OHHHHHH! They are beautiful! Your gray kitty looks just like my stanley!

Your Stanley is very handsome! His markings look like a portrait of an animal (horse maybe?) on his side! I love the tabby cats.

I'm so confused by this pet food issue.  There is so much conflicting info.   I've been researching all day (work is slow as usual).  I found that great catinfo.org written by a vet and there is so much in there I didn't know.  I looked more into Avoderm and it has 13.5 % carbs which is a lot higher than the 3-5% recommended by catinfo.  Plus there is the issue of low protein diets for kidney problems but how do you feed a cat a low protein and a low carb diet without it being a bunch of junk food?  I looked into a raw homemade diet but it wasn't recommended for cats with kidney problems (I guess because of the high protein).  But my vet didn't recommend a low protein diet.  See why I'm confused?  So I think screw the low protein because if she were still outside she would be eating mice and birds anyway.  That's protein right?  But she has been on EVO dry and that's when her crystals count shot up.  So I'm going out to buy some canned EVO which has almost no carbs and is good quality and give that a try.    Sorry if I made you confused with my rambling. 

Cats should still have high protein.  Only from good sources.  My holistic vet years ago when Boobie had kidney issues in his late teens told me I had to make better protein choices.  He lived past 20.

They were, no beef unless raw/slightly cooked organic liver.  Could have a couple of times a week because of all the vitamins and minerals. Chicken, no more than twice a week. Fish and organic/good quality cottage cheese the rest of the time. Organic eggs are good too.  Fish more than cottage cheese.

I always thought tofu would be a good choice.  She said it is for people.  It is not for dogs and cats.  She is vegetarian BTW.

Cats do not eat many carbs in the wild world.  They still need their protein with kidney disease.  Just better quality and better choices.

When she said fish, she did not mean just canned tuna.  Best choices, mackerel and sardines fresh or in spring water, not oil.  Salmon (canned or fresh).  Tuna is OK occasionally.  Not the 1st, second or third choice.

I have never added taurine to my cooked food for over 15 years.  My holistic vet has never added it and she has homecooked forever it seems and she is in her mid to late 60's.  She thinks synthetic taurine is useless as do many holistic/naturopathic vets.  Cats need to get their taurine from meat.

The only raw meat I give is organic beef liver.  I do not cook the crap out of their other food although at times I have.

My last three cats lived over 20 years.  My friends had three cats die of heart failure on Science Diet.  One of the problems with taurine deficiency.  They tried to fight SD and lost.  Yet, SD upped their taurine levels in cat food after that.  Wonder if they were feeling guilty.  That was well over 20 years ago.

Hope this helps.

I only feed my cats fresh fish (I don't trust canned cat food) along with a high quality human grade dry food and a vitamin supplement.... needless to say they are spoiled rotten! I have an all natural cat food recipe somewhere. I will find it and post it on the cooking forum.

My beloved Saul (RIP) was quite capable of defecating for spite.

My Nelson (RIP) too!!  I have to travel for work sometimes and my Nels started leaving a pile of turds right in the middle of my bed when I was gone.  After he did it the second time I started closing my door so he couldn't get in my bedroom while I was gone, so he started leaving the pile right in front of my bedroom door!  He got so upset when I left, he wouldn't have anything to do with me the first day after I returned.  Such a spoiled sissy man!  He was my sweetheart.

This is the only electronic picture I have of my Nels.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii85/Stormflakes/Family/PICT0025.jpg

I took Cali to obedience over the fall and winter.  She would sit but she would never lie down.  Alpha dogs don't like to lie down because it makes them submissive.

One class the trainer told her to lie down.  She wouldn't.  If you don't make them do it, they know they have won.  It took 7 minutes for her to get Cali to lie down.

In the last two weeks, Cali gets it.  I tell her to lie down and SHE DOES!  Doesn't help she has two strong breeds that we know in her.  Husky and Australian Cattle Dog.  

She is so proud of herself that now when I tell her to sit, she sits and then lies down.  OK, I have to work on that.  ???  She also gets so happy about lying down that down can also mean, lie down, do a complete roll over and end up in the proper down position.  I can so live with that!

Cali is a constant source of amusement.  Yesterday, she ran in the park, leaped in the air, did a complete about face in mid air and continued running.

Today, she spotted a small dog....ran over, ran circles around him and brought him back to his mom.  

Isabela was a special dog.  So much part of my heart.  I truly wasn't sure I would be able to allow another dog in to my heart.  I have always loved Cali.  Never compared her to Isabela because she isn't Isabela.  

Cali has proved (to all of you that are afraid to get another after losing a beloved pet) that new hearts and souls can fill a void and more so, become a huge part of your life and heart.

Isabela shared 3 1/2 years with me and we were soul mates.  Cali has shown that you always have room in your heart for another soul mate.  Maybe we have huge souls?

Cali is head strong as was Isabela.  Cali loves her second chance at life as did Isabela.  Cali hopefully has many years ahead of her.  

Watching Cali play with her boyfriend Lewis in the park today, I knew rescuing her sight unseen, I so did the right thing.  When she then went over to Lewis's and sat on the second stair of the pool (something she is frightened of) that she was finally getting over some of her fears.  

Her fur may never completely grow in.  I don't care and neither to any of her friends.  She is finally healthy and day by day getting more confident.  She is now so proud of doing what I ask which is not much.  The odd sit, down and stay.  Oh, and come when I call.  If a squirrel is involved, the come is on deaf ears. Guess what I have on my balcony?  A squirrel nest and at least 2 youngsters and a mom squirrel, maybe three youngsters.  So, no balcony time. No thought of fixing my bike either as they tipped my bike over and made the nest between the bike and the wall.

Anyway, just wanted to share some Cali news.  She is so frigging smart and finally at the age of 2 1/2, she wants to show it off.  Of course, she lived in a shelter for the first 9 months of her life and was deathly ill for many months once here, she really is only coming into her own.

She is so well loved at the park by strangers who have watched her through illness, being bald and terrified.  People stop me all the time and say, that is the little Greek dog isn't it.  Look how good she looks.  Look how happy she is.  

Cali was even afraid of other dogs.  Now she is the one in the park that runs to all the dogs and initiates play.

OK, I am just a proud mom bragging.  Making a long story short...Cali finally will lie down!  Even without treats.  With just a 'what an amazingly beautiful good girl you are'.  :)

Yabbit who is her aunt and who started her walking exercise program on behalf of Cali should feel proud.  Both Yabbit and Cali are getting fit and healthy.