Happy World Cat Day!

Yes, it's true -- today -- Wednesday, August 8, 2012 --- is World Cat Day. What are we doing to celebrate? Well, I'm taking my beautiful, beloved Balinese Makena on a trip to the country, where she can explore nature. Also, we made a batch of her favourite food -- rabbit!

Manu - a beloved Tonkinese

With a heavy heart and much sadness, I announce the passing of my beloved Tonkinese Manu.

At least 18 years old, he was a stray who had been hit by a car. More than 100 people wanted this cat when the ad was placed in the paper for adoption, but I knew he was mine the moment I woke up that morning and saw the ad in the paper.

I am grateful to Anne of www.catnutrition.org, who got us on track with a correct diet for obligate carnivores, after many unfortunate years of feeding species-inappropriate dry food to my beloved boy.

Multiple conditions, one I suspect was incorrectly undiagnosed hyperthyroidism. At his age, his heart, his kidneys, his organs were shutting down. We tried, with medicine and fluids to see if he would rally, and he did for a few weeks, but when he went down, he went down fast, within 24 hours he was making a plaintive cry like none that I have ever heard before.

He is gone, loved forever, but gone.

Balinese beauty

Well spring has arrived and Makena is eagerly watching the birds and squirrels each morning again. This has been my first Balinese Siamese cat and they certainly are endlessly fascinating. What most amazes me is her acrobatic ability. Her lithe body can pounce and jump and perform somersaults effortlessly. But it's her ability to jump 6 feet in the air that means I have to keep her on a leash when we go out onto the balcony (for her own protection). Here's a recent picture of my gorgeous Makena.

Makena at the cottage

Here's Makena on her early morning jaunt at the cottage. "The dollhouse" provided perfect access to the cottage grounds and the lake for my beautiful Balinese. As you can see, she is happy and excited to begin her morning exploring....supervised, of course....

Siamese classics

Manu and Makena's second trip to a cottage near Bancroft was just as enjoyable as their first trip. Here, my gorgeous kitties are lounging in the comfortable "dollhouse" cottage in the sun, performing cat yoga (yes it is true, yogis watched animals to create asanas).

Makena and Manu go camping

Well along with raw diet, what cats need is fresh air. Makena and Manu loved camping on our recent vacation near Bancroft, Ontario. They had their own cabin to themselves and were very busy lounging, prowling through the grass and taking in the fresh air and the sights and sounds of nature. Take a look at Makena's homage to Matisse photo; and Manu lounging in the grass.

Makena Summer 2010 update

Well Makena's vet is extremely impressed by her health and beauty. At 3 years, this girl weighs about 12 lbs. As a Balinese, she's extremely acrobatic -- she can easily jump 6 feet into the air, catch a fly, do a backward flip and land on all fours. Truly amazing to see.

After three years now on raw diet, Makena is proof positive that the natural evolutionary diet that felines were designed to eat is the best possible option. True, it takes a bit of effort for me to trek to the butcher every month and prepare her food, but the result is worth it.

She's a happy, healthy cat with absolutely no health problems. No parasites, no issues with salmonella. Of course, practising safe food handling is paramount.