Q: I would like to start cooking for my cats so that I can discontinue the use of packaged foods that are full of preservatives. Do you have any suggestions?

-Jamie Specht, Chicago, Illinois

A: Traditionally, cats didn’t live as long as they do now. This extension of lifespan is attributed to a combination of veterinary care and most importantly, to the increased understanding of the nutritional requirements of cats. Today we understand the importance of not only the major nutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) but of more than 150 vitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc. To provide a homemade diet to meet all these requirements of nutrients would indeed be an insurmountable challenge. In the past, there was a need for homemade diets designed for specific health problems. Now due to the increased scientific knowledge, these diets have become almost obsolete, and have been replaced by commercially available prescription diets. –Frank L Koch, Exec. V.P. Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc. Pacoima, California


A: As a practicing veterinarian with a special interest in nutrition, I can tell you that it’s very important for the vast majority of pet [guardians] to rely on their veterinarian for a specific recommendation of what to put in their pet’s food bowl. It’s difficult, nearly impossible to weed through the tantalizing ads and competing pet food claims to know what’s best for your unique pet with his breed, age, life stage, lifestyle, expected health risks, etc. The talk about the dangers of feeding commercial pet foods with their preservatives and processing is alarmism and not substantiated by studies. A much greater risk is feeding too much food (obesity) or feeding a homemade food that is lacking in certain key ingredients as to cause harm. -Dr. Marty Becker, DVM Bonners Ferry, Idaho

A: In general, I do not recommend cooking for cats for several reasons. First, taste, texture, and smell can influence whether a cat will eat a specific food. Second, cats have very specific nutritional requirements. Cats are “obligate” carnivores. They cannot utilize plant proteins to form many of their essential amino acids—they must come pre-made, preferably from meat. Cats require higher levels of certain amino acids and vitamins. Manufactured pet foods must meet nutritional guidelines that satisfy these requirements. Many manufacturers now use “natural” preservatives, such as Vitamin E (tocopherols), Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and even rosemary. Ask your veterinarian for advice on choosing a diet for your cat—whether purchased or homemade—to make sure it meets your cat’s nutritional needs. -Dr. Myra Jones, DVM Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: When I give my small dog a new toy, she takes it into another room, licks it, and cries for about a day. Do you know why she does this?

-Henry Cho, Fairfax, Virginia

A: If your female dog is not neutered, her natural nurturing instincts may be expressed as the habit of hiding away with her special toy and caring for it. Some breeds of dogs, Terriers for example, are instinctively protective of food and other valued objects. This trait may be expressed as the habit of hiding toys, guarding them, and making sure they are clean. Some dogs are predisposed to compulsive-type behavior. Some compulsive activities can be triggered by anxiety or stress. In your dog’s case, although the new toy appears to cause your dog to be happy, her desire to keep the toy for herself may trigger some minor compulsive behavior. If your dog has been behaving this way since you acquired her, she most likely is expressing her own individuality, rooted in instinct and triggered by the excitement of a new possession. - Julie A. Hass DVM, MS Milford, Michigan

A: Taking the toy into the other room and licking it is quite simply a fairly normal way of protecting and marking this valuable new object. As pack leader, it is up to you to decide how much object guarding or protecting you are willing to accept. The toy also has some interesting new tastes and smells that your dog is exploring. The crying is a more unique response. Assuming the toy is not physically injuring the dog, my first thought would be that the cry is a protective whimper. I would be alert for other signs of object guarding behavior. - Jeff Line, Canine Think Tank, LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana

A: Without knowing the age or litter details of this dog there could be a variety of reasons. She may have had a litter that she still wants to mother. She may have a very instinctual need to mother. She may just have a very high reaction to novelty of the new toy. If the toy is fluffy, she may be considering it to be a surrogate baby. A very popular dog trainer once wrote, “It’s not always an issue of why a dog behaves a certain way, what matters now is how we deal with it.” If the dog is showing no resource guarding when in the other room with her new toy and her behavior isn’t hurting anyone, this may not be anything but interesting. If she is guarding the toy, then this behavior needs to be managed—positively of course. - Laura Dorfman, Kona’s Touch Dog and Puppy Training, Glencoe, Illinois