updated 101 days ago by FluffyandRomeo | 156 views | 2 meows

Bad food for kitty

Tuna:
Contrary to popular belief, tuna is NOT good for cats. The vegetable oil in tuna contains polysaturated fat, which is too difficult for a cat to metabolize. Tuna is also high in mineral salts that can form bladder stones. It also robs the cat's body of vitamin E. If enough of this vitamin is depleted the cat becomes at risk of developing a painful condition called "steatitis." This condition causes the fat in a cat's body to become hard. The first visual signs include a greasy, dull coat. The lumps of fat begin to develop under the skin. As the condition progresses the cat becomes extremely sensitive to being touched and movement is painful. A cat who becomes a "tuna junkie" will eventually refuse to eat anything else. It's not unusual for tuna-addicted cats to become nervous or aggressive.
Source: Twisted Whiskers by Pam Johnson

Tap water:
It's best to feed your cat either natural spring water or distilled water, because the water from your tap has metals and other contaminates that aren't good for kitty. Stainless steel or glass food and water bowls are the best choices. Cats have an excellent sense of smell, and since their noses are so close to their mouths, they work hand in hand. Often cat's don't like plastic because it makes their food/water smell like plastic, (and they're also harder to keep clean, and bacteria will remain in the bowl). Also, if the bowl is too deep/narrow the cat may refuse to use it because their whiskers are very sensitive and they don't like them touching the side of the bowl.

Source: Twisted Whiskers by Pam Johnson

And of course always leave your toilet seat down. Many cats have been known to like to drink out of the toilet. This is not safe for reasons such as the bacteria as well as any toilet bowl cleaners you may use. Many cleaners contain bleach; which is something that some cats seem to love the smell of.

Cow's milk:
Cats must acquire a taste for dairy products. Although some cats obviously enjoy cow's milk, many cats do not. It's important to remember that cow's milk differs from the milk kittens get from their nursing mother. Cat's milk contains almost three times as much protein as cow's milk. Orphan kittens fed only cow's milk will not survive because they are not getting sufficient protein in their diet. If you find yourself in the position of surrogate cat-mom, make sure you feed the little ones a nutritionally adequate diet. Consult your veterinarian or feed the kittens one of the commercial products designed for this purpose. Cow's milk can occasionally be a problem for cats that do enjoy it. Some adult cats cannot effectively digest cow's milk, (lactose intolerance) which can result in diarrhea. The diarrhea should stop after you remove milk from your cat's diet. But if the diarrhea persists, lactose intolerance may not be the problem, and you should consult your veterinarian.
Here's an example of a good alternative… artificial cat milk that can be bought at a pet store: http://www.terrificpets.com/pet_supplies/cat/health-care/replacement-milk/
Source: http://www.petshealth.com/dr_library/catfood.html

Chocolate:
Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are suitable for cats. Chocolate contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for cats and other domestic pets, these chemicals can, in rare cases, be deadly.
One problem is that cats in general find chocolate very tasty and so, it is important not to feed it to them, otherwise they will eat what you give them up to the point where it poisons them.
Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can cause the pet's heart rate to increase or it may cause the heart to beat irregularly, both of which can be dangerous to the animal. The level of theobromine present in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet.
There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can contribute to the development of obesity in your cat. A cat can lose its appetite for its normal food if it eats chocolate. The largest problem is though the fact that chocolate contains the chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical builds up in the cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their bodies as quickly as people can. Many cat owners would simply expect their pet to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate but few realize its lethal potential.
Further problems which can arise from chocolate poisoning are Diuresis, (increased urine production), diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, depression, and muscle tremors. These are signs which must be recognized by any cat owner so that the cat is not fed too much chocolate.
Treatment for chocolate poisoning in its advanced stage can be very unpleasant for both the cat and the owner of the cat, so it is much better to be safe and to cut down chocolate consumption of your cat to a minimum. If you do have worries that your cat has consumed large quantities of human chocolate it would be wise to consult your vet - pronto. Spotting the symptoms early on can be very beneficial and can give the cat a much better chance of surviving any poisoning which may have occurred.
If you wish to feed your cat chocolate, there are alternate "chocolate" treats for cats which are produced by some pet food manufacturers. They will either use a vegetable substitute made to taste and look like chocolate, or they will take out the theobromine, or use greatly reduced, safe levels in the chocolate treats they produce. While a very small amount of chocolate may not be harmful to some cats, it is always safest to avoid giving any to them at all.
Source: http://petcaretips.net/cat-chocolate-poisoning.html

Table scraps:
1. Some human foods are toxic to cats, even in small amounts, such as onions or chocolate.
2. Most human food is either too highly spiced, or too fat-laced to be good for cats. Even though the food may smell appealing, tummy aches or vomiting might be the end result.
3. A cat regularly fed human food will either lose his taste for his own food, or be too full to eat it. Either way, he will lose the essential nutrients, including taurine, so necessary for cats to survive and thrive.
4. Allowing cats to eat "at the table" is creating your own home-grown monster. You may find your guests appalled at having a cat at the table, and your cat will be miffed at being banished.
Source: http://cats.about.com/od/catfoodandnutrition/f/tablescraps.htm

Dog food:
There are some who believe that it is all right to feed dog food to cats. There are others who feel that it is all right to feed cat food to dogs. It is time to set the record straight on the nutritional habits of our favorite furry family friends. "Cats are very peculiar in their dietary requirements," says Dr. Allan Paul, small animal Extension veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana. "They are not small dogs."
The first major difference between cats and dogs, explains Dr. Paul, is that cats are true carnivores, requiring a diet mainly of meat and meat products. Dogs are omnivores, having the ability to exist on a diet of meat and plant products.
"There are certain nutrients that cats need that can only be found in animal sources," claims Dr. Paul. "Dog foods are higher in grain products and lack some of these essential nutrients."
Taurine is an essential amino acid that is crucial for a cats health and is only found in animal tissues. Without taurine in the diet, cats can experience heart problems, blindness, and respiratory problems. Dr. Paul remarked that the blindness caused by a lack of taurine in the diet was first seen in cats that were fed strictly dog food.
The next nutrient Dr. Paul mentioned was vitamin A. Dogs have the ability to convert beta-kerotene to vitamin A. Cats on the other hand need pre-formed vitamin A in their diet, which can only be found in animal tissues.
Arachidonic acid, a necessary fatty acid, can be synthesized by a dog using linoleic acid. The cat is unable to do this and needs to ingest arachidonic acid in their diet. This, too, can only be found in animal tissues.
Finally, Dr. Paul stated that cats have a much higher protein requirement than dogs because they use protein as an energy source. "Because of all of these differences, you should not feed dog food to your cat," states Dr. Paul. "Because cat food is not formulated for dogs, you should not feed cat food to your dog. If you would like further information on this topic, contact your local veterinarian.
Source: http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=189