Pets play a significant role in the simple lifestyle. They bring joy, relieve stress, calm down blood pressure and enrich our lives in many different ways.
Over the past three years, we lost two dogs to cancer. They were not even old! The beautiful sand-coloured bull-terrier got blood vessel cancer, and the white Yorkie-cross-Maltese got cancer of the mouth. These horrible experiences got me thinking and researching. Is it the additives and chemicals in dog food? Is it pollutants in our water? Is it the chemical pest control that we apply on their bodies and bedding? Is it a combination of the above?
The one cause of trauma in our household, use to be the monthly application of Top Spot on our cat. This torture would result in a great display of hissing, biting, clawing, and a three day ignore-all-the-humans-in-the-household-tantrum.
It became even worse when I tried the new “ three month” drug that you only have to apply once every three months. It has a hideously strong chemical smell. (considering the fact that pets’ sense of smell is acutely better than humans’). I thought it would relieve the trauma, since it only needs to be applied once in three months. On the contrary, the cat had a severe reaction. His hair fell out, a big patch where the product was applied. For about 5 days he was intensely uncomfortable. We thought that he was actually in pain. Somewhere along the line I realised that we expose the poor cat to harsh chemicals that we are not willing to expose ourselves to.
Great was my relief when I found natural animal products. Made in Spain, it contains Neem oil, Geraniol oil and lavender oil. It smells amazing. Soft, not overpowering, but oh so pleasant. I dreaded trying it out on the cat, but to my great surprise he sat perfectly still. We applied the Spot-On, as it is called, we did not even had to hold him down! He was perfectly fine, he did not run away and hide, as he normally would. He was calm and his happy, cuddly self. I couldn’t believe the difference. I gave our Australian Cattle dog the flea and tick collar, with the same active ingredients. It said on the package that it lasts 3 months and we are now in the 3rd month, and no ticks or fleas to be found! The cat pippets came 2 in a packet and each lasts for a month. One packet (2 months’ supply) costs R 180, which I feel I pay with a smile. The dog collar was R 170. They also sell shampoos and powders, but we never bath our pets. The product range is called Spencer’s Natural Pet Products, 100% natural.
I am over the moon for having found these natural products and to be rid of the harsh chemicals we used before. Please share with us if you have found any other natural alternatives for your pets that work and is simple, earth and budget friendly.
