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RE: People Food...

jynnan tonnix — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:41:59 GMT

When I was young (this was in the dark ages before anyone thought twice about letting pets eat any number of table scraps) we had a big ol' tomcat (my dad would never agree to neuter any male animal we had...the idea skeeved him out too much!) who used to absolutely love honeydew melons and mushrooms! He didn't get them all that often, but certainly more than a few times...and more than a tiny bit, too. They never seemed to hurt him, but the thought of some of the things our animals ate back in the day is really jarring.

We also had a dog which managed to sneak into the living room and devour a fairly sizeable box of chocolates one Christmas when we all went to midnight mass and didn't close the kitchen door tightly enough. We did expect it to upset his stomach, even though the toxicity was not widely known at that time...Still, he never showed a single ill effect. Must have had a cast-iron stomach!

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:39:55 GMT

High end pet foods use potatoes and apples instead of corn to add bulk and roughage. Merrick especially uses a lot of fruit and veggies in their canned foods.

My sisters dog begs for apple slices.

RE: People Food...

Willow — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:53:31 GMT

And liver treats (pure freeze-dried liver) are the most popular dog training treats. I have no idea why liver would be on a do-not-feed list.

Maybe apple cores are on there because that's where the seeds are? And the seeds contain a small amount of cyanide. One apple's worth of seeds wouldn't hurt your pet, but a lot of apple seeds could add up to enough cyanide to be toxic.

Cheese is also a good training treat for dogs, and a tiny bite won't hurt a cat. You don't want to go overboard, of course, or your pet might have an upset tummy, but it's perfectly safe in moderation.

Fat? I guess you shouldn't pour bacon grease on your pet's food, but fat is necessary in their diets.

Tuna is also safe. Cats should not eat a diet of ONLY tuna, but it's fine as an occasional treat.

That is an unusual list of do-not-feed foods for pets. Here's a more conventional list: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24544541/?GT1=43001

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:14:58 GMT

No liver? That's odd, liver is nutrient rich for humans and cats/dogs, almost every brand of moist cat food has a liver flavor. (now you've made me hungry for liver, or chicken liver pate).

Some of the things on that list don't make sense. potato peels? In culinary school we had a course that was dedicated to potatoes, rice, and pasta cooking; the entire nutritional value of a potato is the skin, after that, it's all sugars, water and starches. Apple cores?

As for allergies, it could be the corn or it could be they dye used in the food, that frequently causes allergies. I've had several dogs who were allergice to red food coloring (bald pekingese is a pathetic sight indeed).

RE: People Food...

Naughty Kitty — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:12:56 GMT

Hi Raven: I have an actual llist that my vet gave me. It's a list for all pets.

Never feed your pet:

1.) alcohol 11.) grapes

2.) apple cores 12.) ham

3.) avacados 13.) liver

4.) bones 14.) milk

5.) caffiene 15.) moldy foods

6.) cheese 16.) mushrooms

7.) chocolate 17.) onions

8.) dough 18.) potato peels

9.) fat 19.) raisins

10.) garlic 20.) tuna

I hope this list helps you and all the other cat moms & dads.

Naughty Kitty

RE: People Food...

Nicky's Mom — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:05:34 GMT

Thanks! Both the kitties are on the Purina Naturals right now. (which I don't quite trust and don't really think it's as natural as they say.) Neither cat shows any signs of corn allergies, thank goodness. The next time we buy food I think we will get some Purina One or something if we can't get Natural Balance or By Nature Organics. Thanks again for reassuring me.

Nicky's Mom

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:46:11 GMT

Most of the brands you find in a grocery store are going to have corn in them. I understand about the financial difficulties, having some myself. Natural Balance is fairly affordable, its cheaper than By Nature Organics, but not as cheap or low quality as meow mix.

There are better quality happy mediums, but you have to look for them, they don't have the marketing that purina does. Most of their advertising is word of mouth. Purina One is probably the best known grocery store brand, and their healthiest product. (I'm no fan of Purina, too much of their budget goes to advertising and not into their products IMO) Happy hunting.

RE: People Food...

Maria3 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:11:21 GMT

If your cat has allergy symptoms, you try to find what they are allergic to. I think they test it the same as in humans.

Really you should know by now if one of your cats has a food allergy, they usually have spots on their face and symptoms similar to human's.

And yes, it's really difficult finding a pet food without corn. But most cats eat it and don't have any problems. It is like with egg. Many human meals has egg and many people are allergic to it, look the list of ingredients in most cans or boiled ham. But most people can eat it without problems.

Finding a good food at a affordable cost is very difficult. I can't help you in that

RE: People Food...

Nicky's Mom — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:22:26 GMT

Someone mentioned a corn allergy. How would you be able to tell if your cat has a corn allergy? I can't seem to find a cat food that doesn't contain corn in some form, at least not one that I can afford. Most of them seem to have corn gluten or some other form of corn in them. I've read all kinds of horror stories about the ingredients pet food companies can use in their products. I read that they can use many things that aren't fit for human consumption (like moldy corn, diseased animal parts and rancid restuarant grease to name a few) because there aren't any standards to govern the pet food companies. Is there anything I could do to make sure my cats are eating healthy food? They are eating better food, but I would like to have them on the really high end stuff. Unfortunately, my family has been hit with severe financial difficulties so we can't afford the really good stuff. Any advice would be appreciated.

