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The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners
Here is the definitive handbook for concerned cat lovers everywhere, now thoroughly revised and updated with an all-new health encyclopedia. Offers basic tips on choosing a vet, dealing with litter box problems, selecting a scratching post, proper grooming and diet, caring for sick cats, and much more. 20 line drawings.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 22, 2011
Ok so it's a cat book. I bought this thing YEARS ago and I still have it in my library even though my beloved cats are long gone (about ten years gone). I just highly recommend this book if you are in fact a finicky cat owner- those two things tend to go hand in hand. I utilized all of the recipes for my own two cats and people often commented on how they looked like show cats. Before I earned the love of my two cats (RIP Sydney and Virgil :( ) I was a complete newb about how to tend to a cat. I had zero pets growing up and took on the responsibility of taking care of a cat very seriously and this book certainly helped me understand the duty completely. In fact, I'd go as far as to say this book really DID change my life- it made me a better pet owner and therefore contributed to better care for any animals in my own life. I'm thinking about getting a dog in the near future- I hope they have books as good as this one for that endeavor!
August 27, 2012
First, this book has GREAT insights about cat behaviour, grooming, feeding, illnesses, etc. There are some negatives though. This book takes a homeopathic view on health. I'm dubious of most homeopathy claims for both humans as well as cats. However, in Frazier's defense, she DOES point out when you should take a cat to a vet and not fool around with at-home homeopathy treatment.
Another negative is that in several places Frazier advocates feeding your cat garlic. Please don't do this. Garlic is toxic to kitties.
Even with the two complaints above, I would still advocate that cat owners read this. The most recent edition was published in 1990. I wish an updated version would be released. Although Frazier gives recipes for homemade cat food, she also lists several products you can buy if you are not able to DIY. There are so many new products on the market since 1990 that an updated list of recommendations would be nice.
Another negative is that in several places Frazier advocates feeding your cat garlic. Please don't do this. Garlic is toxic to kitties.
Even with the two complaints above, I would still advocate that cat owners read this. The most recent edition was published in 1990. I wish an updated version would be released. Although Frazier gives recipes for homemade cat food, she also lists several products you can buy if you are not able to DIY. There are so many new products on the market since 1990 that an updated list of recommendations would be nice.
March 7, 2009
If you are crazy about your cat you will have this book...if you can find it. Last time I looked it was out of print. It really helped in many instances to understand my cat's health. Albeit I don't do all the wonderful recipes she has for making their food. Who has the time? I do try and stay away from cat "junk food". I would add two little pieces of advice. If your cat has a slow intestine, cooked lettuce added to their food will do wonders. Secondly, a homeopathic dose of arsenic (yes, I said arsenic) will bring a cat back from the edge...or it did mine for some time. Made me believe in homeopathic medicine (well somewhat). I mean, you can't give a cat a placebo and tell him it's going to cure his illness...or can you? Anyway, this one is a keeper for cat lovers, for sure!
June 3, 2012
Not sure how to characterize this book. It has some pretty good advice that has worked, but later I discovered parts of it that made me wonder about the reliability of the rest. For instance, she recommends Bach flower remedies, believes you can communicate with your cat through mental images and thoughts and I'm pretty sure there was a section in there on your cat's astrological profile. So I guess I'd say try out some of her advice on training your cat, traveling with your cat, etc., but check with your vet on some of the advice about diet and treatments. Whether you want to cast your cat's horoscope is up to you.
July 29, 2011
This is a detailed guide to pampering your pet. Really it offers a way for your cat to live a hippy lifestyle. Personally I found much of the advice a bit bizarre, but it was amusing. I don't think I will be cooking the cat natural gourmet meals any time in the near future.
May 22, 2013
Anyone thinking of reading this should know it was published in 1990, whereas _The Natural Cat_ by the same author was published in 2008. Confusing. Returned unread to the library; back to the newer version.
January 7, 2013
This is a very helpful guide for cat owners. There's a lot of sensible, low-tech advice in here, especially regarding nutrition. But there's also a lot of wacky-cat-lady stuff. Be selective.
June 28, 2017
LOVE this book! Great to have on hand as a reference book. My cat has enjoyed some of the recipes. Not that it is supposed to however it has saved me a few visits to the veterinarian and has given me peace of mind late at night. I am a homeopath and find this very helpful in caring for my cats.
July 7, 2021
Some ideas are just not practical for multiple cat households.
August 30, 2011
Great overall resource, would recommend it with kinesiology testing
Bottom Line: Buy it
Overall, a great book to add to your kitty library. Any book that helps empower you, with knowledge, is a good addition to any personal library.
I decided to take the health of our cat in a more alternative direction, after he finished a course of antibiotics (prescribed by our vet) that did not resolve his health issues.
With the help of friend (certified in kinesiology), we tested our cat for just about everything...from the antibiotics he had been prescribed, to his food, to his cat litter, basically for everything we could think of (things will either make you stronger or weaker), and a lot of things tested bad (including the antibiotics).
