Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi this is me again...from entry #3499.0. This is my first time
    entering a note in the notesfile and somehow messed up on my entry!!
    Anyway.....my kitty, Sabrina, loves my German Shepards dog food.
    I feed him EUKANUBA and her Blue Seal cat Krunchies. She will eat
    the Krunchies sometimes but prefers the EUKANUBA. My dog and I don't
    mind her preferance in food but is it o.k. for her?? Maybe she wants
    to be a German SHepard when she grows up!!!!! 
    Thanks for any info...

    
    hello......< Note 3499.1 by XCUSME::MINTON >
                             -< OOPS!!! ME AGAIN. >-.......
    No probs. Its made of the same stuff and my old cats would eat it
    in preference to their own anyday!
    
    Bit embarrasing watching them bury bones but  you'll get used to
    it:-)
    
    Phil[@]

    Actually, it is NOT good for a cat to eat a diet composed primarily
    of Dogfood.  Cats need a diet higher in protein (and this is why
    its bad for dogs to eat catfood) and they need other nutrients -
    like taurine - that may be lacking in the dogfood.  Perhaps you should
    try another catfood that she'll like better.  I've noticed that my
    crew will eat the Blue Seal cat care if they're hungry, but they
    aren't very enthusiastic about it.
      Nancy DC

    +++++++Well we are having a bad day today,arnt we Nancy:-)
    ......    Actually, it is NOT good for a cat to eat a diet composed primarily
    of Dogfood.
    
    I am going to disagree with you for once. Our old cat used to pinch
    the dogs food, leaving him ( a Boxer dog) to suffer her food. This
    went on for 3+ years and she never seemed to be poorly. I admit
    she had cat crunchie biscuits down which may have supplimented her
    diet but these where put down as a matter of course, not as an
    additive.
    
    If you think about the cousins of the cats and dogs, Lions, Tigers,
    Wovlves etc. They both eat the same diet.E.G. Meat.
    
    I have this sneeking suspision that cat/dog food manufacturers do
    use the same items, but may well insert other additives to pamper
    the owners into beliving they are feeding their pets a different
    style of food whereas it really is one in the same thing.
    
    Oh well, enough Soapboxing for a Friday, I'm off to the shops to
    get my crew a big Mac 'n' fries for supper:-)))))))))))))
    
    ITS THE WEEKEND TOMMORROW!!!!
    
    Bye all...........     Phil[:-)]

    I have a question about my cats food.  All she will eat is Science Diet
    Dry or IAMS dry. I usually mix the two together.  I have tried repeatedly
    to give her some wet food by itself, or mixed in the dry but she won't 
    even touch it.  She won't touch people food either.   I've tried sauteeing
    chicken liver, cooked turkey, ground hamburger but she's not interested 
    in the least.  Is the dry food that she is getting nutrientaly
    complete?  Should I not worry anymore about it?

    re: .last
    
    	All I've ever fed my cats as a regular diet is dry food, and
    the occasional bowl of milk.  All have done quite nicely and have
    been very healthy.  Smoke, my oldest, has eaten only dry cat food
    since birth nearly 11 years ago.  She's never been ill except for
    the occasional runny nose in the winter time.
    
    	Occasionally I'll feed the lot some table scraps or leftovers,
    and they also seem to supplement thier diet themselves with pickings
    from the outside (i.e. birds & small animals).  Regular beverage
    is water, with maybe one or two bowls of milk per week for the group
    (total of 3 furfaces right now).
    
    	It has been my experience that cats will instinctively eat what
    thier bodies tell them is required.  If all your cat wants is dry,
    then that's probably all that's necessary right now.  I tend to
    trust the animal, unless obviously ill.
    
    	My $0.02
    
    	Bob McQ.
    

    It is true that cats require taurine in their diets.  Dogs do not
    require taurine.  Cat food has taurine in it, dog food does not.
    Lack of taurine in the diet can lead to blindness, and has also
    been associated with cardiomyopathy.  Cardiomyopathy can be fatal.
    
    If your cat eats an occassional bite of dog food, it won't be a problem
    but a diet that consists solely of dog food could impair her health
    over time.  
           
    Jo
    

    >	It has been my experience that cats will instinctively eat what
    >thier bodies tell them is required.  If all your cat wants is dry,
    >then that's probably all that's necessary right now.  I tend to
    >trust the animal, unless obviously ill.
    
    
      I also agree that a diet of all dry, while higher in ash and
    calories, is fine for your cat provided s/he is healthy. 
    
    I did want to relate some information I read in one of the cat magazine
    concerning feline diets.  To make a long study short, what they 
    found was that there is a critical time in kittenhood when the kitten
    learns what is "food" and what it should eat.  Kittens that were
    fed an extreemly limited diet would refuse to eat anything else
    later in life.  What their preferred diet consisted of was 
    directly linked to what foods they were given during this critical
    period.  The moral:
      Finicky cats are made not born.
    
    So I don't know if you can assume that a cat will eat only what's
    good for it.
      just my 2�
      Nancy DC

    I had a feline visitor last week.  She had been raised on Iams, and
    would not touch C&H's wet food or milk.  She did prefer their water
    dish to her own.  Hobbes had no inhibitions about the Iams, Spook
    would eat anything he could find.
    