Nicky's Mom

RE: People Food...

SuperCat — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:56:49 GMT

I agree that moderation is the key. My son's cat loved Doritos (so did he) and they would watch TV and munch on Doritos all the time. This cat lived to be 20.

Fortunately, the cats I currently have are not interested at all in human food except for Loki who loves yougart.

I don't think a little bit of this and a little bit of that would hurt as a treat if they like it.

RE: People Food...

Cynthiaa89 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:05:55 GMT

I've tried my best to not give my kitties human food, but they're so pathetic sometimes. They love chicken. Isn't tuna okay in small portions as long as you don't give it to them all the time?

Even though we never give it to them, my cats love "cream" as we put it. You can't eat ice cream, sour cream, yougurt, ranch dressing, etc..without them starring at you the whole time...It's like in a past life that's what they lived off of.

RE: People Food...

cats_dolls — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:21:58 GMT

Raisins aren't good for them either - forget what the problem is, just that they shouldn't have raisins or grapes.

I like to give mine occasional tastes of some people food as a special treat - like if I'm making a certain chicken dish where I boil the chicken first then chop it up and add to some other stuff, I'll save each of the kitties a bite or two before I season it. And they've had the occasional bite of shrimp. But they only get a bite or two at a time and it's always unseasoned - I don't think a lot of the spices we eat are good to our kitties' tummies. Also I make sure they don't get any bones. Sounds silly but I have been known to put bones or uneaten portions of meat in zip-lock bags before it goes into the trash so my dumpster-diver doesn't get into it!

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:51:56 GMT

veggies like carrots wont hurt kitties. The high end cat foods have veggies in them. Instead of carbs for roughage, and filler they use veggies. can't harm them and it gives them the few nutrients cats can't get from meat. You just have to watch for onions garlic and avocados.

RE: People Food...

evasmummy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:34:08 GMT

Our pets have always been given a tiny bit, and I mean tiny, of our dinner when we are finished. Not the veggies, but some chicken, beef or fish. We place a little in their bowls so they can get the taste and it makes them feel good. We never give too much and only after they have eaten their own pet food. I asked the vet about this and he said that it was ok because we don't give them much. Just a taste. Although he did say veggies were ok for the dog but I don't put them down in case she doesn't eat them then the cat will get into the dog bowl and I don't want the cat to have veggies.

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:16:29 GMT

I believe I saw somewhere that avocados are toxic [to cats] too, but you'd have to check that out.

RE: People Food...

Maria3 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:13:41 GMT

I agree with everything PeaLoki&gabe said.

Many cats are allergic to corn. So don't give them anything made of corn.

It's better giving them raw meat or fish and never give them our food.

With fruits some of them are toxic. You should look it up in a book what things are toxic and what others you can give them.

But remember to reduce their normal portion. Don't make them fat

RE: People Food...

PeaLoki&Gabe — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:08:47 GMT

As with all things the key is moderation. A bit of chicken beef or bacon isn't bad for them, as long as they are lean (especially the bacon), and well drained and not cooked with onions or garlic. Onions and garlic even in small doses is toxic to cats. (That makes Doritos a major no-no, the garlic salt on them).

Bacon would give me the biggest concern, as it can easily cause pancreatis, which speaking from personal experience, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy- its excruiatingly painful, and potentially lethal. So be very spare on offering up bacon as a treat. Make sure it is well drained, (put it in the oven on paper towels after frying to get the extra grease out of it or bake it in the oven ala Alton Brown and don't fry it at all.)

Cats are obligate carnivores, they get almost all their nutritional needs met through meat. Raw meat is best, (ever seen a cat cook their mice before eating it?) and their digestive systems are desgined to consume raw meat, so foodborne illness from raw meat is not an issue for them. Few cats (exception being barn cats of a dairy farm) can tolerate milk even though they like it. So give your cat some catsip or milk with the lactase removed. It has taurine added which is good for their eyes and heart.

Garlic, Onion, and especially chocolate should not ever be fed to a cat. (Though my Pea kitty is certain she likes chocolate pudding). cats can't taste "sweet" so the dessert they try and sneak off your plate, or cereal milk they want to drink they want it because you're eating it, not because they can taste it.

People Food...

Raven — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:32:29 GMT

What people foods are dangerous to cats? We give our cats a bit of chicken, beef, bacon, or cheese now and then. Only occasionally and only a small piece or two.

But my boyfriend has also discovered that our male cat likes popcorn and doritos as well. Obviously this is not cat food, so I was just wondering if there was anything dangerous in this junk food.

When I am in the room he won't feed them, but I still see the male cat begging for snacks so obviously my bf is feeding the male cat junk food on the sly when I'm not around.

Are there any articles or websites I could print out to show my bf the dangers of people food for cats?

Thanks,

Raven