Are beef and pork bad?

tabbysia

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
987
Purraise
510
Location
Texas
It seems that I can't find a lamb food that does not have beef in it. One of my cats like Halo Spot's Stew lamb (other one won't touch it), and they both seem to like the Pride Lucky's Lamb, both of which contain beef. My IBD kitty likes AND keeps both down (a miracle), and my other cat does not seem to have any adverse effects from the beef.

I also feed Pride Rockstar rabbit which both of them like (also a miracle). It seems to contain a fair amount of pork though. I am not sure why.

I have heard that beef and pork are bad for cats because of the high fat content. A couple of posters on this site have even suggested that they could clog arteries, like in humans. My male kitty is bordering on overweight at 13 1/2 pounds, so I am not sure if it is wise to feed the foods containing beef and pork. The problem is, he is a dry food addict, and the Pride Rockstar Rabbit and Pride Lucky's Lamb are the only wet foods that he will not scoff at.

What are your opinions on beef and pork? Are they okay to feed, or should they not be given to "plump" cats? Could they cause health problems?
 

emandjee

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 13, 2014
Messages
217
Purraise
54
Hi Tabbysia,

I'm on the side that believe cats are carnivores and their bodies were specifically designed to consume meat, organs, fat, and bone. Though lamb is considered high in fat, I feel the trigger and obstacle to your kitty's plump nature lies in the kibble. It's the high carb content that is most likely to be the cause of this, not the high fatty meats in canned food, ironically. I believe cats just are unable to process ANY plant matter, and that includes all grains, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, tapioca, and other fruits and vegetables. Kibble will just tend to have a much higher carb content, otherwise it cannot retain its shape. It is also extremely nutrient dense (meaning very high calories for a small amount served), and most people often free feed or feed too much of it. Usually, the feeding guidelines on the package is more than they really need. Food manufacturers just want you to believe our pets need to consume more. 

So, in a nutshell, I'd say those folks saying that high fatty foods causes atherosclerosis in felines are totally misinformed. Their bodies do not get heart attacks from "clogged arteries" by consuming these high lipid meals like humans. The real cause of heart attacks or thrombus (blood clot) in felines is usually due to a weakness in the heart itself that is later diagnosed as some sort of either: 1) cardiomyopathy, 2) due to hyperthyroidism, 3) embolism (part of the blood vessel breaks off into the blood stream that causes clots), 4) congenital heart defects, and 5) very rarely, from heartworms. Heartworms affect mostly canines and the chances of it affecting felines are rare. However, all that said, there is a current rising situation where feline heart disease may also stem from being overweight due to excess carb consumption (aka kibble). A diet consisting with a high starch in their diet pretty much predisposes a kitty to gain weight over time. The added weight gain often leads to other health issues, including arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Links that support this idea and debunk that high fat foods cause heart disease in cats:

http://www.2ndchance.info/dxme-Cholesterol.htm

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/7/1940S.full

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/a/CW-CatHeartDiseaseCauses.htm

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2660

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/07/23/cat-heart-disease.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/site.../02/fiber-rich-diets-for-overweight-cats.aspx
 
Last edited:

chwx

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
167
Purraise
35
Absolutely agree with EmandJee! Mine eat lots of beef and pork when I catch good sales. In fact, pork is hands down all my cats favorite protein. (Just like mommy! :lol3:) They like most all foods but OMG!! If I pop open a can of Instinct Pork or am cooking pork chops or a pork roast, they just KNOW and go NUTS! I always make sure to buy enough chops to have an extra for the kitties or trim a bit from the roast for them. :D

People often confuse fat in food with body fat. People often switch dogs and cats to low fat diets when they need to lose weight which is all wrong. That's when behavioral issues surrounding food start to begin, they aren't getting enough fat to stay satisfied for long! Oddly enough, this can destroy diet efforts in us too. Low fat everything leaves us HUNGRY! High protein, moderate fat and low carb will keep kitty happier and healthier. Since your kitty has IBD the range of acceptable fat could vary from a healthy cat. If those foods are working then I would stick with them. Feed more canned, less dry and exercise more for weight loss. :beerpals:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

tabbysia

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
987
Purraise
510
Location
Texas
Thank you for all of the info!

You mentioned that the lamb was high in fat, maybe that's why my IBD kitty has finally started putting on and maintaining weight. For a long time, I could not get her to eat much, and she kept losing weight. Now she is up to almost 9 lbs. and holding steady.

As for my big guy--the 13 1/2 pound kitty, I know that wet might be better, but as I mentioned, he is addicted to dry food. If it's not crunchy, I have a hard time getting him to eat it. The Pride foods are the only choices I have offered him that he does not back away in disgust from. Although he does actually eat some of the Pride, he does not eat a whole lot of it. The funny thing is even though he hates the Halo Spots's Stew, he will come along and eat any bits of my other cat's leftovers if they have been sitting out for about an hour or so because the food has started to get hard at that time.

By the way, I only leave leftovers out for about two hours max. I have to leave the food out for a while because the cats are grazers and will keep coming back to finish.
 
Top