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Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life
"Dr. Hodgkins's discussions are provocative, and disturbing, and the problems they identify will not be easy to rectify quickly. Nonetheless, they are long overdue."
---Alice Villalobos, president of the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians and Director of the Animal Oncology Consultation Service, Woodland Hills (Torrance, CA) and Pawspice Care Clinic (Norwalk, CA)
In this controversial new book, dedicated veterinarian Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq., raises the alarm regarding the serious flaws in the commercial diets we feed our cats and the nutritional diseases that result. Your Cat turns today's conventional wisdom of cat care on its head with completely new yet remarkably easy-to-follow guidelines for every cat owner.
Features
The real problem with pet foodsParasites, vaccines, and litter-box trainingObesity and feline diabetesPreventative nutrition for the older catThe ten great myths of cat care
From kitten-rearing to the adult cat's middle years to caring for the geriatric cat, Dr. Hodgkins explores the full spectrum of proper cat care, as well as rampant deadly feline diseases like hyperthyroidism, asthma, skin allergies, and gum disease. She provides an explanation of the origin and thorough discussion of the very latest treatments. Illuminated by brief case histories from illness to health, this indispensable manual is one book that every modern cat owner must have on their shelf.
---Alice Villalobos, president of the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians and Director of the Animal Oncology Consultation Service, Woodland Hills (Torrance, CA) and Pawspice Care Clinic (Norwalk, CA)
In this controversial new book, dedicated veterinarian Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq., raises the alarm regarding the serious flaws in the commercial diets we feed our cats and the nutritional diseases that result. Your Cat turns today's conventional wisdom of cat care on its head with completely new yet remarkably easy-to-follow guidelines for every cat owner.
Features
The real problem with pet foodsParasites, vaccines, and litter-box trainingObesity and feline diabetesPreventative nutrition for the older catThe ten great myths of cat care
From kitten-rearing to the adult cat's middle years to caring for the geriatric cat, Dr. Hodgkins explores the full spectrum of proper cat care, as well as rampant deadly feline diseases like hyperthyroidism, asthma, skin allergies, and gum disease. She provides an explanation of the origin and thorough discussion of the very latest treatments. Illuminated by brief case histories from illness to health, this indispensable manual is one book that every modern cat owner must have on their shelf.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2007
51 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 1, 2019
This is such an important read if you have a cat and want to see it live its full lifespan.
I had no idea that cats cannot eat carbs of any sort. And that for them to do so leads to numerous, often fatal, diseases. Your cat should only be eating protein!
Dry cat food will kill your cat prematurely. All those diseases that most house cats succumb to when they're 10 years old or younger? Totally preventable. And caused by their dry food diet (or even wet food that has too much vegetable content.)
Cat food is essentially small dog food. Pet food makers never bothered to learn about cat nutrition, so when cats started becoming popular as pets, they thought they could just make dog food smaller and sell it as cat food. And because the damage is long-term rather than immediate, there's no real outcry or incentive to make proper cat food. Also, there's no real oversight or regulation in the pet food industry.
Cats' digestive systems are completely different from dogs. Dogs are omnivores. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must have protein. No exceptions. Their bodies are not made to digest carbohydrates. Any diet that is padded with carbohydrates is robbing them (especially their brains) of the protein they need seriously need. While wreaking havoc on their internal chemistry and causing issues like diabetes, obesity, dehydration, and kidney failure.
Halfway through reading this book, I threw out the bag of dry cat food I had and switched immediately to a raw meat cat food. That was a year ago and my cat even looks healthier. Has a more cat-like musculature. Bigger, healthier pee clumps. Is more alert and generally more...cat, somehow.
I had no idea that cats cannot eat carbs of any sort. And that for them to do so leads to numerous, often fatal, diseases. Your cat should only be eating protein!
Dry cat food will kill your cat prematurely. All those diseases that most house cats succumb to when they're 10 years old or younger? Totally preventable. And caused by their dry food diet (or even wet food that has too much vegetable content.)
