Your Cat Magazine Woo

The Don · 20th May 2005, 09:37 AM

Mrs Don buys "Your Cat" Magazine. In this month's edition they have an AtoZ of Alternative treatments comprising:

Acupressure, Acupuncture, Bach Flower remedies, Chakra Healing, Chiropractic, Crystal Healing, Diet, Diffusion, Faith Healing, Herbalism, Holistic Treatment, Homoeopathy (at least they sepped it correctly), Kinesiology, Laser Acupuncture, Magnetic Therapy, Massage, Nutrutional Therapies, Osteopathy, Physical Therapy, Reiki, Shiatsu, Trigger (Tigger ?) Point Therapy, TTouch Therapy.

All of which were presented uncritically as working with no indication that any of the manipulative ones may be positively dangerous to a small animal like a cat. They provided links to webistes and an "advert" for the book "Everyday Homeopathy for Animals".

I'm angry on so many levels:

Firstly, how can a magazine which purports to be for cat lovers promote "treatments" which are at best ineffective and which are at worst positively dangerous ?

How can it do so without any indication or advice from a proper vet that such treatments are not supported by research ?

How can it goad owners into hassling their vets for such rubbish

If it was Private Eye, I'd threaten to cancel my subscrition. I'll send a letter but It'll do no good.

Chimpy · 20th May 2005, 09:51 AM

Well recently I was reading a tabloid over brekkers and it sent a bunch of women (never the men eh?) to test treatments for pets, ranging from spas and massages (for a bloody dog!!!!!!) to pet psychologists and pet mediums. *sigh*

Ashles · 20th May 2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chimpy
Well recently I was reading a tabloid over brekkers and it sent a bunch of women (never the men eh?)

Women - they're like Men but with 'WOo' added.

N.B. The above is a joke. I don't really mean it.

supercorgi · 20th May 2005, 10:15 AM

I'm really dismayed at how readily my fellow pet owners believe in this alternate treatment claptrap. I was at a dog show last month and there were not 1 but 2 "animal communicators" (aka pet psychics) -- all of my friends took their dogs and then pressured me to go. Although I was curious to see what sort of silly cold reading technique they were using, I wasn't about to waste $25 and 15 minutes of my time.

In addition to the animal communicators, there was also a dog chiropractor and a Reiki practitioner. In addition, there was a place selling the Bach flower remedies.

You know it's one thing if you're going to impact your own health with this quackery but when someone is going to make these horrendous health decisions for a helpless child or pet, it really makes me furious.

Odin · 20th May 2005, 10:16 AM

I think there is a magazine about dogs (possibly "your Dog"?) which contains much the same alternative treatments. I remember a section where people write in with problems, one of the experts is a Homeopath. There were articles on TTouch and bach flower remedies too.

The Don · 20th May 2005, 10:24 AM

It's the first time I've relly read the magazine (though I do admit to having scanned through it in the past looking at pretty kitties). I'm not sure whether it's consistently woo or whether it was an aberration.

That said, there was a letter referring to a psychic who correctly predicted that a missing cat wasn't dead and a piece which confidently states that the new Pope is a cot lover cat lover, how's that for freudian ? despite his silence on the matter.

I expect the combination of "women's magazine" and animal fancier is some kind of exponential invitation to irrational propositions.

Rolfe · 20th May 2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Don
Firstly, how can a magazine which purports to be for cat lovers promote "treatments" which are at best ineffective and which are at worst positively dangerous ?

How can it do so without any indication or advice from a proper vet that such treatments are not supported by research ?

That's nothing. A lot of these magazines are happy to give lots of space to woo-woo vets to promote their insane and unscientific practices.

Rolfe.

hodgy · 20th May 2005, 10:59 AM

At least with humans there can be an appeal to the placebo effect. Clearly this will not be the case for animals - it should be illegal to advertise such services

I can guess what would happen (trading-standards-wise) if I advertised and sold a pill that purported to stop your pet's hair from ever needing to be clipped (but actually did nothing)?

I might just try that, I can see the advert now:

Â£100 for a years supply- save Â£Â£Â£ on pet parlour fees and avoid stress for your beloved cat / dog

I might make a few quid and if I ever get litigated against I'll say I did it to highlight the problem of pet-quackery.

