Conference misery::feline_v1

    It isn't clear that table scraps are "better", as there's no guarantee
    that they are nutritionally complete.  A cat's requirements are
    different from a human's.  I'm amazed that Boycat turned up his
    nose at chicken, though.  All the pusses I know _inhale_ chicken.
    

    I agree with Karen.  The better quality cat food is nutritionally
    balanced for cats.  Human food might not have all the vitamins
    necessary to keep your cat healthy.
    
    Also,  why are you now trying to change your cat's eating habits.
    If he has remained healthy all these years, don't do it.  If necessary,
    buy some special diet cat food recommended by your vet.
    
    Karen ......
    
    My White Lightning will NOT eat chicken, fish, or beef from the
    table.  She sometimes will eat cheese or pizza, but not meat.
    
    Sandi (Lightning's & DejaVu's mom)
    

    Re: .2
    
    Maybe White Lightening is a salad maven, like Woolsey, my boss'
    cat.
    

      There are some really funny and interesting notes in this file
    about the unique food habits of cats. They usually do enjoy some
    occasional table scraps and people food, but it is generally
    recommended that cats get their proper nutritional needs from 
    "cat" food. The better brands, as mentioned, are sure to meet the
    nutritional cats of your cat. For his basic diet, I would definately
    recommend he get good cat food.
       Other problems, especially in male cats can occur, like FUS,
    feline urinary syndrome, which is blockage of the urinary tract,
    and quite common. There are many good notes on that subject too.
    The ingredients in some people food can cause such problems. 
    
                                             Denise
    
    

    re: .5
    
    Boy do I know what you mean!!  It's almost to the point where I
    have to put T.C. in another room while I eat so that I don't have
    to put up with his begging!!
    
    Donna
   

    Please feed the cat CATFOOD and don't attempt to make him into your
    garbage disposal.  They do have different nutritional needs, and
    they are also creatures of habit.
    
    Try Science Diet at the vet's--great quality, and the cat actually
    eats less and is satisfied with more.  (And you can get 4-5 meals
    out of one can)
    
    Jane

    
    My sister really has a problem like that too.  She actually does
    put the cats in the bathroom when they eat or have food around.
    Her furries are *impossible* about things like chicken or beef or
    any form of cheese.  To make matters worse, the kids are very "soft
    hearted" and they do slip them scraps.  The end result, however,
    is that her kitties are really bad when there's food around.  Even
    if there isn't any food that they would be interested in, they feel
    that they must check it all out anyway.  I guess I am lucky.  Since
    I am a strict vegetarian, by guys have never been interested in
    what I eat.
    
    Marion

    I do have to put my two kitties in the other room when
    I sit down to eat.  Even when I'm just cooking, I stick
    them in the bedroom, otherwise, I have trouble getting
    them off the counter.............  out of the food..........
    out of my hair........... out from under the feet.........
    ect.......... ect........... ect.............
    
    Katie
    

    re: .8
    
    Marion, as a vegetarian, you'd be *perfect* for Cosette and
    Fantine, who LOVE green beans especially.  I think they think
    the green beans are worms [cats like worms???], because they
    chew on them, fling them about in the air, pounce, and attack,
    and fling them some more...in the process devouring the ends
    of *each* green bean.  I really must speak to them about
    selecting a few choice beans and eating them completely, so
    that the humans are left with a few appetizing bits.
    
    	Penelope

    Hmmm.. Pokie does not seem to like "people food".. except for a
    little piece of cheese, and vanilla ice cream..(haggendazz. or ben
    and jerry's.. my mother (her nana ) thought she was giving her a
    treat one day.. tried to get her to eat some ice cream.. vanilla..
    picture this grey haired lady.. talking baby talk.. saying comee
    see what nana has for you.. and of course my little furry face..
    went over sniffed ,, and looked up at nana.. hit the bowl with her
    paw.. half way across the room.. and said mewor.... meorrrrr..
    my muumy only feed me haggendazz and ben and jerys.. i don't do
    SEALTEST!!!! NANA...!!!!!!!!yucko!!!! pitttoey!!!!!!.. I am
    not going to eat this.....where are kitty treats..!!!!!! and so
    Nana got her a pice of cheese... and they became friends again...
    my mother looked at me and I just don't beleive it!!!!!!.. and of
    course my little Pookie just turned her nose up in the air..
    and sauntered off.. poor nana!!!!!!!
    regards
    Kate

    Re: .8
    
    Coffeemate!  Where's my Coffeemate!  What do you mean, you weren't
    planning to have coffee this morning!?  Meeeeooooooowwwwwwwwwww

    And then you can hold that molasses cookie up just so, so that I
    can crunch off a tasty piece.
    
    Not to mention cornflakes and milk.
        

