Natural Pet Remedies for Cats

Detox

Posted by Bluebaker (Nyc, US) on 04/25/2014

My cat has been having tremors, startles and various other symptoms such as insatiable appetite without gaining weight. We lived in a place that was vastly saturated with many toxins, Round Up, the herbicide among them. Two of my other cats who were outdoor cats, died - one of pancreatitis, the other of acute kidney failure.

I've taken this cat to countless vets and no one has been able to help. She's had every test under the sun done, from liver to kidney analysis, urine, blood, CT, x-rays, thyroid and more - and no one has been able to help. I do think this is all related to her exposure to this herbicide.

Is there any way to detox her and repair the damage? Her appetite is ravenous which I believe based on what I have researched on this particular toxin that there is a disruptor that effects specific enzymes, and these enzymes is what she is craving. But it's not productive because no matter how much she is eating it's not being absorbed. Your input is important and we are grateful for any insight on how to help her heal from this.

Thank you.

Detox

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 04/25/2014

Hey Bluebaker!

My first thought was Activated Charcoal for your girl. You can buy it at most drug stores or online. I would try 1 teaspoon into 1 can of wet food and see how she tolerates it.

Also, read up on EC's detoxification page for other ideas; Bill from San Fernando has many insights into detoxing: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/detoxification.html

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Onna (Mi) on 09/29/2015

What ailments/illnesses did you treat your kitty for with ACV, and under what heading can I find apple cider vinigar treatment for cats? I'm reading about all the treatments. But I cannot find where they are located for felines in the website. greatly appreciated, the help.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Zina (West Palm Beach) on 02/13/2016

My cat is breathing heavily with an enlarged pupil could this be a respiratory problem?? He continues to eat and drink and use his litter

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 02/14/2016

Hello Zina,

Your cat may be experiencing a medical emergency. Dilated pupils can indicate pain, and heavy breathing also means something is wrong. Please consider taking your cat to the vet ASAP.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Luisa (Arizona, ) on 03/10/2016

Help! My cat is very sick! She has some respiratory infection. Sneezing, watery eyes, congested, she's not wanting to eat much. Lost a lot of weight. Is very weak. The vet put her on antibiotics and eye drops with antibiotics which I don't like giving her cause it weakens their immune system. She also had fever when I took her to the vet. Suggestions to treat her naturally and effective please? I give her also colloidal silver and coconut oil. How much do I give her that? How often? She's only 4 pounds now she's lost so much weight. She's 11 months. My heart is breaking to see her like this.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 03/10/2016

Hi luisa, for a specific complaint 5 mls 3 times per day for 3 days, then 2 times a day. Good luck with your kitty,

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Inky (Colorado Springs, Co) on 04/20/2016

Reverse osmosis water I thought was not good for us. It's the same as soda pop which is really bad for us. I give my cat 8.5 alkaline drinking water. If anything filtered tap water would be better than the reverse osmosis water.

Cat Peeing in House

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 12/16/2013

Hey Ursula!

You can try the ACV remedy for conjunctivitus from EC:

Home Remedy Ingredients

Unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar - 2 Teaspoons
Filtered Water - 1 Cup

Mix 2 tsp of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. Dip a cotton pad or soft cloth in the solution to wash the eyelid inside and out. You can place a few drops of the water mixture in the eye as well. You should repeat this treatment every few hours until the conjunctivitis is completely healed. Usually that will take from 2-3 days.

You can also try the advice from another poster [scroll down for original post]:

12/08/2013: Bluejade4 from Houston, tx: "I used a drug called Pink Eye Remedy for humans on my cat. You can get this at any drug store. My cat is 1 year old and she had eye redness with swelling very teary and little yellow puss like discharge at the corner of one eye. And just redness in the other eye. She was not playing much and would hide and sleep most of the day. I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar and the Neosporin they helped a little but was not effective enough. I bought the pink eye remedy cleaned her eyes with a wet warm face cloth. Held my cat down had my daughter drop 2 drops per eye. I did this twice daily for three days. My cat is all better now she is playing and is her old self. Her eyes are clear bright and normal."

For sure if you try these remedies and see no improvement in 3 days then you should consider taking your cat to the vet.

For your 12 year old consider treating for feline cystitis with ADV and homeopathy:

https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/cystitis4.html#ACVC

Also read up on Feline Lower Urinatry Tract Disease here:

https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/cats-urinary-tract-disorders3.html#FLUTD

It may help to get several litter boxes for your cats - so 3 boxes for 2 cats and try to vary the location if possible. If your cat has an area that he soils regularly try putting a box there.

