Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sweetie (now on a diet) weighs 16 pounds, which is a danger to his health.
    I don't believe he is overeating because he is genuinely hungry;
    it's because of his early days as a stray with insufficient food.
    
    If I had hot fudge sundaes in front of me all the time, I'd
    weight 600 pounds....   We're not talking starvation, here, but
    prudence and a weight that won't cause, as his vet says, skeletal and
    muscular problems.
    
    

        Well....there's "hungry"....and there's "HUNGRY!!!"
    
      My Lukey get's 'hungry'...but NEVER ""HUNGRY!!"".... If this cat
    didn't eat for a week, he'd STILL be overweight... But we do NOT try to
    cut his food...he was almost dead and you could see all of his ribs
    even though he's a long-haired cat when he staggered into our lives. Of
    course, half of his fur was gone also...
    
      So what I figure is that he was already "legally dead"....and if he
    has a few well-filled years and dies HAPPY and WELL FED, then so be it.
    The way he still plays with the little skinny girls though, he'll
    probably outlive me!! He still can motor around pretty darned fast,
    although he DOES cause the house to shake a bit when he jumps around...
    
      I let him be...he's happy...and he loves to talk to us, and so far
    everything he has said was very happy sounding... He even goes out into
    the fenced in yard (chain link) with the dogs on sunny afternoons to
    bask in the rays..and he never tries to get out...
    
      I guess there IS some reson in some cases to make them lose weight,
    but not for our Lukey..
    
    
      JM
      

    Boy, I have to agree that I hate to see a cat go hungry.  I
    feed strays who show up at my back door (even if some it
    may go to larger critters who go bumping around in the night).
    But with my two "kids", Jessica and Alexander, I'd rather
    they cried at me a bit for more treats than give it to them
    and watch them bloat up.  Jessie got up to 14 pounds once
    and the vet bluntly told me I was shortening her life.  That
    really hit home.
    
    Since then they split a smallish can of moist food in the morning and
    at night, with kibble and water to hold them in between.  Except that
    I do catch my husband feeding them sliced turkey or other people
    food as a special treat, and try to keep that as infrequent as
    possible.
    
    It's hard to hear them cry and beg, but when I see how easily
    distracted they are with a toy or a lap and a good scratching,
    I can't bring myself to feel too badly.  All in all those cats
    have a darn good life.
    
    Laura

    Mmmmm. Interesting note....
    
    Rolf is a bit porky. If we want to get BIG prizes at shows, then he has
    to lose weight. I am not prepared to make him unhappy for cosmetic
    reasons. He is not massivley overweight - it does not affect his
    health. We get less prizes when he is shown, and he is happy. I
    actually think some cats on the show bench are too thin, but then I
    like big cats ;-)
    
    If they are seriously overweight, then a SENSIBLE diet is fine. I also
    don't like to hear a cat cry for food when he is STARVING.
    
    
    Just my opinion,
    
    Lisa.

    
    
       I love a porky cat and my next one will be pleasingly plump,
    BUT if a vet says it's going to shorten his little life, well than
    I will agree his food will be smaller amounts and i'm sure with
    his toys & my extra attention, he'll be a very happy cat!
    
    
    "Only my opinion"
    Diana

    Well here's my thoughts,  Scarecrow was a bit under the weather a few
    months back and a trip to the vets showed that he had gained weight and
    was borderline diabetic.  We started him on R/D canned and dry and did
    a recheck in a month.  His sugar level was back to normal but he had
    _gained_ a pound.  I understand the importance of weight in relation
     to sugar level, my dad is also diabetic.  But the reducing diet just
    didn't seem to be cutting it.  My answer... I'm now cooking for my
    cats.  It takes awhile to switch them over but I know they will be
    better off for it.  They can eat unprocessed food, a reasonable amount
    so they aren't always hungry and I know exactly what's in it.  Doesn't
    take long to make, about 10 minutes in the morning and evening feeds
    4 cats easily.
    
    MaryAnne

    Maryanne,
    
    Do you feed them Hamburg & Rice? I've heard a lot of people saying that
    they have to feed this to their cats for various reasons. I want to
    know, because I've heard people food can be bad for them, & then I hear
    about Hamburg & rice! I'm confused.
    