    Sulkitt didn't eat any people food at all, except for the occasional
    raw green bean (yup, another green bean muncher!).
    
    Then, a couple of years ago, she escaped past an intoxicated roommate
    who was not up to snuff with door discipline.  When I realized she
    had gotten out, I went looking.
    
    It was snowing, so I tracked her pawprints all the way around the
    complex.  In the back of the complex, there were prints leading
    up to *each* sliding glass door, until finally there was a door
    with both human prints and cat prints, and no more trail.
    
    I couldn't find the occupants of that appartment home when I was
    at home, so we waited it out.  They must have let her out after
    the snowstorm, because two days later (two frantic days of calling
    to her and getting the local doberman pup instead!) she showed up
    at the back door. 
    
    We went to put down catfood and welcome her back.  Too late, she
    had dragged our sandwiches off the table and was eating ham and
    swiss on light rye!  Ever since then, she has eaten ANY people food.
    
    I could just imagine the people who took her in for the storm, going
    through their fridge, trying to find SOMETHING my finicky cat would
    eat!  I guess hunger conquered her fussiness, though, and she decided
    people food was ok.
    
    I agree with the previous responses, feed your cat catfood.  I
    certainly couldn't recommend getting your kitty lost in a blizzard
    just to get it to eat table scraps!
    
    Rita
    

>==============================================================================
>Note 1053.12       Boycat don't know what's really good to eat          12 of13
>CIRCUS::KOLLING "Karen, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif."   10 lines  25-JAN-1988 1:29
>                              -< Sweetie's song >-
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    And then you can hold that molasses cookie up just so, so that I
>    can crunch off a tasty piece.



Do you actually let the cat put its mouth on the cookie and then you
eat the rest ?

I'm not grossed out particularly, I just never thought it would be
healthful for me to eat something my cat had mouthed.  But perhaps someone
should start a new topic on this one, something entitled
"do cats have kooties?"

/Eric

    
    No, Sweetie is perfectly capable of demolishing an entire (small)
    molasses cookie into bite size pieces and selecting the pieces that
    meet his approval.  No other life form would consider eating the
    remains.
    

    re: .15  what remains???????  
    
    My two will eat ANYTHING and usually drive me crazy while I'm trying
    to eat.... I try to feed them and then at the same time eat my own
    meal...boy, they sure can eat fast and then its over to my plate
    to see what they can scrounge...
    
    I give them scraps... chicken (they LOVE that) and also cheese,
    but they are also on a strict canned catfood mixed w/hard crunchies
    diet....  they don't complain....  they just eat everything!

    My Persian Puss (when I had him) used to time when I put the chicken
    in the oven....he actually had it figured out when the baking time
    would be done....then as I took out the chicken to let it cool he
    would sit patiently - until the chicken was on the table....then
    forget it!  His claws would be out and he would pull on my leg (ouch!)
    until he got a piece.....now this was a finicky cat...he does not
    like people food except for CHICKEN!!!!  So I called him chicken
    cat....alas he has a new home and is being spoiled rotten.....
    
    re: 14
    
    My aunt used to eat food - let her poodle have a bite and then take
    a bite....GROSS!!!!  I'm sure dogs mouths are cleaner than humans
    but the thought still doesn't sit well!@@@  
    (Geez, mom....I just was through the garbage can I have a bite?)
    
    bobbi
    

    
    Sebastion will watch popcorn, potato chips, or crackers travel from the
    bowl to my mouth.  If I'm too slow, he gets closer and tries to
    intercept.  He has actually come close to pulling the food right out of
    my mouth!  Purring the entire time! The audacity of that cat!  The only
    reason he got that close, is because I wanted to see just how far he'd
    go to get his share.  He went all the way! 
    
    He also tries to make me fumble by batting at the morsel in transit.
    What a brat.  Oh well, at least Claude has manners.
    
    Amy_who's_leaving_for_Disney_World_tonite_so_the_kitties_are_spending
    their_own_vacation_with_friends.  (snif, I miss them already.. waah!)
                                                                         

    As before noted, Milo [the-now-5.5-lb. Macho Marshmallow] could
    be classified as a Strong Willed Child. In the past three months
    he has, however, picked up a few manners around mother & daddy eating.
    
    Until last Friday evening...
    
    I made Orville Reddenbacher microwave cheese popping corn and my
    baby turned into "The Swarm!"  I was laughing at one point which
    was a mistake. He snagged a piece from out of my partially open
    mouth -- and a piece of my tongue as well [OUCH!]
    
    Usually when I make The Ouch Noise, Milo immediately stops what
    he's doing; but the lure of that popcorn was just too strong.
    
    He isn't all that interested in regular popcorn, but the microwave
    stuff -- any flavour -- excites him.
    
      Annie