Cat's with FLUTD aren't trying to be naughty when they pee all over the house - they are trying to find any way to escape their discomfort and some with chronic conditions come to associate the pain the the litter box, hence peeing everywhere *but* in the litterbox.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Linda (Lauzerte, France) on 07/27/2013

One of my cats has a swelling on the side of her jaw. She has been scratching it so that there is now no fur there. I have been treating it with colloidal silver, but cannot do this more than once a day as she hides herself away the rest of the time. She does seem to like being treated and it does not seem to be painful. She also wants to drink a little CS. I am wondering if I can add a little DMSO to really get the CS into the problem area. Would this be safe for her?

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Goldencat (Akron, Oh) on 10/02/2013

I'd say go to a vet immediately. The cat may have a bad tooth that needs removal, and/or a closed abcess from said dental problem. They don't show discomfort much, so a hygenist should examine the cat's teeth to rule out a serious problem. Alternatively, it may be a harmless fluid filled cyct. That would indicate other natural treatments, such as homeopathic and maybe accupuncture for an underlying systemic imbalance. BUT some cats just won't sit still for accupuncture - don't be upset if yours is one of those. My cats are calm enough to allow it - the older one really felt better and soon cooperated every visit - he remembered it helped him. (after urinary blockage, and with sinus congestion)

Colloidal silver isn't topical in this case - you have no wound. Dose the cat with about 1/2 tsp every 4 hours with a good nanosilver product. (all silvers aren't equal) Assuming an infection, and not a physical mass is the cause.

I use Sovereign Silver, as does my holistic vet and local naturopath. You may want to compare their lab studies against the competition, and the explanation of what makes different silver colloids different.

Link to Sovereign vs Mesosilver, with germ images showing relative effectiveness on MRSA. Plenty of other info: http://www.natural-immunogenics.com/silver_comparative_analysis_detail.php?CompetitionAnalysisID=44

Sinusitis Remedies

Posted by Bw (Bellevue, Wa) on 04/27/2013

Astrid, I have come upon a website from a homeopathic vet in the USA who does consultations by email or phone or Skype. I have never used his services so I cannot vouch for his efficacy, but since you mentioned that there is no other such vets close to you, it might be worth consulting with him: http://www.homevet.com/

Hyperthyroid Remedies for Cats

Posted by Toonces (Lake Arrowhead, California) on 04/13/2013

Yes, I don't know if EC will allow this to go through-perhaps they will-since 2 different people are asking. I have used the site, PetWellbeing.com for years and they have formulas for Thyroid. One for Hypo and one for Hyper. We tried this formula for HyperThyroid and then went to the one for Blood Sugar and that seems to be a bit better for our Cat, but it has worked wonders for many pets. We have used several of their formulas over the years. They are expensive but they work. Unfortunately, they made the bottles smaller than they used to be for the same price of $38.00 but they do last. I wish I had a less expensive home remedy for you. Good luck!

Hyperthyroid Remedies for Cats

Posted by Michele (Fresno, Ca) on 12/28/2015

Thyroid Balance from Pet Essences really worked for our cat.

Hyperthyroid Remedies for Cats

Posted by Earth Clinic on 07/06/2022

Hi Donal,

We attached your request to the one thread in the Cats section on hyperthyroid remedies.

Yes, please send in some info on the condition and we can use it to start a new hyperthyroid page for cats. We're moving soon and a bit limited on time so any help is appreciated! Thanks.

Feline Herpes

Posted by Tmay (Santa Cruz, Ca) on 11/18/2012

I adopted a Siamese cat with the after effect of Herpes in the eyes. I took it to a vet'y ophthalmologist. She said that Siamese cats and their relations are susceptible to having dry eyes and that giving vet'y eye drops, a drop 2 x a day, might have helped. The Siamese cat has black eyes instead of blue eyes as a result of the Herpes that took advanatage of the irritated eye as a result of dry eye. I don't know whether he got that as a stray or when he was owned but had he been treated when he had it, it would have been better for him. It clouds his vision and makes it difficult for him to see at night. It almost led to his being put down at the shelter for having an eye condition. The scarring from Herpes in the eyes blinds some cats.

I have another cat who is old (16 years) who was on prednisone for a year which lowers immunity. That meant that the cat developed an eye ulcer. The symptom was brown tears and squinting. She solved that and since the cat is still on predisolone for another condition, she has me giving him eye drops 2 x a day. She told me to buy i-drop vet plus, the package with a photo of a shitzu dog on it on Amazon which is non-prescription. Counter intuitively, the package with the picture of the cat is not the one to use because it is individual packets with too much water for the eye of a cat. Additionally, I buy, as instructed, L-Lysine capsules 500 mg from an organic store. I open the capsule and divide a capsule in two and give 250 mg in water in the am and in the pm orally with a plastic eye dropper. The drops and the Lysine was enough to keep the eyes of my cat safe while he was on a low dose of prednisolone. When the dosage was raised, that was insufficient. So he went back on the prescription eye drops, Vigamox which is expensive, that the vet'y ophthalmologist prescribed.