The author recommends Brewer's yeast to help with the cat's coat, but we found through kinesiology (muscle testing) that our cat tested bad for Brewer's yeast (could have been the brewer's yeast itself was bad or that our cat simply didn't need it).
So with our friend's help we tested to find out what his issues were, and then tested him on nutritional supplements that would directly strengthen those health issues. We gave him supplements daily, and also read the codes (quantum techniques) daily to him (we did nothing to him that we hadn't already done on ourselves).
We tried several of the author's techniques for giving pills, but were unable to successfully utilize her suggestions. Though perhaps it did help us figure out a new technique. We were giving our cat nutritional supplements, based on what he tested for (kinesiology), and let's just say he was taking more than two pills a day.
So, our technique was to grind the hard pills with a mortar and empty that into a small container, then we would empty the powder capsules and add that to the small container, and lastly add the the liquid drops and flax seed oil (a high quality flax seed oil was to help with his immune system and a bunch of other things). Then we would add a little bit of warm water, and mix the concoction together. Using a 6mL (I think) syringe without the needle, while one of us held him over our shoulder while supporting his back feet, the other one would in small spurts, fill and then empty the needle-less syringe into his mouth. It would take, between 4-6 full needle-less syringes to go through it all. Then we would wipe off his mouth area and chest area, brush it a little, put his kitty collar on, and he could then go 'kitty outside'.
The first time we tried, it was messy..and the second and third time and so on. It took a long time to come up with a routine that worked. I also noticed a correlation between how we felt about giving it to him, to how he reacted during the procedure. The more relaxed and good we felt about what we were doing, the calmer he was.
We also decided not to get wrapped around the axle about how much of the concoction we were getting down him (i.e. trying to shove more into his kitty mouth), the most important thing was the intent (i.e. energy) behind what we were doing.
I did take on the author's suggestion of telling the cat what we were doing, why we were doing it, explain the whole process, before we did it. And I feel that helped out a lot, because he got to the point where he was used to the routine, and while he didn't 'enjoy it' he did resign himself to it, and allow us to do it.
While I'm not a veterinarian, or vet tech, I do have more of a vested interest in the well being of my animal, which might make me more open to other techniques. And being open to such techniques, shouldn't automatically dismiss my research or interest in the alternative as inadequate because I didn't go to vet school.
Bottom Line: Buy it
Overall, a great book to add to your kitty library. Any book that helps empower you, with knowledge, is a good addition to any personal library.
I decided to take the health of our cat in a more alternative direction, after he finished a course of antibiotics (prescribed by our vet) that did not resolve his health issues.
With the help of friend (certified in kinesiology), we tested our cat for just about everything...from the antibiotics he had been prescribed, to his food, to his cat litter, basically for everything we could think of (things will either make you stronger or weaker), and a lot of things tested bad (including the antibiotics).
The author recommends Brewer's yeast to help with the cat's coat, but we found through kinesiology (muscle testing) that our cat tested bad for Brewer's yeast (could have been the brewer's yeast itself was bad or that our cat simply didn't need it).
So with our friend's help we tested to find out what his issues were, and then tested him on nutritional supplements that would directly strengthen those health issues. We gave him supplements daily, and also read the codes (quantum techniques) daily to him (we did nothing to him that we hadn't already done on ourselves).
We tried several of the author's techniques for giving pills, but were unable to successfully utilize her suggestions. Though perhaps it did help us figure out a new technique. We were giving our cat nutritional supplements, based on what he tested for (kinesiology), and let's just say he was taking more than two pills a day.
So, our technique was to grind the hard pills with a mortar and empty that into a small container, then we would empty the powder capsules and add that to the small container, and lastly add the the liquid drops and flax seed oil (a high quality flax seed oil was to help with his immune system and a bunch of other things). Then we would add a little bit of warm water, and mix the concoction together. Using a 6mL (I think) syringe without the needle, while one of us held him over our shoulder while supporting his back feet, the other one would in small spurts, fill and then empty the needle-less syringe into his mouth. It would take, between 4-6 full needle-less syringes to go through it all. Then we would wipe off his mouth area and chest area, brush it a little, put his kitty collar on, and he could then go 'kitty outside'.
The first time we tried, it was messy..and the second and third time and so on. It took a long time to come up with a routine that worked. I also noticed a correlation between how we felt about giving it to him, to how he reacted during the procedure. The more relaxed and good we felt about what we were doing, the calmer he was.
We also decided not to get wrapped around the axle about how much of the concoction we were getting down him (i.e. trying to shove more into his kitty mouth), the most important thing was the intent (i.e. energy) behind what we were doing.
I did take on the author's suggestion of telling the cat what we were doing, why we were doing it, explain the whole process, before we did it. And I feel that helped out a lot, because he got to the point where he was used to the routine, and while he didn't 'enjoy it' he did resign himself to it, and allow us to do it.