Cat food is essentially small dog food. Pet food makers never bothered to learn about cat nutrition, so when cats started becoming popular as pets, they thought they could just make dog food smaller and sell it as cat food. And because the damage is long-term rather than immediate, there's no real outcry or incentive to make proper cat food. Also, there's no real oversight or regulation in the pet food industry.
Cats' digestive systems are completely different from dogs. Dogs are omnivores. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must have protein. No exceptions. Their bodies are not made to digest carbohydrates. Any diet that is padded with carbohydrates is robbing them (especially their brains) of the protein they need seriously need. While wreaking havoc on their internal chemistry and causing issues like diabetes, obesity, dehydration, and kidney failure.
Halfway through reading this book, I threw out the bag of dry cat food I had and switched immediately to a raw meat cat food. That was a year ago and my cat even looks healthier. Has a more cat-like musculature. Bigger, healthier pee clumps. Is more alert and generally more...cat, somehow.
October 17, 2020
If you have a cat, READ THIS BOOK NOW!
Dr. Elizabeth M. Hodgkins explains the most common health issues facing cats today and what to do to insure your cats' lives are as long and healthy a life as possible. First and foremost, stop feeding your cat hard food! Cats are not supposed to eat carbs and hard food is loaded with it. Instead you need to feed wet food with a high percentage of protein. Dr. Hodgkins explains how to compare cat food brands as the labeling does not accurately give you the percent protein. And those expensive wet foods advertising blueberries and the like are not necessarily the best.
This book has been invaluable for two cats in my life. First, my own who nearly died from IBS and was given steroids which later resulted in her becoming diabetic. I was frightened to take her off the prescription food for her IBS but was shocked at what a low quality food it was despite being prescribed by my vet! Once she was put on a high protein wet food, her health has resumed and the diabetes is in remission.
The second cat, owned by a family member, has a similar story. Rescued from the outdoors, she had sustained a major injury in the wild. It left her with incontinence, recurrent UTIs and urinary stones. Likewise she was put on a prescription diet but it offered no relief. Finally put on a high protein diet, her UTIs and stones have completely resolved.
Please read this book! (NOTE: Do not feed your cat a homemade meat only diet without extensive research.)
Dr. Elizabeth M. Hodgkins explains the most common health issues facing cats today and what to do to insure your cats' lives are as long and healthy a life as possible. First and foremost, stop feeding your cat hard food! Cats are not supposed to eat carbs and hard food is loaded with it. Instead you need to feed wet food with a high percentage of protein. Dr. Hodgkins explains how to compare cat food brands as the labeling does not accurately give you the percent protein. And those expensive wet foods advertising blueberries and the like are not necessarily the best.
This book has been invaluable for two cats in my life. First, my own who nearly died from IBS and was given steroids which later resulted in her becoming diabetic. I was frightened to take her off the prescription food for her IBS but was shocked at what a low quality food it was despite being prescribed by my vet! Once she was put on a high protein wet food, her health has resumed and the diabetes is in remission.
The second cat, owned by a family member, has a similar story. Rescued from the outdoors, she had sustained a major injury in the wild. It left her with incontinence, recurrent UTIs and urinary stones. Likewise she was put on a prescription diet but it offered no relief. Finally put on a high protein diet, her UTIs and stones have completely resolved.
Please read this book! (NOTE: Do not feed your cat a homemade meat only diet without extensive research.)
September 10, 2009
Hodgkins is a veterinarian who formerly worked for Hills Pet Nutrition, one of the large pet food manufacturers. She writes about cat care for kittens through geriatric cats, common feline diseases and their connection to improper nutrition. She contends that the dry food diet that vets and pet food companies most often promote for feline health are actually causing or exacerbating many diseases, the main one being obesity. The author advocates that cats should eat a wet (raw or canned) diet that is nutritionally similar to what they would naturally eat on their own.
This book is an eye opening look at pet nutrition and how the large pet food companies (including Hills) dictate the feline diet without proper or adequate testing. I highly recommend this book for all cat owners.
This book is an eye opening look at pet nutrition and how the large pet food companies (including Hills) dictate the feline diet without proper or adequate testing. I highly recommend this book for all cat owners.
March 7, 2018
Essential reading for all responsible cat owners.