    My kids seem happy & sufficiently fed, but they still hang out in the
    kitchen while I cook supper, then they sit on MY chair, till I give a 
    gentle push! I can't help but give them tid bits of people food when
    they look at me like that!! I'd hate to think it could be damaging to
    their health! Why do some people it is?
    
    FWIW-->My kids are free-fed for the most part. I feed wet food twice
    daily & dry food at all times. If what's down happens to get eaten,
    they get new dry food, but they must wait til dinner time for the
    canned stuff. 
    
    Bon

    Does a cat who begs for food = a hungry or starving cat?
    Does a fat cat = happy cat?
    
    I'd have to say no, in my situation, to both.
    
    Nippa was overweight and very lethargic.  her coat appeared to be
    dull and shedding out continously.  SHe didn't want to do anything
    but sleep.
    
    I changed our feeding routine, reduced her fat intake per the vets
    recomendations and have noticed a big improvement.
    
    Nippa is more active, has a better coat, and a better attitude overall.
    She seems happier.  I think the only reason she begs for food is
    because of the human interaction associated with begging/feeding. 
    Instead of feeding her, I'll play bunny or paper airplane.  
    
    Nippa is by no means starving, she still has some bulges, I feed a 
    good quality food, and the amount recommended by my vet.  I spread it
    over the course of the day, so it may appear that she's succeeding at
    begging.......who knows, your miliage may vary. 

     RE.7
    
    Bon, 
    
    I'm using the recipes outlined in Dr. Pitcairn's book.  I've been
    involved with natural diets for my dogs/cats for about 10 years so I
    sort of use the recipes as a guideline.  I use beef, chicken, liver,
    eggs, cottage cheese, veggies, pasta, yogurt, rice , oatmeal, barley.
    I add natural multi-vitamin powder along with brewers yeast, calcium,
    and oil.  The hardest part was to get the cats to understand that just
    because they didn't hear the can opener didn't mean it wasn't food.
    I did have to hand feed Miss Eff for a couple of meals but this morning
    she was busy helping herself to breakfast while I was busy getting
    ready for work.  The biggest benenfit is the change in attitude.  Cats
    seem more alert, more playful.  I know it's not the thing for everyone
    but I really enjoy making meals for them.
    
    MaryAnne

    Re .9 - what about the specific vitamins/minerals 
            required by cats, i.e. Taurine for the eyes, etc?
    
    (I've tossed around the idea of making my own catfood, but
    the vitamin/mineral requirements...)
    
    Lynne

    I can't imagine cooking for my cats....but of course I
    hate to cook for my husband!  I hate it...I'd rather
    clean toilets!
    
    Sandy

    me too Sandy!
    

    re: .11 & .12
    
    me too!
    
    I have a hard enough time justifying the effort it takes to deal 
    w/ preparing and serving canned food once a day!  I'll take dry
    anyday!   (But I do it anyway......:^)

    Tenzing starts asking for food about an hour before her meal time.  
    She's hardly starving.  But I did have the same concerns as the
    basenoter, particulary when I started her on her diet.  That's part
    of why she got so overweight before I started.  I was dithering 
    about what to do.  But I can tell you that 2 years later, she's 
    almost a really good weight now and she's got tremendous energy.
    She's gone from a laid back lap cat to a playful lap cat.  I
    think she's much happier.  She romps with Ryan as well as sitting
    purring in a lap whenever the opportunity arises.  And she NEVER
    romped when she was fat.  It's like she's a kitten again at 8 years
    of age!
    
    She was definately, from my observation over the years, less happy
    and healthy when she was fat.  And the brief period each day that
    she complains about food is probably more habit than anything else.
    
    Do I feel guilty and/or frustrated when she wants food and it's not
    her meal time?  Yes.  Do I think I'm hurting her by making her wait
    and feeding her a scheduled amount.  No.  The difference in her
    playfulness is very clear evidence to me.  And now my vet doesn't
    yell at me for ruining her health.
    
    Karen.

    
    RE.10
    
    Lynne,
    
    I use Dr. Goodpet vitamin powder. It does contain taurine, etc.
    