I have another cat with eye problems after a cat fight, so it is a good thing that we have a vet'y ophthalmologist in our city.

Get eye conditions looked at.

Plasmacytic Pododermatitis

Posted by Kate59 (Kingston, Ny, United States) on 11/16/2012

Love your site. 3 years ago I adopted a one-yr-old cat, named Jon Jon. After 6 months he developed swollen front pads, bloody and sore. My cats are all indoors. I contacted the vet and the lady I adopted him from. Surgery to remove the pads were recommended.

After researching on the web, I found some vets using doxycycline to treat the plasmacytic pododermatitis. My vet wrote me a prescription and within days his pads were normalizing. I followed the protocol. 2 weeks later they became swollen again, so again I used the doxycycline.

I decided (instead of constant antibiotic treatment) to put him on probiotics. He's been fine ever since! Everyday I sprinkle a small amount of refrigerated probiotic on his wet food (a small amount of wet food). Once a day. One capsule lasts 5 - 6 days for him.

Just wanted to share this with any readers having this problem with a cat or a dog. Thanks! Kate

Plasmacytic Pododermatitis

Posted by Marlene (San Diego) on 12/08/2013

What brand/type of probiotics are you feeding your cat? I'm afraid my cat has the same disease.

Calici Virus

Posted by Nh Gardener (Sanbornton, Nh, Usa) on 06/18/2012

For Silvia from Toronto re. Cat with FCV--Please try food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food, 1/2 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to rounded tsp. 2 X/day. If he won't take it, apply some to his fur and paws so he'll lick it off. DE absorbs and eliminates toxins from the body. Also, give him 1/2 tsp gently melted coconut oil in his food, increasing to 1 tsp. Again, if he won't eat it, apply to his paws or legs so he'll lick it off. Good luck.

Avoid Certain Foods

Posted by R. Astby (Melbourne, Vic. Australia) on 05/13/2012

Regarding Avocado. I'm sure I stupidly killed my beautiful cat with leftover avacodo that was going a bit brown. Immediately lethargic & sat on cushion for a couple of weeks until too late. Gagged at first, then labored breathing became more evident each day. At near closing time, Vet said inhumane & euthanased. It was a mystery at first, I thought possibly heartworm as same symptoms. But then I remembered giving the avocado & that's when it started. Labored breathing is symptom of avocado to Cats I've read. I think it may be the Alpha-Lipoic Acid which causes liver damage also. So leave the unknown human foods out of your animals diet.

Avoid Certain Foods

Posted by Carol (Va., US) on 09/09/2014

alpha lipoic acid ( ALA ) does NOT hurt the liver, it helps it. please do some research before stating facts out of the air.

R ALA is the natural form. It restores liver enzyme levels back to normal

Avoid Certain Foods

Posted by Shelby (Texas) on 04/21/2016

Avocado is poisonous to most animals, especially birds, cats and dogs. Green beans are poisonous to hamsters, and carrot tops to rabbits

Coconut Oil

Posted by Sheila (Post Falls, Idaho) on 12/20/2011
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Wondering if coconut oil would work on older cats?

Aging Cats

Posted by Wolf (Oregon) on 02/27/2024
★★☆☆☆

How much lysine did you give your cat, and for how long?

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Posted by Stealthpaws (Plantersville, Tx) on 01/12/2012

Hi.. To Catlover in Vancouver.... I have extensive experience with this awful disease... Or rather with cats who have it. I rescued a very young kitten in late 2001 or early 2 - very thin and covered in fleas. I took her to the vet before introducing her to the household (3 older cats) and had her tested, immunized, etc for "everything", and of course, cleaned her up, etc. Well, it turns out that she has FIP, and she gave it to the other 3 cats almost immediately. Long story short, she is still alive and healthy (in remission) - unfortunately the other 3 have passed on, BUT... 2 of the 3 died of causes other than FIP, and they lived to realatively ripe old ages for cats. I don't know if you know any of this stuff already, but I'll put what I know here anyway, and I apologize, but there are some pertinent facts I simply can't remember at this moment... FIP is actually a mutation of a virus (that's what I can't remember... Which virus) that is normal in cats. In other words, they most all carry it. This mutation can occur in two different ways. One is called "wet" form, the other "dry". "Wet" is almost always fatal within a short period of contracting it, but "dry" can be managed. The problem is since it is a mutation of a "normal" virus, at least in my experience, many vets will tell you that "there IS NO TEST" for FIP. Some don't even recognize it as a disease. There IS a test, but it tests for a certain type of cell, and it's expensive.

