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Expert: - 6/18/2009


Question
QUESTION: my Holly is always shedding she is a short hair white in color.  I brush her when she lets me but it doesn't seem to help. Do you think she is lacking something in her diet?

ANSWER: Debbie,

What kind of diet is Holly eating?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I feed Holly Friskies for indoor cats.  And as a treat every once in a while I give can Friskies.  Her treats are for hairballs. She is a short hair white in color.

Answer
Debbie,

I suspect the shedding is related to Holly's diet - Friskies isn't a great quality food and Holly may have some nutritional deficiencies or sensitivities to some ingredients in this food. I'd recommend checking out catinfo.org, this site was created by a vet wanting to teach pet parents about the complex nutritional needs of their cats and how best to meet those needs for their long term health. You could start introducing Wellness or Spot's Stew by Halo - these foods are both high quality, holistic cat foods made from human grade ingredients and they've never been recalled for any reason as far as I know so I'm comfortable recommending them to pet parents. When my cats only ate Spot's Stew Sensitive Cat by Halo a 6 lb bag cost $25 CAN and lasted my three resident cats 1 month, that breaks down to 28 cents to feed each cat.

There are advantages to feeding a high quality diet. Cats with a healthy diet are healthier, their coats are softer and shinier. Another advantage to proper nutrition for our cats is that they're not sick as often, they also don't tend to use the litter box as much because they're actually digesting their food and using it effectively. Any kitty caregiver will also appreciate that a cat fed a decent diet won't leave litter box deposits that smell quite as bad as  kitties who aren't eating a good food. I suspect that by providing Holly with a high quality diet and grooming her regularly she'll stop shedding quite as much. I can provide you with a rather eye opening article about the pet food industry if you're interested in learning more. If you have any questions about the information I've provided or you'd like me to clarify anything, please don't hesitate to contact me again.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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