It is important to me to feed my family well, including my dog and two cats. Over the years I have changed their pet food based on my knowledge and their needs.
Coco, my 9 year old rescued Havanese mix, now eats V-Dog dog food which is corn, soy, wheat, gluten and GMO free, made in the USA, and ships free (+$30 orders). While listening to the brilliant Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s free podcast entitled “Being Vegan is a Means to an End. It is Not an End in Itself” (#22 on the list at this writing), I learned that domestic dogs can healthfully live on a vegan diet. Coco also loves to eat lettuce, red bell peppers, bananas, pistachios, and coconut oil which I often share with her.
Colleen is an acclaimed vegan speaker, award-winning author of six books, expert ethics commentator, and a multimedia host, beloved for her entertaining and unparalleled cooking shows and her intimate and inspiring podcast, Food for Thought. If you enjoy intellectual vegan commentary, check out Colleen’s podcasts and website at JoyfulVegan.com.
Colleen also clarified in her aforementioned podcast that domestic cats are obligate carnivores, unlike dogs or humans, and can not thrive without meat in their diet. She recommends several brands of non-grain, high-protein foods for cats. I have chosen Orijen Six Fish Cat Food and order it through a local boutique pet supply store.
It is important to feed cats, especially male cats, grain-free foods as grains tend to create crystals and give male cats urinary tract infections. This is precisely what happened to my 5 year old male rescue tabby cat, Houdini. He took to urinating in the bath tub which showed blood. As soon as I switched him to a non-grain food, his UTI cleared up and he hasn’t had one since.
Houdini and Magic, my 1.5 year old rescue black & white female cat, live both indoors and outdoors. They supplement their indoor dry cat food with rodents, reptiles, and an occasional bird. (I have removed all our bird feeders as to not encourage their visits.)
Are these pet foods inexpensive? Nope. They are an investment in my pet’s health. I value their wellness, as I do my own, and I am rewarded with their good health. Our mobile veterinarian visits us once every three years for mandatory vaccinations. We’ve had a couple emergency calls, but other than those, we see our veterinarian infrequently because Coco, Houdini, and Magic are so healthy, saving us money on annual check-ups and visits.
We have in-home pet care givers, so my pets no longer board at kennels on the occasion when we travel. This is less stressful to them and it cancels the need for the bordetella vaccination.
I love my dog and cats and feel responsible to give them the best and most comfortable life that I can afford. I’d love to hear in the comments below how you take wonderful care of your beloved pets.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Carla, could you share with me what other cat food’s she recommends??? I’ve tried several different protein rich brands with my cats and they would not eat them. I have them on Royal Canin but I’m not sure it is the best choice.
Yes, Colleen recommends the seafood, grain-free, canned options by Wellness, Tiki Cat, Natural Balance or brands.
Thanks Carla!!!
Which store on Hilton head carries the cat food that you chose? I would like to try some.
Alice~ It’s Red Rover across from Wexford.
I feed my Yorkie, Roxanne, and my Calico Cat, Betty Boop, no grain food, preferably seafood. They also drink reverse osmosis water with r.o.w. ice cubes (to deter bacteria).
Of course, my girls get lots of love and hugs and they give me the same.
Thanks, Carla, I’m exploring the foods you recommend.
Best,
Virginia
Roxanne and Betty Boop were lucky to find you!
After love, nutrition is the key to happy and healthy companion animals. I’ve been feeding a home-prepared species-appropriate diet over the last 20 years for my cats and dogs, and have witnessed remarkable shifts in wellness leading to long, active and vibrant lives. It takes a little time to prepare weekly and isn’t cheap, and the lack of vet bills and all of the other expenses that go along with dis-ease make the extra time and $$ completely worth it.
That’s awesome Susan!!!
Thank You!
Thanks Carla!
Thanks Carla,
I am feeding my dogs vegan, and they seem to have more energy, and happier,
Leonardo….
I look for a good quality food at a reasonable price. Kirkland’s best is supposedly a decent food for a great price, but only available at Costco.
Wow, I didn’t know that grains are so harsh on male cats! Although I don’t completely agree with the vegan diet for dogs, it is great to hear that your dog is doing so well. I know what we eat affects our bodies and the same is true for animals. Thanks for sharing! Ps that’s such a cute picture of your cat, Magic!
Thanks for the recommendations Carla, you are absolutely right, the importance of diet and nutrition must never ever be undermined. I have been thinking for quite some time now to switch the current food brand I give my dog to Orijen or something more holistic. Let’s see how my dog takes it. Thanks for reviewing.
Hi,
Thankyou for sharing this information. I order food for my cats from Whole Cat and Kaboodle. They have the best cat food for urinary tract health, which is highly recommended. You can give it a try too!
Wow, it’s amazing to hear about Coco’s healthy and diverse diet! It’s great that you’ve found a dog food like V-Dog that meets all of Coco’s dietary needs and is made in the USA. Plus, the fact that it ships free is a bonus! Thanks for mentioning that Colleen also discussed the dietary needs of domestic cats in her podcast. Thanks for sharing your insights and recommendations!