1. NEVER feed your cat dry food.
2. Keep your cat indoors.
3. Do not vaccinate every year unless you think you absolutely have to.
1. NEVER feed your cat dry food.
2. Keep your cat indoors.
3. Do not vaccinate every year unless you think you absolutely have to.
May 12, 2017
This book is highly repetitive - most of it could be summed up by saying "switch from feeding your cat dry food to feeding wet food."
October 9, 2017
Really helpful book on feline health. If you have a cat, you should own this book.
September 23, 2023
Overall, it's a simple cat book, compact with information and some case studies for cat parents out there.
October 21, 2013
An excellent book that gives you a rude awakening to atrocities of the pet food industry. Like Siamese twins, the modern day medical system and the veterinary healthcare systems are the same, twisted around the concept of profits over individuals - focusing on cure rather than prevention, diagnosis over diet and a host of other red flags that an uneducated pet owner would never see. The premise is simple - disease-free means no profits for big pharma and big pet food, hence their approach is to provide the bare minimum in animal nutrition. Poor nutrition allows for the onset of a host of debilitating diseases. Connect the dots. I see a big dollar sign.
Typical 'filler' ingredients are used to inexpensively bulk up the kibble, including grain, grain and more grains: genetically modified soy and corn, wheat, potato and other starchy ingredients. I don't know about you, but I don't recall ever seeing my cat heading into the corn fields to go gnaw on a cob of corn before disappearing into the back garden to dig for potatoes.
Low-fat cat foods are bulked up with fibre... labelled as 'cellulose' on the back of the pack. Where is this cellulose sourced? Wood fibre. From trees. Similar to the wild cats of Africa, trees have become a staple diet for the feline … no, no… that was elephants. Sorry, my mistake. Perhaps the researchers in the pet food companies have not been watching enough Animal Planet or they simply haven’t read their Animal Biology 101 book which states that herbivores eat plants. Carnivores eat meat. It’s not rocket science (no, really – a third-grader could explain the difference to you), although when suggesting to your local vet that your cat should be fed a protein-only diet, one would swear that you had just invited him to chair the “Vets for Satanic Sacrifice Animal Committee” and requested that he bring his beloved Fluffy along for the party.
Vets and veterinary schools are heavily sponsored by pet food companies, hence their education background is geared toward recommending ‘x’ dry-food brand because it ‘cleans teeth’, ‘freshens stools’ (would you ever eat something that made your poop smell nice?) and ‘provides a balanced, nutritious diet’ – all in a single, dry, chemically-treated, heavily-processed piece of kibble. It’s not magic, and it’s most definitely not science (at least not ethical science).
This is a great book: it lays out the foundation for feline health – an excellent diet, preventative care and an understanding of the complications that can develop in later years – many of which are preventable through simple nutrition. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you do not read this book. And unfortunately, the only ones who will truly bear the consequence of turning a blind eye to the horrors of the pet food industry are our animal companions.
Typical 'filler' ingredients are used to inexpensively bulk up the kibble, including grain, grain and more grains: genetically modified soy and corn, wheat, potato and other starchy ingredients. I don't know about you, but I don't recall ever seeing my cat heading into the corn fields to go gnaw on a cob of corn before disappearing into the back garden to dig for potatoes.
Low-fat cat foods are bulked up with fibre... labelled as 'cellulose' on the back of the pack. Where is this cellulose sourced? Wood fibre. From trees. Similar to the wild cats of Africa, trees have become a staple diet for the feline … no, no… that was elephants. Sorry, my mistake. Perhaps the researchers in the pet food companies have not been watching enough Animal Planet or they simply haven’t read their Animal Biology 101 book which states that herbivores eat plants. Carnivores eat meat. It’s not rocket science (no, really – a third-grader could explain the difference to you), although when suggesting to your local vet that your cat should be fed a protein-only diet, one would swear that you had just invited him to chair the “Vets for Satanic Sacrifice Animal Committee” and requested that he bring his beloved Fluffy along for the party.