    RE.11 & .12
    
    I love to cook!  And when it's just for two people it gets boring.  
    This way I get it out of my system and I'm not making junk food for the
    two of us to eat. ;')
    
    MaryAnne

I think the issue of feeding/over-feeding is particularly delicate for
us because we tend to project our own feelings upon our pet animals.  The
real issues are:

	1) the best health for the animal.  Excess obesity causes organs
	   to fail, joints to become arthritic and extremely painful,
	   and, in general, destroy the quality of life for the animal.
	   If your cat is laying around sleeping all day, what kind of
	   life is that?  It's easy to say, "he'll die happy", but in
	   reality, the death may not be so clean or quick...it can take
	   a long painful time to happen....long, painful time for the
	   cat before YOU know that the cat is sick.  Cats don't display
	   their illnesses until they are really serious...we have to keep
	   the realities of the situation in mind.

	   by the same token, if your cat is active, alert, clever,
	   and playful...and a little rounder around the middle than the
	   perfect cat is, then you probably don't have to worry...AND
	   A GOOD VET WILL TELL YOU THAT.  If you have a vet that is
	   obsessed with the animal's weight, you may have a vet with
	   some very personal, unresolved issues concerning weight...
	   find a vet who will address the animals HEALTH, not the
	   animal's WEIGHT.

	2) when cats cry and circle our feet, they may be begging for
	   food because they are hungry, or they may be begging for a
	   taste because they want attention.  In most cases, attention
	   is much more the issue than food.  Cats are permanently
	   "kittens" because they depend on us for food and care....this
	   means they behave like kittens around us - and we like them
	   because they do.  One place they can usually get our attention
	   is in the kitchen - they know that because this is generally
	   where they get their food - and a place where we are standing
	   in a small area and can be "caught" by the much smaller animal.
	   Add to that the fact that we usually go to the kitchen when we
	   first get home and first thing in the morning when we've been
	   "ignoring" our feline companions due to sleep...and the kitchen
	   becomes a place of powerful attraction.  Don't be so sure your
	   can is starving when he/she circles your feet and cries while
	   you are in the kitchen....this may very well be a cry for
	   play time or just even a snuggle.

	3) separate YOUR feelings from this issue.  Your cat isn't human
	   and, while capable of great emotion and affection, he/she
	   doesn't think and feel like you do.  Your cat has a full time
	   job being a cat - with cat priorities, etc.  If you keep
	   this awareness, then the issue of feeding can be clearly
	   addressed....if you project your feelings on the cat, you
	   are giving the cat a far-too-heavy burden to carry.

    I got a big lecture from the vet regarding TK.... until she put him on
    the scale.  One look at this cat and you would swear he is over 20
    pounds.  He is very round, but really a large cat overall with heavy
    boning.  He is only about 15-16 lbs, and I say only because he does
    look much heavier.  I try to monitor his intake but since he goes
    outdoors he does have a bit more leeway than a strictly indoor cat.  He
    still runs and plays and chases leaves... and the spayed female who
    lives behind us :^) !!
    
    I would like to second D's advice about cutting back on the canned
    food.  Mine beg for it, but once served they would eat a few bites and
    the rest would dry up and go to waste.  I only give (2) 3 oz. cans per
    day split between the three of them... and believe me this is plenty! 
    The rest of the time they free feed on Iams and Max cat and
    occassionally a supermarket brand as a treat.  They love Alpo and the
    new Deli-cat.  Kelsey will usually beg for more canned but after so
    many times at wasting it I stopped giving in and he does eventually stop
    crying and eat his dry food... which he likes plenty... he simply will
    get away with whatever he can if I don't exercise appropriate
    discipline!!
    
    It's hard to say no to them... but necessary sometimes for their own
    well being.
    
    

    Re .15 - where do you get the powder?
    
    and, what type of recipes are they?
    
    Lynne 
    
    

	Until I started reading this notes file, I had never heard of 
	overweight cats, putting cats on diets, or diet cat food. 

	The vet has always said that "dogs can overeat, but cats don't".    
    
	There is wet food, dry food, water, and water/milk mix down for my cats
	all the time. If they haven't eaten it at the next feed time, I throw
	it away and put down fresh. the bowls are rarely empty.
	
	They cats get 1 softboild egg a week, and a lot of beef/lamb/liver,
	although they stop eating when they're full. I also know that one set of
	neighbours put out fresh coley, and the other set, gourmet tinned food
	for them.

	They eat a reasonable amount, but they're definately not overweight, and
	don't overeat.

	What causes some cats to overeat?

	Heather

    I've only read 4 replies so far so if this is a repeat of what someone
    has already said, sorry.
    
    If your cat is "HUNGRY!!" and is seriously overweight I would suggest
    that checking his/her thyroid function is in order.  
    
