The Cat Food that Saved Christmas

Once upon a time... 

...there was a cat named Katie. Katie loved her food. She loved it as much as a catnip mouse, feather toy and a cuddle with her favorite girl combined. But Katie didn't always love her food. You see, Katie has a nasty disease called IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. It took many years to even figure out that's what she had.

And it took even longer to figure out how to help her. 

One of the side effects of IBD is extreme gastrointestinal distress. And for Katie, that meant whatever she ate, she'd throw up. For a kitty who loves her food, that's pretty devastating. Mealtime for her was not pleasant. She'd eat very tentatively, slow and rarely finishing her food. Probably because she wasn't feeling well. 

So her girl read and read. She googled and googled. And she sought advice from some of the best and smartest experts in the fields feline nutrition and veterinary medicine. 

Answers

It became quite clear that Katie's silver bullet was a food transition to something her vet calls 'biologically appropriate.' The quick explanation of what that means is to understand that cats are obligate carnivores. And the quick answer to "what does that mean?" is that cats need meat as their primary, and in many cases, only food source, in order to survive and thrive. Their bodies can't process fruits, vegetables, and Cheetos like humans can. Their digestive systems are just aren't designed that way. If you take a peek at any of the cat food on the store shelves, you'll see all sorts of vegetable sounding ingredients. 

For some cats, a little bit of those vegetables might be ok. Not ideal, but they manage to digest everything without incident. But not Katie. Even the tiniest, trace amount of plant matter causes her extreme gastrointestinal distress. 

On the recommendation of our vet, we began a transition to Balanced Blends six months ago. 

Balanced Raw

Balanced Blends has cracked the code on biologically appropriate nutrition for cats - balancing the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals to a cat's nutritional needs with their "ancestral" (a.k.a biologically appropriate) diet. They avoid processed food in favor of fresh and natural raw. Raw, uncooked diets retain more nutrients and more closely mimic what mother nature intended cats to eat. 

Your cat doesn't have to suffer from the same ailments as Katie to benefit from Balanced Blends. In addition to improved digestion, a balanced raw diet can contribute to a healthier skin and coat, reduced allergies, increased energy, weight management, and a virtually odor-free stool (YES!!!).

Of course, any food transition comes with its challenges. At 12 years old, Katie is just a teensy bit set in her ways. So we took it very, VERY slow. And just a couple of weeks before Christmas, Katie had made the leap 100%. She was officially a Balanced Blends kitty, eating a raw, pure protein, biologically appropriate diet. And she was already showing dramatic signs of improvement as it pertains to the effects of her IBD.

So you're probably wondering how it is that a cat food saved Christmas, right?
Ok, we promise we're almost there! Just a couple more details that are pertinent to the story.

Balanced Blends is not sold in brick and mortar stores. Their food is available for purchase online and ships anywhere, nationwide. It arrives frozen, packed in dry ice, and ready to store in the freezer. Each 5-pound box contains 10 small 1/2 pound chubs that you simply take out of the freezer to thaw as needed.



We were running low on food in early December, so Glogirly put in her order to make sure we'd be fully stocked in time for the holiday. When our delivery date arrived, we waited and waited. Not a FedEx truck in sight. We checked tracking and the delivery date had been delayed. But only for a day. So the next day, Glogirly waited and waited some more. Still no FedEx.

It was getting late and up here in the mountains at 8,000 feet it was pitch dark. She called the local FedEx distribution center to alert them of the importance of the delivery. All they could tell her was that it was on the truck and out for delivery. But she had a bad feeling. No one, including the delivery drivers, like driving the mountains in the dark. Plus, we'd just had a few inches of fresh snow. Glogirly drove up to the main highway in hopes of spotting the FedEx truck to flag them down. She parked, waited, but still nothing.

Katie had been without food all day. She wouldn't touch Waffles' chicken. It was turkey or nothing. Soon she'd be forced to revert to her old food which we still had on hand, thus erasing so much of her food transition progress. Not to mention, putting her at risk of more intestinal upset.

It was the Friday night before Christmas...
Glogirly's last resort was to call the phone number on Balanced Blend's website. She didn't expect anyone to answer, but wanted to at least leave a message. She explained what was going on, that FedEx was MIA, and she told of her desperation over Katie and her health condition.

What happened next was the beginning of our Christmas miracle.

The phone rang. It was Christina, one of the founders of Balanced Blends. She had picked up the message and began looking into the order. She'd already checked into the delivery and hit the same road blocks as Glogirly. Having five cats of her own, some with similar health issues, she completely understood what Glogirly and Katie were going through.

