TABLE FOOD - Brainwashing?

gloriajh

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Today an article arrived from my http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com RSS feed, I thought it was interesting, so passing it along.

The link is: http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/table-food.html

Here's an excerpt:
... We all understand that a balanced diet is significant to humans and to our pets.  No argument there.  But to tell us real food - table food - can harm our pets...is ridiculous.  To cause pet owners to believe that each meal a dog or cat eats must contain exact nutrition or the pet will become ill is ridiculous (and by the way, most commercial pet foods aren't exact either!).  It is Big Pet Food marketing plain and simple.

Do not feed your pet Chocolate, Coffee, Avocado, Macadamia Nuts, Grapes, Raisins, Yeast Dough, Onions, Garlic, Chives, Milk, Salt.   Go very minimal on the spices.

But do give them table food!  Remember, we have been brainwashed. ...
Since I use Garlic - lots and lots of it instead of salt - I will probably stick to what I'm doing - but I won't be so concerned if there's some safe table food I'd like to share with them.   
 

sweetpea24

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I don't think there is anything wrong with feeding table scraps as long as they are accounted for in their daily ration. I can't stand it when I see a dog or cat come in and they are grossly overweight because their .owners feed them their daily portion of dog or cat food plus table scraps. I feed my dog homemade muffins made of fresh ingredients. While she is slightly overweight, it:s because she steals my cat's food and raids the trash can. If I am aware of it, I will feed her less or nothing depending on the situation.

There is something to be said about balance. If, as I have been told by some of the doctors I have worked with, veterinary diets are.complete and balanced, then feeding extra food provides excess nutrients like fat. If we as humans ate a proper diet then ate processed foods, we are knocking something out of balance.

However, I am a firm believer that fresh is best So our pets would do better eating homemade rather than crunchy bits of overlooked meat and what not. I guess if you feed kibble, you have to find some sort of balance where your cat isn't missing or.getting too much of something, not only in terms of their ideal weight, but also in terms of thus optimal level.of nutrients that keep their bodies functioning at an optimal level. The problem with doing homemade is often that it may be difficult to obtain the right balance of nutrients. It's not impossible by any means, but more .difficult than kibble or canned.

Ok I'm rambling but the pet food industry is just as or more scary than the human food industry. We are all victims of their marketing ploys.

Makes me wonder when and how this :movement' for lack of a better word, toward fresh, organic or raw diets originated. People these days treat their pets as members of the family, more So than before. I believe in feeding my pets the best I can afford and thankfully for my dog anyways, I can give her fresh food.
 

ldg

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...Since I use Garlic - lots and lots of it instead of salt - I will probably stick to what I'm doing - but I won't be so concerned if there's some safe table food I'd like to share with them.   :)
Just feed them some meat scraps BEFORE you season and cook it! :lol3: No better treat than that. :)
 

kittylover23

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My cats looooove table scraps...

I usually feed them some ham, cheese, stuff like that. Cuddles was brought up in my neighbor's house, and they fed her mortadella as her main source of protein....so you can imagine what she bugs me for now :lol3:
 

dejolane

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Bella loves chicken so when we have it for dinner,I always make a extra piece for her so she won't steal mine. And she loves those meat packets of ham,beef and turkey. Thunder loves small pieces of steak. But I would like to know if giving them so  much is hurting them. And I think both of them are spoiled cause they won't eat cat can tuna. They have to eat human can tuna.

dejolane
 
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otto

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Bella loves chicken so when we have it for dinner,I always make a extra piece for her so she won't steal mine. And she loves those meat packets of ham,beef and turkey. Thunder loves small pieces of steak. But I would like to know if giving them so  much is hurting them. And I think both of them are spoiled cause they won't eat cat can tuna. They have to eat human can tuna.


dejolane
Do you mean sandwich meat? Those are very high in salt and are not good for cats. A tiny sliver once in a very great while won't hurt but they should not have that stuff every day.

