I attended a seminar about feline nutrition last week at the Orlando Cat Cafe.
The Orlando Cat Cafe partners with the South Lake Animal League to let visitors spend time with adoptable cats. When I visited last week, there were 16 adoptable cats in the cafe. Nine were under a year old. Central Florida is a part of the country where kitten season never ends, so our oversupply of kittens is probably why the average age of cats in the cafe is lower than I expected.
My previous visit to the Orlando Cat Cafe was in their opening week, and they had not approved any adoption applications at that point. They have made a lot of happy matches between cafe cats and humans since then! Being the closest cafe to Walt Disney World, vacationing visitors from other parts of the country have fallen in love with cats and adopted them while visiting on vacation.
Last week’s visit wasn’t just to visit the cats. It was also to listen to a seminar by Jodi Ziskin, the Healthy Pet Coach. She talked about biologically-appropriate nutrition for cats.
Some of what Jodi talked about wasn’t news to me. I understand that humans are omnivores and fuel ourselves with carbs while cats are carnivores and need protein a fuel. She explained how cats have no biological need for grains or the grain substitutes like chick peas that are being added to many cat foods.
She also discussed how kibble isn’t biologically appropriate, especially in terms of getting enough hydration into your cat. She mentioned canned food as an alternative to keep cats more hydrated.
I found it interesting that she said up front that she cooks for her cats. She says it takes about 20 minutes to make enough food for four days. Since that’s an avenue I have considered trying for picky Pierre, that caught my attention.
She admitted that premade, dehydrated food for cats that they would actually eat used to be impossible to find, which is an experience I had years ago. But she also said that has changed, and that people who don’t like to cook like me can feed cooked food that way at home. Watch out, Pierre!
Jodi talked about benefits of probiotics, and I learned that probiotics made for cats are actually stronger than the ones for humans, since a cat’s stomach is more acidic than ours. I knew about the cat’s stomach part, but I never thought about them needing different probioitics than humans as a result.
One of the tips Jodi gave us is something I learned a couple years ago from Ingrid King at the Conscious Cat: sprinkling nutritional yeast on a cat’s food is a great flavor enhancer. And it’s healthy for them, too, unlike some of the other things you might add to their food to try to get a reluctant cat to eat.
When Jodi talked about making cat food at home, she stressed that it didn’t have to be hard. She mentioned the raw food recipe I used and pointed out how intimidating it can be and went on to say that there are now premixes with all of the supplements and dried glandular tissue in them, so all you need to add is meat. I have wondered about these mixes but thought they sounded too good to be true. Hearing someone who consults on pet nutrition recommend them makes me want to take a second look.
Upcoming Talks at the Orlando Cat Cafe
Jodi’s lecture was informative, and packed with great information that anyone listening could put into use immediately.
If you’re disappointed you missed this talk, you can attend one of the upcoming events where Jodi is scheduled to return to the Orlando Cat Cafe to speak about some more interesting topics:
- March 21, 2017 – Proactive Healthcare for Cats
- May 18, 2017 – The Importance of Enrichment and Play
- July 20, 2017 – How to Avoid Common Behavioral Issues
- September 14, 2017 – Integrative Care vs. Conventional Care for Cats
- November 16, 2017 – Senior Cat Care
The Cat Cafe Cats
The cats currently at the Orlando Cat Cafe were especially lively during the seminar, occasionally upstaging Jodi while she spoke. As anyone who lives with cats knows, they are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in morning and evening twilight times. The cafe cats were no exception. They raced up and down cat trees and explored behind Jodi as she talked.
I was especially charmed by a petite young cat named YingYang who through some birth defect or incident has an asymmetrical face. Her nose and muzzle point a little bit to the right, making her look a little bit askew. But she was friendly and sociable, and I’m sure someone will fall in love with her and adopt her.
I’m looking forward to visiting the cat cafe again for more of Jodi’s seminars in the future. While I would love to be able to visit with some of the same cats, I’m really hoping that all of these kitties will be gone to loving homes before I have a chance to visit again, because every one of them deserves a family to love them.
Summer says
Wow, what an informative talk! And what an awesome place to have it. I’m still trying unsuccessfully to get my human on the cooking train for us kitties… but she barely cooks for herself!
The Florida Furkids says
Great info! Did she recommend any particular probiotic? We were getting some a while back but Ellie stopped eating her food when it was on it so we stopped.
Cool place too!
The Florida Furkids
The Island Cats says
What a interesting seminar! The mom has looked into cooking food for us and has found a premix that is supposed to be really good. But she’s still not sure about committing to doing it.
Kitty Cat Chronicles says
What a neat event! We are supposed to be getting a couple cat cafes in Atlanta, and though it is a bit of a hike from where we live, I plan on checking them out for sure! I wonder if they’ll have speakers like this. Very cool. Oh, and YingYang is absolutely adorable — love that face! Richmond stood out to me in the pictures on the board too… though I have a thing for tuxies ๐
Ingrid King says
Thank you for this great report! Jodi is such a great speaker and resource for cat parents!
And oh my goodness, the tortie kitten! So cute!
Jodi Ziskin says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am humbled by your kind review. And I am so excited you were there!!
I am so encouraged that more and more cat parents are dedicated to providing real food for their cats – that can mean raw, cooked, freeze-dried or dehydrated. Healthy, happy kitties!!
Thank mew,
Jodi
Random Felines says
what a great idea to have talks like that in a cat cafe setting….and what interesting ideas. we’ve read about the pre-mixes too
Brian says
That sounds like it was quite interesting and I know the cats always are special!
mommakatandherbearcat says
“Yeah, yeah … I went for the SEMINAR … I had NO IDEA there’d be cats there!!!” ~my excuse
da tabbies o trout towne says
guys…thanx two yur mom for sharin thiz post N what her lurned;
we apurreciate it !! N how awesum her getted two a tend thiz
ina cat cafe !!! we hope next time herz ther, de adoptshunz bored reeds: 151 adoptionz …how kewl wood that be ! best fishes two everee one on findin yur for everz ~~~~ โฅโฅโฅ
The Swiss Cats says
That sounds like a very interesting seminar ! When she has to hurry, or forgot to buy part of our meal, Claire sometimes uses premix with meat. Purrs
Connie says
I love her earrings ๐
and fyi.. there is this http://www.foodfurlife.com/samples.html
Cathy Keisha says
That sounded like a really informative talk. Like you we knew some things she said but learned some new things too.
Melissa & Mudpie says
What a fascinating talk at one of the happiest places on earth…a cat cafe! I didn’t know that about nutritional yeast…I’ll have to look into that!
Ellen Pilch says
All the cats are adorable. Great post, I learned a lot. I had no idea kitty probiotics were stronger than human ones .
William's Kith & Kin says
What a wonderful post, and such a great idea for a cat cafe, too! We’re glad it’s been so successful–our one cat cafe here in town unfortunately never gained a foothold and closed after about 8 months. We don’t think there were ever any neato speakers, though, which might have helped. ๐