People vs Animal Diets

[MrsChefV]

My cats lie around about 22 hours a day. When they wake up, they eat as much as they want and then go back to shedding hair and snoozing.

Ditto for the dogs.

None of 'em ever exercise, unless scratching and growling burn lots of calories. Why aren't they fat? And why doesn't the pet-diet regimen work for people?

Janis

[Admin]

Our vet says cats have a built-in mechanism that lets them know how much protein they need, and when they have eaten enough to achieve it. He said we shouldn't worry about our new kitten getting into the old cat's low-protein special diet food, as she will just eat more of it to get what her body requires. We have heard this said about dogs as well in reference to premium dog foods, that the stuff like Science Diet has more nutrition per pound than the grocery store stuff, so they eat less, but get more nutrition, and for your extra expense, you get hockey pucks in the yard as opposed to cow pies.

[buzd]

Each of my cats are roughly 20 lbs. A little fat- but really just big boned.

Oddly, they're really picky about people food. One cat love salmon and fish, but the other won't touch it. He likes pork and chicken. Neither likes turkey. Weird.

[kcdixiecat]

I am SO bad when it comes to letting my pets have people food. I had a persian cat that lived to be 20 years old..she would camp out in front of the oven any time we fixed a turkey or chicken...but would turn her nose up at any type of fish. We also had to make sure that the bag of doritoes was fastened tight or she would get INSIDE of the bag and lick the cheese until she made herself sick.

Now, we have two dachshunds. I'm quite obsessed with these little guys..but that's neither here nor there. They love McDonald's cheeseburgers.....plain..no bun. Willie likes his with cheese..while Ernie won't eat american cheese..but loves any sort of expensive cheese! Ernie will also pick poultry over beef or pork any time you give him the choice.

Last weekend I had cut up a watermelon to stick in the fridge to snack on all week...dropped a piece on the floor..before I could grab something to clean it up..Ernie was licking the floor. I think he swallowed the piece whole! He loves watermelon and canteloupe...and is like his Mama..doesn't care for honeydew. He has always snacked on sliced apples and fresh carrots with me.

They do eat dry dog food and there is always a bowl of it down to graze on. I don't know if it's because they were raised with a cat around or what..but they're not like most dogs...they don't wolf their dog food down at one sitting..instead they go in and get a few little pieces..take them to their corners and eat them. They nibble like a cat.

Ok, enough of my obsession with my dogs. Anyone know of a good support group? Can you tell that only child went away to college and feels that he was replaced by dogs?:p

[hungryone]

My lazy cat needs special low-cal (and expensive) cat food, or he would quickly grow to fill the entire house. So I guess some animals are just like people, and they eat for reasons other than hunger....

[edible complex]

they don't drink alcohol and eat desserts...
they do have different metabolisms, dietary needs, and digestive systems. they can get thyroid issues however, so be watchful of any weight gain or loss...loss especially, as this can be a sign of cancer. (I have a cancer dog and I mentor cancer newbies, so I tend to get more serious about diet and nutrition for pets...sorry.)

[jodyrah]

My vet says to NEVER give my dogs table food. My first Yorkie lived to be 17 eating table food. I leave a bowl of dog food out all day for my little guys. They get table food for dinner. As my husband says, you took sex away from them (neutering) and now you want to take food, no way.

[PNG]

My vet says to NEVER give my dogs table food. My first Yorkie lived to be 17 eating table food. I leave a bowl of dog food out all day for my little guys. They get table food for dinner. As my husband says, you took sex away from them (neutering) and now you want to take food, no way.

When my puppy was 16 years old, my vet told us to stop feeding her doritos and cake and fried chicken and all of the things that she loved to eat. I just laughed. She lived to 18 years old in great health. Relax and be merry.

[Schuarta]

Sharky (short for Shark Bait) was born in the litter of a barn cat, lived on a boat for his first year, spent the next six years living outdoors in Rancho Cordova, and came to us in January, '08.

He is a solid muscular 9 pounds, and eats what he wants and then stops. He has no interest in "people food" and doesn't "pig out".

He has the longest hair, growing profusely, and we brush out enough each day to make a small kitten. He has become the perfect indoor boy, and never lays a hand (foot) on the furniture. When he needs to scratch he goes at the carpet and doesn't leave any lasting marks. And unlike our previous cats, has no interest in jumping up on things. The highest he goes is our bed or the cushion on a dining room chair.

And after living outside, began using a litter box the first day we brought him home at age seven!

[dragongrrl]

My cat Xena eats her cat food, has no interest in people food and is not overweight. Spike is my "garbage pail" kitty. He adores french fries and he gets one or two (all he wants) when I get fast food. But he'll check out whatever I'm eating, whenever I eat. I'll see this long, grey paw reach up and try to fish on my plate. I don't give him people food (except for the occasional fry) and he is huge. I find him overweight, but he could walk a tightrope if he wanted and makes leaps as light as a feather.