    My parents' shepherd/husky mix, Mindy, was diagnosed as hypothyroid
    years ago.  She weighed 90 lbs (should have weighed 50), my mother
    was feeding her 1 cup of meal a day and she was so hungry she was
    eating the furniture.  The vet got after my mother about her weight
    and when my mother told him what she's getting fed he raised an eyebrow
    and took some blood to check her thyroid.
    
    At almost 12 years old she weighs 50 lbs and is still very healthy and
    happy.  She did have to go through surgery twice for her knees about
    2 years ago and came through with flying colors.
      Nancy 

    I should add that Mindy gets about 2 cups of meal a day, and an
    occasional doggie bisquit and doesn't seem "HUNGRY!!".
    

    re: why do cats overeat - 
      In Bob's case I think its because he was a stray with parasites
    who never knew where his next meal was coming from.  Other cats, like
    some humans, just like to eat.  
    
    In some cases its more lack of activity than overeating that's the
    problem.  I would also say that boredom contributes to overeating in
    cats just as it does in humans.
    
    Finally, like humans, some cats tend to gain weight easier than others.
    In the wild this extreemly efficient use of calories is a benefit, but
    in domestic life it can make for a "fat cat".
      Nancy DC
    

    With seven I find it very hard to determine "how much is too much".
    I would like someone's opinion if I am feeding too much or too little.
    I do have a few skinny cats...and a few that are rounded...and a few
    that think I'm starving them.
    
    First the cats.  4 of them are approximatley 1 year old.  2 of them
    are approximatley 2 years old...and then there is Barkley the old man!
    
    Current feeding scheduled:
    
       o 1 6oz can opened in the morning and split amongst 7
       o 1 6oz can opened in the night and split amongst 7
       o Tender vittles moist and Science Diet dry is left out all day
       o The treat is tuna fish twice a week....and of course a few
         Pounces/Bonkers now and then.
    
    
    Does that sound sensible for 7 cats???   Is tuna healthy for the cat...
    I buy the chunky light in water.  
    
    Sandy

    	I feed my 2 cats 1 1/2 6 oz cans of moist cat food before leaving
    for work in the morning, and I give them dry food to nibble on when I
    get home.  Pixie (the male) is a little overweight (but then so am I),
    and Dixie (the female) is just right.  Geez, based on what some other
    people are feeding their cats, it looks like I am overfeeding them!!!
    
    
    	Paul, Pixie, and Dixie

    
    RE.18
    
    Lynne and Nancy ,
    
    I had Dr. Pitcairn's book on the counter this morning and just forgot 
    to bring it in.  I _promise_ to grab it on my way out tomorrow!
    The book is available in some health food stores but will enter
    publiser etc. in case you need to order it.  
    
    I started using Dr. Goodpet when I was taking my dogs to a holistic vet
    in Hingham, MA.  Now I just order it through the company.  (in CA)
    
    I will enter one or two of the recipes tomorrow but please remember...
    I am not an animal dietition or a vet, and I suggest that you read Dr.
    Pitcairn's book as it contains tables and specifics about proper diet.
    I will also list some other books that I use that contain some
    interesting alternative information.  I will be glad to copy the
    ingredients of the vitamin powder for anyone who wishes to check with
    their vets.  I am very fortunate that my local "traditional" vet is
    open to my "practices" and I also do phone consultations with Dr.
    Pitcairn's office for my dogs and one of my cats.
    
    MaryAnne

    Sandy & Paul....
    I split a 6 oz. can between my two kids each morning & then again each
    night. I feed dry food at all times. They usually get milk, unless I 
    notice soft stools, then I eas off for a few days. They get fresh water
    twwice a day too. I don't feel like I'm feeding to much or too little. 
    They don't eat a lot of the dry stuff I leave down, (Most of it goes in 
    the trash) so I guess if I eased up on the canned, they'd eat more dry,
    & that would be better for tabithas teeth. But she'd rather starve than
    not get EXACTLY what she wants!
    
    1 can between 7 cats? aren't you afraid that one of them is being
    piggy, and hogging all of the others (maybe a smaller kitty's) food?
    If a small cat is getting bullied out of it's food, it'll get even
    smaller. I have to be careful of that w/ my kids, & I only have two.
    Callie (the 12 week old wonder muffin) snarfs down food so fast, I have
    to be sure she's not taking Tabithas too! Tabitha is a year old.
    