Psi Baba · 20th May 2005, 11:04 AM

That really is disheartening to see stuff like that. Best cat magazine I've seen is Catnip published by the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Sensibile articles often written by real vets. No glossy paper and no color piccies, but lots of good information you can actually use.

DavoMan · 20th May 2005, 11:18 AM

Some times I think the animals could teach some of these humans a thing or two about health care.

My cat doesn't need no friggin homeopathy - she just licks her ass.

Jas · 20th May 2005, 12:15 PM

The Bach Flower Remedies are HUGELY popular with pet owners, for some reason. I remember using them for my animals...then I tried to figure out what exactly they accomplished...

At the shelter, we would have people come in, cat in one hand, Rescue Remedy in the other, convinced that it calmed them down. I have the scars to prove otherwise.

Lisa Simpson · 20th May 2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jas
The Bach Flower Remedies are HUGELY popular with pet owners, for some reason. I remember using them for my animals...then I tried to figure out what exactly they accomplished...

At the shelter, we would have people come in, cat in one hand, Rescue Remedy in the other, convinced that it calmed them down. I have the scars to prove otherwise.

It seems to be pretty popular on the cat forums I read. I glanced through Cat Fancy magazine, and I saw 4 classified ads for homeopathy and none for pet psychics. No print ads for either.

pyewhackett · 21st May 2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by supercorgi

You know it's one thing if you're going to impact your own health with this quackery but when someone is going to make these horrendous health decisions for a helpless child or pet, it really makes me furious.

I'm with you there. Unfortunately, I've read of too many terrible situations where children have suffered at the hands of naturopaths, 'healers' etc.

Has anyone ever heard/read of any incidents where an animal has been abused in this manner?

AWPrime · 21st May 2005, 04:57 PM

Well a massage really relaxes me.

But is it smart to do this to a cat?

I mean..they are already so relax and flexable. They might just turn into pudding.

LOL

Lisa Simpson · 26th May 2005, 01:51 PM

I spoke too soon. In the July 2005 issue of Cat Fancy there is an article about cat chiropractic. At least they say to go to a regular vet to rule out various medical conditions first. It is written by Narda G. Robinson DO DVM and Brenda McClelland, DVM

pyewhackett · 26th May 2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
I spoke too soon. In the July 2005 issue of Cat Fancy there is an article about cat chiropractic. At least they say to go to a regular vet to rule out various medical conditions first. It is written by Narda G. Robinson DO DVM and Brenda McClelland, DVM

Is this do-it-yourself cat chiropractics? Not that this would be much worse than having it done by a *professional*.

Lisa Simpson · 26th May 2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pyewhackett
Is this do-it-yourself cat chiropractics? Not that this would be much worse than having it done by a *professional*.

On Season 1 of Bullsh!t, Penn and Teller showed how to do at home kitty chiropractic. I've always wanted to try it.

DavoMan · 28th May 2005, 12:06 AM

Yeah I went out & tried it as soon as I saw it on ********. Haha it works.

20th May 2005, 09:37 AM	#1
The Don Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brizzle Posts: 3,527	Your Cat Magazine Woo Mrs Don buys "Your Cat" Magazine. In this month's edition they have an AtoZ of Alternative treatments comprising: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Bach Flower remedies, Chakra Healing, Chiropractic, Crystal Healing, Diet, Diffusion, Faith Healing, Herbalism, Holistic Treatment, Homoeopathy (at least they sepped it correctly), Kinesiology, Laser Acupuncture, Magnetic Therapy, Massage, Nutrutional Therapies, Osteopathy, Physical Therapy, Reiki, Shiatsu, Trigger (Tigger ?) Point Therapy, TTouch Therapy. All of which were presented uncritically as working with no indication that any of the manipulative ones may be positively dangerous to a small animal like a cat. They provided links to webistes and an "advert" for the book "Everyday Homeopathy for Animals". I'm angry on so many levels: Firstly, how can a magazine which purports to be for cat lovers promote "treatments" which are at best ineffective and which are at worst positively dangerous ? How can it do so without any indication or advice from a proper vet that such treatments are not supported by research ? How can it goad owners into hassling their vets for such rubbish If it was Private Eye, I'd threaten to cancel my subscrition. I'll send a letter but It'll do no good.

