Over the last decade, there has been a phenomenal leap in our knowledge regarding how eating well and using natural products wherever possible can protect and maintain our health—but what about that of our pets?
Many pet owners are unaware of the fact that commercial pet foods and pet care products are loaded with just as many—and in some cases, more—preservatives and chemicals as their human-intended counterparts. Adding to this, pets—especially cats—by nature spend more time exposed to environmental toxins than humans do (lying around on carpets and floors which have been cleaned with toxic products, and then grooming themselves, for example).
When you consider the above in combination with the ever-rising rates of feline cancer and other diseases, it becomes clear that our cat companions are just as in need of natural TLC as we are. Fortunately, some of the natural health products we use for ourselves also benefit felines immensely, with coconut oil in particular proving to be highly useful for cat care.
Coconut Oil in the Feline Diet
While cats are carnivores, they have been known to turn to plant matter to stock up on the nutrients their rather limited normal diet lacks; their strange enjoyment of grass and house plants, for example, is thought to be due to the folic acid content in grass, which cats require to create hemoglobin. As such, the idea of including a dash of coconut oil in your cat’s daily meal plan is not as odd as it may first appear.
Cats have been found to respond well to about a teaspoon of coconut oil per day, given at mealtimes. Coconut oil is high in vitamin E and MCTs (middle chain triglycerides), including lauric acid and oleic acid, which help to condition cats’ coats, improve their immune systems, aid their cardiovascular health, and reduce inflammation in their bodies. Cats in the wild consume a very large amount of saturated fat, so the high fat content in coconut oil helps to ensure they are getting enough “healthy” fats (compensating for the lack of them found in many commercial pet foots). If you are interested in trying to feed your cat some coconut oil, we suggest starting at a low dosage or smearing some on your finger and see if he/she licks it up.
Topical Coconut Oil Treatments
As coconut oil is an antiviral and antibacterial, it’s perfect for use when cleaning out your cat’s ears, as it protects against infections while also smothering any mites.
When bathing your cat, try using an all-natural shampoo with a few drops of coconut oil added to it—the coconut oil will help to condition your feline’s coat, while also soothing and deodorizing his or her skin.
Coconut oil is also a valuable grooming aid; if your cat has a long coat which tends to become matted, try working some coconut oil into the knots in his or her coat, then let it sit for a little while. You’ll find the knots become much easier to work through, making grooming time much easier on both you and your cat. Likewise, brushing with coconut oil can help to ward off fleas.
The above are some of the reasons why we include coconut oil as the main ingredient in our 100% organic cat spray mist. We use only food-grade coconut oil because we would never compromise on our cat and your cat’s well-being. It’s completely safe and non-toxic, and if your cats take well to it, you’ll wind up saving money over the long term on expensive mite and flea treatments, grooming aids, and possibly even vet bills.
We’ll share more about our cat spray mist in our next post. Stay tune!
An overview on coconut oil for pets. Credit: coconut-oil-tips.com
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