites of cats (worms), keeping the flea population to a minimum will do the same for these pesky gastrointestinal pests.

For heavily flea infested cats and kittens, bathing in Dawn dish soap is a gentle and effective way of immediately tackling the problem.  -If desired, a single treatment of topical flea treatment  (Advantage) can be used to kill eggs/ larvae which may be on the kitty. Deworming is something that should very rarely be done. We deworm infested kittens/ cats who are obviously having problesm with parasite load. When at high numbers, parasites can be fatal! We generally see this in poorly nurished/ sickly cats. We use Albon for protozoans such as coccidia, and Drontal as our broad spectrum wormer. Once parasites are under control and kitty is on track and doing well, we do not treat with dewormer again.
 
It is simply a matter of keeping these parasites under control by fostering a healthy immune system. A healthy cat will not succumb to fleas or worms.


For any questions, comments or support, feel free to contact Crescent City Animal Shelter.
ComCCAnimalShelter@gmail.com


Our hand out for our diet which we include with every adoption:

Here is your 30 day supply of raw food for your new kitty.

This raw, prey modeled diet is the most appropriate food that you can feed your cat, aside from feeding real whole prey, that is. Your kitty has been eating this food ever since he/she came here to our shelter, and it is in his/ her best interests that he/ she remain on this food.

You have been provided with instructions in your Adoption Handbook on how to prepare this diet, as well as educational information and references to informational websites and other sources of knowledge.

Each individual baggy is a full days food ration. It can be served in 2 or more feedings throughout the day. No other food should be given, canned or dry because these processed foods are damaging to your kitty's health. This raw diet is a complete and balanced food, and provides kitty will all the important vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fats, etc., to keep him/ her healthy, fit, and happy for all of his/ her life stages.

Please contact us if you have any questions about feeding this diet, how/ where to purchase meats to make more, etc. If you still feel uncomfortable making it yourself after the first 30 days, we will be happy to provide you with another 30 day supply. Cost will be approx $15. (this will pay for the baggies AND food cost)

Best regards,
Michelle Rossi
Crescent City Animal Shelter

CCAnimalShelter@gmail.com