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 department of Public 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" from Pet's Friend, Tamarac, FL. 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.

"The first thing that must change with routine vaccinations is the myth that vaccines are not
harmful. Veterinarians and animal guardians 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."

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 -

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

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 hook-worms, in the cattery, as certified by the exclusive veterinarian, Richard Totilas, D.V.M., of Stuart, FL. Florida License #950, Telephone:
(561)692-0242

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.