Majestic Maine C***s to fill your soul and warm your heart. GCCFV registered.
Stage 4 complete, thanks CatWorks Enclosures & Supplies for building the netted enclosure around my pod, incredible job don’t by your team…. Next is floors, gardens, electrician, then furnishing…
The king and queen had a little play in the kings palace and both approve.
STAGE 4 starts today - this is possibly the most exciting part… well apart from the end result.
Some days you just want to stick your head in the sand… or Mammas arm
When you’re in bed sick with tonsillitis and this boy believes I need my throat kept warm, on my face too apparently.
Super excited to have this finally arrive. Now I just need to find space for it.
For those that don’t know, it’s a drying box for my cats…
This boy just can’t help himself, he always finds someone to sleep with. Maya (in the foreground) is the matriarch of the house, she likes her space but has even taken to Zeus.
Don’t you just love the head curl
You’ve heard of disability assistant dogs yeah, well this beautiful boy Archie-bold is the same, only he’s a cat. His owner fiona has extreme spasms in her next and jaw, this affects her ability to walk unaided and obviously affects her whole life. Please pop over to her page and vote for Archie to help fiona and Archie win a much needed new bigger pet pram. This will help them get to their appointments while being able to carry everything they both need to attend appointments via public transport. You can vote again in 24 hours too.
While your on Archie’s page check out some of their reels, he is such an incredible cat and is such a tremendous support for Fiona x
Please vote every 24 hours if you can ♥️
We are running second place in our category, if you can please vote that would be wonderful. You can also vote every 24 hours. 126 votes behind first place.
Recently Archie and I as an Assistance Animal Team have trained on "Sensory Tricks" this temporarily alleviates the tremors and spasm in my head, neck, jaw and chest. When attending appointments it makes it easier to talk.
I need Archie and a mobility aid, the new stroller will accommodate Archie's size as a Maine C**n, his litter tray, food and water. Plus shopping when we go to the shops.
Please vote for us to win a new Ibiyaya Stroller. Our current one was second hand, rusty and already needing spare parts replaced.
Thank you 😍
https://ibiyaya-usa.com/ibiyaya21/?cid=32982&cac=submission&ctx=page&cm=1&sid=34927&mibextid=NOb6eG -contest-32982
Batch day - 35kg of Balanced Raw made up. 5kg of Kitten Raw Meow Mix.
NO CATS ALLOWED ON THE BENCH - They missed that memo… Maya 4yo Zeus 4 Months (almost 5 months).
STAGE 3…. And we have two enclosures plus a little storage room. Next week we will have Catworks out to do the framework and netting so they have outdoor space as well.
Big things happening here today - just a little bit excited 😃
Mischievous Zeus got himself into a spot of trolley
We not only love Maine C***s at Soulheart, Luna is our very much adored snuggle bunny
TRANSPARENCY
One thing I promised myself and others is that I will be transparent as a breeder. Others breeders and people already judge me, and will continue to do so no matter what I do. I learnt early on that this breeding and show industry is full of judgement and sometimes nasty people. So I will remain true to myself, my village and to those that respect me and follow my journey as a new breeder.
SHOW DAY DEVASTATION
Today my beautiful Tully got vetted out of the show we were suppose to attend. This means she did not pass the vet check before entering the show hall. The vet was concerned Tully may be unwell. In this case the vet was suspecting conjunctivitis, but was very unsure, she ummmed and ahhhed for some time. Tullys upper inner eyelid appeared slightly inflamed. The vet asked several questions all of the answered were “No she has been totally fine, if anything she is better than ever, she’s eating heaps and full of playful energy”. Then she asked if the car heater was on and of course it was, as it was 4 degrees when I left home. Tully was next to the heater vent, the vet Ummmed and Ahhhed as to if that could be all it is, as there are no other signs of anything. No watery eyes, no discharge from the eyes or nose and she appeared well otherwise. However she was vetted out of the show as a precaution, which means Zeus has to be as well as they live and travelled together.