Vets and veterinary schools are heavily sponsored by pet food companies, hence their education background is geared toward recommending ‘x’ dry-food brand because it ‘cleans teeth’, ‘freshens stools’ (would you ever eat something that made your poop smell nice?) and ‘provides a balanced, nutritious diet’ – all in a single, dry, chemically-treated, heavily-processed piece of kibble. It’s not magic, and it’s most definitely not science (at least not ethical science).
This is a great book: it lays out the foundation for feline health – an excellent diet, preventative care and an understanding of the complications that can develop in later years – many of which are preventable through simple nutrition. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you do not read this book. And unfortunately, the only ones who will truly bear the consequence of turning a blind eye to the horrors of the pet food industry are our animal companions.
March 20, 2008
I learned many things from this amazing book. Not the least of which was how the pet food industry has created many major health issues (ie: obesity, diabetes and heart disease for starters) for pets by using cheap ingredients that cats have no business eating (grains & fruits & vegetables, I mean how many cats go crazy for corn? and weren't cats originally kept around to keep the grain safe from the rodents?) and the lies and manipulations they employ in getting veterinary endorsements for their dry pet food products. I read this book mainly for the nutritional information as I have 2 cats who were placed (by veterinary recommendation) on a dry diet food (?) from a major pet food manufacturer. One cat who wasn't morbidly obese to begin with also enjoyed eating cooked chicken & beef a few times a week. He was very healthy with a beautiful, shiny coat, lots of energy & very playful and my other cat had some serious health issues (UTI's) aside from the morbid obesity which was what prompted my former vet to prescribe the dry diet food which in turn over time, my research. He had dry skin, dandruff, couldn't clean himself & had no energy other than to eat and practically knock his buddy out of the way to get at his food dish. Unfortunately on this "high quality commercial dry diet food" his weight ballooned from 16 lbs all the way to 21 lbs before I figured it out and started reading. The scariest thing I've ever read was the label on the dry food which contained no less than FOUR different corn ingredients and chicken flavored meal but no actual chicken as well as several other grain/meal ingredients and very little moisture. What I also learned from this book was that he was chronically dehydrated from this food and that was causing him to overeat. Since I made the switch to wet food, he's lost 3 lbs and 4 1/2 inces around his middle, his dandruff has cleared up as well as the color and softness in his coat has returned, but the best part is that he now acts like a happy, curious cat who enjoys playing in between eating & sleeping. I am so grateful to Dr. Hodgkins for writing this book and helping to not only educate me about commercial pet foods but also to extend not only the life span of my boys but also their quality of life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has cats and is concerned with their health, well being & what they are feeding their pets.
September 1, 2007
I'm still in the midst of this book (I checked it out from the library yesterday), but I think I've covered most of the bases. It delivered itself to me with perfect timing: we've just added a puppy to our two-cat-and-a-dog household, and Buddha, my five year-old feline, was dreadfully unhappy and spending all of his time out-of-doors.
I've only had this book since yesterday, but I think that the commitment to the happiness of your cat and the willingness to research has already made a world of difference. So far I've set aside particular time for Buddha and Asia, and made sure that they have plenty of cat-cubbyholes to hide in when necessary. Those would be the most effective changes, so far.
The most interesting change, though, would be the raw food diet we started last night, the recipe gleaned from an internet site recommended by the author. I assembled the various ingredients (muscle, heart, liver, supplements) from the grocery, and what I learned is this: the butcher will grind all of that for you. Don't do it yourself. The cats, naturally, were thrilled, although they aren't yet convinced that this is more than a treat.
Overall, a good, quick read, easy to flip through and pick out vital information. Especially great if your cat suffers from various ailments that she describes in great detail - chapters I'm lucky enough to have been able to skip. Motivating, at the very least, to devote more time and attention to your cats' needs and health, and never have I known so much about the cat's digestive system or evolutionary roots. Very much worthwhile.
I've only had this book since yesterday, but I think that the commitment to the happiness of your cat and the willingness to research has already made a world of difference. So far I've set aside particular time for Buddha and Asia, and made sure that they have plenty of cat-cubbyholes to hide in when necessary. Those would be the most effective changes, so far.
