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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2005wellness vs. canned tuna
I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? > I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, > canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's > the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? It doesn't have all the vitamins & nutrients that a cat needs to stay healthy. Taurine, for example, is needed by cats, else they will go blind. --? The ONE and ONLY lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)? email me at nalee1964 (at) insightbb (dot) com http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep Feeding cats tuna as a diet can cause serious harm: http://www.connollyac.com/showpracfaq.cfm?FAQID=168&Private=0 Megan  Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray > Feeding cats tuna as a diet can cause serious harm: > http://www.connollyac.com/showpracfaq.cfm?FAQID=168&Private=0 That link is confusing. Its title suggests that *any* tuna is bad for the cat, but half way through the link it seems they're only talking about tuna as the primary diet. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest foods are (in descending order) chicken, turkey, meat (beef, veal etc), and salmon. ---MIKE--- > Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest foods > are (in descending order) chicken, turkey, meat (beef, veal etc), and > salmon. Why? Is it just because of mercury levels? Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest foods > > are (in descending order) chicken, turkey, meat (beef, veal etc), and > > salmon. > > Why? Is it just because of mercury levels? Read the link I posted. Helen >> > Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest > foods [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Helen The link you posted is specific to CRF dietary concerns, which are much more stringent than those for a healthy cat. Besides which, Mike described a very specific hierarchy for meat, which is what most interests me. Oscar prefers the fish-based wellness foods, and I'm wondering if I should encourage her in other directions. But first I'd like to know why, supposedly, chicken is better than turkey, or turkey better than beef. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > >> > Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest > > foods [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > other directions. But first I'd like to know why, supposedly, chicken is > better than turkey, or turkey better than beef. Just because the information happens to be on a CRF site does not mean it does not apply to healthy cats. I'd hardly have posted the link if that were the case. But healthy cats are not miraculously immune to steatitis or thiamine deficiency. However, I would also be interested to see some evidence for Mike's statement about a hierarchy of meats. Helen >> Canned tuna cat food is probably not the best choice. The healthiest foods >> are (in descending order) chicken, turkey, meat (beef, veal etc), and >> salmon. > > Why? Is it just because of mercury levels? A primary diet of fish can cause a deficiency of Vitamin E and this is VERY serious. Even as a frequent snack it is not great because 1) they become "addicted" and 2) too many minerals for boycats with urinary problems. As an occassional treat in a small amount it is not going to cause harm but more than that is just a bad idea. > I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, > canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's > the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? There are several: http://www.felinecrf.org/diet_and_nutrition.htm#tuna Helen > I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, > canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's > the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? The reasons are many. http://www.maxshouse.com/Tuna_and_Cats_Nutritional_Facts.htm >I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, >canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's >the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? There have been lots of detailed answers. but I think, that it's a matter of common sense. Cat food is scientifically balanced, and has additives so that you can feed one sort of food all the time if need be. If you decide to feed natural stuff then you have to think that a feral cat would eat rodents with their fur and guts, birds with their feathers, road kill, and a huge variety of scavenged stuff. A cat couldn't live on just tuna, any more tham you could live on neat carrot or steak or egg. Nice treat for them though :-) Jim > I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, > canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's > the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? It isn't a balanced diet. It is deficient in taurine, etc. It is OK for a treat, but not as the main food. I give my cats a little when I make a tuna sandwich. They love the stuff. >I got to thinking yesterday as I was sharing my tuna with the kitties, >canned tuna can actually be had cheaper than cans of wellness food. What's >the downside to feeding the cats straight tuna? Any fish product can be a problem to cats if it is more than an occasional treat. When teh cat digests fish, it uses up a vitamin E, so a fish diet will cause a difficiency. Cat foods add extra vitamin E to fish based foods so that it isn't a problem for the cat's health. When we feed them canned tuna (intended for people), they don't get the added vitamins. So, as a treat, it wouldn't be a problem. But as a meal, it's not a good idea. Same with other fish. I will give them some treats from my salmon dinner, but I wouldn't feed it as a meal. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com |
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