Sick kitty, I think

So Gus is worrying me lately.  For the last two days he has done nothing but sleep.  Now before you smart aleks out there tell me that's what cats do, I'm telling you it's not normal for him.  He usually spends the time from when we get home until we go to bed running around, playing, doing hijinks, and generally tearing it up.

Saturday, he lay on the couch on a fuzzy blanket the entire day.  He only got up to eat and use his toilet.  Then he slept in bed with me all night.

Sunday, he lay on the couch on a fuzzy blanket the entire day.  He only got up to eat and use his toilet.  I did try to tempt him with his favorite toy, which is a string on a stick with feathers.  Usually I touch it and he immediately comes running.  Sunday, his ears perked up and he played half heartedly for a few minutes, then he couldn't keep his eyes open and got back on the fuzzy blanket and went to sleep. He slept with me all night.

He did follow me into the bathroom when I had a shower on Sunday. But rather than meow at me and check that I was still behind the curtain, like he usually does, he fell asleep in the sink.

If he doesn't greet me at the door today and act like his normal, crazy self, he's going to the vet.  

Secretly, I think he's going through a growth spurt, but I'm still feeling very worried. Give the dude a prayer if you are reading!

***Update***He was fine when I got home.  Back to his crazy, sweet, and loving self! 

Book Review--The Last Hour of Gann

I have to review this book because it blew me away.  It's the first time I've read a book, in a long while, that I really couldn't put down.  You've may have or could read the description on amazon or wherever you go to buy it, but in short, it's a sci-fi novel about a woman from earth who crash lands in a colony ship with other earthlings on an alien planet where the alien's are humanoid, but reptilian. Determined to survive, she does what the others of her kind can't do.  She realizes she has to adapt to the new planet and accept it as her home.

What I loved about it is how masterfully it was written. Not only does the author realize a completely new world with new creatures and a new culture, but she does a shockingly poignant description of religion and God.  Meoraq, the alien, is a deeply religious man who let's god guide him on his journey.  Amber, the human, is an atheist with no belief in a god.  Along the way, things happen that make you think that the author is trying to prove there isn't a god and destroy Meoraq's faith. 

*spoilers ahead*

However, even after Meoraq learns his religion is totally made up and why, his faith in god is restored because during the course of their journey, Amber comes to have faith in god and is able to show him the way back.  It ends on a high note as he becomes the new prophet for the new religion that he will go forth and preach. Shockingly close to the difference between Mosaic law, and the change that Jesus made when he walked the earth.

The novel was thought provoking, touching, and held my attention over it's very long process.  This is also a love story as the two aliens grow to love each other, although they don't have any reason to be attracted to each other.  Meoraq finds her ugly, but falls for her spirit and strength. Amber finds him unbending and fanatical.  Yet, they can still fall together even with obvious physical differences and oddities. 

One of the best books I've read in a long while!

**As a warning, this is a pretty raw book, with graphic sexual situations, and horrible acts between people including graphic rape.  So definitely not recommended for anyone under 21.

Cat food

I've wanted to do a post on cat food for a while.  When Raz got sick, I read and studied all I could about kidney disease.  I could accept Jinx dying at 16 because he was getting old (although not old enough of course), but it seemed way to soon for Raz.  I discovered a lot. Kidney disease and urinary tract issues are a major issue for cats, all cats.  They are very sensitive to just about everything in their environment.  We probably are keeping them alive longer than they would be in the wild because they aren't exposed to parasites, predators, and other things that kill them early. On the other hand, we could be helping them a live much longer than we are.

The problems are many.  I thought I was always giving my cats quality food.  I checked to make sure some type of meat was the first ingredient before I bought it. I made sure that the protein and fat was high (above 32% for protein, and 18 or more for fat) I knew cats were apex predators--I mean look at a cat! Everything about it screams killer.  I knew that they had to have meat, but I didn't know that some of the additives and fillers in cat food that seem like they would be healthy (because they are healthy for us) are poison to them.

I'm not a monster.  I immediately switched Raz's food and maybe that is why he lived 7 more months.  The first thing I found out was that cats run in a state of dehydration.  They never drink enough.  That is a fault of their metabolism, which is one of the things that make them prone to urinary tract issues.  Although not all experts agree, wet food is better because it adds needed moisture to their diet. Think about it--in the wild would they eat dried out food? 

Now, I always thought dry food was better for their teeth, but I found out it makes little to no difference.  If they are prone to tartar, they are prone to it. So I immediately switched to wet food.  But it can't be any wet food.  Experts and cat people seemed to agree that a raw food diet is ideal (however not that practical or cheap). I bought a new super premium raw diet, but it didn't come before Raz died. 

Dr. Marty's diet was awesome on paper.  It comes as hard dehydrated raw food pebbles that you rehydrate with water and mix into a mash similar to a canned food.  I loved the ingredient list and wanted it to work, but Gus hates it.  At first I could mix it with other stuff and he'd eat it, but eventually I couldn't disguise it enough and he turned his nose up at it.  That made me sad. The stuff is 60 bucks a tiny bag.  I now have a half empty bag and three full ones that I don't know what to do with. 

I also discovered that the type of protein makes a difference.  Human grade protein is better than by-product meals and low protein.  So I started Raz on Cats in the Kitchen by Weruva.  The pouches are full of meat with a fish base. Raz loved them as does Gus.

I could get those on Amazon, but not very consistently or at the same price.

I was new to the world of premium food.  Plus living in the arctic I have to buy food that can be shipped to me.  The next foods I had to decide on were Orijen, Instinct or Wellness. They were all listed as a top premium food with good protein and raw ingredients, bonus you can buy them at Petco and places like that.  I found the ingredients and the reviews to be excellent for Orijen, plus high protein and fat content (which is fantastic for cats although it wouldn't necessarily be great for us!)

However, at the time, Petco only sold the dog food not the cat food (although that has changed).  And I couldn't get it delivered here (lots of companies refuse to ship to Alaska).  So I went with Wellness (Instinct had some dangerous ingredients).

It's not cheap, because I buy the wet food, but I hope it means that Gus will live a very long time with us!  I also continue to research and I'll let you know when I find better foods!