Anyone Else Use Coconut Oil?

aeevr said:

hmm...
contradictions....
http://winnfelinehealth.blogspot.com/2010/06/cats-and-dietary-medium-chain.html

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9 week study with safflower oil vs long term use of daily coconut oil.

Not the same thing.

I won't take the risk, again, with my cats and feel that others should be made aware of the risks.

Because there may be some benefits for cats with certain mal-absorption issues and other disorders, controlled use in some cats with these certain disorders might mitigate the risks.

For healthy cats, no. Pumpkin is effective and safe.

If someone is going to use coconut oil, I'd recommend extra virgin coconut oil cold pressed from FRESH COCONUT, NOT the stuff made from the dried chopra. There are very few of these on the market. One I'm aware of is Nutiva.

LDG said:

If someone is going to use coconut oil, I'd recommend extra virgin coconut oil cold pressed from FRESH COCONUT, NOT the stuff made from the dried chopra. There are very few of these on the market. One I'm aware of is Nutiva.

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Nature's Way is advertised as cold pressed as well. It's currently on my shopping list so I looked it up.

LDG said:

If someone is going to use coconut oil, I'd recommend extra virgin coconut oil cold pressed from FRESH COCONUT, NOT the stuff made from the dried chopra. There are very few of these on the market. One I'm aware of is Nutiva.

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I use Nutiva..like it very much.

Just watch how much you all use as I've had my vet and the vet from Little Big Cats state that medium chain triglycerides are not good for cats. I have my own questions about this as I've seen very positive results with Nutiva pure cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil as well. But because of those comments, I am careful about how much and how often I give it. 

LDG said:

If someone is going to use coconut oil, I'd recommend extra virgin coconut oil cold pressed from FRESH COCONUT, NOT the stuff made from the dried chopra. There are very few of these on the market. One I'm aware of is Nutiva.

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That's the brand I was using. But after seeing the information from my vet on medium chain triglycerides and cats, I gave the rest away.

finnlacey said:

Just watch how much you all use as I've had my vet and the vet from Little Big Cats state that medium chain triglycerides are not good for cats. I have my own questions about this as I've seen very positive results with Nutiva pure cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil as well. But because of those comments, I am careful about how much and how often I give it. 

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Yes. I posted some info earlier on this. I couldn't post the links because the printed info my vet gave me was from a vet member only site, but I took pics of the page

I too saw some positive results when using it, as far as coat improvement and hair ball reduction, (and It also supposedly repels fleas.) but decided it wasn't worth the risk. Plus worried the luxurious coat brought on by feeding them the oil might hide other issues if they came up.

finnlacey said:

Just watch how much you all use as I've had my vet and the vet from Little Big Cats state that medium chain triglycerides are not good for cats. I have my own questions about this as I've seen very positive results with Nutiva pure cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil as well. But because of those comments, I am careful about how much and how often I give it. 

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If I see a cut on the cat I rub some on. In the 1.5 yrs I have had the two cats, I smeared some on one cat's head for  ~week.

I have on occasion, let them lick some off my hands (~ once a month?)

They steal butter, so they get more than enough fat that way, I think.

Sometimes I give them a little coconut milk although they seem to have lost interest in it.

I personally believe that if your cat has hairball problem - you should give them fish oil, butter, bacon grease or coconut oil instead of something like Petromalt.

There is NO WAY anybody is going to convince me that it is better for the cat to ingest a petroleum based oil than actual food based oils.

Since this thread popped up via a link from another one, I thought I'd address this:

otto said:

Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid and these should not be given to cats. I found this out when I started using it for my cats for hair balls. When I told my very she became very concerned and gave me some information she printed from a vet only website, I think it was from UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine

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The issue with warnings about MCTs and cats is NOT that they are dangerous to cats. In the Nutrition Research Council's "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats" (on which the AAFCO basis all food/nutrient recommendations), it is not recommended that coconut oil be used in cat foods for its source as a fat - it contains none of the EFAs required by cats, and studies with foods using coconut oil were found to be unpalatable to cats, so they lost weight (because they wouldn't eat the food).