    Calvin, Hobbes, visitors, and ed

    hmm.. HRH is not really "finicky".. we call it  "selective dining".
    Happy is also "selective". in the sense that if is in her plate,
    that is selective enough... and Preschie likes(read that  to mean
    will have) what the  big girls are eating.
      Pookie never ate canned food,,  Happy prefers canned food,,
     about 2 monthes after Happy arrived, HRH gave canned food(S/D,
    C/D)  a try.. as long I "clean her ruff".. as soon as 
    something falls on it and change her  bib, as soon
    as something falls on it.. she will eat it..  as a matter
    of fact.. she does really like the S/D.. As you well
    might imagine" what goes on at  "mealtime.." Preschie
    and Happy eating contently, and HRH periodically wanting
    me to clean her ruff or change her bib, so she may continue
    eating..
    Kate

    gosh, and I thot that The Lovely Pip was the only one that insisted on a
    clean bib a all times! 
    
    Deb

     Deb,, apparently they have  "quite a bit in common".. including
    their choice of Kitty Council as well.. How is Argus these days?.
    Kate

    
    Yes, but you know that HRH pookie won't let me see her in her bib?  I
    mean really, I can hold her, (I am so honored) but can not see her in
    her bib.  She really is the most regal cat!
    
    Feline fine,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

    Argus is still svelte, but he is currently mumbling something about
    suing me for abuse, cruelty, neglect, etc. Seems that I took Friday
    off and had the audacity to sleep late, thus causing him to miss his
    most important meal of the day (breakfast). He didn't feel that "doing
    brunch" was just as good, especially since he didn't get any more than
    he would have for breakfast.

    He also feels that by putting him on a diet, I'm ruining his "fat cat"
    reputation, and as an ambulance chaser, er, officer of the court, I am
    defaming his character.

    Deb

    Deb, I had heard that HRH  is "toying" with the idea of keeping
    Argus on a "retainer..".. Apparently his "per call rates have
    increased.. and according to what I heard about what happened
    at Happy's birthday party.. and the "Bridge game" the following
    week.. Pookie  has some concerns. Rumor has it That Happy
    and Spots Spingler have decided that they will never, ever
    play Bridge, and that the POKER game is getting to be  "old paw"..
    they have decided to "work with numbers" so to speak.. Apparently..
    Preschie is involved..Pookie  "feels" that having Argus
    on retainer is less expensive,, according to her  being
    on retainer will enhance his "career as an officer of the court.. 
    giggle.. giggle..
    Kate. who is feeling silly today,, but I am concerned.. I have found
    traces of "betting slips, paperbags, a book of  kitty names.. hmmm..
    and I do know that Preschie has told me that Happy and Spots
    have promised that she will have her little 3wheel bicyclesooner by
    playing "their game" versus that Dumb old Bridge  game..

    
    I am concerned too.  Especially after the afore mentioned birthday
    party and "Bridge game"  Spot now has a criminal record, Panther is
    suing me for raising a juvenile delinquent (Spot) she also wants to
    renegotiate her "contract"  (more treats, more walks on her leash, more
    quiet time with Mummie and less time with "that criminal")  sigh, I
    expect that Panther will also send the bill from Argus to me.  She
    blames me for the rowdy behavior of her "room mate Spot". 
    
    I hope she doesn't decide to have me declared an unfit mother.  ;-(
    
    Feline Depressed and under threat of Kitty law suit
    
    Sue (Pun intended :-) & Panther & Spot #3462 I don't think she wants to
   					    wear stripes!
    

    Gosh, I don't know how to apologize to you folks for Argus. It is had
    to believe that that sweet little(?) pussycat became such an ambulance
    chaser. I almost choked when I saw his TV ad with an 800 number.
    Perhaps you've seen it? Argus J. Pussycat & Associates, 1-800-SUE-THEM ?

    Deb

    Deb, There was one little itty bitty thing I forgot to mention..
    well the 800# emanates from Trump TOWERS!!!..Apparently the only
    way HRH could convince Argus to go on retainer, was to promise
    him  "very nice place with a wonderful view.... I did ask
    (read that inquire) HRH who was footing the bill here for that lovely
    office.. she replied Mummy, really who else but my dear dear friend,
    THE DONALD.. and we also get "free air fare on the Trump shuttle"..
    oh and before I forget, I need a new credit card,,  get one by
    thursday!!!.. Harumph..
    Kate

    Hmmmm; that explains why he stopped hounding me for an office on top of
    the Hancok Building.
    
    I gotta have a long talk with that cat.
    Deb

    I found this in the March 20,1990   Woman's Day.
    
    "Poisonproofing for Pets"  by Dr. Michael Garvey, Chairman of the 
                               department of medicine at New York Citys
                               Animal Medical Center.
    
    
    - A diet of Dog Food can be FATAL to cats.  It does not contain enough
      protein or fat.
    
    
    
    Pam
    

    Thanks for all the info on dog food vs cat food for a kitty. Sabrina
    doesn't eat just the dog food. She eats about half and half. She
    also has a LOVE for potato chips. Also she loves to steal pocket
    change. She is a riot when playing cards for pennies. She jumps
    up right in the middle of the table, grabs a penny and runs off
    with it...then returns for more. My house guests think this is a
    form of cheating. Guess I will have to take her to Atlantic City!
    
    Mickey