5. Stay right there while kittens are eating -- After you have put out some canned food for kittens, stay there and don't move off. Let them eat with you next to them. This will help teach them to associate human beings with "good things."

6. Carefully start to pet kittens -- After feeding them a couple of times without trying to pet them, which will begin to teach them that they can trust you, put food out and let kittens start to eat. Then slowly reach down and pet them a little bit. Continue to sit there while they finish eating.

7. Carefully start to pick up kittens -- After you can successfully put out food and remain there while kittens eat and can pet them a little bit, try picking up a kitten. If you can, grasp kitten by scruff of neck. This is how mother cats carry their kittens, and when you do this, kitten will go limp. Hold kitten against your shoulder and talk softly to it, but don't say "Hi kitten" or anything starting with an "h" sound. To a kitten, this sounds like a cat hissing, and kitten will become frightened. Hold kitten for a minute or so and then, grasping it by scruff of neck, set it down. After you have done this several times, kitten will realize that no harms come to it from being picked up and handled.

Depending upon age of kittens and basic personality traits, whole process, from starting with canned kitty food on fork to being able to pet them and pick them up, could be accomplished in a few days or it might take a few weeks. Eventually, kittens will know that people mean good things, and when they see you coming, they will come running to meet you. It has been my experience that cats quickly recognize when a situation is to their advantage, and once kittens know you are a source of good things to eat and that you mean them no harm, they will want to be friends.

If you have any questions, you are welcome to send me an e-mail at — bigpines(at)ruralroute2.com (replace (at) with @)

If you would like to read an article about feeding and caring for orphaned kittens, go to "articles" section of my website at http://ruralroute2.com -- or if you would like to read more stories about cats and kittens from my book, "Give Me a Home Where Dairy Cows Roam" (free shipping (!) on copies ordered from author) -- visit http://ruralroute2.com and click on sample chapters.

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Total Daily Ration 57 wks of life = 14 ¼ months 75%, 25% 100% 58 wks of life = 14 ½ months 50%, 50% 100% 59 wks of life = 14 ¾ months 25%, 75% 100% 60 wks of life = 15 months 0%, 100% 100%

Now that phase two of my nutrition plan is complete, I need to move to phase three, which is adult phase of life. I have always been a believer in commonly used phrase, “you are what you eat” and with this in mind, I have researched wide selection of adult dog food found on today’s’ market and in doing so have come across a company that goes extra mile in regards to their research, dedication, and determination to provide best adult dog food on market. Royal Canin, a dog food manufacturer based in Europe, stands head and shoulders above all other food manufacturers based on their track record, attention to detail, testimonials, and their determination to provide best diet possible for any given breed. Yes, this company has started to provide specific diets for specific breeds based on differing needs that different breeds incur.

Knowing this fact, made it impossible for me not to choose this manufacturer to provide my Labrador with a life long healthy diet. Labrador Retriever 30™ Formula coupled with love an all affection I can give, will provide my Labrador optimum foundation for a long healthy mischievous life. (I can’t wait!) Labrador Retriever 30™ Formula Unlike other similarly sized dogs, Labrador tends to have less muscle mass, and an ability to gain weight just by looking at food dish. When you combine “labrador beg” which usually wins him something from human supper table, with lazy metabolism and chronic greed of Labrador, you get “porky Labrador.” This obviously is bad news and can promote numerous disease factors such as bloat, obesity, poor joints, etc. Taking all these factors into account, Royal Canin set out to develop a specifically formulated food for Labrador retriever. They determined that by Promoting high protein and low fat, Labrador would receive building blocks to a well balanced diet and would be most likely to hold a proper bodyweight in relation to their specific height and activity level.

Ingredients List

Chicken meal, brown rice, corn gluten, oatmeal, barley, brewers rice, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, beet pulp (sugar removed), cellulose, fish oil, zeolite, soya oil, potassium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, salt, choline chloride, chicory extract, borage oil, taurine, calcium carbonate, inositol, niacin supplement, vitamin E supplement, L-carnitine, glucosamine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, calcium pantothenate, marigold extract, tyrosine, zinc oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), rosemary extract, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), zinc proteinate, iron sulfate, manganous oxide, vitamin A supplement, manganese proteinate, folic acid, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, biotin, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis, Feeding Method Ingredient Percentage Crude Protein 30% Crude Fat 13% Crude Fibre 5.7% Moisture 10% Vitamin E 600mg/kg Vitamin C 300mg/kg L-Carnitine 200mg/kg Lutein 5mg/kg Glucosamine 780mg/kg Chondroitin 220mg/kg Feeding Method Calories Per Cup Portion Controlled 293 Amount Fed Daily Calorie Intake 2x 3 cup 879x2 = 1758 Advantages

- Contains numerous skin and coat conditioners to help maintain a nice healthy shiny coat

- Contains antioxidants such as glucosamine and chondroitin to aid in joint maintenance

- Contains taurine which has been proven to aid in heart health

- A high protein level allows for muscle mass maintenance

- Specific components when combined together have been proven to slow down aging process. Some of these include; vitamins C and E, taurine, zinc, selenium, chondroitin, and other antioxidents

- Meets all standards provided by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) The final stage of my nutrition plan is based on nutritional requirements for my dog when he becomes a senior. (9-10 years of age) Although we do not like thinking of our dogs one day becoming seniors, getting old is one of life’s few guarantees and it is because of this fact that we need to look out for well being of our pets when they reach this point of their lives.

After researching hundreds of possible senior based dog foods, I have decided to keep my Labrador on Labrador Retriever 30™ Formula. I have decided this because this food has all necessary components that senior dogs need and I feel that my Labrador will do very well on this food in his elder years. Also by not switching food, I avoid potential of temporary setbacks during transition from adult to senior foods. Advantages

- We all know that as dogs get older, they tend to spend more of their time sprawled on couch: therefore, by feeding my couch potato Labrador Retriever 30™ Formula, his fat intake will remain low and his protein intake will remain high to help him retain his muscle mass

- Joint protection will be aided by presence of glucosamine and chondroitin

- In order to aid digestive tract chicory extract has been added to help regulate this vital body system. (fructo-oligosaccharides) Has your dog been a really good boy lately???