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Post by debbiem on Oct 3, 2008 17:26:08 GMT 1
Yesterday I stopped at the Tesco Extra, a small one within a Tesco petrol station, to pick up some cat food. The choice was appalling and although I would have been perfectly happy to pay Tesco's price for a six pack of Whiskas the cats are off Whiskas atm and that was the CHEAPEST stuff they had for cats. So I happened to look at the dog food underneath. There there was Tesco's own brand, much cheaper than the Whiskas for a six pack and I began to wonder.......would the cats eat it? Then being annoyed at myself for even thinking such a thing I went back to the Whiskas but kept thinking about the question. There would be no way the cats would have liked the stuff in the six pack of dog food as it contained vegetables but they also had a single can of doggy tuna and cod for 30-something pence. I ended up buying this can and the Whiskas thinking that if they didn't like the dog food the chickens would pile in anyway. Got home and put the dog food down - the cats woofed it up, 'scuse the pun! ;D I suppose that there's some reason why there is dog food and cat food apart from the size of the chunks, maybe it's to do with the nutrtion side but I am very happy to know that if there is a boring selection of cat food I can always get them dog food. Psst the cats were none the wiser - if you can imagine there's me pointing at the cats knocking all this back and gesticulating to my children that it's dog food with it all in mime - so the cats didn't get wind of it.  I bet it's been done before millions of times over - anyone else tried cat food on dogs or v.v.?  |
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Post by madonplants on Oct 3, 2008 17:54:25 GMT 1
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 3, 2008 17:56:05 GMT 1
That's useful and interesting Keith. Thank you
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Post by karenwl on Oct 3, 2008 18:00:13 GMT 1
Glad someone has replied to this i could not remember which one it was dog or cats so i kept quiet.
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 3, 2008 18:02:30 GMT 1
Glad someone has replied to this i could not remember which one it was dog or cats so i kept quiet. I'm sure once won't have done any harm Debbie Just don't show them that website ;D |
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Post by karenwl on Oct 3, 2008 18:04:33 GMT 1
Glad someone has replied to this i could not remember which one it was dog or cats so i kept quiet. I'm sure once won't have done any harm Debbie It wolnt in sure sleepy i would do the same if i was in that situation. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 3, 2008 18:04:52 GMT 1
Thanks Keith - that single can was a lifesaver though when they weren't into their Whiskas which was their only other option. Funny thing, after that can they went back on to the Whiskas! So we know what to do if they won't eat their cat food from now on - only joking.  |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Oct 4, 2008 1:46:49 GMT 1
Without the taurine (for months/years), kittys get a heart condition known as cardiomyopathy. Translation: an enlarged and weakened heart.
***Interestingly enough! Cocker Spaniels also NEED the additional taurine. Without it they get an enlarged heart but ... if they have an enlarged heart and they get supplemental taurine .... quite often the heart will actually reduce back to the normal size!!!!!! ***
Me
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Oct 10, 2008 19:10:36 GMT 1
We had a Shetland Sheepdog mix who would ONLY eat canned cat food. We tried every dog food under the sun but he would only eat the canned kitty food! Benny lived to be 14 years old. Of course it's not the recommended dohhy diet either. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 11, 2008 8:02:21 GMT 1
But it wouldn't have done him any harm at all, would it? If dogs already have their taurine - it's bad news though if you have a puss who turns their nose up at cat food! What would happen then, supplements? Every day?  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 11, 2008 8:56:26 GMT 1
I suspect that to get all the required nutritional elements you'd have to buy the very pricy cat and dog food anyway.....call me a cynic but that's what I believe. I feed the cats and dog at the same time in the same area and they all eat each others food given half the chance! My oldest cat (over 18 now) will nibble at anything for a second or two but prefers the little plastic trays of food so she gets them quite often as I think it works out as cheap considering she wastes most of the other stuff, or Toby dog gets it. The other one gets whatever as she eats it all and Toby dog gets a tin of the mid priced doggy stuff plus whatever we give him. And they all get real food as titbits anyway.....this is fascinating for you all isn't it? |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Oct 11, 2008 12:54:49 GMT 1
