We know all living things heal better and fare very
well when natural products are used. Cats are no exception, especially
because they are so sensitive to change.
The author Sandy Arora wrote Whole Health For Happy Cats
after her cat became seriously ill and was given six weeks to live, but
owing to the author's know-how, the cat lived comfortably for twenty
months. In the foreword of the book, the DVM Regina Schwartz says: By
taking an active interest in preventive care and healthy lifestyles for
our cats, we contribute to our own self-awareness. If we respect and
support the delicate balance that is health in our feline companions,
then we can begin to work on ourselves and our environment.
The
book is divided into two parts: prevention and wellness. Inside
'prevention' are three chapters. In chapter one, the basics of holistic
cat care are addressed such as the cat's necessities, body care,
grooming, and skin conditions. Chapter two is about feeding, a cat's
nutritional needs, the ideal diet and home cooking for the cat. The
author not only approves of raw diets, but also claims transitioning
the cat to a raw diet means achieving total wellness for the animal.
She then warns against lactose intolerance and says to avoid some food
items like onions, garlic, and vegetables of the nightshade family.
Chapter three has quite a few raw diet recipes with other advice about
nutritional supplements and diets for specific health conditions.
In
the second part 'wellness' are three more chapters. Chapter four
advises about choosing a veterinarian, vaccinations, spaying,
neutering, and blood and urine tests for the cat. Chapter five is
directed towards homeopathic treatments of minor ailments with
aromatherapy, herbs, and flower essences. In addition, it offers sound
recommendations for treating illnesses, pre and post surgical care,
parasites, digestive difficulties, litter box problems, and appetite
and weight loss. Chapter six has pointers for understanding cat
behavior, positive and negative conduct, the cat's relationship to
other newcomer pets and babies and its unpredictability.
In the
conclusion, there are more lists and information in references,
resources, and appendices A and B. The book has splendid color photos
of cats, charts, tips, and sidebars in addition to the main text. The
language of the book is clear, direct, and easily understandable.
Whole Health For Happy Cats is in large paperback in 184 pages with ISBN-10: 1592532667 and
ISBN-13: 978-1592532667.
According
to the given biographies of the author Sandy Arora and DVM Regina
Schwabe at the end of the book, Sandy Arora lives in Virginia and has a
Holisticat mailing list on Yahoo, plus a website, holisticat.com.
Regina Schwabe, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian specializing in
holistic therapy including nutrition. She is a 1976 graduate of the
Tieraerztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
As a reference book and for reading from beginning to end, this book is a valuable addition to any cat lover's library.
