Can you feed cats without buying cat food?

Re. "meat"--are we assuming that meat is anything that involves muscle and connective tissue? Because that would include heart, lungs, and tongue (and intestines, I suppose).

So... 15%, safely. That might be enough of an edge to help.

ilovemia, I don't think it's "abusing the system"; if I did, I wouldn't do it. I eat practically no meat myself, and buy rather inexpensive food. Lots of oatmeal, spaghetti, ramen, peanut butter and jelly, fruit and veg only in season; buying from Aldi and other cheap stores... etc. My biggest expenditures are for milk and cheese. I'm not actually a vegetarian; I just don't eat a lot of meat because the cheaper meat tends to be greasy and I absolutely hate grease. Most people spend at least double what I spend for food. If I'm given a certain amount, and I'm spending less of it than most people would, I think I should be allowed to use the extra amount that I saved. You are allowed to use food stamps to buy food to feed your kids or your guests--why not your cats? So, as far as I can figure, it would be ethical--especially compared to the prospect of taking the cats to a shelter or feeding them less than they need.

Try to tell that to the government and all the people paying into the system so you can eat. It was NOT designed to feed cats!

Originally Posted by Callista

Re. "meat"--are we assuming that meat is anything that involves muscle and connective tissue? Because that would include heart, lungs, and tongue (and intestines, I suppose).

So... 15%, safely. That might be enough of an edge to help.

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Yes, you've got it exactly right. Just read the label to make sure the product hasn't been enhanced or marinated with salt or other spices.

Originally Posted by Callista

ilovemia, I don't think it's "abusing the system"; if I did, I wouldn't do it. I eat practically no meat myself, and buy rather inexpensive food. Lots of oatmeal, spaghetti, ramen, peanut butter and jelly, fruit and veg only in season; buying from Aldi and other cheap stores... etc. My biggest expenditures are for milk and cheese. I'm not actually a vegetarian; I just don't eat a lot of meat because the cheaper meat tends to be greasy and I absolutely hate grease. Most people spend at least double what I spend for food. If I'm given a certain amount, and I'm spending less of it than most people would, I think I should be allowed to use the extra amount that I saved. You are allowed to use food stamps to buy food to feed your kids or your guests--why not your cats? So, as far as I can figure, it would be ethical--especially compared to the prospect of taking the cats to a shelter or feeding them less than they need.

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Callista, the system has already determined what is fair for you to receive. For you to give up some of that, to go without so that your cats can be cared for properly, is nothing but admirable.

May God bless you and get you back on your feet ASAP!!

AC

Originally Posted by ilovemia

Try to tell that to the government and all the people paying into the system so you can eat. It was NOT designed to feed cats!

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Yes, because the $3.57 per day that I'm given to spend on food is SUCH a burden to the taxpayers.

There are some things that are more important than others. The well-being of a living creature, even a cat, is pretty close to the top of the list.

Anyway, you're forgetting that this is the same system that is helping me stay fed and housed while I get an education so that I can have a job I can actually do, as opposed to sitting at home and letting my mom pay for my needs because I can't hack it at a highly-social customer service job. If I were lazy, I would have given up after being told "You can't do this job" for the ninth time. I may be disabled, but I have plenty of skills that can be turned into something marketable, given the proper training, and I'm not going to sit there and give up. I hate being on welfare. Most people who have to resort to it do. But my only alternative would be moving back home, and I'm not going to do that. I want to be on my own and support myself.

When I have a job, I'll pay that money back. Until then, that horrible $3-per-day burden will just have to be carried by those poor, poor people "paying into the system" so that I can sit on my butt and be a lazy welfare bum (while taking full-time classes and volunteering at the food pantry and the Red Cross, which don't count because they don't involve asking whether people want fries with that).

Originally Posted by ilovemia

I have a real problem with using food stamps for cat food. It is ment to be used for people only. I recieve food stamps too. I get very little a month. Not all people are as lucky as you to have a lot left over. It is still abusing the system though if you use it to feed you cat. Just sayin.

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Originally Posted by ilovemia

Try to tell that to the government and all the people paying into the system so you can eat. It was NOT designed to feed cats!

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What would you suggest she do with them then? Throw them away? She's not getting more For the cats, she's using what's left over after she feeds herself.

I am a bit conflicted about people using food stamps (which is now a card, not "stamps", so can't be thrown away. Any portion left unused would go back to the food stamp fund) for buying pet food. On the other hand, I would prefer that they use the funds for pet food than use them to buy junk food, soda, candy, etc. (which an awful lot of people do). If I had my way, I wouldn't allow junk food or soda to be bought with food stamps at all. So if someone uses their funds wisely, buying inexpensive, healthy food, and are not depriving themselves or any children involved, and still have some left over to buy meat for their pets, then I guess I don't mind. Better than blowing it on Doritos and Dr. Pepper.

Yeah, it's a card. Has been for a long time--way harder to counterfeit, steal, or trade. The balance carries over month to month, so you can actually "collect" quite a high balance if you happen to eat less and/or cheaper food than the average person. Same principle.

I'm against banning "junk food" categorically, because those things are very much a morale-booster when you are in a tough spot. The clients at the food pantry are usually relieved to get the normal canned food; but stick a box of hot chocolate packets in there, and you see their eyes light up. Society attaches a lot of importance to food. Having comfort food available isn't just a matter of empty calories or sugar; it's a way of saying you know they're a human being with feelings rather than yet another beggar in a long line of beggars.