Checking her eyes when I got home, the eyes now look 100% normal, there is no inflammation, redness or any sign of what the vet showed me this morning. As devastated as I am, I do love that they are so thorough.
THE PERSONAL S**T
The mountains I moved to make this weekend work!!
What absolute broke me is, I wasn’t even allowed in the show hall to attend as a public attendee, but anyone from off the street could walk in. What I put in to get to this show. I wasn’t going to enter, but several contributing factors had me decide to enter. I was suppose to be away for the weekend in Geelong almost (2hrs away) for my son’s Karate tournament. I had no one to look after my two foster daughters and hubby is legally blind so can’t drive to either Geelong or the cat show.
I decide instead of Hubby staying home with the girls while I go to Geelong for the weekend, I’d arrange the girls to go to another carers place. I drove my son and Hubby to Geelong yesterday, stayed until after dinner last night, then drove home to get ready for the show today while they stayed in Geelong. Drove to the show, vetted out, drove home and then drove back to support other breeders and absorb all I can from the judging only to find out I’m not even allowed to enter the show hall as a public guest.
So devastated but many lessons learnt today.
These two melt my heart
1 of 4 new show curtains have arrived. Let’s unpack them… I have no idea what colour this packet will be, take a guess before you watch it!
Navy, Silver or White?
Sorry if you get dizzy with my incredibly talented video skills.
Finally ordered my names for our bowls and how good do they look? No more having to grab a cat and stick it head in to see if their microchip opens it. Thanks .pony for making my labels, not just wedding and party signs.
This was written by Laura, an incredible human being who is very passionate and knowledgeable when it comes to Raw Feeding. She is the creator and owner of RMM (raw meow mix) but supports all balanced raw feeding. head to their FB page to find the files referenced in this article.
RAW FEEDING BASICS
There are some basic “rules” that apply to feeding raw properly
If you want to feed raw, you must do it right, or you will be risking nutrient deficiencies or worse
We have compiled a list of the most basic DO’s And DON’T’s of raw feeding for quick referral
This is not a guide to raw feeding. For that please refer to our pinned posts
· Liver is not optional. Liver is an essential part of raw feeding and must be fed at minimum of 5% to maximum of 10% of a raw diet for cats.
· Calcium is not optional. This must be provided either by bone or a calcium replacement. This can be bonemeal, calcium carbonate or eggshell.
· Note that the products on our recommended list already contain the liver and calcium portions, including RMM. Always check labels when feeding a raw diet or choosing from products not on our list. Too often we find products being sold lacking either one or the other of these two essential ingredients, and many products are based on an 80-10-10 model which is lacking in so many nutrients. If in doubt ask us
· Eggs are an important addition to the raw diet. Eggs provide choline, but more than that they provide many nutrients and good fats, they are complete superfood. Eggs can also help with constipation, loosening stool, and assist with hairball prevention. The lecithin in egg yolks are a fat emulsifier that breaks down the fat holding together the clumps of hair in your cats belly, allowing them to be passed in the p**p, avoiding hairball vomits. Additional egg yolk can be fed for these purposes, we recommend a quarter egg yolk per day when required or use the Raw Meow Egg Yolk powder as directed. Never feed egg whites on their own. (RMM already contains the egg yolk) If not listed in ingredients on the products you feed, please confirm with manufacturer
· Plain meat is not a balanced diet. Feeding just plain proteins creates immense nutrient deficiencies and cause health issues in adult cats and paralysis and death in kittens
· Supermarket raw products are not a good option. The raw pet food products you find in supermarket fridges are not balanced, but worse than that they contain preservatives that can cause neurological damage in cats. Too many breeders recommend these products. These are products you should avoid at all costs. Preservatives in any meat product should be avoided. Example would be Fussy Cat raw
· Vitamin supplements are not optional. Balancing a raw diet for cats is impossible to do without the addition of a vitamin/mineral supplement. Many products claim to do this with plant-based food ingredients. Although these ingredients do contain the properties they claim they do, they are generally not bio-available to the obligate carnivore cat. This means they are not absorbed or utilized properly by cats. (RMM already contains the supplements. If not listed in ingredients on the products you feed, please confirm with manufacturer. You may want to request a nutritional analysis to ensure the product meets minimum standards set by AAFCO or NRC)
· Transition takes time. It can happen in a day or it can take months. Be persistent and patient and follow the steps we have laid out. These work regardless of the raw options you are using.
