The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care [Mass Market Paperback]

Anitra Frazier (Author), Norma Eckroate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2008

The holistic bible for cat caregivers?now updated and expanded.

The Natural Cat was one of the first books to advocate natural cat care when it was originally published in 1983. Now fully revised and expanded to address the many new discoveries in holistic pet care, this edition includes:

? A new introduction detailing the latest advances in holistic care for cats
? Updated statistics, new diet guidelines, and health care recommendations, including the latest on vaccines
? An updated resources section with suggestions for finding a holistic veterinarian and advice on how to deal with conventional veterinarians
? A complete overhaul of language to reflect new attitudes toward caregiving

Combined with classic and reliable advice on grooming, neutering and spaying, common feline health problems, elder cat care, behavioral problems, and emotional bonding, the latest information makes this edition of The Natural Cat the only handbook pet owners will need to naturally nurture a happy, healthy cat.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Revised edition (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452289750
• ISBN-13: 978-0452289758
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Cats

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anitra Frazier saved my cat's life., November 25, 2008

By 

Sherry "MomToTwoBoys" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care (Mass Market Paperback)

12 years ago, when my Pywacket became diabetic, doctors were prescribing so-called high fiber dry food -- not much different than the food that was causing the epidemic of diabetes in the first place.

After reading Anitra's last book, I was talking to one of the leading experts in feline diabetes who offered up one simple line. "I have to agree with her on one very basic point! Cats are carnivores."

That may sound obvious now, but it was the first moment I realized that my poor sick kitty didn't need the meat flavored cereal that that same expert was prescribing. My cat needed meat, and lots of it!!

Pywacket lived well with diabetes for six years with fewer vet visits than ever. His pre-diabetes asthma was mysteriously cured, and he died of old age at 19.5. Now Anitra has updated her book and I was first in line.

She has already answered questions I spent hours on the internet trying to find, especially what if anything to use to supplement a cat's diet. I do admit that I am not up to feeding raw food as Anitra has long suggested. I have 2 little kids at home, and even a small risk is too much. Still, following Anitra's basic recommendations using high quality wet foods and adding fresh chicken, I have seen my new cats become little fluff bunnies, long haired cats with NO matts ever!

Anitra Frazier understands cats from the slow "I love you blink" to diet, to what it is like to live with these amazing creatures. for my 2 new cats, the latest edition of her wonderful book will stand as my first reference for a long time. Buy it. Study it! You will save thousands in vet bills and for the first time perhaps, truly understand your amazing animals.

Thank you Anitra! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Purchased Only for the Diet Section, June 24, 2009

By 

Alexis (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care (Mass Market Paperback)

I didn't buy this book from Amazon but from B&N. I sat in the store skimming the Diet Section after I found out my cat was almost a full blown diabetic. Both my cats were eating the Vet-Prescribed (Hill's) Diet Z/D. I was horrified that I let my cat get this way by listening to my vet.

The book is very easy to read and understand and it causes a lightbulb to go off in your head. I recommend this book to anyone who is dead-set on Hard Food. I even know a couple of people like this that I plan on lending the book to so they can be well informed before continuing a Hard Food regimen.

Besides advising a Raw Food Diet the Author also gives advice for people who don't want to go to a Raw Food diet which includes wet food and supplements. The supplements are easily explained and the book tells you exactly what to get and how much, which is something I could never find on the internet.

I have since switched my cats immediately to Blue Buffalo, a Holistic brand of wet food, I do plan on going all the way to Raw but because my cats are brainwashed from the chemicals and flavors of Hard Food, it'll be a slow process.

This book has given me the confidence to pay attention to nature and to go with my gut feeling instead of taking Food-Advice from my vets who endorse Hard Food until your cat gets sick then say "They should really be on all wet, but not Raw because it's dangerous due to disease." I'll trust my vet with everything else except food.

*UPDATE* 11/28/09 - Had book for about 5 months.

This book is a dictionary on how to help your cat naturally. I've used home-made saline solution for my cat, and I later tried it on myself. I've even made the home made chicken broth recipe for when my cat got diarrhea. The only downside of the book is that it doesn't give you a "What if the cat doesn't like ___" option. When I made the recipe for chicken broth to help calm and soothe my cat's digestive system the book said the cat would just lap up the broth because it was so good. I put the bowl down and my cat turned his nose up at it! So what do you do when the cat hates it? That's the one thing I realize I don't like about the book, the author assumes that cat will love whatever you give it. I still think the book is worth buying and is still worthy of 5 Stars. I've referenced it so many times and now I go to the book before I call my vet. I strongly recommend this book for any cat companion!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful reference, December 15, 2008

By 

Loves to Match (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care (Mass Market Paperback)

I have an earlier version of The Natural Cat and have consulted it so many times when I have health or diet concerns for my cats. It has helpful advice on so many different topics -- from nutrition, to diarhea, coat to nails. I highly recommend this book for any pet owner who is looking for alternatives to always running to the vet or giving medicine.