Remember when we explained that Balanced Blends is only available online? Well what we didn't mention is that Christina and her husband live in Boulder, Colorado. That's where Balanced Blends was founded, about an hour from where we live. And she had 10 pounds of the same food that Katie had transitioned to in her freezer.

Less than two hours later, Christina and her husband were at our front door with 10 pounds of raw turkey for Katie. They drove over an hour in the dark of night, up our steep and winding mountain road, down our treacherous snow-covered dirt road driveway, with only the light of the stars to guide their way, that Friday night before Christmas. All to get Katie her food. They'd even thawed out a little bit so she'd be able to eat right away.

So do you think we're customers for life? Glogirly was practically in tears as she hugged Christina, thanking her for saving our Christmas.



Yes, Katie. There really IS a Santa Claus. And her name is Christina.  

 Want to sample Balanced Blends? 

If you'd like to try out the food with your kitties (they have diets for dogs too!) you can save $2 on a 2-pound sample pack and shipping is free with our referral link below. It's an awesome way to get introduced to what we believe is the best food for cats out there. From the best company ever. 

Yeah, we're gushing. But wouldn't you be too?

Shop for your sample pack HERE. 

This is not a paid product review. We purchased our food from Balanced Blends and they have not even asked us to post a review. This is our gift of thanks to them and our way of sharing a product and company we believe is relevant and of interest to our readers. Our opinions and the content of this article are our own.

Balanced Blends Convenient Raw Diet For Cats

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! This is the best chicken I've ever had in my whole life. 

KATIE:  Funny, I had you pegged as more of an extra crispy kind of cat. You do realize this is raw, don't you?

WAFFLES:  Extra crispy is so yesterday, Boss. RAW is where it's at. 

KATIE:  Looks like your chin is where it's at too.

Convenient Raw Diets for Cats

This is big, kitties. REALLY big!

Balanced Blends, founded on the principles of providing a species-appropriate diet for cats (and dogs), has created what we believe is one of the best diets you can choose for your furry family members. Easy to order online, it's shipped straight to your door frozen and packed inside an insulated cooler. This is truly a breakthrough for cat parents who've been wanting to transition their pets to a raw food diet, but just couldn't figure out how to pull it off.

When we first learned about Balanced Blends and heard them use words and phrases like 'Obligate Carnivore' and 'Raw Meat, Bones and Organs' we have to admit got more than a little excited. Unlike humans and unlike even dogs, cats are Obligate Carnivores. That means quite simply, they need animal protein in order to sustain life. And for cats, it also means they lack the digestive means to appropriately process fruits, vegetables, corn, grains, etc. Cats are anything but vegetarians and to truly thrive and survive, they need meat. 

You could say a raw food diet like Balanced Blends is as close to what a cat would eat in the wild as you can find. ...short of inviting a family of mice over for dinner each night.

Raw Revolution

We understand raw may not be for everyone. In fact for many years, it wasn't for us. As much as Glogirly loves cats, years ago she didn't know much about feline nutrition. Like many cat parents, she thought if the food was sitting on the shelves at the vet clinic, it must be good. So she'd pick up a bag of dry kibble every few weeks and think nothing of it. 

As she learned more and more and realized that switching to a wet diet of canned food would be a far healthier choice than dry, she looked for the best she could find. But navigating the multitude of choices and looking for what should and shouldn't be in the food was often like walking through a mine field of cat food. Just try reading a few labels and you'll know what we're talking about.

So she decided she needed to learn even more. She began reading about the species-specific dietary needs of cats. She talked with feline nutrition experts, vets and other cat parents. Then when Katie developed IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Glogirly realized pretty quickly that landing on the right diet for the tuxedo kitty she adored so much was not only a priority, it was a matter of life and death.

That's when we made the switch. And we've never looked back.

What are the benefits WE'VE experienced in feeding raw and whole foods?

VITALITY & ENERGY

For Katie, it's been like a fountain of youth. We probably didn't even realize how poorly she must have been feeling prior to learning of her IBD. Within just a few weeks of transitioning her diet, she was a changed cat. She has more energy, more interest in playing, she's even more affectionate and 'present.' She flies up and down the stairs like a cat half her age.

GOODBYE PICKY EATERS

Both Katie and Waffles used to be pretty fickle and finicky. They'd be fine for a few months and then one day wake up and decide for whatever reason that they were done with that brand, that flavor... Since our transition over a year ago, no one has turned up their nose at a single bite. In fact, they both eat with a gusto that can only mean they love what they're eating.

