So true about the cats. We know that one of the reasons they have bladder problems is their reluctance to drink water. Felines are meant to get most of their moisture from their prey's innards — at least folks should make sure to make nearly a soup out of whatever they ARE fed. Another reason older cats get so sick, my vet told me, is that their teeth become deteriorated from bad diet (genetics?) & harbor the same nasty anaerobic (don't need oxygen) bacteria that plague humans.

It has been a trial to actually get my older female to eat raw foods. She's better now that I've just received frozen some raw, organic pastured poultry cat food patties from Tropical Traditions to which I add cod liver oil and a tsp. of fermented milk.

Might you suggest, Anna, what I could try for her chronic sinus infection? Of course, I diffuse essential oils, but that just keeps her breathing. I'm told that it's really difficult, if not impossible, to 'get' to the source of the problem because the sinus cavity is so small and often misshapen especially in pure bred cats.
I have tried 2 course of antibiotics which, as advertised, take care of it beautifully — for awhile!

I'm reminded of the Pottenger study on cat health & longevity that inspired Weston Price early last century to investigate human dentition. I probably have a 6th or 7th generation of poorly nourished inbred feline exhibiting traits he discovered in research to occur as result of poor nutrition.

I looked up "obligate" for our readers:

Obligate: Biology. Able to exist or survive only in a particular environment or by assuming a particular role. ~Answers.com

How are you getting the raw bone into his food in such a way that he can eat it?

When I switched my cats from a premium canned cat food (cooked) to a balanced homemade raw meat and bones diet, the older cat, who had been in declining health for many years and whose lab blood tests indicated Chronic Renal Failure, within a week, began to run around like a much younger cat, had much nicer fur, and improved overall in every way. Within two months his blood tests showed no sign of Chronic Renal Failure, and two years later his tests are still negative. If he goes back on canned food for even two days, he starts hobbling down the stairs. A day back on the raw food has him moving much easier. i think his system is damaged from years of eating dry cat kibble (meat flavored cereal), which even a good canned food could not fix. He should have been on a species appropriate diet all along, but I just didn't connect the vet recommended foods with his ailments.

Just like my cats, cows need to eat as nature intended. Obligate carnivores need not only raw meat, but raw bone and moisture in a proper balance in their food, to mimic as close to their natural prey as possible, not cereal manufactured with surplus grain and animal waste products. Cows, being herbivores, need grass, and have little need for grain, which they would never eat in large quanities in nature. Nor will they remain healthy if fed a lot of waste products from the food manufacturing system or factory farming agricultural system.

"when confinement cattle are switched from a diet of grain to one of hay for only five days, 0157:H7 declines a THOUSAND-FOLD".

Pretty incredible animal, the cow. They can fix themselves in less than a week on the right food. Even humans can see an astonishing difference in just one week of eating nutrient-dense organic meals; somebody must have measured the percentages in some study somewhere.

Thanks for posting this.