Spinach, Cats, and Dinner Plates

Too much spinach isn't good for cats with urinary tract problems, but Sissy Emma Woodhouse doesn't care for it anyway. Nor does she crave any other "people" food. She's being a good sport about eating her new Rx diet (In fact she loves it.) and also about sharing her plate with Belle (Belle loves it, too, and also needs it.)

Belle often also begs for a nibble of bacon when she smells it cooking. Everyone else backs away after the cursory first bite.

Coats are thick and shiny. The whole lot of them have been on a partial hard food diet of Rx urinary health kibbles and a grain-free highly rated wet food — which has a limited amount of veggies included — for several months now. Hence their spinach craving, as I had always added cooked veggies to their food.

Em, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and Lennie all consider dry food something to snack on when dinner is late or they're needing a treat. They seldom eat more than a few bites — in this case, a good thing. While the prescribed food won't harm them, and is actually good for them, it isn't their prescription so it doesn't matter.

I had heard and read how difficult it can be to change kitties' diets whether in a multiple-cat household or a single pet's bowl. I'm considering that we are "too lucky for words" that the Fab Five like what they need and eat what they like while leaving the rest to the others. I'm going to try Em and Jackie on some kale this week and see if it will satisfy their cravings as a substitute for so much spinach.

The wet food is the same that Belle ate before the others moved in, so she is in heaven. The manufacturer has improved it and upgraded it to grain free. Just for her, Belle believes.

She now leaves her own plate unattended and is sharing with Dr. Jack. This morning, I made the change. Unbelievably, we are down to two kibble bowls and three shared banquet plates and everybody is happy! Happy! They have learned that there's plenty of food to go around and if they need more all they have to do is put nose to pantry door and say, "Meow."

Since the new meal plans have been so successful and everyone seems truly satisfied, I've begun to introduce cat-safe plants back into the house. A few are too high up to get the Five's attention. The old Christmas cactus (now too large to summer under the rose bushes) and her three new offspring are within reach but haven't been the source for much inspection. Would you want to nosh on cacti when you can have a helping of spinach or a pinch of banana?

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-safe-greens-vegetables