Now, I don't know if there are other ways of management- I've only recently discovered more Earthly treatments for people... Much less animals, but what my vet did was experimental treatment using a combination of very light but consistent steroid treatment and thyroid support with a managed diet. The most important things I've had to do for her were to 1) manage her diet, to avoid any stress on her digestive system (where the virus is most active). Use very benign food, (we use a prescription food because it contains virtually no irritants), no hard to digest proteins, especially fish of ANY kind, no dyes, etc. If and when she needs additional special dietary care, it's strictly chicken- either baby food, or boiled and mashed that I make for her... And 2) KEEP HER ISOLATED from ANY other cats. This means COMPLETELY isolated. This virus is horribly contagious. It is transferred through the litter box, the food dish, the water dish, if your cat licks you... Etc. The virus is a fairly long-lived virus comparatively, and can even be transferred via your clothing, etc. - (mostly wet form). Dry is less agressive because the cat isn't as sick and thus isn't excreting so much yuck. My cat is 10 or 11 (?), stocky, & healthy with perfect "cattitude". Don't give up. They will sometimes go through periods of sickness... But with literally devout care, they can pull through. I have 4 other cats, all rescues and all "special needs" kitties, and they are all FIP free.

I am not prepared to discontinue her current treatment which has worked so well for so long to experiment with ACV or AC... But if her condition "flares", I will indeed introduce one or both of these things to try to heal her.

I hope this helps or encourages you. There IS hope for FIP kitties.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Posted by Tmay (Santa Cuz, Ca, Usa) on 11/19/2012

FIP. It sounds like your vet knows what they are talking about. I suggest a second opinion.

I had a sick cat who I took to a new vet because I was new in town, LA. He did a blood test and the cat tested positive for FIP. The vet said to think about putting him down. I phoned the store where I had bought a new kitten who had gotten a little sick with sneezing and that had triggered my older bigger cat to get sick. The store gave me the number of the breeder of the kitten. I talked to her and she said that when cats are sick they test positive for a lot of things which they don't necessarily have. She said to go to another vet and gave me some names. A cat magazine said to always check with a breeder when you get to town to find out whom they recommend. They have had enough cats and experiences that they can gage a vet. Very good advice. Don't go by the most popular vet in a newspaper or by a certificate of thanks from a city. I felt very badly for the beautiful beloved pets that were being treated by the first vet who was faking being competent. My cat recovered.

I suggest not buying animals from a store. It is better to buy from a breeder who knows what they are doing, or rescue an animal from a shelter or from a rescue organization. Wonderful beautiful animals, cats kittens, dogs puppies, rabbits, chickens and even more exotic pets are being euthanized constantly for the lack of a home.

When you get a new animal, whether you have purchased one or found a stray, keep it separated to find out if it is sick to protect your other animals. Doing that will give you the time to look for the owner if it is a stray, post the neighborhood, take it to a vet who will scan it for free to see if it has a chip that has up to date info. Regarding 50% of chipped animals the owners did not realize that they had to inform the chip people of their name and address. They thought someone else did it. When left to others, invariably there are mistakes, so follow through. Inform the shelter that you found it in case someone is looking for it, and tell them you will keep it at your house. This appears to apply to cats and not dogs. After a certain amount of time, it is yours. Then you can spend the money to have its blood tested by a vet so that you know it is negative on diseases. Don't offer to give it away for free on Craigslist. People can pretend to be good owners when they plan to sell it to a lab for experimentation, and they are good actors and you don't know it. Introduction to other cats in the house is best done slowly, with the animals separated in different rooms by a door, and exchanging socks with the smell of the other on it, so that the scent gets to be familiar.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Leah (Costa Mesa, Ca.) on 09/18/2011

Lactoferrin- It's a good brand. What lactoferrin is... It's from the very first milk of the momma cow. It is a very strong immune booster. My baby cat almost died three times for horrid upper respritory issues. Did I spell that wrong? probably! Anyways, give her a mashed up tablet twice a day for three days and then once a day for a week and see how and if she improves. Mash it to powder with the bottom of a spoon and to one teaspoon of wet food add this and a tablespoon of bottled water. I never use tap! Only a teaspoon of the wet food because you want to be sure she eats all of it. More food might make the chance of it all not being ingested. It is safe too. for people and animals.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Nike (Goteborg, Sweden) on 10/01/2011