HELLO SILKY COAT

Katie was born with a gorgeous coat, but Waffles has always been a little scraggly around the edges. Maybe it's a tabby thing. But since eating raw, Waffles' coat is so soft and smooth it rivals even Katie's. And according to our vet, Katie's coat is THE silkiest she's ever felt of any cat in all her years of practice.

HEALTHY WEIGHT CONTROL & MAINTENANCE

It's been very easy for Katie and Waffles to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. Because their bodies are absorbing SO much of the nutrition in their food, they really get to take advantage of each and every calorie. That said, Glogirly is diligent about measuring out the appropriate portions. She also no longer uses treats everyday, instead only when taking photos that require a certain amount of cooperation. 

GOODBYE LITTERBOX ODOR

When some people say their you-know-what doesn't stink, you know they're full of it. But on a raw food diet, there is absolutely NO fecal odor. Seriously. It's like magic. They're like little kraft paper colored tootsie rolls, very dry and lightweight. Proof again, that all of the nutrients from the food are being absorbed and utilized. With canned and dry food, that just doesn't happen.

NO STICKER SHOCK, REALLY!

One of the reasons some people are reluctant to change to a raw or whole food diet is cost. Although it's true that a raw diet will cost more than a dry kibble diet, it's actually very comparable to most premium canned foods. (And we won't even factor in all the food that's gone to waste because *somekitty* decided it was no longer acceptable.) 

In fact, we did the math:

When we were serving canned food we spent on average $1.49 - $2.29 per 3 ounce can. Katie and Waffles would eat one can each per day, based on their recommended daily caloric intake.

DAILY COST PER CAT: $1.49 - $2.29 not including tax/shipping/transportation/fuel.

The cost of Balanced Blends Raw, not including any of their Kickstarter discounts and incentives, is $7.00/LB for chicken or $8.00/LB for beef. Katie and Waffles eat 1/4 cup twice a day, so for one cat that's 4 ounces a day based on their weight and activity level.

Now for a little math - 

Balanced Blends Chicken will cost us .44 per ounce or $1.64 per day 

Balanced Blends Beef will cost us .50 per ounce or $1.76 per day

DAILY COST PER CAT: $1.75 - $2.00 no tax and free shipping on 20 pounds or more

Ingredients - All the Good Stuff

Balanced Blends is making complete and balanced raw diets for cats of all life stages a reality with high quality and fresh ingredients:

• Chicken - USDA GRADE A, cage free, antibiotics free, no added hormones
• Beef - USDA Approved, naturally raised, antibiotic free, no added hormones
• Added vitamins, trace minerals and wild caught salmon oil for Omega-3s fatty acids
• NO fruits and vegetables in any of their cat diets
• NO grains, NO glutens, NO fillers, NO artificial coloring, NO artificial preservatives
• Made in the USA

Pre-order Campaign on Kickstarter

Balanced Blends is already 100% funded. This is GREAT news! Their food will be available for shipping in June. The other good news is that you can pre-order now through May 27, 2016 and receive a number of awesome deals to get you started.

The Early Cat Special will save you $15-20 on 10 LB of raw food.

The Extended Promo will give all backers 5 LB extra for very 20 LB order of the same item from their website for 3 or 6 months after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Free Shipping too for all pre-orders to the lower 48 states.

Visit Balanced Blends Kickstarter Page to learn more and place your pre-order.

A Few Notes on Transitioning

There's some fantastic information on the Balanced Blends Website and we really encourage anyone considering a transition to take a read through it.

It's no secret that cats are creatures of habit and even suspicious of change. That's why it's so important you take your time when transitioning to a raw diet.

If a cat has eaten nothing but kibble their whole life and you all of a sudden put a dish of raw food in font of them, they will very likely not even recognize it as food. It's critically important to introduce the new food VERY gradually, starting with just a tiny amount along with their current food, gradually increasing the amount of raw over time. Each cat is different. It took Katie almost two months to transition. It took Waffles only a couple of weeks.

Think baby steps. Go slow. Be patient. It's worth it.

This blog post is sponsored by Balanced Blends. We are being compensated for creating and featuring this content. Regardless of the payment received, we only feature products and services on GLOGIRLY that we use or feel our readers would enjoy using. All sponsored posts on GLOGIRLY will always reflect our honest and unbiased opinions.