kittie only eats lunchmeat!

Originally Posted by otto

If your cat is eating only lunch meat she is not healthy. She may look healthy but she is missing, and has been missing for as long as she's been eating this stuff, vital nutrients.

Without enough taurine her eyes will begin to form lesions and ulcers, and may have to eventually be removed. Taurine is so important, four years without it has already done irreparable damage. It hasn't shown up yet, but it will.

Other problems that will show up in time from this poor high salt high fat diet is high blood pressure, liver disease, and kidney problems.

Like you, I do not believe a cat "will eat when she gets hungry enough" cats will starve rather than eat what they don't like.

But you need to find a balanced cat food, or a homemade cat food diet recipe, with supplemented vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

There are many books on home made meals for cats, do a lot of research and get your cat on the food she needs to live a long and healthy life. but watch her eyes carefully, and start saving your money, because if she has been living on lunch meat for four years, you are going to run into problems in the next few years.

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OH! You have just scared the heck outta me! I'm taking all the good advice & looking into what was suggested. Question though- is there a way to look in her eyes and see any signs of damage? Seriously-you really have me scared here.

Originally Posted by bcbc mom

OH! You have just scared the heck outta me! I'm taking all the good advice & looking into what was suggested. Question though- is there a way to look in her eyes and see any signs of damage? Seriously-you really have me scared here.

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easiest way to ensure she is healthy is a vet to run a blood panel and a exam

I don't think anyone here is trying to upset you or to be mean to you or come off as "catty".

Pretty much everyone here just highly values the health of their cats and all cats. Actually...I'm pretty sure that at least 75% of us prefer cats to people.

But you should be scared when feeding your cat that sort of diet. The best kind of advice for how to get your cat on a regular diet would come from your vet. If you've already consulted one, consult them again, or seek a different vet who can help you get your kitty back on track and getting the nutrients he needs. =)

I think, because you are having such a hard time getting him to eat cat food, that you should look into and consider a raw or semi-cooked diet. But please don't rely on everything that you read here. It would be best and most wise to consult a vet who is familiar with and agrees about feeding raw that can supply you with the proper vitamins and amounts for your individual cat.

I used to feed Alley lunchmeat several times a day;before I adopted her(it`s all I had). Maybe because she was starving when I got her she took to kitten food and has`nt looked back since.She won`t eat any people food but has to come and smell it. Oops,she may eat small amounts of cooked chicken meat.

Good luck!

Maybe try this-take some wet food, mix some lunchmeat in it so she can smell the lunch meat, but don't make the pieces of lunchmeat so big she will pick them out. Each time you give her wet food, decrease the amount of lunchmeat until she is on only the wet food. You might try giving her dry food as a treat. Processed meat has so much sodium and is not the best meat. You don't need to go out and buy the most expensive wet food either. But if you buy dry food, be sure to get a good one, not dry food sold in grocery stores. Have faith and she will eventually eat the cat food.

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

Try Fancy Feast. It has been called Kitty Crack and I've never known a cat that didn't like it. Although it's not cheap, it has to be less than feeding her lunch meat!

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LOL My girls turn their noses up at Fancy Feast. They are very picky, especially Dusty.

Originally Posted by otto

If your cat is eating only lunch meat she is not healthy. She may look healthy but she is missing, and has been missing for as long as she's been eating this stuff, vital nutrients.

Without enough taurine her eyes will begin to form lesions and ulcers, and may have to eventually be removed. Taurine is so important, four years without it has already done irreparable damage. It hasn't shown up yet, but it will.

Other problems that will show up in time from this poor high salt high fat diet is high blood pressure, liver disease, and kidney problems.

Like you, I do not believe a cat "will eat when she gets hungry enough" cats will starve rather than eat what they don't like.

But you need to find a balanced cat food, or a homemade cat food diet recipe, with supplemented vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

There are many books on home made meals for cats, do a lot of research and get your cat on the food she needs to live a long and healthy life. but watch her eyes carefully, and start saving your money, because if she has been living on lunch meat for four years, you are going to run into problems in the next few years.

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Although you scared me, I am gonna try some of the suggestions from the helpful people here. You've helped me as well, and I thank you all. VERY unfortunately, I cannot afford to take her to a vet for tests & the like, I can only afford their very essential shots. And there is nothing for me to give up, economising, b/c I don't DO anything(I'm runnin off of "WI-FI")at the moment. I WILL, however get her as many suppliments as I can, and I do feed her cooked chicken(scared of raw-but I need to further look into that). They'll both outlive me-THAT I can guarentee. Thank you and everyone else for your help-I TRULY do appreciate it!

Originally Posted by bcbc mom

Well, I so thank everyone for their input!

It HAS helped greatly!

Although I STILL can't get her to eat cat food,

(but I HAVE snuck some in there)!--I have also been feeding her cooked chicken, and beef, a bit of spinich(HONEST)!-and also a few small bites of raw steak(the cheap kind-husband would have a fit)! But NOW- she's REALLY hungry all the time! That's fine by me. She gets plenty of exercise, plays with her brother around the house, and I'll get her to eat healthy no matter what! Thanks again everyone! (well, for the MOST part).

p.s.-They ARE both spayed & neutered.

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Have you tried the multivitamin? Spinach, beef, chicken, and steak are healthier than lunchmeat, but she still may be lacking important nutrients. Vary her sources a lot, too. I'm glad she is okay.

Mine all get the cheap kind of steak too. If you were to start all raw you should feed 80% muscle meat, 10% bones, 5% liver, and 5% kidney.

the meat - whatever you can get. try for lots of variety. Heart is also a muscle meat when feeding raw and it is great to feed because it is high in taurine plus mine all LOVE it.

bones: chicken wings, chicken necks, cornish game hen bones are all good easy sized. also chicken ribs.

liver: try to get organic liver; same goes for kidney.

What about calcium? Seems to me that diet is extremely deficient in calcium. That can't be good, especially since she grew up on it. But you have to be careful about calcium supplements. Some bone meal might be a good thing to add to her diet, but be sure to read up on proper dosing.

Furry friends 50 & Willowy-Thanks for the advice-and I am gonna take it(I can use all I can get)! ONE question though-are bones o.k. for cats? I'm thinking that the sharp pieces could hurt their insides. I know they eat "critters" if they're outside cats, but I'm very wary on any type of chicken or beef bones, and "critters" are very small and maybe not as sharp.

Raw bones are just fine, it is cooked bones that are dangorous.

Obviously don't feed big bones to cats (mine will eat up to the size of chicken thighs and I don't let them go over).

Originally Posted by bcbc mom

Furry friends 50 & Willowy-Thanks for the advice-and I am gonna take it(I can use all I can get)! ONE question though-are bones o.k. for cats? I'm thinking that the sharp pieces could hurt their insides. I know they eat "critters" if they're outside cats, but I'm very wary on any type of chicken or beef bones, and "critters" are very small and maybe not as sharp.

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Small, meaty, uncooked bones are fine. Cooked bones are not appropriate, or ones with little meat. Chicken ribs, wings, necks, and small turkey wing tips are healthy.