· Remove the kibble from the house. Once you start the transition and your cat is eating a wet option, get that kibble out of the house. Put it in the garage or the boot fo your car, then once transitioned, throw it out or donate it.
· Kibble will not balance a diet. Feeding a plain meat diet, and assuming kibble will balance it all out is incorrect. Kibble is a balanced “food” on it’s own, it cannot balance anything else. If you are mixing feeding, all options must be balanced
· Feeding kibble and raw is not ideal. Apart from the fact that kibble is a carb filled, awful and low protein filled, moisture void food option, it also requires an alkaline digestive tract to process it. Raw diets require an acidic digestion to break it down. Feeding both will cause digestive distress. Do your cat a favour and ditch the kibble
· Raw fed cat drink and p**p differently. Raw fed cats are getting the majority of their moisture from their diets. Raw meat is approx. 70% water. Your cat may drink very little or no water at all once they are raw fed. This is normal. Raw fed cats also p**p way less than kibble fed cats. This is because they are using most of their diet and there is very little waste. 2-3 days without a p**p is normal.
· Raw meals should not be kept in the fridge longer than 2-3 days. Treat raw cat food like you would raw meat for yourself. Raw meat is safe in the fridge for up to 3 days. Portion your meal accordingly
· All meat should be frozen prior to freezing. Freezing kills parasites that cause toxoplasmosis. Freezing is not optional. You can freeze, defrost, batch then refreeze as long as this is done safety and quickly and always only in the fridge. Or you can batch, portion then freeze. 3 days for all meats, 3 weeks for wild caught meat.
· Kittens must be fed kitten appropriate diets. If feeding a commercial option check it is ALL LIFE STAGES or suitable for kittens. Kittens require more phosphorus and calcium than adults for growth
· Fat is not the enemy. Cats need fat. They have a requirement for 10% fat in their diet so if making your own food with RMM do not over-trim the fat. Raw fat is preferred but rendered duck fat is also acceptable. If reading labels in dry matter basis then the number is 30%DMB
· Fish is not appropriate. Cats are land animal eaters. Fish is not an appropriate protein for them. The only fish cats should be offered are small oil fish that can provide essential omega 3. Sardines and green lipped mussel are great. Cooked is better (canned sardines) and if feeding raw then limit to one sardine per week. Raw sardines contain thiaminase that can deplete the cats body of thiamine, hence the limit. An occasion piece of cooked fish as a treat or a little tuna as a tiny occasional treat will not cause harm but do not feed fish as a staple to your cats diet
· Cooked meat can be added to RMM. Though raw is always the best option, you can use Raw Meow Mix with cooked meats. If adding RMM to cooked meats you need to do the following
1. Weigh the meat raw to calculate the amount of RMM powder required based on RAW weight
2. Lightly poach the meat in a little water
3. Let cool
4. Use the cooking water, which is full of nutrients from the meat, to mix the powder
5. Add the meat and RMM sauce together, you can add more water or bone broth if required
6. You can do this in the morning, cooking and mixing the amount of food required for the day, putting it in the fridge to scoop and serve from there
7. You may also cook and freeze, though it would be better done daily, or for 2 days worth, at a time
· Canned and raw is fine. Though raw is the best option, we always find that feeding canned products in rotation with your raw is also great. ARFC recommend Ziwi and Feline Natural canned products as the preferred options.
