Fish For Cats?

[GuyandCat]

This site has been amazing. been on for only a few day's and learnt so much. I have a question. Was looking at a Commercial Raw but it had 20% fish. I read that Fish is not good.. Why are some brands selling only Fish Kibble. eg. Orijen Six Fish... I feed my Kitten Orijen Kitten kibble and Wet Wellness.

Why do some pet companies offer Fish as the only Protein(meat)
Is it Best to 100% stay away from Fish totally or is a certain % of fish in the product acceptable...

 

[maggie101]

Fish In Cat Food - Yay or Nay?
At least as a rare treat. Some fish are worst than others. How far down they swim,bacteria and pollutants cause a problem. It is cheaper and companies want to make money so they buy fish since it's so addicting

 

[GuyandCat]

Fish In Cat Food - Yay or Nay?
At least as a rare treat. Some fish are worst than others. How far down they swim,bacteria and pollutants cause a problem. It is cheaper and companies want to make money so they buy fish since it's so addicting

Gotcha. Sucks for me. I wanted to go to a specific brand but it has 20% Trout in it.. Tks for the info

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

GuyandCat , just curious since I feed commercial raw. What brand has 20% trout in it? And as an aside, I do feed in part of my rotation some food that has salmon in it, (chicken and salmon) and that's supposedly the worse of the seafoods. But since I feed a rotation, I figure I can get away with it. Been feeding raw for eleven years now and they are still healthy. Another question for you, is that trout freshwater or sea trout? I would be happy if it were freshwater. I wouldn't be worried about all the junk in the ocean being in a freshwater fish, but I'm thinking it would be too expensive for them to use that

 

[GuyandCat]

GuyandCat , just curious since I feed commercial raw. What brand has 20% trout in it? And as an aside, I do feed in part of my rotation some food that has salmon in it, (chicken and salmon) and that's supposedly the worse of the seafoods. But since I feed a rotation, I figure I can get away with it. Been feeding raw for eleven years now and they are still healthy. Another question for you, is that trout freshwater or sea trout? I would be happy if it were freshwater. I wouldn't be worried about all the junk in the ocean being in a freshwater fish, but I'm thinking it would be too expensive for them to use that

Thanks for the quick reply. I was looking at Raw for my kitten and my Sister mentioned that her Boy. (Tucker) Golden Retriever was put on a Raw diet and that I should contact the company or Person..... The Company Name is M.O.B Raw. My sister say's he loves it and is doing fantastic. I went on M.O.B site and it showed the ingredients as follows.
40% Chicken

- 20% Offal, Green Tripe, Heart, Liver, Kidney (Beef)

- 20% Fish
- 15% Red Meat and Bone (Beef)

- 5% Cooked Eggs

I was concerned about the Fish he used as a member on this site told me to watch out for a ingredient that didn't state what type of fish. So I contacted the Owner on the phone and asked a few questions. He say's he uses Freshwater Trout for a reason I didn't inquire about. I asked him about using his food as a cat food and he said many customers use on their cats. I asked about the bones, he said they are small enough but some cats will leave some of the bones aside. Won't eat them all or something.. The only thing he told me that if I did order from him that I use supplement Taurine I think. I just really want to try it because my sister is so happy with the changes in her dog. I was hoping the 20% Trout would have been okay to feed everyday. My sister told me she will bring a Patty of the Food at least I can test to see if my (GUY) will even like it..

I just really don't trust many commercial companies from my Dog owning day's... If worst comes to worse I'll buy my own grinder for meat and bones and make my own food. lol... But I really would like to find a home made solution.. If not I will try and feed the best wet I can afford.
My (GUY) is eating a Can and a half of Kitten Wellness and Orijen kibble. He doesn't really like the Orijen. He eats it when I tell him no more wet. I bought a big Bag of it and I would like that he finish it..

