Conference misery::feline

No, I'm not talking about Col. Sebastian. 8^)


Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs
and Cats. Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M.,ISBN 0-87857-395-x.

   This was $10.95 when about 3-1/2 years ago, and is pretty
   comprehensive. It includes diets for kittens, aged pets
   and sick pets. It explains how  to treat some common
   ailments homeopathically.


Keep Your Pet Healthy The Natural Way. Pat Lazarus. ISBN
0-87983-388-2.

   I picked this up at Bread and Circus because it has a fore-
   word by Dr. Kearns. Interesting section on Cardiomyopathy.



                                   Susan

    The Natural Cat is also a book
    dealing with the same subject.
    
    I don't remember the author;
    I had the book years ago but
    have still seen it in book stores.

RE: -1

Did you find anything in the book helpful in caring
for your cat?


                                  seh

    _The Natural Cat_ and the _New Natural Cat_ are both by Anitra Fraser. 
    The latter is an updated version of the former.  There is lots of good
    information on all aspects of cat care in both books.

    I don't want to be really negative, but _The New Natural Cat_ type
    of philosophy is not for everyone.  I ordered this book through a 
    book club and actually sent it back!  You see, I do not believe (even
    one little tiny bit) in homeopathy, and the book club description did
    not clue me in as to what the book was about.  I also do not believe in
    visualization (when you leave on a trip, you're supposed to visualize
    yourself returning from the trip and walking through your door, so that
    your cats will "know" you're coming back and be happier while you're
    gone).  I guess as a scientist I am a typical skeptic of all New Age
    type stuff.
    
    I love my cats as much as anyone and take them to a good vet and spend
    more money than I should on them.  But I prefer other types of books on
    cat care.  
    

    Funny, that 'visualisation' stuff... I never say 'no' to anything, for
    I have made some very funny experiences with 'mystic' things, but I use
    a much easier method. I easily tell Smokey when I come home. Yo might
    not believe, but she behaves very normally the whole time I'm away,
    until the last half hour before my coming (my mother reported this
    several times). About 30 minutes before I arrive, she sits before the
    entrance door, and waits for me. She KNOWS, when I come. How, I don't
    know. I don't care if it is miracle, or she understands human speech...
    the main thing, she knows, and behaves normal and is not upset. It is
    so even if I am away for more than a week!
    
    BTW, if I am late (very seldom occurs) she meows loudly and bites me
    on arrivel. She 'punishes' me for being late!
    
    
    Nat

My friend does that with her dog. He would go bananas whenever
she left the house until she figured out to do this. Before she
goes out the door she turns to him and says she's leaving, where
she's going, and when she'll be back and he's much better about it.

I've never noticed if Bumble Bea anticipates our return, but she
sure knows when we are planning to go somewhere. A couple days
before we leave she'll spend more time with us and on the day
of departure she just lies on the bed and sticks her head into
a blanket. Great for guilt trips.

Cats are *very* sensitive to things we aren't aware of, and, in some
cases, don't believe in. I think that when we are planning to leave
on vacation, as the time to leave approaches, on a feeling, auric,
or whatever level you wanna call it, we have already left and cats
pick up on that. That same can apply to when we return.



                                         Susan

    This is too funny.  I always make a point of telling my kittyboys
    goodbye when I leave, even when I go to work and will be home at
    lunchtime.  Wherever they are, I make sure I catch their eyes when I'm
    saying goodbye, and I tell them to be good while I'm gone.
    
    Michelle

    I do this too.
    
    Whenever I leave the house I say, "Bye bye kittens" and then I make
    sure that I kiss each of the kitties before I leave.  In the morning I
    make sure they each get a hug.  Noone gets away untouched :-)  That's 
    the rule.
    
    - Lauri
    

    Now I know I'm going to sound totally nuts on this one but I
    always make a point of saying something to the cats as I leave.
    I usually say, "I'm leaving now, I'll see you later.  Don't 
    destroy the place.  Amelia's in charge while I'm gone."
    
    It's a ritual I've fallen into over time.  I must admit though,
    I believe I got the idea after reading "The Natural Cat".
    
    Jan

    I say something to the cats, "don't destroy the house while
    I'm gone, guys" (indoor) and outdoor "stay outta the street
    ladies", to the rabbit "Use your litterbox, Fred", and to the 
    horses, "goodnight, be good and I'll see ya in the morning".

    I always tell Chubs that he's not allowed to use the phone while I'm
    gone.  He used to call up for anchovy pizza all the time.  :^)  I also
    have this awful habit of walking in the side door after work and saying
    "how are my boys?".  By bad habit I mean we have two females and only
    one male so where do I get off calling them BOYS?! 
    
    Actually, several replies back mentioned that cats have this natural
    tendency to know when you're going out of town.  It failed to mention
    that a suitcase and pile of clothes neatly laid on the bed is what
    really tips them off.  Oh, and of course a larger than normal mound of
    food in the bowl is another good clue!

    Hmmm.  I've always thought this was a perfectly reasonable thing to do
    (say goodbye to the cat(s) when I'm leaving).  After all, I talk to
    them (just him now) all the time, so saying "bye, you be good now until
    I get home", or "I'll be late tonight", or whatever, seems obvious.  And
    if he's not right there, I go find him and give him a bye bye pat and
    scratch on the head.
    
    You wouldn't think of leaving without saying so to anyone else you lived
    with, would you?
    
    len.
     

    Gee, I guess I don't feel so crazy now!  I always say goodbye to my
    guys too, and tell Kelsey that he is in charge because he's the oldest
    so no wild parties, no long distance calls, and if Taja starts beating
    up on you give it right back!!  He usually doesn't listen.  If the
    bedroom lamps are overturned when I get home I know that Taja has
    chased Kelsey who used the nighstands to try to take refuge.
    
    And when I get home from work I always greet them with "Hi Guys!" as I
    open the door.  Good thing none of the neighbors are ever around; they
    would really wonder about me.  If I have groceries I proceed to tell
    them what I've brought, and which bag they should look in for their
    goodies.  All this with the apt. door still ajar while I'm hauling the
    bags in.
    
    At least I know I haven't totally flipped!
    
    -Roberta
    

    I agree, saying goodbye to the cats is perfectly reasonable.  We always
    do as we are counting noses before we leave.  We tell them to be good
    and have a nice nap.  If they are easily assessible, I kiss them.  One
    night, Bob and I decided to go out to dinner before going home.  While
    we were eating Bob said, "We didn't tell the kids we are going to be
    late, I hope they won't worry".  They always get hellos and pats and
    kisses when we come home.  Since there are 4 of them, I have to be
    careful to mention each name and pat each purrson, or there may be a
    nose out of joint.
    
    Steffi 

    I believe Mary Tamir was the one who named her cat Honey so when she
    came home at night she could say "Honey, I'm home!"

    
    
      I always make sure that I see both my babies whenever I leave the
    house and I always tell them to be good and behave and i'll see them
    tonight and give them a couple of good bye pats and tell them that,
    mommy loves you!
    
    And when I get home they are both sitting right at the door waitting,
    sometimes when I pull in I see them sitting in the window on their
    little window seats and by time I get out of my car they are gone and
    off to greet me at the door, they are so cute and so funny....
    
    ha! ha! that's funny - honey, i'm home!