While I'm not a veterinarian, or vet tech, I do have more of a vested interest in the well being of my animal, which might make me more open to other techniques. And being open to such techniques, shouldn't automatically dismiss my research or interest in the alternative as inadequate because I didn't go to vet school.
June 26, 2009
This book has proven to be invaluable during my cat's recent illness. I haven't read every bit of the book, as it is more of a reference book, but the sections I have read have been extremely helpful. From how to give liquid or pill medications and how to force feed to natural remedies for common ailments and dietary recommendations, this book has it all. [Since I was dealing with a sick cat, I focused on sections such as these; however, she also has information on how to introduce a new pet to the house, signs of stress and how to deal with it, hygiene/grooming, etc.:] The language is clear, and the directions for procedures are easy to follow. I also love that she (subtly) emphasizes the importance of communicating with your cat and honoring him or her. The only thing I didn't like about the book was how easy she makes it all sound to do (with her 22 or so cats), but it actually takes a lot of time, mindfulness, and energy (and I have only 2 cats!). I don't think she works outside the home (at least, I hope she doesn't, because if she does then there is no hope for me!). Still, I've learned a lot from this book, and I think even the most experienced cat owner would.
February 2, 2009
So far I am generally greatly enjoying this book about cats and natural cat care. The only thing that I've found somewhat disappointing so far is that her only offered solution for digestive problems primarily involves boiling down a chicken to make a concentrated homemade chicken stock for one's cat. I understand that homemade broth is a great solution for a cat, but it simultaneously seems to me like people that are interested in natural pet care are statistically also more likely to not eat meat, and I wish she would provide an alternative for those who are unwilling and/or unable to prepare raw chicken in their own homes. However, in my reading so far, this is the only change I would wish for.
September 24, 2013
Great book. Being the owner or my 7 cats who own me. I bought the original paperback of this book over 14 years ago. It has been & is my cat Bible. I downloaded the revised edition because my old copy is nearly falling apart & I have not been disappointed the old trusted formats wit up to date information. Anything I needed to know is there & never fails. From dealing with neglected & feral cats with numerous emotional.
problems from very nervous timid cats to hyper active. The home nursing & illness section is my life line, giving detailed symptoms, cause, treatment & advice, what to notice & tell your vet. A must for every cat owner.
problems from very nervous timid cats to hyper active. The home nursing & illness section is my life line, giving detailed symptoms, cause, treatment & advice, what to notice & tell your vet. A must for every cat owner.
December 10, 2009
This gave me a very thorough how-to on caring for my cat, the spunkalicious Chewy. When we first welcomed him to our home, and donned our apartment La Casa de Chewy, I would wake up in the morning with scratches on my face and arms. This book instructed me how to clip his nails without a fight. It also helped me transition him to a raw food diet which has prevented constipation (a big problem in the beginning), improve the quality of his play by identifying him as a bird-cat rather than a mouse-cat, and find reassurance that I am not the only person who may seem a bit crazy about her cat.
January 17, 2016
An overall very informative book about cats, their behavior and their health. Because Anitra started put as a groomer of some sort, there's also a big part about how to groom. There are some bits that I don't recommend doing with your cat, so you have to filter out a lot of our dated or just wrong information. It also has a lot about homeopathy, she talks about the cat goddess and animal communication. It has to be your cup of tea.
February 9, 2008
I *thought* I knew my cats. Then I read this book..
and now, I _know_ my cats. This book helped me understand nuances of their body language, and their social structure -- leading to a much better relationship between them and me.
May 3, 2010
Love the nutrition section; remove any food left after 10 minutes! feed twice a day; moist or natural food - no kibble, cats do not chew their food! kibble does not clean their teeth!
reread in 2010
reread in 2010
Read
December 28, 2016This is an informative book with many good suggestions for homeopathic treatment. I am taking care of a feral cat (my first cat ever) so some of the book was not applicable for me as she does not allow me to pick her up without scratching me severely. We are working on that....
September 12, 2007
If you have a cat--this is good to have on the shelf. Ignore the freaky stuff where the author thinks cats can read minds. Or don't! Maybe she's right.
July 1, 2008
This is a great guide to natural cat care. Many wonderful remedies and suggestions on diet to maintain a healthy cat.
April 15, 2009
Originally bought and read years ago for Hobbes. Have re-read it numerous times. I believe the tips in here helped keep my beloved Hobbes alive for nearly 19 years.
May 1, 2013
The must have for cat owners
June 18, 2015
This book has saved my a** & my bank acct so many times. My cat-habit is expensive/extensive, & this book has great info.
October 10, 2015
Some great tips for taking care of your cats.
January 29, 2016
Ha! Getting Belle and the Fabulous Five ready to do some gourmet cat dining!
June 17, 2018
Great reference book...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews