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 INTRODUCTION: 
Since the cattery was established in 1979, raw and natural
foods appeared on our feline menu. We put great emphasis
on raising our Maine Coons as naturally intended without the
addition of harmful, man-made chemicals or pesticides.
As a direct result of our conscientious care, plus the high
genetic standards maintained in our selective breeding
program, the kittens presently born in our Cattery have no
genetic or congenital defects.
NUTRITION:
The food served at Marla's Cattery is especially prepared
by Marla Vales, dietician and nutritional therapist. Cats in
the wild don't cook their food; therefore, most of the
ingredients are raw and are bought from the meat depart-
ment of Publix Supermarket (USDA Inspected for Human
Consumption).
The basic ingredients used are: raw beef kidneys, coarse
ground raw beef heart, coarse ground raw beef tripe,
coarse ground raw chicken or turkey, raw eggs from
natural free-roaming chickens, raw salt water fish fillets,
cooked and canned jack mackeral, canned milk. Nutritional
supplements added to the above are: bone-meal, bee pollen,
spirulina blend "Pure Synergy" from Mitchell May colloidal
minerals "Animinerals" lactobacillus acidophilus vitamin C
powder, rice bran.
VACCINATION:
The same high standards of animal-husbandry have been
applied to vaccinating our kittens. The article quoted below
appeared in 'The Scratch Sheet', which is the Official
Publication of the Maine Coon Breeders & Fanciers
Association, Winter 1996 Issue, written by Dr. Charles E.
Loops, Veterinarian.
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"The first thing that must
change with routine
vaccinations is the myth that vaccines are not
harmful. Veterinarians and animal guardians
have to come to realize that they are not
protecting animals from disease by annual
vaccinations but, in fact, are destroying the
health and immune systems of these same
animals they love and care for."
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Our present method of vaccination is homeopathic, using
a combination nosode which safely, effectively, and
inexpensively immunizes the cat for upper respiratory,
panleukopenia, feline infectious peritonitus and feline
leukemia.
Homeopathic vaccine information is available free of charge
upon request by buyers.
The insert attached to one manufacturers rabies vaccine says:
"
Tissue-origin vaccines contain extraneous
protein in addition to rabies antigen that
can lead to auto-immune disease."
A vaccine is essentially a weakened virus
of the disease itself.
Many experts question the use of multiple vaccines.
Simultaneously injecting five or six different disease entities
into an animal's body can overwhelm the immune system.
DISEASE
PREVENTION:
Marla's Cattery had been awarded the CFA Cattery of
Excellence Certificate.
The Cattery is one of the very few truly "closed" private
catteries, which eliminates any chance of contamination
by bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.
We achieve this standard by disallowing
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 boarders
stud service
visiting queens
cat show exhibiting
the handling of breeding stock by visitors
stray animals on our property by the use
of a security system
the introduction of new breeding stock
without a quarantine period
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As a result of our using these precautionary measures,
there has never been any clinical evidence of rabies, feline
leukemia, feline infectious peritonitus, severe upper
respiratory infections, roundworms or hookworms in the
cattery, as certified by our exclusive veterinarian.
GROOMING:
Cats groom themselves and groom their kittens. I do not
wash or bathe my cats as there is no reason to do so. Their
skin is healthy and parasite-free; therefore, they are not
scratching or constantly shedding.
All the photos on this site were taken as our cats played or
went about their business and there was no prior grooming or
combing. In other words, this is how they look from day to day.
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