Hi Maximom, hope your baby is all better now! I had similar issues with my russian blue, Figaro, he refused to drink water. I even tried with bottled water... However, he loved to drink cream or half-and half. You could try that next time when Maxi needs liquids ASAP.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Darlene (Syracuse, Ny) on 09/25/2015

This is off the beaten path of your discussion, does anyone know if apple cider vinegar could be applied to a sore on my cats neck, she is an indoor cat. I've had her 5 years this has never happened before. Thank you for a timely response, she is my best friend!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Stephanie (Florida) on 08/27/2016

I'm sure it will. I'm no vet, but a pet parent. When my shadow came to us he was sneezing and his eyes were covered in green and yellow puss. I have him L Lysine and ACV. The ACV, I put in his water for two weeks and the L Lysine I crush up and put in his food. You might try this and look at the administering fluids section for instructions on giving liquids. I hope your little one feels better soon.

Back Leg Issues

Posted by Ds (Houston, Tx) on 01/26/2012

We have an 18yr neutered male, who had a diabetic problem, now resolved with non-wheat, corn, gluten, sugar, starchy, dry food. Fancy Feast has a few of their classic flavors that do not contain wheat gluten (have to check the label each time though). Anyway the high blood sugar caused neuropathy, which started off intermittently and gradually worsened, now he walks on his hocks completely, not like the usual high-heeled cats. This is the same results humans have. I figured out all of this via yourdiabeticcat.com - not through my vet and unfortunately, not until the biggest damage had been done. Like humans, cats with 150 glucose readings are considered abnormal and need treating if they have a diabetic history. If occassional, they keep an eye on it. Our vet didn't treat our cat or even mention it until he had gone for 6 months of readings over 200 . Unfortunately, I had no knowledge/experience of diabetes and trusted the vet. It was almost a year later until I took matters into my own hands, put him on the closest cat insulin PZI (no the dog insulin they normally give). Took him off the DM vet prescription of dry (expensive) food, and within 2 weeks got his glucose under 150, stopped insulin and never looked back.

But the back legs became weaker, which is also a common problem, so I've heard/read with many older cats, as their muscle mass deteriorates all over - but in our case diabetes contributed, and we had no signs of high glucose until our told us and he became quite ill because of it. I read and tried methyl b12 vitamins help in neuropathy, but you need to get a pure organic tablet, crush it and put it in their food. We had trouble because of the synthetic sweetener they used for the gel capsule some of which is poisonous to cats. (i forgot the name) - I research everything from several places before trying anything new, cat specific websites are better, as they are a little more special!!!

Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Ma. Usa) on 03/30/2011

Well I can truly say I had a tiger by the tail. My kitten was a stray and a mess, I didn't know what she had, I just figured she was itchy until I found this god send of a site that showed me what mange really is. I first tried Apple Cider Vinegar with some results, but then I found this using borax and peroxide message an decided to try it, I was not accurate on the amount of time but I tried approx. an hour & a half, I also tried mayo. Prior to the borax & peroxide then I tried to give her a bath, it seems as though I got most of the water then she did, after her bath I put vit. E on her, she was fighting and kicking for dear life with all fours straight up, thankfully she did not scratch me, also I used surgical gloves. She is now sitting close by me washing her self off, so I decided to check her fur for any signs of mites, and of course there are still red spots rather then red with black dots almost as before, I really don't know if this process needs more work as she is losing trust in me and it's a huge fight for her. I use a steamer humidifier for her as she is congested, I even have to wipe her snotty nose like a little baby because it was stuffed up. All I can do now is pray it did help immediately or try it again later, but I do need to give her a bit of a rest in between as her system is weak. She is looking at me with those big eyes of her as if to say AND I trusted you. (chuckles) More later on in the week when she is doing a litle better. Thank you every one for your input.... And much thanks to Ted that made all this possible.

Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Larrycatsmom (Ballina, Ireland) on 06/29/2013

DO NOT use diatomaceous earth meant for water filters! It has been heat treated and can kill animals if ingested. Food grade - animal or human is great, I've even used 'pest grade' for a short while - as long as it is NOT heat treated and IS safe to add to grain/foodstuffs - ask the manufacturer. Having said that, I love the stuff! I've used it on cats, dogs, horses, birds, and people; internally and externally. Rub it into the carpet and leave it along walls to kill fleas, ants, roaches... Most any insects. It doesn't work immediately, give it a few days - it'll kill almost any worms or insects The only danger to animals is that it is very drying so be careful not to make too much dust with it as it can irritate eyes and lungs.

I also use it in the garden but carefully as it will kill beneficial insects like bees, so just don't put it near the flowers where bees may go. It won't harm worms in the soil and will actually help enrich the soil when it washes off in the rain. That's the biggest problem using it in the garden!