But it wouldn't have done him any harm at all, would it? If dogs already have their taurine - it's bad news though if you have a puss who turns their nose up at cat food! What would happen then, supplements? Every day? Dogs on kitty food tend to get overweight and because the protein content of the kitty food is usually higher than for dogs, when the dog gets older the higher protein may cause problems with the kidneys. A kitty that would only eat dog food? I've not met one but they would need taurine supplementation daily. There is a product sold as a taurine supplement for cats. Wandering a little off topic ... A few years ago I had a client who was a strict vegetarian and she had a cat. She was determined that the cat too would be a vegetarian. The result was the cat developed an odd kind of kidney stone. The stone was removed and a year and a half the stone reformed in the other kidney! The woman was angry that the stone came back. We had told her that the diet MUST be changed because that was the cause. She said she wasn't going to feed her cat meat. Cats are what's called obligate carnivors ... they need meat protein in their diet for their health. That's just how they were made. The woman would not hear of it and all I could do was offer her the phone number for a feline nutrition expert from the veterinary school. I phoned the nutrition expert and told her about this kitty and the nutritionist advised the woman give the cat away to someone who would provide a proper diet otherwise the kidney stones and the surgeries will eventually cause kidney failure. I lost track of that kitty over the years when I went to another hospital. Anyone awake after that? ;D |
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Post by maggyd on Oct 11, 2008 21:54:48 GMT 1
I was told that dogs can eat cat food but cats shouldnt eat dog food but in the wild cats eat meat dont they? I wonder what happened before all these pet food companies came about! in fact I cant remember when I was young seing all these pet foods  yes Im old but not that old. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 12, 2008 10:50:57 GMT 1
But it wouldn't have done him any harm at all, would it? If dogs already have their taurine - it's bad news though if you have a puss who turns their nose up at cat food! What would happen then, supplements? Every day? Dogs on kitty food tend to get overweight and because the protein content of the kitty food is usually higher than for dogs, when the dog gets older the higher protein may cause problems with the kidneys. A kitty that would only eat dog food? I've not met one but they would need taurine supplementation daily. There is a product sold as a taurine supplement for cats. Wandering a little off topic ... A few years ago I had a client who was a strict vegetarian and she had a cat. She was determined that the cat too would be a vegetarian. The result was the cat developed an odd kind of kidney stone. The stone was removed and a year and a half the stone reformed in the other kidney! The woman was angry that the stone came back. We had told her that the diet MUST be changed because that was the cause. She said she wasn't going to feed her cat meat. Cats are what's called obligate carnivors ... they need meat protein in their diet for their health. That's just how they were made. The woman would not hear of it and all I could do was offer her the phone number for a feline nutrition expert from the veterinary school. I phoned the nutrition expert and told her about this kitty and the nutritionist advised the woman give the cat away to someone who would provide a proper diet otherwise the kidney stones and the surgeries will eventually cause kidney failure. I lost track of that kitty over the years when I went to another hospital. Anyone awake after that? ;D I wonder if the kitty did get given away? I bet he was in seventh Heaven when his new owner gave him cat food - it's just so mean not giving meat to a cat. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 12, 2008 10:54:16 GMT 1
I suspect that to get all the required nutritional elements you'd have to buy the very pricy cat and dog food anyway.....call me a cynic but that's what I believe. I feed the cats and dog at the same time in the same area and they all eat each others food given half the chance! My oldest cat (over 18 now) will nibble at anything for a second or two but prefers the little plastic trays of food so she gets them quite often as I think it works out as cheap considering she wastes most of the other stuff, or Toby dog gets it. The other one gets whatever as she eats it all and Toby dog gets a tin of the mid priced doggy stuff plus whatever we give him. And they all get real food as titbits anyway.....this is fascinating for you all isn't it? Mine get whatever tinned food they fancy at the time as they go off some and then back on to them, sometimes biscuits, tinned tuna from time to time, liver from time to time and the titbits. Not a bad life really, being a cat belonging to an AF member. ;D That's a good point Maggy - in the wild how do they get the taurine? |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 13, 2008 13:28:07 GMT 1
My doggy is fussy.
Perhaps we'll try cat food once in a while and see what happens.
Yesterday she had baked chicken, roast potatoes, peas and carrots. Ate the lot...
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Oct 13, 2008 13:49:51 GMT 1
I'm not sure but I think taurine is in meat protein and sometimes with the food processing, it gets destroyed and it needs to be an additive in the food for kitties.
You might not need to give canned kitty food for your fussy doggy, Mr. C. You may try to just add a hand full of dry kitty crunchies for added taste.
Baked chicken? Roasted potatoes? Peas? Carrots? Will you adopt me? ;D
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 13, 2008 13:53:26 GMT 1
Of course C3D.....
(but only if you bring your orchids....)
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Post by emseypop on Oct 13, 2008 19:05:42 GMT 1
My Moms dog used to be a fussy one, she used to put gravy on his food or parmesan cheese he loved that.
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Oct 13, 2008 19:14:34 GMT 1
Of course C3D..... (but only if you bring your orchids....) I'd need to bring the orchids. Mike isn't that good at tending to the plants.  Ya know? Too bad we aren't closer / at least in the same country! I'd be happy to share my planty things. I make divisions of many orchids and send them to friends a few times a year. |
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