Maggie & Cat-tip-of-the-day

When I was a child I looked forward every summer to spending 10 days at my grandmother's farm in Manotick, Ontario. She lived in a modest little farmhouse with large gardens, 2 hen houses and a big old barn. She did not raise cattle but lent out her pasture to the neighbours. She loved her chickens and her cats.
Maggie was the one cat I remember most. She was a little brown tabby who spent hours sitting on my grandmother's lap in front of the wood-stove or in the summer kitchen cooling off. She would always garden with my grandmother...running around and hiding on her in the grass. I remember other cats but she always stood out in my mind.

(from web)

Back in those days (40 some odd years back) cats were never spayed if they were farm cats so Maggie had many litters of kittens. My grandmother would find good homes for them and many went to friends and family members but today she would be considered an irresponsible cat owner for allowing too many births. I never thought much about it at the time. Always so happy to see the kittens and spoil them all I wanted. They were kept on the second floor of the house in a special box until they were grown enough to join us downstairs.

My grandmother never bought cat food. These cats ate from her kitchen.

 I remember so well preparing their granite dishes with meat, vegetable, bread, gravy and maybe a little milk. Then off I'd go with this gourmet dinner to the front shed of the house or the porch and feed the family. They were healthy cats and Maggie lived to be a ripe old age.

                                 

 I suppose this is why I started cooking for my dog, Kane right away when we adopted him from a shelter and have always cut up meat and veggies for our cats to add to their cat-food. It's real food and why would it not be better for them? Our dog and cats have had healthy lives and many live into their 20's.
I think it is just common-sense to feed what we would eat. It has always made sense to me and my vet doesn't object.

I named one of my cats after the lovely Maggie. She was my soul-soother and she loved when I would dance around the kitchen with her. She lived 18 years with me and I miss her everyday.

   Maggie  1992 - 2010

I have a cat-tip of the day for you.

I have been over to visit the kittens again  which reminded me that there is something very important you must know if you have just adopted one. Kittens start to use the litter-box at about 4 weeks of age. It is all the rage now to use clumping litter for a cat but you must never use clumping litter with kittens. Use the regular litter that can be bought in any pet-store. Clumping litter has clay in it and kittens tend to play in and digest some of the litter when you are not there to supervise. Clumping litter, once in their stomach, turns into cement. PLEASE NEVER USE THIS TYPE OF LITTER WITH KITTENS. It can be fatal.

Still enjoying strawberry short-cake after dinner. I think it is time to go walk it off.

hugs, Deb