Spring is here! Perhaps you're thinking of planting some flowers or buying a few houseplants to brighten up your home. It's important to remember that some flora and fauna can be toxic to our furry friends. The ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center says to look out for these:

It's great to see so many people interested in raw feeding. It is a big change in the way some think about what is "good" for our babies. It is vital that it be done responsibly. If it isn't, it can be as detrimental as feeding a poor-quality commercial diet. It will require a higher level of committment - not simply opening a can or leaving dry kibble out. And I have found the results in my own cats to be well worth the effort.

It is also important to understand that there is not just a single right way to do this. Many people feed a good "natural" kibble in conjunction with the raw meat. There are some good commercial foods out there. I chose to eliminate all dry food for some specific health reasons with some of my cats. However, many cats have lived long, healthy lives on diets of just kibble.

The decision to feed only raw/natural is only the first choice. You then have to decide if you want to buy pre-made frozen diets (this may not be a bad option for those feeding only one or two cats). These diets are already done, and all the guesswork has been eliminated.

If you choose to make your own meals, then the research really begins. It can be quite confusing when reading all of the information. Much of it contradicts itself. When I finally started, I joined an e-mail list (Rawcats on Yahoo! Groups). I was right that there is more than one right way to feed this method. What works well for one cat may be awful for another.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Variety is important. Rotate the meats and veggies. Some people use grains; other people use no grains.
• Keep it simple and use common sense. Think about what a cat would naturally eat. If they were hunting and killed a small bird or rodent, they would eat probably the whole animal... or at least most of it. Try to replicate this as much as possible.
• Don't get caught up in little details. If you are following a recipe and cannot find one of the supplemental ingredients, then subsititute. If you are rotating meats and veggies and using organ meat and bones/calcium, then things will probably balance out. The diet does need to be balanced and complete. However, with some of the oils and other supplments, things could be substituted.

There are some risks, and care does need to be taken in handling the food and preparation. It is important that the pieces of meat (if not ground) are of managable size for the cat to eat without choking on them. (Though cats can and do choke on dry kibble as well.) Be sure to educate yourself on how to handle and prepare the food safely.

In the end, just do as much research as you can. Then go with what seems to make sense to you.