The most interesting change, though, would be the raw food diet we started last night, the recipe gleaned from an internet site recommended by the author. I assembled the various ingredients (muscle, heart, liver, supplements) from the grocery, and what I learned is this: the butcher will grind all of that for you. Don't do it yourself. The cats, naturally, were thrilled, although they aren't yet convinced that this is more than a treat.
Overall, a good, quick read, easy to flip through and pick out vital information. Especially great if your cat suffers from various ailments that she describes in great detail - chapters I'm lucky enough to have been able to skip. Motivating, at the very least, to devote more time and attention to your cats' needs and health, and never have I known so much about the cat's digestive system or evolutionary roots. Very much worthwhile.
February 12, 2017
I can't believe I actually read the whole book. It's parenting for crazy cat ladies. Very helpful and scientific.
January 3, 2008
A cutting-edge-yet practical guide to contemporary cat care in a post-pet food scare world. The author is a practicing vet, a cat breeder, and a former pet food consultant, so she approaches the material from multiple angles.
Her approach is more Westernized than Dr. Pitcairn's holistic and homeopathic one, but Hodgkins is also an advocate of a raw meat diet. For those not wanting to make the raw leap, she helps readers learn how to choose the best commercial foods available.
She tries to teach readers how to keep their cats healthy through proper nutrition and care, but if your cat does become sick or is sick already, she devotes entire chapters to specific diseases.
For example, I learned more about my cat's hyperthyroidism through text simple enough for a layperson, but containing enough new details to add to my vet's explanation.
This book will help readers become more fully informed about cat care and be better informed in making treatment decisions.
Her approach is more Westernized than Dr. Pitcairn's holistic and homeopathic one, but Hodgkins is also an advocate of a raw meat diet. For those not wanting to make the raw leap, she helps readers learn how to choose the best commercial foods available.
She tries to teach readers how to keep their cats healthy through proper nutrition and care, but if your cat does become sick or is sick already, she devotes entire chapters to specific diseases.
For example, I learned more about my cat's hyperthyroidism through text simple enough for a layperson, but containing enough new details to add to my vet's explanation.
This book will help readers become more fully informed about cat care and be better informed in making treatment decisions.
February 21, 2016
As a new cat owner, it is difficult to find nutrition information that is both reliable and backed by scientific evidence. Elizabeth Hodgkins, who has a lot of professional and personal experience with the subject, presents her take on the best diet for cats in Your Cat. Not only does she discuss the pros and cons of each food choice, but she goes into the gastrointestinal reasons why certain foods are good or bad for cats. Although she definitely convinced me that a wet/raw food, high protein diet is superior to a dry food, high carbohydrate one, by the end of the book the presented information felt redundant. I recommend Your Cat to both new cat owners and cat owners whose cats have experienced any illnesses as Hodgkins presents many case studies of successful treatments through diet adjustment.
November 22, 2010
I became aware of these issues regarding feline nutrition when my Colby was diagnosed as a diabetic. Message boards and other websites brushed on many of the topics covered more thoroughly in this book. If you love your cat(s) and I know you do or you probably wouldn't be looking at this, you really need to read this book. It will change the way you feed your cat(s). I have not switched mine to an entirely canned/wet/raw diet but the dry food they do eat is now grain-free. There is no possible way I could describe in words the improvement in their coats. Also, my diabetic is now in remission and off the insulin.
July 20, 2012
Finally a cat book not written by a wacko! And written by a vet who knows a cat is not a small dog but carnivorous machine! This book is a must read for any cat owner. The author is a vet with many years of experience and the only vet I have come across so far who seems to understand that the cat is a carnivore and what it eats DRAMATICALLY affects the cat's health. By the time you are done reading this book you just want to run up to your vet who prescribes cat food made of cereal and say DUH!!! This book is chalk full of info about cats and their health with many of the author's stories of treatment. A fascinating and eye opening read for the cat lover.
June 1, 2008
This book is new at my library and I was really impressed with it. So much so that I'm changing what I feed my cats as a result and now I know how to really analyze the nutrition and ingredient label to make sure I buy them food that's really appropriate for them. Unfortunately I think that was behind Thunder's bladder issues and Clarissa's kidney issues and both of them died of those medical issues, Thunder too young. I know better now and hopefully the three cats we have now will live long, healthy lives as a result. I read this book in one day. Very well-done.