If you were to dictate what people ate like that, you'd be teaching them that they are incompetent and not particularly smart, and that they are not worth enough to society to have any treats. That is the worst possible message to send to people who are trying to get back on their feet, find jobs, take care of kids; or who are disabled and can't work and are already bombarded daily with pity-hate-fear messages. If you want people to act like adults, you've got to treat 'em like adults. Don't presume incompetence, or that's exactly what you'll get.

Could we get back on topic, please? Any discussion of whether food stamps should (not) be used for pet food belongs in the IMO forum, not Cat Nutrition.

Anybody with the minimum number of posts (100) and duration of membership (1 month) can reopen the discussion there.

Thank you.

...yeah. Sorry about that. I get on my soapbox sometimes.

Uhm. So... let's see. Eggs, organ meat, chicken... No bones; I'm not risking bones. Goat's milk is safe, but expensive--what about lactose-free milk? Is it the lactose that bothers cats; and would lactose-free milk be nutritious?

I've given Tiny a few licks of butter on occasion, especially during the winter when it was all cold and dry. I'm guessing butter is safe because it's milk fat, not milk sugar...

Canned chicken? Tuna? I wouldn't want to feed tuna often because of the mercury; what about canned salmon--same problem?

That "reminder" wasn't actually directed at you in particular. It would be a good IMO topic, though.

In addition to raw feeding, you could try some home-cooked cat food a couple of times a week as a supplement to commercial foods. I do this on an occasional basis for cats - Jamie won't touch raw and is on prescription food to prevent more struvite crystals, but he enjoys some "people food", as does Miezi. All the dogs we've had got home-cooked food, but cats are trickier.

From what I understand, canned salmon, like tuna, is okay once in a while, but the farmed salmon often contains residue from antibiotics (doesn't that sound familiar?) Lactose-free milk, like cat milk, is considered a treat rather than a regular part of the diet. Our Whiskas cat milk addict doesn't believe that, though.

This is a collection taken/adapted from other sources: Home-Prepared Cat Food You may be able to get the books listed at the library. I use some Anitra Frazier recipes.

When it comes to fish, canned salmon is actually one of the safest forms of fish. If it's wild from Alaska, that's even better.
Here's the guide I use for fish: http://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694

Originally Posted by Minka

When it comes to fish, canned salmon is actually one of the safest forms of fish. If it's wild from Alaska, that's even better.
Here's the guide I use for fish: http://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694

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That list recommends "1/2 serving/month of salmon" for young kids, though, whether wild or farmed. A cat is a lot smaller than most young children.

Originally Posted by Callista

...yeah. Sorry about that. I get on my soapbox sometimes.

Uhm. So... let's see. Eggs, organ meat, chicken... No bones; I'm not risking bones. Goat's milk is safe, but expensive--what about lactose-free milk? Is it the lactose that bothers cats; and would lactose-free milk be nutritious?

I've given Tiny a few licks of butter on occasion, especially during the winter when it was all cold and dry. I'm guessing butter is safe because it's milk fat, not milk sugar...

Canned chicken? Tuna? I wouldn't want to feed tuna often because of the mercury; what about canned salmon--same problem?

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Personally, I wouldn't feed salmon, tuna, butter or milk for a variety of reasons, and if you don't exceed 15%, don't feed organs or bones (the first might give your cats slushy stools, the later might make the stools a bit too hard for comfort).

You can, however, offer your cats a whole fresh or canned-in-water-no-salt-added Sardine once a week, if you like. They're typically one of the least contaminated fish you can feed, and they're usually sustainably harvested, as well as full of of good, healthy Omega 3's.

Originally Posted by jcat

...
In addition to raw feeding, you could try some home-cooked cat food a couple of times a week as a supplement to commercial foods. I do this on an occasional basis for cats - Jamie won't touch raw and is on prescription food to prevent more struvite crystals, but he enjoys some "people food", as does Miezi. All the dogs we've had got home-cooked food, but cats are trickier.
...

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Please note, Callista, if you cook anything intended to be part of your cat's actual diet (and not just a treat here or there), you also need to supplement that food... and supplements are expensive, which kinda defeats your whole reason for contemplating a partially raw diet to begin with.

Cooking for cats is doable but not, in your case, a logical option. (Actually, IMO, it's never logical, but that's another thread on another day. )

AC

Originally Posted by jcat

That list recommends "1/2 serving/month of salmon" for young kids, though, whether wild or farmed. A cat is a lot smaller than most young children.

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I'm not sure where you are seeing that. It says for the most safe fish (the list at the bottom) "It's safe to eat 4 or more meals per month of the following:" and one of those is canned salmon.

Well you can feed any meat your cat will eat and tolerate, beef, pork, turkey. Gizzards are boneless and pretty easy to find, I don't really know what food stamps cover but bone in chicken/turkey is probably a lot cheaper than boneless, not sure why you want to stay away from bones? You might be able to find a cheap grinder at a rummage sale or something if you are worried about them chewing it or something.

Originally Posted by Callista

I totally didn't mean to start a raw-feeding debate! But at least I'm getting both sides of the story.

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Personally I'm very happy where this thread is going. I'm reading all the info with great interest. And keeping my mouth shut too because it's an area I have very little knowledge or experience in I'm going back into cloak mode for now and read some more

Originally Posted by NutroMike

Personally I'm very happy where this thread is going. I'm reading all the info with great interest. And keeping my mouth shut too because it's an area I have very little knowledge or experience in

I'm going back into cloak mode for now and read some more

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Learning is always a good thing
I avidly read the nutrition forums.