Cat Nutrition & Training

Your cat's specific caloric and nutrient needs will vary widely based on age, size, breed, activity level, overall health, and other factors. All commercially-produced cat foods have to meet or exceed benchmarks for nutrients to be labeled as “complete and balanced foods” by AAFCO.

Before we talk about how to get your cat to try something new, let’s talk about what to feed them. There are many different types of cat food available — dry food, canned, raw and fresh — and a few reasons why fresh food is worth the little extra work of transition. 

If you’re like most cat parents, taking care of the litter box probably isn't your favorite chore. Cats typically have at least one bowel movement a day but this varies depending on age, diet and health. Normal cat stool should have a long, round shape and a chocolate-brown color. 

Your cat is leaving behind a trail of chemicals called pheromones, natural substances that share specific information amongst the same species of animal. Cats use pheromones to mark people, objects, and other cats and household pets as safe, important parts of their world—and to warn of potential dangers in their environment.

Cats generally need a minimum of 4 ounces of water a day per 5 pounds of body weight. However, this can vary based on activity level, temperature, and other environmental factors. They can obtain this through drinking and through their diet.

Along with conventional treatments, many veterinarians prescribe L-lysine supplementation to cats suffering from respiratory problems or illnesses like the feline herpesvirus. But what is L-lysine, and does it help your cat or harm her?

Many people hear the word “alpha” and immediately think of harsh or dominating tactics to get a dog to behave or submit. This is definitely not the goal you want to keep in mind when working with your dog and becoming the alpha in their life.

We see a lot of trends crossing over between human diets and pet diets: low-carb, grain-free, raw foods, antioxidant-rich, etc. After all, if it works in humans there’s a good chance it’ll have similar benefits for our pets, right? Sometimes, but not necessarily.

Reduced phosphorus diets have been very effective at improving the outlook for cats with CKD. In fact, cats that consistently eat diets designed to reduce kidney workload can live twice as long as cats that have had no dietary adjustments.

In addition to keeping themselves clean, cats instinctually keep their litter box clean as well. They do this by covering their urine and feces with loose litter. Therefore, when the smell of urine is coming from the cat herself, this can be cause for concern. The reasons and solutions of a urine smell vary from cat to cat.