- When cats are adopted from the shelter; we encourage people to include canned food in their feline’s diet. Cats are carnivores requiring a meat-based diet for optimal health. Cats also have a low thirst drive and need to consume water “with” their food.
- Cats lack the metabolic pathway that humans and dogs use for processing carbohydrates. Cats can digest and utilize a small amount of carbs. The excess many times turns into body fat. Over half of the cats in the United States are overweight or obese which is contributing to a rising rate of feline diabetes.
- Another prominent feature of a cat’s natural diet is a high water content. Dry cat food is only 5-10% water. Studies have shown that cats on canned food consume double the amount of water when compared to cats eating only dry food. This chronic dehydration may be a factor in kidney disease and is a major contributor to bladder disease(crystals, stones, FUS, FLUTD, cystitis).
- Canned foods are higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than dry food. Their high water content increases the cat’s overall fluid intake which helps to keep the kidney and bladder healthy. We should feed our cats a variety of foods. With canned food, it is easy to vary the brands and flavors.
- Many cats do not like still or standing water. As a result, they may dislike drinking from a cat bowl or dish. Most felines prefer moving water from a cat water fountain or faucet. Water makes up about 60 percent of your cat’s body so it is vital to maintain proper hydration through adequate water intake. Another way to improve a feline’s water intake is by feeding wet cat food.
- Dry food is a great convenience but at least 50% of the diet should be a high-protein, high-moisture, low-carb diet such as canned food. Diet is the foundation for optimal health for any living being including our feline companions.
Prince Harry of East Brookfield
Felines in any shade of orange are always popular with cat lovers so we were surprised to find this sweet creamsicle colored boy homeless and unclaimed. He was a pathetic soul upon intake at the PAL. Thin, loaded with fleas and ticks, and really stinky. His first stop was the vet for a bath and exam followed by vaccinations and neutering. His transformation during his stay at PAL while healing both inside and out was spectacular! Harry’s personality and his physical appearance blossomed at we discovered that he was compatible with the other cats and LOVED to play with any and all toys. Typical of most orange boys, he was friendly with everyone who visited the shelter. A lovely family from East Brookfield came to meet him and it was a perfect match! They sent us this picture of Harry, known very affectionately now as Prince Harry of East Brookfield. From stray to feline prince, he is the crème de la crème as cats go and dearly loved by his family who reports that he has brought much happiness, and a little royal mischief into their home.
If you interested in adopting one of our cats or kittens; you must complete an Adoption Application on our website. One of our volunteers will contact you only after we receive your application.
*Cats and kittens are shown by appointment only!*
Two of Many Wonderful 2022 Adoptions
PAL has always stayed true to our mission to find the cats in our care the best homes where they can be loved and doted upon. This means that our shelter does not focus on statistics but instead strives to find the best possible match for each cat based on their unique personalities. We want to share the stories of “Turbo” and “Princes Harry of East Brookfield” who were two of the many cats adopted in 2022.
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Turbo
Turbo, as in turbocharged! This handsome Russian Blue cat was found wandering around outside and homeless. PAL named him Turbo because of his energy level, athleticism, and exuberance! Turbo was super friendly and affectionate, but could get overstimulated with too much petting and bite so we knew he would need a very cat savvy home! Lucky for Turbo, PAL found the purr-fect adopters for him and he is living his best life with a family who understands his need to expend energy and play with lots of interactive toys. They have even harness trained him so they can walk him safely outside and he absolutely loves it! We are so pleased to share these pictures of him in his forever home and we thank Turbo’s family for their patience and understanding. He is now an incredibly handsome and happy boy. His family told us in a recent email that “He gets better and better every day…. Always wants to be around someone and always wants to play.”
The Essence of Compassion
Cats Benefit from Wet food in Their Diet
“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and strong…because sometime in your life you will have been all of these.”