Herbs

Posted by Jujucat (North East, Pa, Usa) on 09/10/2011

That's great that you've gone raw, but why are you buying it from a company? You can easily do this yourself and it's so cheap! We buy chicken livers by the tub at Wal-Mart and they also have packages of chicken hearts and gizzards for cheap-our kittens also like skinless, boneless breasts. You just bring it home, wash it in hot water and throw it in ziplocs and freeze. I bring enough down for one day and let it thaw in the fridge and before feeding, I fill a bowl with hot water (not boiled, just hot tap water) and sit the ziploc bag of thawed meat in there and let it get warm. This does not cook the meat-and please, do NOT microwave the meat as this kills all the nutrients. Also, it is essential to let them have raw meaty bones-no, it does not harm them, no they do not choke. Just make sure they are raw bones, not cooked. Cooked bones fragment and are brittle and dangerous. Anyways, when the meat is to room temperature after a few minutes, I put it in their little ceramic dishes and they gobble it up. If there is blood, don't throw it away--my cats love sipping the blood that comes with the meat. The main thing is freezing first, as I've read that this kills any parasites that may be in the meat... Although, we are feeding them human grade meat from our grocery store. I supplement with occasional treats of herring, mackerel, sardines, fresh Lake Erie perch and salmon (bones and all). On occasion I give a can of good quality GRAIN FREE moist food such as Blue Buffalo, Nutro, Avoderm or Wellness. I know feeding raw is best, but adding a can supplementally once or twice a week just makes me feel better, because these are foods with added minerals and whatnot that cats need and that way I know my 3 sweethearts are covered. For water, we use a fountain and also a ceramic dish that I clean and refill daily. It would be easier to just plunk down dry food and let them have at it all day, but I know I'd pay down the road in vet's bills for cystitis, urethritis, bladder crystals, etc. , not to mention obesity. My cats will eat dry kibble-the good stuff, the bad stuff-any of it, they will eat it and this is just useful information for us for when we need to go away for a trip somewhere and our pet sitter will be able to feed the cats without dealing with the raw meat, etc. (plus, I am fastidious about cleaning after handling raw meat, and would prefer not to have anyone else in my kitchen attempting to do it). Cats are obligate carnivores--why anyone would feed them grain is beyond me. But that's the conclusion I came to when I knew I was going to adopt the first 2--I did tons of research about everything, from foods, to bedding, to toys, to cat litter (clay is evil, for cats and for the environment) and by the time we finally brought them home, we were READY and when we rescued #3, we were all prepared and she's taken to the raw meat like a champ and she's only 8 weeks old. Thanks for listening and good luck with your kitties. Sounds like you're a good mama-but you can ditch the raw food company and do it yourself for tons cheaper, just wanted you to know that.

Hugs, Jujucat

Herbs

Posted by Frances (Cabarlah, Qld., Australia) on 10/11/2020

Why do you say clay is evil? I use a locally produced bentonite clay.

Bladder Crystals

Posted by Abra (Powell, Tn) on 02/04/2011

I've read that cranberry extract is good treatment for bladder crystals/infections in cats and also as a preventative. I found one article that suggested 2 tablets a day for 5 days. As far as maintenance is concerned, I'm wondering if one a day or one a week would be sufficient?

Bladder Crystals

Posted by K7bdd (Cross Plains, Tn) on 04/08/2014

My mom used cranberry juice for years to keep from having bladder infections. She never had kidney stones either. All the MD's and DO's I've spoken to recommend cranberry juice or the fruit for the full range of urinary tract health.

Stray Cats

Posted by Ta (Fort Lauderdale, Fl) on 01/02/2010

your site is wonderful. We feed stray cats and of course they have all types of problems. The info you give helps us to care for them. without the info on your website we would not be able to financially take care of them. THANKS!!

EC: Hi Ta,

Thanks very much for your kind words of support. Glad you are finding helpful information on Earth Clinic.

Meow Remedies

Posted by Kelly (Farmersville, California Usa) on 12/01/2009

I Need A Remedy For A Cat Who Can't Meow

There is a stray cat who comes over to our place every so often, and I feed it and give it water. I don't know if the cat is a boy or a girl. The problem is, the poor thing can't meow. I gave it some hairball remedy in case the problem was a hairball. I don't know if that is the problem or not, but if it turns out that the problem may be caused by something else, I'd appreciate any advice I can get. What remedy would you suggest for a cat who suddenly seems to have lost its meow? Thanks in advance!

Meow Remedies

Posted by Puppetrina (Houston, Tx) on 12/18/2009

not all cats meow...or meow often...does the cat try to meow? Cats meow specifically as a signal to their humans..if a cat was raised with no humans, it may have a tendency not to meow....except when in heat to signal a mate...or to it's kittens...

