Re: vegetarian pet food

[Nina]

You know, I've been thinking about this.  I wonder if the veg and the raw diets get results because they are natural home made diets without additives that might cause allergic reactions.  I'm sure wheat gluten, preservatives etc. aren't added to either diet!  Switching Gypsy to raw chicken breast and liver was the only thing that had any effect on her symptoms, the change was slight, but it did get better.  When I began adding the Instincts TC (pre-packaged ingredients to add to muscle meat to make it nutritionally complete), she was back to square one. Nina catatonya wrote: Patti,   I would love to have the recipes that you are using for your cats and dogs.  I have 2 cats who suffer from allergies and would like to give it a try this summer while I'm off!   I'm a vegetarian and have always toyed with the idea of trying this.  I'm not going to force it on my cats if they don't do well on it, but I'd like to give it a try.   t "MacKenzie, Kerry N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: No prob, thanks Patti! That does help--I've just about got the letter together now to send Mylan Engel (the lecturer in question--some --many?-- of you probably already know of him? He's a philosophy/ethics professor and also seems to be pro animal rights :>)). He was quite emphatic about cats being able to be fed a vegetarian diet as long as they were given taurine in addition. As I said, there was no opportunity to challenge him or have a dialogue of any sort so that was the last word on it for everyone there who noted his words. I'm shocked to hear about the "new home" that your 2 Maine Coons endured until they (thank goodness) found their way back to you. What on earth were these poeple doing to them if the poor cats lost hair in two weeks? I just don't get it. Why do people like that go to the effort of "adopting" in the first place. Is it a novelty thing - they love the idea of getting new cats, but once the novelty's worn off they have no interest in the cats' welfare? Grrr. Good luck with all your diet prep. (And hope you're winning the flea battle.) Kerry   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:19 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: OT/ names of online articles by vets showing cats are carnivores Kerry, I wasn't meaning to throw you off w/ my experience, LOL! I just think that after having raised BoyCat & GirlCat, and their success w/ a vegetarian diet, it was something to share w/ the group. Now that I am no longer fostering, and my numbers here are "more" manageble for special meals for all (5 cats, 4 dogs), I have been thinking of converting all diets. I already cook for Midnight, and am slowly introducing the other dogs to veg diet, I am pondering a change for the cats. In my crew, I do have 2 fosters, (although I have a feeling they are officially family, since I had to (rescue)( bring them back from "new" home, they "missed" me...) Apparently in the 2 weeks they were 'adopted", their diets were poor. They are both big, Maine Coone X's over 20 lbs., longhairs.....They came back w/ fleas (!!!) & missing splotches of hair.... So, I am entertaining the thought of diet change for all cats... I'll let you know what I decide.... But, it was interesting to read the "other" side's view..   Patti This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.