Food Review: Hound & Gatos

Cats are one of the pickiest eaters in the animal kingdom. One day they are totally into their food and then the next, they sniff their noses up at a $29.99, 12 oz bag of at food. What gives!?

Cats are particular about their cuisine. This phenomenon of selective eating is not unusual. An article on PetMD explains the reason why cats are picky eaters is based on their genetic composition. Cats do not have a specific gene that detects "sweet compounds" such as sugars and artificial sweeteners, therefore their diets in the wild consist of high amounts of protein versus carbohydrates which are found in veggies and fruits. Since cats don't have the ability to detect sugars through the sugar stimuli (us humans call it as having "a sweet tooth"), cats will tend to not eat foods that contain common cat food ingredients such as potato, corn, cranberries and banana. They will always prefer a food that has high amounts of protein and a small amounts, if at all any, of carbohydrates.

A cat food brand that I really enjoy is Hound & Gatos. They are a "Paleolithic" pet food company that has limited ingredients in their product.

Their food is 100% animal protein and 0% plant protein. Their meats range from game-type proteins such as rabbit and pacific northwest salmon to the typical beef and chicken. Lamb and rabbit is a popular meat in my household since I have an IBD kitty who is sensitive to fish, beef and chicken.

This brand is affordable compared to Wellness and Instinct brands which are found in Petco and Petsmart. Unfortunately, Hound & Gatos is only found at speciality food stores, but if you visit their website, you can order online through Chewy.com or other popular pet food stores.

Hound & Gatos - The Original Paleolithic Pet Food Company http://www.houndgatos.com

What's In This?!

Today I was in Petsmart, cruising the cat food aisle to pick-up some wet food cans and I saw a lady at the end of the aisle concentrated on the label of a bag of cat food. By the looks of it, it appeared as if she was reading the ingredients on the label. It's no surprise to see this at your local grocery store, but who reads the ingredients of cat food?!

If you don't, start today.... You see, what she was doing is not unusual or weird. It's responsible. It tells me that she cares about her cat's health and wellness. Researching different cat foods and fact checking the ingredients is a must. Many pet food companies these days add many harmful and unneeded ingredients into our pet's foods.

Cats require a specific diet and that diet is an all meat diet. They are called "obligate carnivores" and require meat to survive. Cats don't eat kale, cranberries, potato starch, sweet potatoes, corn, etc... common ingredients in major pet food brands.

I challenge you to go into your pantry and read the ingredients on your cat's food. What does it have? Meat, potatoes and maybe a side salad or just meat?

In my next blog post, I'll compile a list of the top cat-friendly foods on the market to help you find the right one for your kitty.

As always, consult with your veterinarian before changing your cat's food!

Giving the Love and Attention Your Cat Deserves

How often do you stop in your busy, daily life to tell your cat that you love them? How often do you sit down with them for a few minutes everyday, pet and tell them how your day went? Or show that you care about them by brushing their fur or playing with them for 15 minutes a day?

If you answered "not very often" or "once a while", stop what you're doing right now and give them the love and attention that they deserve.

Sit with them and rub under their neck or scratch their heads( don't you dare try rubbing their belly - unless you want your arm to be meat tenderized!).

Sit with them and tell them about your crappy day at work or how much fun you had with your friends today. Tell them all of the details because they will give you their full attention and listen to everything you have to say.

Play with them and spend all of their built up energy that they obtained while you were at work. They are a loaded spring and need it to be stretched!

Play with them for at least 15 minutes until they look tired and exhausted. Look at their eyes and give them three slow blinks. You are telling your cat that you love them. If they blink back, they are saying "I Love You Too".

Give the love and attention that your cat deserves everyday because more than likely, they are giving you all of their love, 24/7.

Petsitting Checklist for the Client Before They Leave

At Just Cats Pet Sitting, we provide quality cat care to your felines when you are away! There are lots of things to consider before going out of town such as packing, planning, etc. that you have to quickly accomplish before jet-setting to some beautiful destination!

Here is a checklist that may be helpful for you the next time you go out of town:

Pets

⬜  Pet food and treats with feeding instructions

⬜  Medications, with detailed instructions

⬜  Plenty of toys to keep your pets occupied while you're away

⬜  Extra litter, litter scoop, poop bags

⬜  Close doors to any rooms where cats aren't allowed

Household

⬜  Paper towels

⬜  Cleaning supplies (rug cleaner, dish soap, etc.)

⬜  Broom, dustpan, vacuum cleaner (or instructions on where they are kept)

⬜  Trash can & trash bags

⬜  Set thermostat to a comfortable temperature for your pets

⬜  Empty trash, wash dishes, water plants, etc.

For Your Pet Sitter

⬜  Leave a note with any last minute changes or instructions

⬜  Notify your pet sitter that you are leaving as scheduled

Cat Play @ A Young Age

Playing with your cat at least 15 minutes a day is not only good for their health and a way of burning energy, but it's also good for their social skills.

Developing a cat's social skills is key at the beginning of their life. Kittens learn how to act around other cats and as well as humans when they have littermate to play with. Ever see two kittens get into a tumble and it looks and sounds like they are hurting each other? They are learning when a bite or a scratch is considered "too much" . When humans play rough with a kitten, we are essentially teaching them that it's okay to scratch and bite. They learn this as they grow up and can then develop a bad behavior in which people consider them to be a "cat from hell" (Jackson Galaxy plug).

When you consider adopting a kitten from a shelter or a rescue group, think about getting another kitten , preferably a littermate so they can keep each other company; keep that sibling bond; and develop proper social skills for when they grow up to be sweet kitties.

23 Insanely Clever Products Every Cat Owner Will Want

I love Buzzfeed. Especially when they do something cat-related like "Cute Cats In Weird Sleeping Positions" or "21 Reasons Why We Love Cats". My friend Jenna recently sent me this Buzzfeed post on "23 Insanely Clever Products Every Cat Owner Will Want". Pablo and I already have a few of these!! Here are a few that we will definitely want in the future:

#9: Extra Side Bed (for Ginger)

#11: Home Office

#22: The Indiana Jones Cat Bed

Which products appeal to you? Post in the comments below!

Nicole @ Just Cats

Kitten Rescue Cam

Need a way to relieve stress during the heck work day or wake up on the wrong side of the bed and need a pick me up?!

I highly recommend the Kitten Rescue Cam which showcases adoptable kittens from a rescue group out of Los Angeles, CA. 365, 24/7 - you can see kittens at play or catch a nap with their momma cat.

What a great way to promote a great cause! Bookmark it on your browser!