I've only had GUY just over 2 weeks now. All is good, I'll see on Monday how the Test goes

 

[daftcat75]

I have a few reasons not to feed fish to cats:

1. It's not an ideal protein for cats. There are some nutrients that are lower in fish. There is also an anti-nutrient (or two): an enzyme present in fish reduces the absorption of thiamine (and maybe other vitamins.)
2. It's highly appealing and can be addictive. Some cats will only eat fish and they will hold out for it to the exclusion of other foods.
3. For the reason above, I recommend saving fish for disguising medicine or restarting a sick cat's eating. Exceptional times require exceptional measures. But if you feed fish regularly, you lose this "nuclear option."

My recommendation for fish is to save it for sick cats, and transition them back to non-fish-based food as soon as you can.

 

[GuyandCat]

I have a few reasons not to feed fish to cats:

1. It's not an ideal protein for cats. There are some nutrients that are lower in fish. There is also an anti-nutrient (or two): an enzyme present in fish reduces the absorption of thiamine (and maybe other vitamins.)
2. It's highly appealing and can be addictive. Some cats will only eat fish and they will hold out for it to the exclusion of other foods.
3. For the reason above, I recommend saving fish for disguising medicine or restarting a sick cat's eating. Exceptional times require exceptional measures. But if you feed fish regularly, you lose this "nuclear option."

My recommendation for fish is to save it for sick cats, and transition them back to non-fish-based food as soon as you can.

Is there a reason why some of the BIGGEST brands offer 100% fish for cats.. Almso every brand that I looked at offer 100% fish or a big amount.

 

[daftcat75]

Is there a reason why some of the BIGGEST brands offer 100% fish for cats.. Almso every brand that I looked at offer 100% fish or a big amount.

Fish is cheap and and it's popular with cats. They can get away with lower quality ingredients and recipes because of the fish appeal. This is another reason to avoid foods with fish. There are quality brands that use responsibly-sourced and high quality ingredients e.g. Tiki Cat. But my other recommendations still stand. Buy a pouch or two of Tiki Cat tuna with pumpkin and keep it in your cupboard for emergencies. Otherwise, I would avoid foods with fish in the ingredients altogether. With one exception: fish oil or salmon oil is good for its omega fats. Fish oils are the fat rather than the protein. They don't have the anti-nutrient (thiaminase) and they don't have the same allergen concerns that fish proteins have.* (*Usually! Some lower quality fish oils may not have separated all the protein out and may still trigger a reaction in allergic cats.) You can also use fish oil or salmon oil to disguise medicine or get a fish addict to eat another protein.

 

[maggie101]

More fish food=more cats become addicted=more cans bought=more money made
Wild guess that's why. Everything's about money!

 

[GuyandCat]

More fish food=more cats become addicted=more cans bought=more money made
Wild guess that's why. Everything's about money!

Oh well I guess I won't be buying Raw from them then.. Wish they would take out the 20% Fish for the cats. I'll Keep looking. Thanks a mill

 

[Silver Crazy]

Disney land invented the idea that cats live on fish, fish in a natural diet is almost nonexistant or such a low percentage it really doesnt figure and even the specialised fishing cats will take other game that is easier to catch.

 

[daftcat75]

If you are considering making raw for your cat, I have some suggestions here too:

1. Pick up a vitamin premix like Alnutrin or EZ Complete. EZ Complete will let you balance raw or cooked meat down to a single portion size. It also contains liver and a calcium supplement. You only need to provide the meat. However, it has green lipped mussels which don't agree with every cat. Sometimes fewer add-in ingredients is better and that's where Alnutrin shines. It has all the vitamins and minerals to balance whatever meat and liver you bring to the recipe without bringing extra ingredients into the mix (green lipped mussels, pancreatic extract, freeze-dried liver, etc.)

