After reading Anitra’s last book, I was talking to one of the leading experts in feline diabetes who offered up one simple line. “I have to agree with her on one very basic point! Cats are carnivores.”

That may sound obvious now, but it was the first moment I realized that my poor sick kitty didn’t need the meat flavored cereal that that same expert was prescribing. My cat needed meat, and lots of it!!

Pywacket lived well with diabetes for six years with fewer vet visits than ever. His pre-diabetes asthma was mysteriously cured, and he died of old age at 19.5. Now Anitra has updated her book and I was first in line.

She has already answered questions I spent hours on the internet trying to find, especially what if anything to use to supplement a cat’s diet. I do admit that I am not up to feeding raw food as Anitra has long suggested. I have 2 little kids at home, and even a small risk is too much. Still, following Anitra’s basic recommendations using high quality wet foods and adding fresh chicken, I have seen my new cats become little fluff bunnies, long haired cats with NO matts ever!

Anitra Frazier understands cats from the slow “I love you blink” to diet, to what it is like to live with these amazing creatures. for my 2 new cats, the latest edition of her wonderful book will stand as my first reference for a long time. Buy it. Study it! You will save thousands in vet bills and for the first time perhaps, truly understand your amazing animals.

Thank you Anitra! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The book is very easy to read and understand and it causes a lightbulb to go off in your head. I recommend this book to anyone who is dead-set on Hard Food. I even know a couple of people like this that I plan on lending the book to so they can be well informed before continuing a Hard Food regimen.

Besides advising a Raw Food Diet the Author also gives advice for people who don’t want to go to a Raw Food diet which includes wet food and supplements. The supplements are easily explained and the book tells you exactly what to get and how much, which is something I could never find on the internet.

I have since switched my cats immediately to Blue Buffalo, a Holistic brand of wet food, I do plan on going all the way to Raw but because my cats are brainwashed from the chemicals and flavors of Hard Food, it’ll be a slow process.

This book has given me the confidence to pay attention to nature and to go with my gut feeling instead of taking Food-Advice from my vets who endorse Hard Food until your cat gets sick then say “They should really be on all wet, but not Raw because it’s dangerous due to disease.” I’ll trust my vet with everything else except food.

*UPDATE* 11/28/09 – Had book for about 5 months.

This book is a dictionary on how to help your cat naturally. I’ve used home-made saline solution for my cat, and I later tried it on myself. I’ve even made the home made chicken broth recipe for when my cat got diarrhea. The only downside of the book is that it doesn’t give you a “What if the cat doesn’t like ___” option. When I made the recipe for chicken broth to help calm and soothe my cat’s digestive system the book said the cat would just lap up the broth because it was so good. I put the bowl down and my cat turned his nose up at it! So what do you do when the cat hates it? That’s the one thing I realize I don’t like about the book, the author assumes that cat will love whatever you give it. I still think the book is worth buying and is still worthy of 5 Stars. I’ve referenced it so many times and now I go to the book before I call my vet. I strongly recommend this book for any cat companion!

We adopted her in February of 1996 and she is still with us 16 years later.

Our cat (She Who Must Be Obeyed) had minor health issues throughout her life. She needed medical attention only twice and we took her for her yearly check-ups and shots on a regular basis. She is in fantastic health and has weathered cross country moves numerous times (we’re military). Honestly, I feel that the diet has given her the longevity she has, coupled with keeping her indoors and keeping her safe when venturing outside (deck, closed in porch, fenced backyard).

We had numerous visitors who were allergic to cats and they had no problem staying with us in our home. As indicated in the book, people are allergic to the dander that cats produce, not the actual hair. Good food, vitamins (Vita Mix), and safety keeps that dander down to a minimum.

We will be moving overseas in a few months and her vet has given the okay for her to make that journey.

Coco’s Slop
1 lb of 85{9566c0a8c38d7ef68d82188668983429d8c3d2118cd02557d3ef814309ae7d10} Beef (hamburger, free ranged)
1 lg sweet potato
1 lg bunch of broccoli
1 c of Vita Mix (premade and kept in fridge or store version)

In a large pot, add approx 2 quarts of cold water. Peel and cut sweet potatoes in large chunks = add to pot. Cut the stem off the broccoli and cut into chunks = add to water. Cut off the small stems from the broccoli and add to water (you will add the florets later).

Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the broccoli florets and continue to simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are done. Turn off heat and allow the mix to cool.

When the mix has cooled, set aside approx 2 cups of liquid. Mash the veggies into the liquid = use a blender, old fashion masher or stick blender. Add the beef = use a masher (this part can get messy). Add the Vita Mix mixture. If the mixture is too thick, add some of the reserved liquid. It should have the consistency of spaghetti sauce.

Put approx 3/4 cup into a small snack baggie. Seal and lay flat on a cookie sheet (that will fit in your freezer). Continue until the food is gone. Make sure the bags are neat and lined up in rows – the seal/top of the baggie sticking up. If you lay the baggies flat w/the seam down, the juice leaks out and makes the baggies stick together. Freeze overnight. You can take the cookie sheet away and store food in a large ret. container.

Defrost one baggie in a dish/container overnight in the fridge – they do leak at the seam. Feed your cat an adequate amount = usually 1/2 or 1/3 of the bag = twice a day.

You must keep the food frozen until ready to use. Once the food is defrosted, you must use it within a day. Keep the baggie of food in the fridge until it’s gone. Once the cat has eaten take away the dish and clean.

I use sturdy plastic plates for my cat’s food. I throw away the plate when she’s done eating. Sometimes I use saucers for her food. I have never used a small bowl or “cat” dish = our cat has long whiskers and hates sticking her nose into something confining.

I keep her food frozen and snap the food in the baggie in 1/3. I defrost a small portion in the microwave. Our cat doesn’t like the food too cold nor too hot. Using the microwave bothers me, but she’s gotten picky about the temp in her old age. At this point in her life, I want to comfort her as much as possible.

I make large batches = double the recipe. I have a separate freezer, so I have lots of room to store it.

If I’m making hamburger, meatloaf or meatballs our cat will run over and beg for a small bite of raw meat. Once I couldn’t find free range beef and used the store brand, she refused to eat it and I threw away a month’s worth of food. She couldn’t smell the beef. crazy! Since that day, I try not to feed regular beef to my family – if the cat won’t eat it, it must be awful. She does like Angus beef.

Anytime I make sweet potatoes or broccoli, she’ll come running and starts rubbing my legs. She knows the smell and loves, loVES, LOVES freshly made food.

Now I buy Halo’s Vita Mix. I’m not in the mood to buy and store the Vita Mix. Yes, it’s wayyyy more expensive to buy it, but I got kids and a house to run.

Our cat is a cherished member of our family. We feed her the best food possible. She, in turn, has given us wonderful companionship. I hope you find this helpful.