Health Life&Nutrition
 

Holistic Animal Health: Vaccination & Vaccinosis

      

Most people think of vaccines as safe and protective, but vaccination is a serious medical procedure with significant risks. The rabies vaccine, in particular, is notorious when it comes to adverse reactions. Here are some potentially life-saving tips to help your cat.

Vaccinosis is the term given to chronic diseases caused by vaccines. Vaccinosis is the establishment of, instead of the acute natural disease, a chronic condition which now has the time to develop a multitude of manifestations not ordinarily seen. Another way of saying this is that the process of laboratory modification of a viral disease to make a vaccination strain is the conversion of the disease from acute to chronic. The virus has been changed so that its natural tendency to arouse a strong response it gone. Instead it can be introduced into the body in a form that does not elicit much of a reaction. The result is the establishment of a chronic disease that has never been seen before in clinical practice.

Vaccination for Cats: Helpful or Harmful?
http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html

Dr. Dee Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws, sometimes even with no eruptions and licking of the air. We see a lot of epilepsy/seizure, often after a rabies vaccination.

Please click here  to see pages and pages of information on improving your cat's health naturally :                http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc.htm
 

Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., author of Dr. Pictorial’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, is a renowned homeopathic veterinarian practicing in Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Pitcairn received his Ph.D. when he returned to school after becoming a veterinarian in order to study veterinary immunology, virology and biochemistry. This return to school was prompted by his search for basic answers about the body's ability to defend and heal itself. On the article below he begins to address the subject of vaccinosis, the general name for chronic disease caused by vaccines:

http://www.whale.to/m/pitcairn6.html
 

Protection without Injections

 

Most cats lovers have been so conditioned to think vaccines are vital to our cat's health that going without them seems reckless. But there are ways to ensure your cat is protected against disease, even without shots.

Holistic vets rely on preparations of nosodes rather than vaccinations, believing that these preparations that use a microscopic portion of diseased tissue will help to stimulate the cat's natural immune system into building up stronger defences.

Nosodes are natural remedies made from the disease. Nosodes are homeopathic remedies that are made from the specific products of a particular disease. Homeopathic nosodes are another option for guardians who wish to avoid vaccinations:

 http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nosodes.htm 

Another option for cats who already have a vaccination history is called `titer testing`. Titer testing checks the blood for the presence of antibodies, which indicate the body has a level of immunity to disease.

Holistic Vets often gives the homeopathic remedy Thuja, is a vegetable remedy   after vaccines, the anti-vaccine remedy a single dose two hours after the injection to help counteract the negative effects: http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Thuj
 

Clumping kitty litter
 

Is clumping kitty litter a major health hazard to cats?

There haven't been any clinical studies, but most of the current controversy swirls
around brands which use Sodium Bentonite, a highly absorbent clay.
Brands that do not contain Sodium Bentonite seem to be considered safer.

  http://cats.about.com/cs/litterbox/a/clumpingclay_2.htm 

Clumping clay litter, which forms a hard ball when it gets wet, is one of the most harmful types on the market. Several brands use this clay to make thier litter easier to scoop. What makes it clump? It's a natural clay ingredient called sodium bentonite. In this case, "natural" is not always safe. Here's the problem: When this clay gets wet it expands and forms a hard mass. So when your cat or kitten digs in the litter box it's stirring up clay dust and breathing it in. Once it gets into their lungs, it expands from the moisture, and in time builds up, causing all sorts of lung problems.

Respiration problems are not the only thing to consider when purchasing litter for your cat. All cats clean their fur and paws, which can be coated with clay litter from using the litter box. Clumping litters in particular can be harmful to your pet because, once ingested, the litter expands and absorbs moisture in the intestines, causing blockages and dehydration, and preventing the absorption of nutrients. For this reason, the ASPCA recommends not using clumping litter for kittens.

Aware of the possible risks of silica dust and other side effects from clay litters, many cat owners are opting for healthier, more environmentally-sound alternatives. Dust-free litters like Feline Pine or Swheat Scoop 
(http://swheatscoop.com) are biodegradable, less harmful if ingested by pets, and produce no dangerous respirable dusts. They both contain no chemical additives, fragrances or dyes, are completely flushable, and can even be used as compost or mulch.

                        
Aspen Booda Dome Litter Box:

Is stylish and has a built-in handle so it's easy to clean. Offers your cat privacy and cleanliness. Includes one charcoal filter and liner. 7 1/4" diameter opening for easy access. I like very much for my cats. 

 

     Cat Fountain

  
 

In the wild, cats derive their entire liquid intake from their prey. They do not have a thirst mechanism because they don't need it when eating a species appropriate diet. They get all they need from what they eat. So they do not drink water. Regular ol' house cats have descended from those same wild cats.

So in a home environment, your kitty does not get the moisture it needs from dry food and it’s almost always in a constant state of dehydration.

Water fountains are encouraged to TRY to get your cat to drink more and your kitty may even enjoy it, but it will never meet its water intake needs drinking from a bowl.

Deadly feline illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, allergies, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), bladder stones, kidney stones, urinary tract blockages and Urinary Tract Infections (FLUTD), with and without deadly crystals run rampant these days. Cats are not taking in enough water to stave them off. Proper water intake through a species appropriate diet alone can prevent most of these conditions.

For regions where the water is not good, I highly recommend DISTILLED water.

Distilled water is water that has been vapourized and condensed back into pure H20, removing any minerals or additives in the water. The boiling kills most all bacteria and sense most other chemicals have a lower boiling point than water the chemicals don't become steam.

It is safe for your cat, as the others have explained, distilled water has had the minerals removed by a distillation process. I give my cats distilled water at times, it helps to keep them from getting certain types of bladder crystals.
 

Cat Cubes
 

This is an inexpensive toy that I highly recommend most for young kittens, because he has lived a lot of fun and absolutelly adore!These cubes are wonderful. Sometimes I like to combine the fun with his favorite toys and will give your kitten a safe place to play.

Look how they enjoy!Its VERY funny:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7qgby02id4

The cats can enter through any of the open holes. They’ve found innovative ways of playing with their cubes:
• Employing it as a tent for a quick catnap (one of my brood is using one for that very purpose as I write this);
• Playing hide and seek;
• Using it as hiding place from which to pounce on an unsuspecting housemate;
• Playing with the hanging ribbon, which is remarkably resistant to cat claws;
• Tumbling the cube across the floor – from the inside!

I’m sure your cats can devise additional creative uses for the cubes! 

I can recommend cat tunnels. They love every minute of it. If you can get one I advise you all to, your cats will love it. They love racing through it, hiding in it, playing games in it... It's my cats favourite toy by far!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eqyFBsOgWQ&feature=related

 Cat Furniture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2qRio7cM1Y&feature=related

Cat furniture is one of the most important gifts you can give to your cat. It's important because cat furniture plays two vital roles related to the overall health of your kitty.

  • First, cat furnishings provides cat friendly entertainment for cats to play. The benefit of this is that your kittens will be less tempted to use the people furniture in your home for their natural antics of climbing and hiding, or leaping to bring down those unsuspecting shoes sitting in the corner.

  • Secondly, when used as a gym, these designs provide an environment for your cat’s muscular development and maintenance so important for overall cat health.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYAlK-yrTtU&feature=related

        Good kitty furniture design takes into consideration a cat's natural instincts for climbing, scratching and safety.