But this has nothing to do with MCTs being dangerous for cats. So it can be used as a supplement. Just remember when using it, it adds calories - and animal-based sources of anything, when possible, are always a better choice for cats.

Laurie I have a word document uploaded from The Winn Foundation to my Facebook group about this if you want to check the files. 

Is there more current info that contradicts what's in the NRC? If so, you might want to share it in the thread for the benefit of others.

http://winnfelinehealth.blogspot.com/2010/06/cats-and-dietary-medium-chain.html?m=1#!

I was worried there was something dangerous about using them. It's a new study that found potential benefits and that it is "palatable." :lol3:

...tell that to my cats.

!?!?

Well this is a nice surprise. I've been sorta surfing along the net about coconut oil/MCT for cats - Palatable, aye? Let me ask that to my cats tomorrow. LOL.

yes but it's a letter. I don't want to publish a letter on a public forum. I'll email you the letter and you can take certain paragraphs from it. 

I am considering giving my cat virgin coconut oil for a skin situation. He lost hair on ears around ears neck and face. Thought I would apply it topically...has anyone ever done this?

I recently started using coconut oil for my skin and noticed that my very finicky cat began licking my fingers.  I gave her a very small amount and she just went at it like ice cream.  Now she comes into my bathroom every morning waiting for her 'treat'.  

But, to you comment about saturated fat, it is 60% saturated fat so I wouldn't use it in cooking except very rarely.

coconut oil is great!  Used it both topically and fed it to my cats. Two of my boys love it...one not so sure

It is very good for them. Helps their coat. Just be sure to use the extra virgin cold pressed.

The old, misguided information about coconut oil being bad for you because it's high in saturated fat, has been proven false.  I've heard those studies used hydrogenated coconut oil, anyway.  At that time, there was a trend away from fats, in general, and sat. fats in particular.  Coconut oil is high in sat. fats, but they are plant fats (not animal fats) we humans can break down.  Also, there is a new-found connection between consuming coconut oil and minimizing Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.

I get organic, virgin coconut oil at Trader Joe's for $5.99/16 oz. and use it for cooking and on my skin and in my hair.  So does my wife.  I'm now introducing it to our cats and will report back on the results.

You will love what it does for your cats! There skin and hair improves drastically. Mine have it every day.

It also totally eliminates hairballs. My 3 boys had them all the time. After 4 months have not found

a single hairball! The benefits are endless...also helps in weight management.

IF YOU KITTIES GET A SMALL AMOUNT DAILY, IT WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR CAT'S OVERALL HEALTH..I HAVE STARTED MY KITTIES ON A RAW DIET AND HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE COMMERCIAL DRY FOOD LIKE WHISKAS AND PURINA..THEY CONTAIN  WHEAT, GLUTEN AND BY PRODUCTS.

I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON RAW FEEDING BEFORE STARTING MY CATS ON THE DIET..THEY HAVE LOST WEIGHT, ARE  MORE ACTIVE AND HEALTHIER AND ADDING SM. AMOUNTS OF COCONUT OIL IS BY FAR MUCH HEALTHIER THAN A LOT OF THE COMMERCIAL FOODS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADVERTISE HOW HEALTHY IT CAN BE, WHETHER IT'S FOR YOUR CAT OR DOG..

TO NOTE, THEY GET A GOOD GRAIN FREE DRY FOOD FROM THE SPECIALTY PET STORES..IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT I DON'T FEED IT TO THEM ON A DAILY BASIS, SO IT'S NOT TOUGH ON  MY SHOPPING BILL..

LOOK INTO GIVING YOUR CAT AM. AMTS. OF COCONUT OIL AND DO SOME RESEARCH ON RAWW FEEDING FEEDINGS. YOU CAN PREPARE IT YOUR SELF OR BUY IT READY MADE..

IT'S WORTH IT..

I love coconut oil!  Been using it lately as a face cream at night cause I wanted a organic alternative without chemicals--and much less expensive. So found a recipe online for a night cream with coconut oil, vitamin E and grapeseed oil and I love it!  But I add fish oil to my cat's food.