Does your family pet eat better than you do?

I have a Maine Coon cat that I adore. His name is Settimio and he is a golden haired beauty. I got him when he was 10 weeks old and he won my heart immediately. He has been in charge since then. Like many pet owners, my cat is my child. I take care of him, love him, play with him and hope he stays healthy and happy forever.

In order to keep Settimio healthy I am careful how and what I feed him. I give him special cat food so he will not get urinary tract infections. When I give him human food, as a treat, it is not random. I control what I give him and how much he gets. I constantly monitor how much total food he eats a day because this breed has a tendency to be over weight and develop heart problems. Am I obsessive? Probably, but I am first selfish, I want him to be healthy for a very long time so he can continue to bring me pleasure.

What does the care and feeding of my cat have to do with food and cooking? I will answer that with another question. Do you put as much care and attention into feeding yourself as you do your pet? Do you feed yourself the best foods so you will not get sick? Are you careful with your treats so you will not become over weight and possibly develop the illness associated with being over weight? Do you have a family history of health problems and are therefore watchful of what you eat so you avoid those illnesses? Do you take care of your body as well as you care for your pet’s body? Do you want to be happy and healthy for a very long time?

When you take the time to cook for yourself and choose foods that offer the most nutrition you give yourself a better chance of staying healthy. Cooking is easier than you think and it is worth the time and effort. If you will not take care of yourself for yourself, than do it for your pet’s sake. He wants you around for a long time too.