Bladder Issues

Posted by Jill (Aguas, Mexico) on 05/02/2011

Leigh from Australia... I am wondering how your cat has done for the last year and a half? I hope you will see this post and answer me. My cat is having similar problems but didn't respond so well to the ACV as your cat. But I was afraid his urinary tract might be too alkaline already and that would just make it worse. I have him on special food, but he's still peeing so little each time. His spirits are pretty good, though sometimes I think he might be in pain or at least distressed from the peeing problem. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help!

Bladder Issues

Posted by Angie (Equality, Al) on 06/29/2011

please keep up the apple cider vinegar (organic raw with the mother) diluted half and half with water. it really does help the uti and 1 T spoon to a gal. of water for their drinking water would be a good maintanance dose and has many other benifits also. my cat actually likes Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with plain yogurt as a treat. just don't ever force them to drink it undiluted as this burns the mouth and throat. Best wishes to your cat. also their is a homeopathic remedy that works great called 'uti free'

Pumpkin

Posted by Katylucyb (Wichita, Ks) on 01/18/2013

Pumpkin is a vegetable so look in the canned vegetable section for pure 100% pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling. My store stocks it in both the vegetable section and with the pie fillings.

Respiratory Infection

Posted by Jennifer (Dexter, Maine) on 01/30/2010

i have a kitten about 6 months old he had come down with a cough when he coughs he acts like he has something cought in his throat but i had checked and there was nothing there.so i know he has a cold i was wondering what i could give him to help him get over it? i can't afford to take him to the vets right now.i am on a fixed income so any thing that someone thinks might work please please help me we call him baby kitty he was sick and small when we got him please help me.someone told me to wipe a small amount of vicks on his bed but i didn't dare cause i don't want to lose my baby by my mess up he is still eating his wet food but not to much of his kitten chow. please help me.

Respiratory Infection

Posted by Rachel (Idaho) on 08/15/2016

Tia, do you still swear by goldenseal it must obviously come in a liquid also right? Is that the same goldenseal humans use? I have a month 1/2 old feral little girl kitten whose nose is runny a bit, eyes look watery, sneezes & sounds very congested with a sneezy wheezy cough sound. If there's anything anybody can suggest that is 110% safe to give her please let me know. I'm very broke right now but keeping her alive & back to healthy is my # 1 goal. Thank you.

Pau D'arco for UTI

Posted by Nicole (San Diego, CA) on 07/26/2008
★★★★★

A couple years ago my cat had a urinary tract infection (I assumed - he was peeing all around the house right in front of me and there would be little if any urine and blood in it). I took him off of dry food and put some drops of Pau D'Arco Herbal Glycerite Extract into his water bowl. Within a day his behaviour changed and his kitty litter box was put to good use. He went back to being the happy crazy cat he was before - and I no longer get cheap dry food! He's never had another infection in the past couple years and he has a preference for dry food. I probably put about 10 drops or so of the extract (mine was alcohol free and from Herb Pharm) into his bowl and kept him inside to make sure he wouldn't get water from another source.... but that was about 2 years ago so I'm not sure on the exact amount.

Respiratory Infection

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 09/09/2013

Dear F - I do not have an answer for you, but I am so sorry for the loss of your dear Flipper.

Respiratory Infection

Posted by Liana (Mississauga, Canada) on 08/12/2008

To Joy:

Please, tell us what ingredients you feed daily to your cats, and also what beneficial herbs you used.

I am looking after a stray cat that lives in my neighbourhood (including my house). He seems to have a bad cold. I fed him chicken broth with many pieces of chicken. For the last 2 days I have fed him cod liver oil. These 2 remedies seem to help somewhat. I have also put ACV his scruff as recommended by a contributor to this website.

If anybody else has suggestions on what to do with a cat that is otherwise very healthy, I would appreciate it so much.

Herpes Remedy Needed for Cat

Posted by lynda (Bagley, usa) on 09/12/2007
★★★★★

I do foster care for our local humane society.The cat's are always sick and alot die. Right now I have a kitty with herpes of the eyes and was wondering how to get rid of it naturally. The drugs they get from a vet are not working. I started to use borac acid but that doesn't seem to be doing much either. Please if anyone has an idea please let me know. Thank you.

Herpes Remedy Needed for Cat

Posted by Donna Stehr (Preeceville, Saskatchewan ) on 08/29/2020

One of the cats I used to have always had a runny eye.The vet said it was a blocked tear duct.One weekend when the town vet wasn't available, she ended up with her eye swollen shut and very swollen.We were going to take her to the vet the following Monday.