2. Start with a manual grinder and grow into the need for an electric grinder. You probably won't be grinding bone with a manual grinder. But it's also going to start at a fraction of the price of an electric grinder. You can still make a balanced and complete food using a supplement mix with a calcium supplement. Either EZ Complete or Alnutrin with Eggshell Calcium provide a calcium supplement instead of ground bone.

This is a good manual grinder. The only complaint I have is that, even with the plastic foot to reduce this, it still has a tendency to "dance" on my polished granite countertop. It still gets the job done. But there's a lot of wiggling I look forward to eliminating with an upgrade the next time I have a cat to make food for.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQSW44/?tag=thecatsite

3. Start with whole quality cuts of meat. Strip the meat from the bones, freeze it, and grind frozen (or cold as you can and still get it through the grinder.) Grinding thawed meat will turn to pink slime. You can use the bones to make meat stock or bone broth which is a wonderful addition to a cat's diet.

4. Never start with store-bought ground with a couple of exceptions: novel burger meats (bison, elk, boar, venison) that are sold from the freezer case are not subjected to the same abuses that ground meat in the refrigerated cases are: grinders that aren't cleaned as often as they should be, improper temperature controls, repackaged old meat, etc. Stores expect you to cook away their mistakes and mishandlings. The other exception is pre-packaged ground from companies that specialize in meat for raw pet food like Hare Today. This will also be bought frozen either at a pet food store or shipped (packaged in dry ice so it remains frozen when it arrives.)

5. Keep canned in his diet. It will probably take you a few batches to find the recipe and production methods that work for the both of you. Sometimes you'll forget to make a batch when you need to or thaw food in the freezer the night before. And sometimes you will have trouble getting the ingredients whether it's the meat or the supplements or whatever. Keeping canned in his diet will help you weather any supply or production issues. The canned food also gives you insurance and assurance that he's getting nutritionally complete and balanced food while you figure out the raw. And it makes it easier for vets and pet sitters to feed your guy if they need to.

You have his whole life to figure out his care and feeding. You don't have to get it all right today or tomorrow.

 

[GuyandCat]

Disney land invented the idea that cats live on fish, fish in a natural diet is almost nonexistant or such a low percentage it really doesnt figure and even the specialised fishing cats will take other game that is easier to catch.

Gotcha... I got lots to learn still. Question may I ask what you Feed your Cat? And why... Btw U guy's make yummy Meat pies ..lol

 

[GuyandCat]

If you are considering making raw for your cat, I have some suggestions here too:

1. Pick up a vitamin premix like Alnutrin or EZ Complete. EZ Complete will let you balance raw or cooked meat down to a single portion size. It also contains liver and a calcium supplement. You only need to provide the meat. However, it has green lipped mussels which don't agree with every cat. Sometimes fewer add-in ingredients is better and that's where Alnutrin shines. It has all the vitamins and minerals to balance whatever meat and liver you bring to the recipe without bringing extra ingredients into the mix (green lipped mussels, pancreatic extract, freeze-dried liver, etc.)

2. Start with a manual grinder and grow into the need for an electric grinder. You probably won't be grinding bone with a manual grinder. But it's also going to start at a fraction of the price of an electric grinder. You can still make a balanced and complete food using a supplement mix with a calcium supplement (either EZ Complete or Alnutrin with Eggshell Calcium provide a calcium supplement instead of ground bone.)

This is a good manual grinder. The only complaint I have is that, even with the plastic foot to reduce this, it still has a tendency to "dance" on my polished granite countertop. It still gets the job done. But there's a lot of wiggling I look forward to eliminating with an upgrade the next time I have a cat to make food for.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQSW44/?tag=thecatsite

3. Start with whole quality cuts of meat. Strip the meat from the bones, freeze it, and grind frozen (or cold as you can and still get it through the grinder.) Grinding thawed meat will turn to pink slime. You can use the bones to make meat stock or bone broth which is a wonderful addition to a cat's diet.