    The funniest thing happened last night. The kids were hanging out in
    the kitchen at supper time & we gave them a couple pieces of chicken.
    (teeeeeeeeny ones) Callie came right over to Tabitha & took it RIGHT
    OUT OF HER MOUTH!!! Tabitha didn't do a thing! She let her have the 
    chicken & came over to Dave & asked for a new piece! Now that's
    sharing! ;*)
    
    Bonnie

    
    I feed Bailey Hill's W/D Dry (he won't eat it canned), about 1/4 cup
    two times a day.  I have begun to supplement this with egg YOLKS
    because of flakiness of his skin due to the high fiber/low fat
    content in the W/D. Half cup a day certainly doesn't sound like much,
    but by looking at him you'd never guess that's all he ate.  My vet was
    surprised to find out that he had gained weight at his last visit as 
    most cats do lose weight on it. Hmmmmmmmmmmm, kinda like him mum....;')
    

    1 can shared between seven cats...am I afraid the bigger ones are 
    stealing their food.  No....I am the lunch time monitor....I literally
    stay in the kitchen with the small guys  on one side of the room and
    the big guys on the other.   The only time they steal...is when one
    of them walks away...the other one might finish the food.  that's
    normally Tamba (16lbs) and Barkley (15lbs) who are the gluttons!
    The weight of the other cats vary from 9 lbs to 11lbs.  
    
    I do leave Tender Vittles and Science Diet down at all times...and
    I can honestly say...I very seldom have to throw anything away.
    They love the Science Diet!!!!! I think I throw away more can
    then I do dry!
    
    Sandy
    
    

    
    Well, Sandy.  I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who stands guard
    while the cats eat. :-)
    
    I have 6 (+ 1 dog) and because 4 of them would eat all day if I left food
    down(and one of the 4 has to be on canned food only because of a urinary
    problem he had a couple of years ago), I can't leave free access to dry
    food all day.  I have a couple of them who swap dishes half way through
    feeding (Thai & Jamie), Midnight stays with his until done, D.P. (my 
    cat with the urinary problem) finishes his and TRIES to steal from
    others but never completes the task, Holly always leaves a little in
    her dish (etiquette of a lady you know ;-), and Buffy is last to finish
    so he's the one I end up guarding most of the time.  Thai, Jamie, &
    D.P. like to form a circle around Buffy hoping he'll get nervous enough
    to leave his dish (the little vultures).  They're all on Science Diet
    Lite (canned and dry); dry in a.m. (except D.P.) and canned for supper.
    
    If I'm lucky, I get to eat my supper by 8 p.m. and THEN I have my own
    food to guard from all those watchful, pleading eyes. ;-)
    
    Pat, Holly, D.P., Thai, Jamie, Buffy, Midnight (& Cookie)

    I made a mistake...this morning when I was feeding the furballs
    I read the can and they are 13oz cans....not 6oz.   Hey...I hate
    measurements.  (maybe that's why I hate to cook)  So I split 1 13oz 
    can in the morning and at night!    
    
    Does anyone have any opinions on giving them tuna (in water..dolphin
    free of course) as a treat twice a week.  I know they love it...but 
    am I doing them more harm then good!
    
    Sandy

    I keep three kinds of dry down at all times, one of them
    being Hills Maint., the other two quality grocery store brands
    for my four "guys".  They also get canned (6 oz) twice a day
    between the four of them.  
    
    Sandy, I treat them with tuna about once a month.  They love
    the water from the tuna, but I drain it because of the high
    salt content.  One can between four isn't a heck of a lot per
    cat, so I do not worry about it.
    
    My adopted visitor gets a 6 oz can only when she shows up 
    in *person* :-), and I leave a bowl of dry for her in the
    barn.  None of the other neighborhood cats are brave enough
    to go in the barn, so she at least gets the dry when she needs
    it.
    
    Lynne
    

    Tuna in water shouldn't hurt the cats, but if you are worried about it
    ask your vet.  Tuna in oil should be avoided.  It can lead to a
    condition called Steatitis.
    
    Jo

    Sandy-
    
    the vet at Angel Memorial (from when I lived in Boston) told me not
    to feed tuna.  Too much Iodine or something....it was almost 5 yrs ago
    (where is this time going.....) .....and I don't really remember.
    
    She suggested the water from the can as a treat as opposed to the
    actual tuna.
    
    Michele & Nippa
    

    
    the following is reprinted without permission as a public service....
    
    cat powder mix: 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
                    1/4 cup bone meal
                    1/4 cup kelp powder
    mix the ingredients together well and store in a sealed jar on a dark
    shelf.  You can substitute 3 tablespoons dicalcium phosphate for bone
    meal.  If you do, feed a little less- a scant teaspoon instead of a
    whole teaspoon- of the powder mix daily.  You can also use alfalfa
    powder as part of the kelp measure.
    
    cat oil mix: 3/4 cup vegetable oil
                 1/4 cup cod liver oil
                 20-40 i.u. vit. E (to prevent spoilage)
    
    shake the ingredients together well in a sealed brown bottle and store
    in the 'fridge.  Olive oil is the preferred veg. oil.
    
    Feline fatty meat menu
    
    1/4 cup cooked brown rice
    1/4 cup (2-3 oz) regular ground hamburger of fatty meat
    2 tablespoons grated or chopped veggies
    1/3 cup creamed cottage cheese
    daily supplements as reccommended
    
    warm up the rice in a saucepan or steamer, adding the meat and veggies
    if they are to be cooked.  Mix in the cottage cheese and supplements
    and serve
    
    lean meat menu for cats
    
    1/3 cooked oatmeal
    1/2 (about 1/4 lb) chopped organ or lean meat
    1 tablespoon grated or chopped veggies
    2 teaspoons butter
    daily supplements as reccommended
    1/4 cup whole milk
    
    warm up the oatmeal in a saucepan or steamer, adding the meat and
    veggies if they are to be cooked.  Mix in the butter and supplements
    and serve.  Give milk on the side.
    
    These are just two of 6 recipes in the book, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete
    Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats.  Richard H. Pitcairn D.V.M.,
    Ph.D, & Susan Hubble Pitcairn   Rodale press  Emmaus PA
    
    Other books I use as reference
    Pet Allergies  Remedies for an Epidemic by Alfred J. Plechner DVM &
    Martin Zucker  published by Very Healthy Enterprises
                                P.O. Box 4728
                                Inglewood CA 90309
    this is also who I order Dr. Goodpet vitamins from
    
    Keep Your pet Healthy the Natural Way by Pat Lazarus
    Keats Publishing Inc.  New Canaan CT
    
    The Very Healthy Cat Book
    Wendell O. Belfield DVM & Martin Zucker
    McGraw Hill Book Co
    
    Bach Flower Therapy  theory and practice
    Mechthild Scheffer
    Healing Arts Press  Rochester VT
    
    Hope this info is helpful
    
    MaryAnne 

    re: .32
    
    What's Steatitis?  Does one can split between three cats every few
    weeks really hurt/
    

  A holistic vet found toxic levels of mercury, among other metals, in my cat.
  I suspect that the mercury accumulated in her system over a period of several
  years (she is 15�) from her having drunk tuna water, with little bits of tuna
  in it, perhaps two or three times a month.  She and I are no longer eating
  tuna!  (The vet attributes the growth of a large cyst in my cat's liver and
  bile duct to this accumulation of metal poisoning.)

  Cindy

    
    
       I can't honestly say what I remember about feeding Tuna to cats,
      (as it's been a long time) but I know it wasn't good, cause my
      little one loves tuna, and her tuna days are long over with.
    
    
    Diana

    RE:  the mercury......how did the vet determine the mercury level?
    A blood test?  Did you have to check your own levels?  I rarely feed
    tuna to my bunch, I try to stick to the chicken, beef,salmon, turkey
    stuff, but boy are they happy when they get it!  I think all cats love
    tuna and would eat a ton if we gave it to them, but we shouldn't.
    Mercury is in a lot of fish now.  I read somewhere that eating just one
    fish from the Great Lakes would give your body more than the normal
    average accumulated amount of mercury that is aquired over a whole
    lifetime. Just one fish!  It could be fatal!
    
                               Denise

    RE: .39

    Yes, Denise, the vet determined the mercury level through a blood test.
    I didn't have my own level checked.  I may be wrong about this, but I
    suspect it is easier for humans to flush toxins from their system than
    it is for felines.  Thankfully, the toxicity in my cat appears now to
    be below the danger level, due primarily to homeopathic treatment.

    Cindy