-Healthy Kitty Tips

-Financial Health
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HEALTHY HOUSEHOLD TIPS
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Last month we talked about finding healthy spring cleaning solutions.  This has turned out to be a very popular subject - we all need all the healthy tips we can get!

Our dear friend, Kini Babalowa, uses a mixture of baking soda and distilled vinegar for general cleaning purposes.  You should see her floors sparkle!  She also uses a paste made with vinegar and baking soda to remove stubborn stains from kitchen counters and other surfaces - it really works!  Thanks for sharing, Kini.

Tips like this are great.  You save money and time, and it's healthier to boot!

We received an interesting forwarded email from "Your Healthy Perspective" readers with household tips.  We thought parts of it worthy of passing along, even though we have not personally tried, so cannot vouch for them.  And we do not know the original author, so we sadly cannot give proper credit for these following tips:
 

- To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust  and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new!

- To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

- Spray your plastic ware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

- Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops  (like store receipt blue!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

- Blood stains on clothes?  Not to worry! Just pour a little peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood.

- Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day.  They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

- Crayon marks on walls? A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with a little effort.

- Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them  neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

- Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

- Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

- To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

- Ants, ants, ants everywhere . Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march.

- When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle.  Simply put the scotch tape over the  splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

- Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer:
* Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
* Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
* Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
* Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
* Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

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HEALTHY KITTY TIPS
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Those of you who are long-time "Your Healthy Perspective" readers are familiar with Diddums, our feline baby.  He's a VIP at our house, as your pet undoubtedly is at yours.  Therefore his health is an important issue.  He is fourteen years old, but he still looks and acts like a much younger cat - visitors are always surprised at his age.

We are not veterinary experts, simply caring cat owners.  Here are some healthy pet tips we've picked up along the way.

FOOD - GLORIOUS FOOD!

    Diddums loves his food!  The fact is, he loves it a little too much.  Dr. Howard Rosner, his veterinarian, rightfully lectures us on weight control issues.  That big belly and double chin are awfully cute, but not healthy.  Dr. Rosner reminds us that, just like humans, pets can suffer obesity-related illness such as diabetes and osteoarthritis.  So Diddums is eating a special dry food, prescribed by Dr. Rosner, which is high in fiber.  However, we tend to pamper and overindulge.  He knows how to manipulate all five adults in our household into feeding him (he's been known to beg for and receive meals >from us in rapid succession, without each other's knowledge!).  We are working on this, but we are all too soft-hearted for Diddums' own good.
    Okay, now that we've told you about what's NOT healthy, how about some healthy tips?
    Here's one we found surprising:  Dr. Rosner told us that canned cat food, especially the fish varieties, can be hazardous to our cat's health.  The reason being that scraps and all the yukky leftover junk goes into pet food, including bones.  A daily diet that includes bones can cause urinary tract disease (especially in male cats) and other problems, because of certain minerals in high quantities that a cat's body cannot adequately process.
    So, what should a cat eat?  Let's talk a little more about what he or she should not eat first.
    As much as we enjoy, and believe in the health benefits of our vegetarian diet, a cat cannot subsist on such.  The cat's sharp teeth, short digestive tract, and predatory behavior attest to its carnivorous nature (unlike humans, with our teeth made for grinding, and long digestive tract).  In fact, a cat would die if forced to a vegetarian diet, as it needs large quantities of certain amino acids.
    (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.  You may have heard the term, "essential amino acids."  Our human bodies manufacture some amino acids, but others we must get in our diet for adequate protein.  The essential amino acids are those we must consume, and all our essential amino acids are found in vegetarian fare.  The cat, however, is another story.  He must have protein from an animal source.)
    Some absolute kitty no-no's are onions and chocolate (or any other food containing caffeine).  These foods can seriously sicken, or even kill, a cat (and dogs too).  So if you have meat or fish cooked with onion, even onion powder or seasoning, DON'T offer it to Fluffy or Fido.