4. Never start with store-bought ground with a couple of exceptions: novel burger meats (bison, elk, boar, venison) that are sold from the freezer case are not subjected to the same abuses that ground meat in the refrigerated cases are: grinders that aren't cleaned as often as they should be, improper temperature controls, repackaged old meat, etc. Stores expect you to cook away their mistakes and mishandlings.

5. Keep canned in his diet. It will probably take you a few batches to find the recipe and production methods that work for the both of you. Sometimes you'll forget to make a batch when you need to or thaw food in the freezer the night before. And sometimes you will have trouble getting the ingredients whether it's the meat or the supplements or whatever. Keeping canned in his diet will help you weather any supply or production issues. The canned food also gives you insurance and assurance that he's getting nutritionally complete and balanced food while you figure out the raw. And it makes it easier for vets and pet sitters to feed your guy if they need to.

You have his whole life to figure out his care and feeding. You don't have to get it all right today or tomorrow.

Thanks so much. You're right... I still got Lots of time. Makes me feel better knowing I'm on the right track at least..

 

[Silver Crazy]

Gotcha... I got lots to learn still. Question may I ask what you Feed your Cat? And why... Btw U guy's make yummy Meat pies ..lol

I am a raw and home cooked cat feeder, I have a Bengal so have to be a bit careful with his diet and commercial food with any organics in it doesn't do him any good.

LOL...Yep..our meat pies are pretty good..especially the home made ones, had steak and mushroom one yesterday ..it was good.

 

[GuyandCat]

I am a raw and home cooked cat feeder, I have a Bengal so have to be a bit careful with his diet and commercial food with any organics in it doesn't do him any good.

LOL...Yep..our meat pies are pretty good..especially the home made ones, had steak and mushroom one yesterday ..it was good.

I've decided and made up my mind. In the next few months I am gonna buy a quality meat grinder and make my own. I have no excuses I have the time.... I'll keep Guy on the Wet and kibble for nibbling, but will 100% be doing my own after reading how simple it really is.. I'll still offer the Wet and maybe mix up the meats. Beef Turkey Chicken ect when I start my own. I'll buy everything I need before hand and get it all ready for when I decide to switch. Thanks so much for helping me out... Cheers

 

[Silver Crazy]

I've decided and made up my mind. In the next few months I am gonna buy a quality meat grinder and make my own. I have no excuses I have the time.... I'll keep Guy on the Wet and kibble for nibbling, but will 100% be doing my own after reading how simple it really is.. I'll still offer the Wet and maybe mix up the meats. Beef Turkey Chicken ect when I start my own. I'll buy everything I need before hand and get it all ready for when I decide to switch. Thanks so much for helping me out... Cheers

There are so many good recipes for making a good balanced food for them, just remember to vary it around a bit with different meats so he doesnt get stuck on one taste and flavour and in the long run it works out cheaper, I feed my cat on approx 7-10 dollars a week and he eats as much as a small dog. And keep the food chunky so he has to chew, keeps the teeth clean and healthy and
the jaw muscles good and strong

 

[GuyandCat]

There are so many good recipes for making a good balanced food for them, just remember to vary it around a bit with different meats so he doesnt get stuck on one taste and flavour and in the long run it works out cheaper, I feed my cat on approx 7-10 dollars a week and he eats as much as a small dog.

Would you mind sharing a site for recipes or share yours.. What you add as supplements and what not.....

 

[maggie101]

Would you mind sharing a site for recipes or share yours.. What you add as supplements and what not.....

Look on the thread for raw food feeding to find recipes. I feed one of my cats canned food in the morning and with a timer early morning.. ground meat and ez complete her last 2 meals. She eats small meals. I am not a raw feeder. Her meat is cooked. I leave food out way too much over night then have to throw it away

 

[GuyandCat]

Look on the thread for raw food feeding to find recipes. I feed one of my cats canned food in the morning and with a timer early morning.. ground meat and ez complete her last 2 meals. She eats small meals

Excellent. Thank you