Feeding a tuna lover

I read tuna has too much mercury and too little protein to be a cat's breakfast, lunch, and supper. That makes sense.

But what do you do when your cat barely nibbles a chicken dinner and gobbles up tuna by the same company? I want to switch her to all wet. If she is going to eat a lot of tuna and a little chicken, I see a major challenge coming.

EmilyMayWilcha said:

I read tuna has too much mercury and too little protein to be a cat's breakfast, lunch, and supper. That makes sense.

But what do you do when your cat barely nibbles a chicken dinner and gobbles up tuna by the same company? I want to switch her to all wet. If she is going to eat a lot of tuna and a little chicken, I see a major challenge coming.

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Are you not feeding a raw diet Emily?  Pardon my ignorance but from the way you post about your mistrust of the pet food industry, I thought you fed raw to your cats.  Sorry if I'm mistaken about that.   When you say chicken dinner and tuna, what are you referring to?  

NutroMike said:

Are you not feeding a raw diet Emily?  Pardon my ignorance but from the way you post about your mistrust of the pet food industry, I thought you fed raw to your cats. Sorry if I'm mistaken about that. When you say chicken dinner and tuna, what are you referring to?  

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Hatred of the pet food industry does not translate to learning how to feed raw food to a 16-year old cat. I go to the raw feeding section to learn about the practice and feline nutrition, not to get ready for doing it myself. LDG knows that. I guess it is like even though I hate the way people slaughter animals, I can't take meat out of my diet.

I am tslking about the Nature's Recipe formulas in plastic containers with peel-off foil lids. Of course Patricia could have disliked the veggies - I could see carrots and green things in it - or something else. The tuna does not have them. But it certainly could be the meat source she likes that made a noticeable difference. If that is the case, I want to know if I can make do something to make her like the chicken.

Perhaps she just prefers the flavour of the tuna?
In order to make my one cat eat more wet food (he loves kibble) I have sprinkle tasty toppings on it.
This is what I use the most:
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/prowl/

pushylady said:

Perhaps she just prefers the flavour of the tuna?
In order to make my one cat eat more wet food (he loves kibble) I have sprinkle tasty toppings on it.
This is what I use the most:
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/prowl/

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I actually have a small box of that in my cupboard. Don't know what to do with it though, I tried rehydrating it and it made this yucky gooey green paste that my cats wouldn't eat. it was only $3.47 though. My ferals wouldn't even touch the stuff.

My aunt actually feeds her cat tuna for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week. Much to my displeasure. It's the human canned tuna too. I've told her my concerns about mercury intake and how since it is not an actual cat food, her cat could possibly develop a vitamin deficiency. I've argued with her several times. Her cat is a two year old Himalayan. I don't really even know how to convince her anymore. The cat will only eat tuna. Plus, now he's gotten so picky that he'll only eat a certain brand of tuna. Their vet put the cat on Nutrience kibble as of late (I've told her about my concerns about feeding cats kibble on several occasions) to supplement his tuna diet. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Kitty, it is like trying to convince someone who feels the cat must be declawed onychectomies are inhumane. Instead of arguing, I accepted it.

Fortunately, my mom fully understands the difference between canned tuna for humans and tuna-flavored wet cat food. However, she doesn't realize Patricia ate very little chicken because there was something in it she does not like. She thought I just fed Patricia at the wrong time. Of course, if that was true, she would have eaten just as much chicken when she was hungry. I am convinced Patricia just did not like something in the chicken formula and loves tuna.

Should I try something that has no useless vegetables, just chicken? Blue Buffalo has fruits and veggies and she loves that in kibble form, but not in a can.

EmilyMayWilcha said:

Kitty, it is like trying to convince someone who feels the cat must be declawed onychectomies are inhumane. Instead of arguing, I accepted it.

Fortunately, my mom fully understands the difference between canned tuna for humans and tuna-flavored wet cat food. However, she doesn't realize Patricia ate very little chicken because there was something in it she does not like. She thought I just fed Patricia at the wrong time. Of course, if that was true, she would have eaten just as much chicken when she was hungry. I am convinced Patricia just did not like something in the chicken formula and loves tuna.

Should I try something that has no useless vegetables, just chicken? Blue Buffalo has fruits and veggies and she loves that in kibble form, but not in a can.

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Something with plain chicken would probably appeal to her more. I had a funny episode with my friendly feral, Lucky this morning. I bought him a can of Weruva as a treat (the ferals get Fancy Feast and Friskies usually) and I accidently got one with vegetables. I thought 'oh well', and gave it to him anyway. I went back and saw that my good little boy had eaten all the chicken, and left out all the peas, carrots and potatoes! I guess Lucky understands what it means to be an obligate carnivore!

kittylover23 said:

Something with plain chicken would probably appeal to her more. I had a funny episode with my friendly feral, Lucky this morning. I bought him a can of Weruva as a treat (the ferals get Fancy Feast and Friskies usually) and I accidently got one with vegetables. I thought 'oh well', and gave it to him anyway. I went back and saw that my good little boy had eaten all the chicken, and left out all the peas, carrots and potatoes! I guess Lucky understands what it means to be an obligate carnivore!

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I have done that with pasta dinners - except it was reversed, not eating the chicken lol.

I want to try the Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken and Nine Liver (also chicken) because they don't have veggies (unless you count potato starch). Next I will try Nature's Recipe salmon, then the Ocean Whitefish. Hopefully I can figure out that way why she did not eat much chicken.