I googled it and found out it was a reoccurring herpes virus probably passed on to her from her mother.The EarthClinic sight suggested ACV diluted with water in a 1:3 solution.Dip a cotton ball and squeeze the mixture onto the scruff of the neck between the shoulder blades until the area is wet but not dripping.Then I also gently wiped her closed eye with it.

Not only was she completely cured in a few days, the virus never bothered her again.

Flea Remedy for Kittens

Posted by The Pointed Hat (Sacramento, California) on 01/12/2010

Bathing cats can be an enormous struggle if you haven't had the opportunity to work with the cat from a young age. The most helpful tool I have purchased for bathing older cats is a basic, nylon cat harness with leash. Unfortunately, this really only works if you have a soap holder built into the side of your shower stall. Here are my methods:

1) Put the harness on the cat before you even run the bath water.
2) Fill the bath before you bring the cat into the room. Sometimes the noise of the tap itself can be frightening to Kitty. Remember not to actually FILL the tub, but allow about an inch of water to collect.
3) Attach the leash to the soap dish, leaving just enough room for your cat to be able to sit on all fours in the tub.
4) Bring the cat in, but before you set him in the water, attach the leash to the harness. This will prevent him from scrambling away from you, soaking wet, before you can secure him in the tub.
5) Once the leash is securely attached, set the cat in the tub.

Note: Most cats don't like to sit in standing water. In my case, my kitty would yowl loudly for the duration of the bath and fight me all the way. My remedy was to put a small, plastic stepping stool into the tub for her to sit upon, then used a cup to pour water over her as I washed. With this method, the cat only yowled when I poured water over her.

If you have a detachable shower head, you don't need to fill the tub before bringing in the cat, just start the water and make sure it's at an acceptable temperature first.

Putting the cat on the harness keeps him from hurting you, AND himself. He may try to pull away at first, but if the leash is tied at the correct length, he won't be able to move very far in either direction. And, if he decides to start trying to claw your arms in an attempt to climb out, all you need to do is lean back for a minute, until he calms down.

Any errors in the process, like failure to secure the harness properly, will be evident when the cat escapes and tears you to ribbons for your efforts! Haha

Betadine and Cruex

Posted by Bliss (USA) on 07/15/2006
★★★★★

Try Betadine or other iodine solution and Cruex on ringworm. Worked very well when my cats had it, and then I caught it.

Flea Remedy for Kittens

Posted by A reader (Bloomington MN) on 10/05/2005

We run a foster-care home for cats. We take the animals from a shelters dealing with an overflow population problem. I've been including apple cider vinegar in cats diet, which is helping, but am still having the following problems - even with meds from the vet. Please let me know if you have any ideas on how to get rid of the following:

FLEAS - currently on Frontline, ACV dip, and I've flea bombed the house 4 times and vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. FVR - upper respitory infection that keeps going bacterial and can't shake
the viral. Feed cats ACV in soft food and vet put animals on an antibiotic, Clavamox.

CONJUNCTIVITIS - Cats are on eye drop meds from vet but not getting rid of problem

EAR MITES AND EAR YEAST INFECTIONS - On two ear drop meds from vet for both. The ears are looking better but cats are still trying to scratch way down inside their ears. I've made a wash with ACV, Witch Hazel, Olive Oil and Distilled Water. Is there something else I should be putting in wash to get rid of the problem?

RINGWORM - vet is having me pick up another drug from our local pharmacy today. We are having an adoption weekend a month from now and we will be taking in 13 more cats to get them healthy before the event. We are really looking for any kind of guidance. We are really not happy with the amount of drugs we are using and the vet doesn't offer any holistic remedies. Most cats range from 2-4 months in age. If you could even get me pointed in the right direction we'd all really appreciate it. This is a wonderful website and I wanted to thank you for creating it.

Flea Remedy for Kittens

Posted by Kelly (Athens, Georgia) on 01/02/2009

I have been using diatomaceous Earth (food Grade) and have completely rid my home and pets of fleas, ticks and any other critters that have an exoskeleton. It is completely harmless to warm bloded animals/people and will also take care of internal parasites as well. Make sure it is food grade. Just google it. It is very inexpensive and will kill fleas and such on contact. You can also dust the pet beds, furniture and such with no worries.

Natural Kitty Litter

Posted by Adam (Atlanta, Il) on 11/04/2024
★★★★★

Pine Pellets from your local farm store. Usually in the equestrian (horse) section for horse stalls. They sell 40lb bags for cheap. Like around $6! Seems to be the same as the pine pellets you buy in a cat litter section at a pet store, but MUCH more affordable! Works great!