Animal Well Being

Animal Well Being

Frequently Asked Questions

by Marti Miller, M.A.

My cat refuses to use the litter box. What can I do to get her to start using it again? RS, Clear Lake, TX

I gather from what you have said, your cat did use the litter box at one time and now has decided not to. This is a common problem with our feline friends. Cats can be very sensitive to change. Changing the brand of cat litter can be disturbing. Their response is: “The other litter was just fine, I don’t like this new stuff and I’m not going to use it!” The addition of another animal to the home or even a new baby may upset your companion enough that they will retaliate by refusing to use the litter box. They sometimes do this when you have left for a vacation or even a long weekend. In these situations, the Bach flower essence Walnut is useful to help cats adjust to change.

Then there may be the most obvious reason, and that is that the litter box is too dirty for your little princess to use. I had a client whose cat wouldn’t use the litter box to urinate. When I connected with her telepathically, she told me that she didn’t like the splashing that was created when she went in the litter box. I recommended placing papers down around the litter box for her to use so there would be no splashing. The cat and the human were happy with this solution.

So now, what if it isn’t any of these reasons? Then a trip to the veterinarian may be in order. There are some disease states that will cause your companion to not use the litter box. She may be telling you there is something wrong and she needs your help to feel better. If everything checks out with the veterinarian, and you haven’t changed the brand of litter, then I suggest that you add the Bach flower essence Willow to her water. Most of the time, one of these solutions will remedy the “out of potty” experience.

Speaking of cat litter, let me comment a little about the different kinds that are available. The brands that clump are dangerous to your feline companion. The fine particles in clumping litter get into the coat, or paws, and while grooming, are ingested by the cat. They are designed to clump, and when they get into your cat’s system, they cause a dangerous blockage in the intestinal track.

Cats can also be allergic to the perfumes that are in some cat litters, so it is a good idea to stay away from scented litters. There are several natural brands made from wood and paper recycling. Feline Pine Litter is one brand that is made from wood, and Fibre Cycle is made from recycled newspaper.

My dog is very overweight. We go on daily walks, and I restrict the amount of food he is getting. What can I do so he isn’t so fat? DB, Austin, TX.
My first thought is that you need to take him to your veterinarian for blood tests, to make sure that there isn’t something medically wrong. A hypothyroid can cause weight gain in animals just as it does in humans. If you have already done this and all is well medically, look at the food you are feeding him. Good nutrition is just as important for animals as it is for humans.

The primary ingredients that are important to avoid when buying dry food are: by-products, BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin and artificial colors and flavors. These are very harmful to your companion. Supermarket brands of dry pet foods contain a substantial amount of fillers. This contributes to animals being overweight. As a result, animals need to eat more food in order for them to get needed nutrients.

My first preference and recommendation is that you feed your companions raw food. Dr. Ian Billinghurst, in his book Give a Dog a Bone, recommends bones and raw food, also known as the BARF diet. You can feed your companions raw bones, fruit, vegetables, and supplements. I feed my dog raw chicken backs, necks, wings, beef soup bones, and any fruit or vegetable that she will eat.

That’s right, RAW chicken bones. When you feed raw bones, dogs pulverize or crunch the bones up. When the bones are cooked, they tend to splinter. Think about dogs in the wild: what do they eat? Raw meat, bones, grass, eggs, and other raw food. I must stress here that it is very important to get high quality meat when feeding this diet. This diet will give your companion a beautiful coat, more energy and vibrant good health.

Now, if you just can’t bring yourself to feed the raw diet, here are some very good brands of dry food for dogs and cats. In the February issue of Whole Dog Journal, there is a list of their top 10 recommended brands: Back to Basics (Chicken formula), made by Beowulf Natural Feeds, Inc. (800-219-2558), California Natural and Innova Natura Pet Products (800-532-7261),Canidae (800-393-1600), Flint River Ranch (909-682-5048), Limited Diet, by Innovative Veterinary Diets a division of Nature’s Recipe (800-359-4483), PetGuard LifeSpan, by PetGuard (800-874-3221), Pinnacle, by Breeder’s Choice (800-255-4286), Solid Gold (800- 521-0010), Wysong (800-748-0233). These are all excellent dry foods. Look for them in stores that handle higher quality food. In summary: feed healthy food and have a healthy, trim companion animal.