20th May 2005, 09:51 AM	#2
Chimpy Scholar Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 78	Re: Your Cat Magazine Woo Well recently I was reading a tabloid over brekkers and it sent a bunch of women (never the men eh?) to test treatments for pets, ranging from spas and massages (for a bloody dog!!!!!!) to pet psychologists and pet mediums. sigh
Chimpy Scholar Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 78

20th May 2005, 10:09 AM	#3
Ashles Pith Artist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The '80s Posts: 7,652	Re: Re: Your Cat Magazine Woo Quote: Originally posted by Chimpy Well recently I was reading a tabloid over brekkers and it sent a bunch of women (never the men eh?) Women - they're like Men but with 'WOo' added. N.B. The above is a joke. I don't really mean it.
	__________________ With extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat. - Jeffrey Burton Russell No one "proved" that a bumblebee can't fly. What was shown was that a certain simple mathematical model wasn't adequate or appropriate - Ivars Peterson

20th May 2005, 10:15 AM	#4
supercorgi Dog Everlasting Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: State of Confusion, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 2,474	I'm really dismayed at how readily my fellow pet owners believe in this alternate treatment claptrap. I was at a dog show last month and there were not 1 but 2 "animal communicators" (aka pet psychics) -- all of my friends took their dogs and then pressured me to go. Although I was curious to see what sort of silly cold reading technique they were using, I wasn't about to waste $25 and 15 minutes of my time. In addition to the animal communicators, there was also a dog chiropractor and a Reiki practitioner. In addition, there was a place selling the Bach flower remedies. You know it's one thing if you're going to impact your own health with this quackery but when someone is going to make these horrendous health decisions for a helpless child or pet, it really makes me furious.
	__________________

20th May 2005, 10:16 AM	#5
Odin Atheistic Aesir Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Asgard Posts: 808	I think there is a magazine about dogs (possibly "your Dog"?) which contains much the same alternative treatments. I remember a section where people write in with problems, one of the experts is a Homeopath. There were articles on TTouch and bach flower remedies too.
	__________________ Nothing to see here "Then we didn't evolve! The system has been feeding us THE BIG LIE!" -Jack T Chick "Educators are actually evil for refusing to teach students Nature's 4 World Time Cube." -Gene Ray "Leo Jean has attained the highest spiritual status of any person on Earth. His spirit is one of the oldest and most powerful in the universe, and is the most powerful on Earth." -Leo Jean

20th May 2005, 10:24 AM	#6
The Don Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brizzle Posts: 3,527	It's the first time I've relly read the magazine (though I do admit to having scanned through it in the past looking at pretty kitties). I'm not sure whether it's consistently woo or whether it was an aberration. That said, there was a letter referring to a psychic who correctly predicted that a missing cat wasn't dead and a piece which confidently states that the new Pope is a cot lover cat lover, how's that for freudian ? despite his silence on the matter. I expect the combination of "women's magazine" and animal fancier is some kind of exponential invitation to irrational propositions.

20th May 2005, 10:49 AM	#7
Rolfe Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NT 150 511 Posts: 18,447	Re: Your Cat Magazine Woo Quote: Originally posted by The Don Firstly, how can a magazine which purports to be for cat lovers promote "treatments" which are at best ineffective and which are at worst positively dangerous ? How can it do so without any indication or advice from a proper vet that such treatments are not supported by research ? That's nothing. A lot of these magazines are happy to give lots of space to woo-woo vets to promote their insane and unscientific practices. Rolfe.
	__________________ "The thing about medicine is, that it all comes down to the numbers." - Dr. Stephen Franklin, Interludes and Examinations. "To give Rolfe his due, I think this is a good example to everyone of what can happen if we fail to get a proper diagnosis and begin treating on symptoms alone--a big mistake, as shown here." - "Snoopy" on H'pathy Forums, apparently abjuring the very fundamentals of homoeopathy after she'd just allowed a young mother with Addison's disease to die.

20th May 2005, 10:59 AM	#8
hodgy Muse Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 779	At least with humans there can be an appeal to the placebo effect. Clearly this will not be the case for animals - it should be illegal to advertise such services I can guess what would happen (trading-standards-wise) if I advertised and sold a pill that purported to stop your pet's hair from ever needing to be clipped (but actually did nothing)? I might just try that, I can see the advert now: Â£100 for a years supply- save Â£Â£Â£ on pet parlour fees and avoid stress for your beloved cat / dog I might make a few quid and if I ever get litigated against I'll say I did it to highlight the problem of pet-quackery.
	__________________ Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum

20th May 2005, 11:04 AM	#9
Psi Baba Homo Skepticalis Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: On a recumbent bike Posts: 2,202	That really is disheartening to see stuff like that. Best cat magazine I've seen is Catnip published by the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Sensibile articles often written by real vets. No glossy paper and no color piccies, but lots of good information you can actually use.
	__________________ "I was afraid of this enormous emptiness, but my personal view is that when we die, we die, and we go from a state of something to a state of absolute nothingness; and I don’t believe for a second that there’s anything above or beyond or anything like that; and this makes me enormously secure." -- Ingmar Bergman

20th May 2005, 11:18 AM	#10
DavoMan Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 424	Some times I think the animals could teach some of these humans a thing or two about health care. My cat doesn't need no friggin homeopathy - she just licks her ass.
	__________________ Like whatEVER! Jesus is like SOOOO last century!

20th May 2005, 12:15 PM	#11
Jas Queen Skankarella of Ho Nation Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,818	The Bach Flower Remedies are HUGELY popular with pet owners, for some reason. I remember using them for my animals...then I tried to figure out what exactly they accomplished... At the shelter, we would have people come in, cat in one hand, Rescue Remedy in the other, convinced that it calmed them down. I have the scars to prove otherwise.
	__________________ "Ah, there's nothing more exciting than science! You get all the fun of sitting still, being quiet, writing down numbers, paying attention... Science has it all!" Lest We Forget

20th May 2005, 01:07 PM	#12
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 14,339	Quote: Originally posted by Jas The Bach Flower Remedies are HUGELY popular with pet owners, for some reason. I remember using them for my animals...then I tried to figure out what exactly they accomplished... At the shelter, we would have people come in, cat in one hand, Rescue Remedy in the other, convinced that it calmed them down. I have the scars to prove otherwise. It seems to be pretty popular on the cat forums I read. I glanced through Cat Fancy magazine, and I saw 4 classified ads for homeopathy and none for pet psychics. No print ads for either.
	__________________ In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue. - Wallace Sayre Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

21st May 2005, 02:54 PM	#13
pyewhackett Thinker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 181	Quote: Originally posted by supercorgi You know it's one thing if you're going to impact your own health with this quackery but when someone is going to make these horrendous health decisions for a helpless child or pet, it really makes me furious. I'm with you there. Unfortunately, I've read of too many terrible situations where children have suffered at the hands of naturopaths, 'healers' etc. Has anyone ever heard/read of any incidents where an animal has been abused in this manner?

21st May 2005, 04:57 PM	#14
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,737	Well a massage really relaxes me. But is it smart to do this to a cat? I mean..they are already so relax and flexable. They might just turn into pudding. LOL
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,737	__________________ Sir Arthur C. Clarke - "Any sufficiently advanced technology, to the uninformed observer, is indistinguishable from magic." c4ts - "Jesus loves the little children, Nice and fat and honey roasted..." Lancastic = Demonstrative of outstanding personal effort in the exposing of frauds. Rob Lister - "The enemy of my enemy probably tastes yummy. "

26th May 2005, 01:51 PM	#15
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 14,339	I spoke too soon. In the July 2005 issue of Cat Fancy there is an article about cat chiropractic. At least they say to go to a regular vet to rule out various medical conditions first. It is written by Narda G. Robinson DO DVM and Brenda McClelland, DVM
	__________________ In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue. - Wallace Sayre Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

26th May 2005, 02:01 PM	#16
pyewhackett Thinker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 181	Quote: Originally posted by Lisa Simpson I spoke too soon. In the July 2005 issue of Cat Fancy there is an article about cat chiropractic. At least they say to go to a regular vet to rule out various medical conditions first. It is written by Narda G. Robinson DO DVM and Brenda McClelland, DVM Is this do-it-yourself cat chiropractics? Not that this would be much worse than having it done by a professional.

26th May 2005, 02:02 PM	#17
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 14,339	Quote: Originally posted by pyewhackett *Is this do-it-yourself cat chiropractics? Not that this would be much worse than having it done by a professional.* On Season 1 of Bullsh!t, Penn and Teller showed how to do at home kitty chiropractic. I've always wanted to try it.
	__________________ In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue. - Wallace Sayre Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

28th May 2005, 12:06 AM	#18
DavoMan Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 424	Yeah I went out & tried it as soon as I saw it on ********. Haha it works.
	__________________ Like whatEVER! Jesus is like SOOOO last century!