· Freeze dried meals should always be rehydrated. Freeze dried meals, though an excellent choice, must be rehydrated. One of the most important aspects of raw feeding is feeding a moisture rich diet. Freeze dried food is very dry is offered on its own and can cause the same dehydration issues as kibble sf fed this way. Always rehydrate any freeze dried meals you feed with either water or bone broth
· Treats should only make up 10% of total daily intake. Keep in mind that freeze dried treats weigh one quarter of fresh weight
· Cats do not need milk. Cats are generally lactose intolerant and do not need milk once weaned. Kitten milk is even worse as it is a chemical concoction. Offer fresh water bowls changed daily and if you want to you can offer an occasion small bowl of bone broth
· Feed multiple small meals. Cats in the wild eat many small catches of prey. We recommend you mimic this when feeding and offer 3-6 small meals a day. You can do this around your own schedule.
· Cat’s digestive system is very acidic. Over 100 times as acidic as ours in fact. This means it is safe for them to eat raw meat. Even raw meat that has sat out of the fridge a couple of hours. Although it is preferred that the food is eaten quickly once offered, some cats come and go and finish their meals over a couple hours. If your are feeding indoors in a climate controlled, insect free environment then I would not stress about doping this. I have heard my cats finishing last night’s meal in the early hours of the morning. Do not do this on purpose but don’t panic if this does occur.
· Feed their raw food at mouse temperature. Cats can regurgitate their food if it is too cold. We recommend you warm it slight bain-marie style over hot water, or dish it up and leave to sit till it reaches room temp, before serving, to avoid regurgitation.
· Eating too fast can cause vomits. Meals too cold and eating too fast are the two reason a cat will vomit soon after eating. Warming the food as above and serving smaller meals or using a lickimat or bowl can help slow them down and help avoid post meal regurgitation. This is not a medical issue and does not generally require a vet visit.
· Feed a wide variety. Different cuts of meat have different nutrient profiles so be sure to feed a wide variety of proteins if feeding with RMM and a wide variety of options when feeding a commercial option.
· Probiotics are very beneficial.Adding probiotics to your cats diet can be extremely beneficial on many levels. Gut health is the source of everything and affects all functions of our bodies. Vaccines and medications can deplete the health of the gut and adding a good probiotic, that creates new gut bacteria, and prebiotics that feed the gut bacteria can help keep your cat healthy.
And finally… reach out, head to Australian Raw Fed Cats fb page. We have created this community for you. Use its resources wisely. Use the search function, ask questions, post as often as you need. We are here to help you.
Man I’m tryna sleep here… I said no photos….
Zeus helping on Batch day - this means I make anywhere from 10kg to 20kg of raw cat and/or dog food. Yesterday was DIY dog food and Raw Meow Mix cat food. During the week I’ll need to make a 10kg batch of DIY cat food to top up and some more DIY dog food. Today all of the cats went crazy smelling the RMM powder. Zeus would leave me alone for a second, making sure quality control was 5 star.
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1 of 4 new show curtains have arrived. Let’s unpack them… I have no idea what colour this packet will be, take a guess before you watch it! Navy, Silver or White? Sorry if you get dizzy with my incredibly talented video skills. #blingitcatshowcurtains @blingitcatshowcurtains
No shame
No treat? No video… #mainecoonsofinstagram #soulheartmainecoons #treatplease #naughtytortie
Tully (Rapscallion Tallulah Rose) #mainecoonkitten #mainecoonlovers #queen #soulheartmainecoons
Tully 🥰
Making friends, Tully and Luna #bondingtime #soulheartmainecoons #rapscalliontallulahrose #mainecoonkitten
Introducing Rapscallion Tallulah Rose (aka Miss Tully). What a little delight she has been. Since the minute we picked her up from the airport she hasn’t stopped purring. Our first breeding Queen. Trusting her hip and heart test results are great. #mainecoon #mainecoonkitten #mainecoonkittenofinstagram #rapscalliontallulahrose #tully #queen #soulheartmainecoons
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