    Okay, so what should kitty eat?
    A cat in the wild would stalk prey, such as birds.  The cat would then have fresh, raw meat.  The cat would also eat the contents of the bird's stomach, providing it with some vegetable matter (including fiber), and would probably supplement his diet with a little bit of wild green grass.  But, for a number of reasons, we shouldn't let our cats out to catch their own supper.  We then must provide everything kitty needs.
    While a cat would probably choose raw meat, when we are providing it in our homes, this is probably not the best idea.  Although we have heard that some health enthusiasts claim to feed their cats an "all raw" diet, this should be done only with great caution, as bacteria can be harmful to kitty, as it is to us.  So cooked meat to us seems prudent.
    Ideally, the best diet would include organic meat (but yes, we've seen the price tag).  And food you've prepared yourself is great, as you can control the quality of the food.  Boiling or baking chicken or fish, then cutting into small pieces for your cat would be a labor of love, and much appreciated.  But if you, like us, don't cook these foods anyway, and chafe at the idea of doing so for your cat, an alternative solution is at hand.  We give Diddums human food-grade canned tuna (packed in water, not oil).  Yes, it's more expensive than "cat tuna," but we've explained why that wouldn't do (plus, we have established the fact the he is a VIP, as is your pet).  When our local supermarket has a sale on tuna, we're right there, stocking up.  We also purchase large quantities at one of those discount warehouse stores.
    You are probably aware of the importance of fiber in our human diets.  Just as fiber can help prevent certain cancers and diabetes in us, it can in our pets as well.  As we stated before, we purchase a high fiber dry cat food from our veterinarian.  We have also seen such formulas in health food stores.  Please buy a "premium" cat food, not a cheap one.  You may ask your veterinarian for suggestions.   (Hint: After opening, store the dry food in an airtight container.  It keeps its freshness longer and kitty will enjoy it more.)

    When a cat in the wild eats fresh raw meat and green grasses, he gets plenty of food enzymes.  This is something our domesticated kitties won't get - if we don't provide it for them.  Enzymes are an important, and often neglected, part of a healthy diet, for people and for pets.  Not having dietary enzymes can lead to a host of problems and illnesses.  Enzymes are killed when food is cooked or processed, so we must look for creative ways to provide this for our pets.
    Perhaps you have seen "kitty grass" for sale, growing in little containers.  This seemed like a good idea, so we tried it with Diddums.  He gorged himself, then vomited.  We thought, the first time, that he probably was just enthralled with a new food, and would learn moderation.  But the gorging and vomiting happened again and again.  Perhaps some cat owners have success with this, but we obviously didn't.
    When we read that many pet owners give their animals AIM Barleygreen (tm) as a supplement to provide enzymes and other nutrients, we were thrilled, as we were already using this great product ourselves.  We added some to his tuna, and Diddums loved it!  In fact, instead of going to the cupboard where we keep the tuna to beg for food, he began going to the cupboard where we keep the Barleygreen to beg for food!
    As a cat's digestive system may be delicate, any new food needs to be introduced gradually.  We started with a tiny bit, about one-eighth of a teaspoon of Barleygreen, mixed in Diddums' tuna, working up to one-half to three-quarters of a teaspoon mixed in tuna daily.  (You may go to http://www.healthyperspective.com/barleylife.html for more Barleygreen info.  Barleygreen is available at wholesale cost.  For wholesale price info, go to http://www.healthyperspective.com/dc&member.html.)

    Here's a hint to keeping kitty out of the garbage, where he may get a hold of food he shouldn't have:  Use a covered kitchen trash receptacle (with a top heavy enough to keep kitty out).  This is a good idea even if it isn't apparent that your cat gets into the garbage.  I say "isn't apparent" because we didn't think little angel Diddums got into the trash.  It wasn't that we didn't think he was capable of such a thing, but there was no evidence.  The garbage always looked untouched.  But Diddums developed colitis and Dr. Rosner suggested that he must be getting a hold of food he shouldn't be eating.  We couldn't imagine where that could be until one evening we caught him rummaging through the kitchen trash.  He didn't know he had audience but he put on quite a show.  He was slowly and dexterously lifting items in the waste can using his teeth and "hands."  He finally found the morsel he was after.  Very carefully he lifted it out and placed it on the floor.  He then went back into the trash, rearranging it to look untouched!  The new stainless steel, lidded kitchen trash receptacle cured his colitis.

    Another supplement to Diddums' diet is glucosamine.  As he is older (and overweight), arthritis became a painful problem.  We bought glucosamine from the vet, at his recommendation.  It has done wonders for Diddums.  By the way, glucosamine is also a "miracle worker" for humans with arthritis.  (For info on glucosamine for humans, go to http://www.healthyperspective.com/frameessentials.html.)

    When your cat isn't feeling well, or is upset (perhaps someone in the household is away for a time), he may lose his appetite (although this doesn't seem to happen to Diddums :-) .  A good tip >from Dr. Rosner is to offer baby food, perhaps heated to lukewarm.  Good flavor choices include chicken, turkey, and lamb.  Make sure you read the label - some baby foods contain onion!  This food is too rich to feed most cats on an ongoing basis (expensive too).  But it can help get him over a rough spot.

    And don't forget:  Keep the water bowl clean and filled with fresh water.
 

OUTSIDE IS BAD

    This is a phrase Diddums hears often, as we block his passage to the front door.  Why is outside, with its fresh air and sunshine, "bad" for cats?  Even though it's hard to believe, keeping a cat indoors is much healthier.  Statistics show that outdoor cats live about ten years, while a well-cared-for indoor cat can expect to live into his or her teens, or even into the twenties.

    There are several reasons for this.  First, accidents abound in the out-of-doors - especially the danger of being hit by a motor vehicle.
    Another danger is other cats.  They carry and share diseases and parasites.  Feline leukemia and feline "AIDS" are rampant; there is no cure and it is always fatal.  And cats will fight, as they are territorial creatures.  Cats can receive serious wounds >from each other, and infection can always be a complication.  Other animals, such as dogs or wild animals, are also a danger to your cat.
    And what about fleas?  Keeping your cat indoors helps ensure he will not be infested with these pesky and parasite-carrying critters (and you and your home stay flea-free too!).

    Give kitty fresh air and access to sunshine with open windows (screened, of course).  It's also entertaining for your cat to sit at the window and look out - equivalent to watching television for us.

    Of course, spay and neuter your pets.

    A litter box is a necessity for indoor cats.  If you have never kept a litter box, the idea may, at first, seem repugnant.  But when kept clean, you and your kitty will both be happy.
    Make sure the litter box is big enough for your kitty, and be generous with the amount of litter you use.  We find it useful to line the litter box by covering it (putting it inside) two or three kitchen-sized plastic garbage bags.  Then we put a plastic cat box liner on top of that, before filling with litter.  Even with all the lining, the box itself must be cleaned periodically.  Cats have a keen sense of smell, and will not be happy with a dirty or smelly litter box (and neither will you!).
    Buy a good quality, low dust cat litter, without added perfumes.

    There is a good article on keeping your cat indoors at http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/essentials/indoorintro.html.
 

EXERCISE AND PLAY

    For a cat, play is exercise.  And, as in humans, exercise helps prevent obesity and disease, and is an important part of health maintenance.

    An outdoor cat will run, jump, and chase prey.  You must help and encourage your indoor cat to engage in similar activities.  Find toys that intrigue your cat, and play along; let the cat "set the rules."  Each cat has its unique individual taste; find what your cat likes.  Diddums likes almost all toys: cat toys, small children's toys, and many everyday objects (such as rubber bands and brightly colored plastic objects).  When he finds something he likes to play with, if it's appropriate, we let him have it.  A favorite toy for many cats is ping pong balls in the bathtub.  The cat may amuse itself for long periods of time, batting the balls around the empty (dry) bathtub.

    A resource for cat exercise can be found at http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/training/exerciseintro.html.
 

GOOD COMPANY

    A cat is good company.  Studies have shown that pet ownership is beneficial to human health; even the act of petting a cat can lower your blood pressure!
    Likewise, you are good company for your cat.  He craves your affection and attention.  Especially for indoor cats, getting enough attention from you is crucial.  When a cat is unhappy, he is much more likely to become ill.

    "...It is not good for the man to be alone..." (Gen. 2:18 NIV).  Neither is it good for the cat!  "Be there" for your cat and he will be there for you, for many mutually happy years.
 

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FINANCIAL HEALTH
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We are excitedly reading Robert Kiyosaki's ("Rich Dad's") books.  They are the most informative books we have found on how to improve and forever change your financial life.  They are faith building and life changing.

In closing, we would like to share with you a couple of selections from the book, "Retire Young, Retire Rich" (subtitled, "How to Get Rich Quickly and Stay Rich Forever"), by Robert T. Kiyosaki, with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA, Warner Books Edition, Copyright (c) 2002.

The "Author's Note" reads in part:

    "This book was completed six months before the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  Nonetheless the information in this book is more important now than ever before.
    "During these uncertain times, your financial education becomes even more valuable."

"Kim and I did not keep our money in a retirement account in order to retire young.  We knew that we had to keep our money working, working hard to acquire more and more assets.  Once our money acquired an asset, that money was soon reemployed to go out and get us another asset.  The strategy we used to keep our money moving and acquiring more and more assets is a strategy that almost everyone can use.  As promised, this book will list things that almost everyone could do to become rich."

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We love to hear from you - your thoughts, ideas, questions, insights.  Please send us an email at Russell@healthyperspective.com.

Until next time...

God bless you.
-Rev. Clarence Russell, Kimberly and Nicole
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