Do Not Feed Your Catby JennLynn | More from this Blogger 31 Jan 2006 03:56 PM A couple of months ago I was at dinner at an acquaintance's house. Much to my horror, they had two very large cats. I took a deep breath and decided that I could handle it if I just ignored them. This became very difficult because as we sat down to dinner, the cats sat down as well- at the table. I was appalled- why were the cats sitting at the table? I lost my appetite because I couldn't help but wonder if the cats ate off the same plates as the humans. Cats are great I guess but if you are going to be a responsible pet owner you must realize that there are some things that cats cannot eat. Do not feed your cat: Milk - Milk is not toxic to cats but many adult cats are lactose intolerant. This can cause gas, cramps and an upset stomach. Chocolate - Just like with dogs, chocolate is toxic to cats. Tomatoes Onions and Garlic - These can destroy red blood cells and cause anemia. Human Painkillers - I don't know why anyone would give their cat Tylenol but it's highly toxic for cats. Aerosol Sprays - Do not spray anything near your cat's food or water bowl as it most likely contains poison. Raw meat or eggs - You wouldn't digest this so don't give it to your cat. Cats can get E-coli and salmonella. Dry Foods - This can lead to urinary tract problems. Senior and Diet Foods - "These varieties usually have fewer calories per cup because manufacturers have increased the fiber and carbohydrates and reduced protein and fat, compared to adult maintenance diets. This is the opposite of what they really need, and has no scientific foundation. Older and overweight pets need meat, not grains," says nutrition expert Beth Taylor. She also recommends that cats (and dogs) eat a raw diet based on meats and vegetables. Relevantpets tags User Comments  Laura Torres (3958) 01 Feb 2006 03:02 PMReally? No diet cat food? I've been feeding my obese kitty Science Diet Reduced Calorie Hairball Formula Cat Food. Should I switch her back to regular food?  Shoshanna Grey (2785) 01 Feb 2006 03:36 PMYou're saying that dry cat food leads to urinary tract infections? What if I can't afford the canned food or meat from the grocery store? We can hardly feed ourselves at this point!  Lisa P (24013) 06 Feb 2006 02:59 AMI think it is REALLY important to note here that Beth Taylor owns a company that sells "raw food" based pet foods. I hardly think she would be considered an unbiased expert. Making a blanket statement like this based upon one individual's clearly biased opinion is questionable. As for not feeding cats dry food, I believe a longer explanation is necessary. Dry foods are generally more nutrient dense than wet/canned foods and since cats don't drink a whole lot, this density in certain minerals can lead to urinary issues for some cats. According to my research, feeding your cat dry food with some water added can be just as effective as feeding it canned food. I would be irresponsible in my reply if I did not mention that good tooth & gum health for a cat can only be achieved by providing them with at least some dry food on a regular basis. Discuss this article
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