How to Feed and Brush Your Cat: Some Surprising Choices Are on the Menu for Tabby

There's many an article about how to care for your cat, but here you'll find a few specifics-and even extras-to take with you next time you feed and brush your beloved feline. She may be the owner of your home, but you still pay the mortgage and decide what food she will eat and how often she will get brushed.

My two cats loved cheese and barbeque potatoes chips. Yes, I am horrified too, but I blame my parents who started the tradition of weird cat snacks. They later upped it to boiled chicken breasts with the sister cats getting the best cuts. Again, horrified.

There are wonderful people-food meals that you can feed your cat, without tearing up their GI tracts. This information can be found in the ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual written by Andrew Edney, B.V.M. I was shocked at the meal choices and just couldn't wait to share it with other cat lovers.

These tasty dishes are meant to add variety, but most importantly, vitamins and minerals to what you are already feeding your cat from her regular cat food routine. Cats can eat almost any kind of meat if it is baked, grilled or boiled. Think beyond normal grocery choices of beef and tuna to lamb or pork. Cool the meat completely then chop it into small bits for bite-sized cat food fantasy. Top off your feline's plate with cooked carrots-yes, carrots-peas or other greens, just like we humans should be eating. Remember bright colors are better.

Minced beef is also okay for your cat and add a little . . . pasta! What else! If your cat doesn't fancy pasta (which I don't understand), then try cooked rice or potato cut into tiny pieces or mashed. Since these are all carbs, please go easy. A cat's waisteline can expand just like anyone else's. Why not top off her gormet feeding choices with a bit of a sprig of parsley and some milk. Water is best, but if that's just too boring after such a wonderful meal, milk should be used sparingly, as it may not agree with every cat. A few tablespoons a day should be the limit.

If your cat prefers to feed on poultry, then by all means let her feast on the leftovers, including skin and giblets. Remove all bones! That's common sense, but she may by begging badly and not want to wait. Be creative with fish and try salmon, cod or scrod. Yum.

If you prefer to start her off with less meat, try a scrambled egg, but not raw egg whites. Lightly scramble an egg and even try oatmeal with warm milk without any added sugar. Baby cereal may also be giving to kittens as they begin to eat solid foods.

This diet should not become a feeding frenzy, but is acceptable, according to the source, about once per week or less.

After tabby is happy and well-fed, then pull out a few brushing tools to make her purr with delight. You can literally start by brushing her teeth. It is best to start this at a very early age, so you might want to forgo the job if she is older. If you do decide to brush her teeth, do it weekly and get her accustomed to it by using a cotton swab with pet toothpaste on it for her to taste. Salt and water can also be used. Use a small and soft toothbrush and practice for a few weeks before becoming discouraged.

For fur brushing, your cat's coat type will determine what you use. Let's start with the Sphynx because there is no brushing. Simply wash the skin with a sponge. Grooming and brushing is pretty easy for shorthaired, Angora and curly-haired cats. The main thing is to check for fleas by looking for flea droppings. They will be small black specks. Be sure to brush the tail and check for any knotted fur on the abdomen and legs. Brushing daily will keep your kitty looking buff and priceless. You can also use a few drops of conditioner every few weeks to help remove grease. Rub the conditioner in with a cloth or buy a leather chamois. Remove dirt with a metal comb. Look for flea tracks this way too.

For brushing longhaired cats, use talcum powder to remove dirt and grease. The powder also helps when removing tangles from the fur. Just a little sprinkle will do. Tease knots out by hand or with a mat-splitter. You can find this brushing devise online or at pet supply stores for about $10. The ASPCA author suggests dividing the tail fur down the middle and brushing out each side. From experience, I have had to trim the fur at the cat's bottom to make sure fecal matter doesn't stick to it after using the litter box. Continual brushing is a great way to groom kitty and to bond with her emotionally. I once had a cat who loved brushing times so much that these became more important than breakfast. You can see her brief, though not blockbuster, debut at 7 Second Purr.

If you choose to bathe your cat after brushing, good luck. But use very little water, only about 4 inches. Test it for warmth and never put undiluted shampoo on your cat's fur. Mix it with water first then pour it over her. Rinse the same way with clear, warm water and have a towel ready to wrap her in. A cat can be soothed by your voice just as we can be soothed by their purr, so keep talking and be firm but gentle. Wipe around her eyes, ears and nose. If she doesn't mind, you can even use a hairdryer held at a distance while brushing her fur dry.

I hope you'll experiement with the help of your vet to give more nutritious feeding choices and a more enjoyable brushing experience to your cat. Have fun!