March 18, 2011
This a book you absolutely need to read if you have cats. One of the important message is that dry food is bad for your cat and why it is so bad and why canned food and raw food is so much better. There is also a lot of other useful information. It covers most sickness and offers help on each including kidney failure which is so common among older cats. Veterinarians get a lot of their information from pet food company who are more interested in profit than your cat well-being. Read this book and you may add years to your cat life.
January 24, 2013
I think this is an amazing book for cat lovers. While the later chapters become a little tedious due to their medical nature the overall message of the book is clear. I'm glad I found this book and my only regret is that there is not a similar one for dogs, to my knowledge. Anyone who owns a cat or who is thinking about owning a cat should read this book. It is enlightening and will give you and your feline friend an excellent head start to a beautiful friendship. I completely and utterly recommend this book.
October 20, 2013
Several years ago my cat's health was failing. The veterinary treatment didn't seem to be helping, so I searched the internet for information about the causes and solutions for his illness and Dr Hodgkin's book appeared in a search result on Google books. I read all the pages available online and then purchased the book and began implementing her suggestions. My cat is now completely healthy at age 13 and is as frisky as a kitten and I believe it's a result of this book. I've recommended it to all my cat owning friends,
April 22, 2014
This book is a must-have for everyone who has cats at home. If only I had all of this information before, I would have understood and could have taken better care of my cats. A lot of medical issues could have simply been prevented.
The most important advice this book has given me (and also the website www.catinfo.org) is to NEVER feed your cats any dry food! Cat dry food will never enter my house again and I am grateful for this book and the above-mentioned website for providing me with that intelligence.
The most important advice this book has given me (and also the website www.catinfo.org) is to NEVER feed your cats any dry food! Cat dry food will never enter my house again and I am grateful for this book and the above-mentioned website for providing me with that intelligence.
October 18, 2015
A great cat reference book that focuses on the importance of diet and a good understanding of cat physiology and behavior.
Might have been a 5-star book, but there was a lot of repetition, some things are hinted at but not really fully-fleshed out (e.g. need more detail on raw and homemade diets), and there was one major editing goof (the second half of one chapter is misplaced and ends up at the end of a different chapter). But overall, this is a great reference!
Might have been a 5-star book, but there was a lot of repetition, some things are hinted at but not really fully-fleshed out (e.g. need more detail on raw and homemade diets), and there was one major editing goof (the second half of one chapter is misplaced and ends up at the end of a different chapter). But overall, this is a great reference!
July 19, 2012
After reading this book, I switched my cats to canned, all-meat cat food (they had been on a diet of high-end kibble for years). The changeover process was pretty painful for all involved, but afterwards they lost weight immediately, and the incessant barfing largely stopped. At their yearly check-ups, the vet pronounces them "extremely healthy."
Next on the to-do list: homemade raw cat food.
Next on the to-do list: homemade raw cat food.
September 9, 2012
Very good and helpful book about cat care, and especially about feeding them. The author explains how cats are carnivores and not meant to eat grains and cereals, such as dry catfood is made of. Glad I read it now when my kitten is still young so I could make the adjustment in what I feed her. Kitty must eat meat - that's what is best for her!
November 14, 2007
Great information on feline nutrition. Especially useful is the section on reading cat food labels and how important it is to take time to do this.
May 12, 2009
This book shares invaluable information - particularly about feline nutrition - that should be mandatory reading for cat owners.
Read
August 21, 2015This is already scarin' me! Soft food from now on, sweeties!
April 4, 2009
Totlally eye-opening book. Why aren't more vets aware of this?? I highly recommend to all cat owners!
September 23, 2009
Very interesting so far, with straightforward answers.
February 18, 2010
Very informative about cat food and how pet food is not regulated by the FDA or any agency at all. I'm glad Hodgkins wrote this smart and sincere book.
September 4, 2013
Hundreds of pages devoted to how dry food will kill your cat. The argument is occasionally persuasive, but primarily over-emphasized and tiresome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews