We stopped buying cat food.

[hiaasenrocks]

The risk is too great that something not on the list today will be on it tomorrow.

So, for now, the cats are eating canned tuna -- whatever's on sale. :)

[hiaasenrocks]

1. Crap. Sorry. I meant for this to go under the pet food thread.

[Double T]

2. I guess ingesting mercury is better than rat poison.

[hiaasenrocks]

4. Run for your lives! Mercury!

:eyes:

[piesRsquare]

3. NO NO NO NO

Do NOT feed your cats canned tuna!

They will probably gobble it up like they've been starved, then later throw it all up on your carpet!

Fish is NOT good for cats...kestrel91316 has plenty to say about that, too.

Buy CAT FOOD. Dry cat food is safe. Science Diet canned pate-style chicken and liver is safe and healthy.

There's a link to an entire list (and an entire list) of safe cat food posted on my blog.

Updated info on pet food recall: http://2blackcats.wordpress.com

[hiaasenrocks]

5. We switched to "cat food" when we got these cats.

I previously had two cats who ate nothing but canned tuna their whole lives. One died when she was 18, the other died at 17. Our only irregular vet visits were your basic injuries that outdoor cats suffer. Other times, they received clean bills of health.

Never had a problem with the tuna.

[TZ]

14. That was then...

Mercury contamination is much more of a problem these days than in the past. I have had several different unrelated vets tell me don't do Tuna (or other fish) on a regular basis. They caution pregnant women not to eat this stuff and cats are much smaller and therefore much more prone to having problems with toxins in their systems.
:-(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. Tuna on a regular basis is unhealthy for cats. From the ASPCA

http://www.lenhumanesoc.org/Tips/ASPCA-Tuna.htm






WE'RE TALKING TUNA: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FOR YOUR CAT?


Several cat caretakers visiting ASPCA Pet Nutrition
online have inquired about feeding tuna to their animal companions. Mindy Bough, veterinary technician for the ASPCA Pet Nutrition and Science Advisory Service, dishes out the facts on this savory feline fave:

"An occasional tuna treat for your cat is generally harmless," says Bough. "However, if a large part of the cat's diet consists of tuna--or if the cat is fed tuna exclusively--some problems are likely to arise."

Tuna does not contain significant amounts of vitamin E, for example, so too much of the fish can lead to vitamin E deficiency, resulting in yellow fat disease, or steatitis. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fever and hypersensitivity to touch, due to inflammation and necrosis of fat under the skin. Felines who are fed too much tuna can develop other nutrient deficiencies, too, because most de-boned fish are lacking in calcium, sodium, iron, copper and several other vitamins.

Mercury, frequently present in tuna, also presents a potential danger. "At low levels, this may not be a concern," explains Bough, "but if tuna is fed nearly exclusively, it could pose significant problems."

The bottom line? "I recommend premium commercial food for domestic cats," Bough says. "These foods are formulated to meet all of a cat's dietary needs. Then you can feed an occasional tuna treat for your pet's enjoyment. And remember," she adds, "no more than five to ten percent of a cat's diet should ever be table food."

[Lorien]

27. Science Diet is no better than Friskies

Take a look at their "Premium" ingredients:

Ingredients
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.


CORN as the second ingredient??? Cats get NO nutrition from corn, corn gluten meal, or brewers rice-in fact, many vets believe that high carb diets cause diabetes in cats. Chicken by-product meal is leftovers from the meat industry; beaks, feet, waste, etc.

The extra $$ you spend on Science diet, Iams, or Eukanuba goes towards advertising and the heavy lobbying of veterinarians.

By comparison, here's what's in a organic, human grade pet food called "Prairie Nature's Variety freeze dried raw diet":

Ingredients
Chicken, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Hearts, Pumpkinseeds, Ground Chicken Bone, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Chicken Eggs, Montmorillonite Clay, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Kelp, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Persimmons, Olive Oil, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Inulin, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Sage, Clove

Organic, human grade pet foods made in small batches are pretty much the only way to go these days. There is less oversight of the food industry-both for pets and humans-than ever before.

For more on this topic, check out this article:

POLLUTED PET FOOD

Commercial pet food and stock feed contain a cocktail of dead domestic animals and deadly environmental toxins.

I'm not going to post these short articles, because they are a bit TOO disturbing (animal shelters sending pet remains to rendering plants for use in pet foods and other vile practices). Here's a link if you feel you need to know more:
http://www.frrhealthypet.com/id35.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. No! Don't feed your cats tuna, except once in awhile for a treat.

It will make them sick if they eat it too often: http://www.connollyac.com/showpracfaq.cfm?FAQID=168&Private=0

[hiaasenrocks]

7. See my response above.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Well, that's not my opinion -- I'm not a veterinarian

nor do I play one on TV. But everything I've read, written by veterinarians, and everything my own vet has said, suggests strongly that cats shouldn't eat a lot of tuna. Don't take my word for it, and I'm glad your cats have been healthy, but although my guys get a little as a treat now and then, I'll take my vet's advice.

[hiaasenrocks]

10. With the other cats, I wouldn't have continued had my

vet advised against it. His "OK" and my first-hand experience leads me to a different opinion.

I appreciate the concern, though. :)

[pennylane100]

9. There are some pet food manufacturers that have higher standards

than most of the well known brands. They include California Natural, Canidae, Innova and artemis. You can look up their web sites for nutritional information.

We currently feed our dog Canidae and according to their web site there are no problems with their product and they tell their customers not to worry about the current crises. Hope this helps.

[CurtEastPoint]

11. Buy INNOVA cat food..dry...they love it and it's HI PROTEIN/LO CARB

It's most like the obligate carnivore diet that cats need.
Please... no tuna for the kitties! Tuna JUICE, yes.

[CountAllVotes]

29. I've got a bag of Innova!

The cats seem to sort of like it but seem to be into the Purina Kitten Chow thing right now. I really want to get away from NutraMax!

Is there just one type of Innova dry food for cats or do you know?

The ingredients are what made me buy it and it was a little bit more to buy than NutraMax but I don't care about the price.

Thanks for the :thumbsup: on this product, I'll try pushing it on the cats more. They will eat it if the other stuff is gone I should think.

On edit: I agree! TUNA juice is GOOD! :D

[PhilipShore]

12. Don't

I am not a vet, but I recently took my cat to a vet for -- similar problems, on the News, but she has no Kidney problems -- but I have to change her diet, so I picked Halo Pets holistic food, Spots Stew For Cats, made with USDA approved plants with human grade ingredients.

I purchased it from VitaminShoppe -- and here is a link for the Halo company, too.

http://www.halopets.com/">Link

[flyingfysh]

13. we do fine with Friskies canned food

and Costco dry food. We've been using them for years, with no ill effects at all for our cats. We also give them Fancy Feast occasionally, they love it. I get all of these at Costco.

[Booster]

24. I have to agree with you on Friskies. My cat will be 21 in a couple

of months; been to the vet once in her entire life to be fixed and other than that has never had any kind of problem at all. I can tell that her hips are starting to bother her a little just by the way she walks, but mostly all she eats is Friskies or Whiskers and she still thinks she's a kitten - talks up a storm too when she's hungry.

[TZ]

26. Whats got into that cat?...LOL

Best cat food marketing ever. I love the Friskie's commercials they did that way.:)

[Booster]

28. She starts about 5am walking totally around my body on the bed

with the most monotonous meow every breath. Sometimes I could just slap her, but when she does finally go, and I know that's coming, I really can't imagine life without her. I have 2 other cats and they never say a word; can't get a word in. ha

[TZ]

32. could be worse

One of mine sits on one side and stares. The other one either A) sits on the radio and turns it on or B) starts bopping me on the top of my head with her paw (sometimes catching hair on a claw) about 5am as well.

[Booster]

33. Man, I feel your pain. I love the one that turns the radio on. LOL.

[Lorien]

30. My cat developed a whole host of illnesses from Friskies, Kirkland

dry cat food and Fancy Feast. I learned the hard way about what's REALLY in those pet foods. The story is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=4388&mesg_id=4388

[Warpy]

15. Tuna's not all that good for them

and that's subject to recall, too.

The healthiest diet for a cat is kibble with plenty of water. The kibble keeps their teeth nice and clean and is nutritionally balanced.

Tuna has too much magnesium, as do all other fish. This is what causes kidney stones in male kitties.

There has not been a recall on kibble. There have been no recalls on Purina products.

[PhilipShore]

19. Are you sure?

The healthiest diet for a cat is kibble with plenty of water. The kibble keeps their teeth nice and clean and is nutritionally balanced.

My vet said that the wet food -- is best. He said any wet food, but I decided to get high quality wet food -- because the pet food industry is so deregulated.

[Warpy]

34. I made the mistake of giving my cats wet food once

Diarrhea in long haired cats is not fun.

My old tomcat made it to 17 on nothing but kibble.

My crotchety old lady cat is almost 14.

My vet says to feed the cat whatever cat food he/she prefers, but no table scraps and certainly no people food, especially with onions or garlic. My cats have done very well on kibble.

I'm talking clean teeth, glossy coats, and great energy, even as they've gone into their geriatric years.

[otohara]

16. Do You Have A Health Food Store

near by? There are several good brands including Paul Newman's, Pet Promise and my Kiko's favorite Tiki Cat. Sardines would be better than tuna for kitty, or at least rotate and go lite on the tuna.

[Lorien]

31. Great suggestion! n/t

[Poiuyt]

17. Tuna doesn't contain taurine, which is essential to your cat's health

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450509

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

18. When I had pets years ago I never fed them pet food - I think it's all hype

All of this science diet crap is in my opinion a big money-making scam. It's a billion dollar industry. Through the thousands of years that humans have had dogs and cats, there was no pet food for the majority of the time. When I had cats I used to save a piece of chicken, or liver from the regular people food table and gave it to my cats. I even bought chicken specially for them, seeing how pet food is often more expensive than real food anyway. My parents used to buy beef bones for our dogs and gave them table scraps, too. They made our dogs a soup with bones, lots of bouillon, and even some vegetables and bread thrown in that the dogs loved. I gave them various meat table scraps too. But the thing is that I never over fed our pets. I never let them get fat and I always kicked them out of the house every day to go do their thing on their own like animals should (we lived in the country at the time and they had room to roam around). My pets never got sick.

[itsrobert]

20. Good Idea. I'm going to put my dogs on an all McDonalds diet.

n/t

[kestrel91316]

22. Oh dear. Where to start?

This is definitely throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Cats need BALANCED NUTRITION - that means the right proportion of protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Too much protein sets them up for, you guessed it, KIDNEY DISEASE, which can be fatal.

A diet that consists solely of fish sets them up for thiamine deficiency which can be fatal.

Tuna is specifically implicated in development of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats. It is (drum roll) generally completely fatal.

I have observed clinically for many years that fish, and especially tuna, is behind vast numbers of GI disease cases (esp IBD), urinary tract problems (FUS +/- obstruction), and dermatologic problems (esp "tuna head", a really dramatic thing which most owners never forget once they see it happen to their own cat).

I REALLY hope you're NOT gonna ask me to provide source material for all this. I am tired after an exhausting 10 days and am not in the mood, frankly.

If you're interested in what you CAN and SHOULD feed your cat without fear of aminopterin toxicity, feel free to PM me.

[AZBlue]

23. Tuna's not that great for them, especially as a steady diet. I'm just sticking to dry for now.

[CountAllVotes]

25. my mother ...

She used to occasionally buy as a "real treat" for the cats kidneys at the store (you find them in the meat department still I hope) for the cat and feed them to him raw. He loved those!

You can also feed cottage cheese, eggs, rice, etc. to cats.

I had a cat that loved stuffed bell peppers believe it or not. She lived to be 17 years old btw!

I guess what my mother was doing is the new age "raw food" diet idea.

However, watch out with the tuna, it is not good for cats all of the time. It causes bladder problems in neutered males, I sure know that for certain.

Be creative! There are lots of food that cats just love, like milk! :)

[bullwinkle428]

35. Solid Gold pet food makes a specially fortified "Blended Tuna"

in cans for cats:

http://solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=10&code=240