Tuna is bad for cats. All tuna, human or cat. But again, in moderation, and I mean tiny amounts once a week, maybe, it should be okay. Or just give them the tuna water (making sure the tuna you buy is water packed with no added spices, garlic onion or salt) without the tuna.

I have only one cat interested in my food. Jennie will eat just about anything. When I am done eating, before I wash my dish, I give her a tiny tiny taste of whatever it was I was having, for her to lick off my finger. Just a drop. I don't give her anything that would be toxic to her. Tonight I had potato soup. She loves my potato soup. :)
 
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minka

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I'm not sure I really agree with this article..
I get the concept they are trying to portray, that we shouldn't be scared into only feeding commercial food, but an article like this is one that will encourage less knowing owners into feeding their pets exactly what they eat... McDonald's, freezer meals, ice cream, etc etc. That wouldn't be any better of a meal than plain dry food.
It's different in other small undeveloped countries, because in those places, they eat fresh wholesome foods because that's all they have.

Yes, I definitely don't like this article...
 
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mewlittle

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I gave my cat Jazmine some McChicken when I picked her up from the vet 2 days ago and shes fine will she didn't like it hahaha yah i avoid things they can't have:p
 

dejolane

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Yes BELLA and Thunder loves cottage cheese cream cheese anything white.

dejolane
 

dejolane

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Yes I mean lunch meat. They even like small amounts of cream cheese from my finger I know u aren't supposed to feed them too much human food. The vet is aware of this and he said some is ok but not too much. And I always buy water tuna not oil tuna.

dejolane
 

catwithmycoffee

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I will occasionally give - as a treat - some cheese or non flavored yogurt.  Bazinga especially loves cheese, sharp chedder in fact.  And Sam - I have to shut him in the spare room whenever I eat yogurt as he will try to stick himself in my bowl!  I will let him lick the bowl when I'm done with it, though.  And all three of them will beg if I cook anything with beef or chicken, which I won't share due to the fact that I usually cook with garlic and onions.
 

cat person

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All my cats, domestic and hybrid exotic get table scraps. Mainly cooked meats, cottage cheese, butter, and cook eggs. Along with whole live prey and Evo dry food. I think, as long as, you are being reasonable, with the amount (I do not feed over 5% daily) it is fine.
 
 

ritz

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I *wish* Ritz would eat some of what I eat, but she refuses to be a bunny rabbit--the lettuce, cooked beets, sugar snap peas, green beans I let her sniff...She is prone to constipation and hates pumpkin.

She will sometimes lick the oat bran cereal (cooked) I eat every day.

I have never given her deli meat or hotdogs, except when I put a pill in the hot dog.  She ate the hot dog, left the pill.
 

minka

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I *wish* Ritz would eat some of what I eat, but she refuses to be a bunny rabbit--the lettuce, cooked beets, sugar snap peas, green beans I let her sniff...She is prone to constipation and hates pumpkin.
She will sometimes lick the oat bran cereal (cooked) I eat every day.
I have never given her deli meat or hotdogs, except when I put a pill in the hot dog.  She ate the hot dog, left the pill.
Why would you try to feed a carnivore vegetables?? :dk:
 
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ritz

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One or two lettuce leafs won't hurt her.  She likes/loves cat grass.

I feed raw (frakenprey)--she likes all kinds of protein, from goat to venison to chicken.
 

rad65

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My cats love table scraps. I'll feed them any non-seasoned meat when I'm cooking. In fact, they get a treat every year when I make crab legs for Christmas. One of my cats like a bit of dairy as well, especially a tiny spoonful of yogurt or a shred of string cheese. Both cats love ranch dressing, though they only get that when they outsmart me or when I get distracted from my plate. Oh, bacon is also a hit around here. I rarely eat bacon myself, so the cats get a strip to split between themselves every time I have some.
 

minka

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One or two lettuce leafs won't hurt her.  She likes/loves cat grass.
I feed raw (frakenprey)--she likes all kinds of protein, from goat to venison to chicken.
But she has no need for them, so I don't see the point in trying to convince her otherwise. It'd be like trying to convince your rabbit to eat a steak.
I just really don't get the point :dk:
 
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