Sandy Arora had no idea that the Holisticats e-mail list would eventually have 1,200 members when she started it ten years ago. To this day, new people sign up for the list every single day.
When Arora was treating her black Persian, Booey, for chronic renal failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, she learned a lot that she wanted to share with other people, so she founded Holisticats. Arora used holistic modalities and nutrition to care for Booey, going above and beyond what is typically done in conventional veterinary care. These practices have become synonymous with holistic veterinarians, known as holisticats. As the “list mom,” she has assisted a great number of cat owners in their search for a method that is more kind and considerate toward their feline companions.
Arora has taken her years of experience and compiled it into a book called “Whole Health for Happy Cats.” If one of your goals for the New Year is to learn more about how to improve the health of your cat, then adding this book to your collection is an absolute necessity. Even better, pick up a copy as a belated Christmas present for all of your pals who are crazy about cats.
The book is broken up into two parts: the first is about prevention, and the second is about wellness. Without coming across as preachy to her audience, Arora conveys to those who adore cats the message that the holistic approach is the more effective one. She provides information on fundamental aspects of cat care, such as the selection of a litter box and litter, as well as grooming and “necessities.” However, she also sells the Happy Cat Natural Medicine Kit, which is loaded with natural herbs and remedies and includes instructions on how to use them.
The chapters written by Arora on nutrition will make you want to flee as quickly as possible from the sections of the supermarket devoted to pet food and head straight for the kitchen. Raw food is something that a lot of people willingly feed their dogs in this day and age, but when it comes to their cats, they won’t even consider it unless there’s an issue with their cat’s health. Arora makes it possible by including basic recipes with instructions that are clear and simple to follow, as well as recipes that cater to specific medical conditions, such as chronic renal failure. She also provides information on how to choose a good commercial food for your cat, acknowledging that a raw diet is not for everyone who adores cats.
In the section on Wellness, various holistic modalities, such as homeopathy, herbs, flower essences, and others, are discussed, along with how they can be applied to various health issues that you might experience. Additionally, guardians are encouraged to take an active role in the care of their cats.
In addition, Arora hopes that owners will cultivate healthy working relationships with their veterinary teams. She guides them through the more complex aspects of veterinary care, such as interpreting the results of a urinalysis and blood work, as they learn the ropes.
Interspersed throughout are fundamentals, such as how to administer a pill to your cat, as well as issues that require immediate attention from a veterinarian. She also includes a comprehensive section on the behavior of cats, along with helpful hints for understanding and resolving issues.
Finally, Arora includes an appendix of infectious diseases as well as a comprehensive list of resources for the information that was cited, foods that are recommended, and locations where one can obtain herbs, homeopathics, flower remedies, hydrosols, and other such remedies.
If you believe that such weighty, important information is presented in an uninteresting, textbook-style format, you are mistaken. It’s a pleasure to get lost in “Whole Health for Happy Cats.” Important information is brought to the reader’s attention through the use of call-outs, sidebars, chapter headings, and subheads. The stunning photographs of cats that are presented in four colors throughout the book are the icing on the cake.
Visit the website www.holisticat.com to place an order for the book; the price is just $20.99 (which includes shipping), making it an excellent investment in the health and well-being of your cat.