can I give my cat tuna as a food replacment for a sertain time?

Question

im feeding my kitten cowes milk and she is starting to get sick so I thought real hard and thought of tuna?

Answer 1

Hi there...cows milk causes bowel distress in cats as they are generally lactose intolerant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a web article about milk for cats:
http://www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx?id=326
We see cats drinking milk in commercials, old tv shows and the like. But the fact of the matter is that most cats are lactose intolerant. That means that they can't digest the sugars in milk. Milk also has very little to no nutritional value for cats. The fact of the matter is that a cat fed only on milk will die of malnutrition. However most cats LOVE the taste of milk, so what do you do?

As a staple cats should always have fresh, cool water available to them. As long as your cat isn't lactose intolerant, milk is not bad for cats if it is given as an occasional treat (think of it as kitty junk food). The first step is to determine if your cat likes milk. If your cat does like milk then determine is he or she is lactose intolerant. If your cat is lactose intolerant then he/she will have a little diarrhea and a little stomach problems for a few days after drinking the milk. In this case you will definitely want to give your kitty a milk substitute created for cats. Such a substitute is created to have some nutritional value for cats while not upsetting their stomachs as real milk can. A good substitute is Cat's Sip, it can be found in your local pet store or grocery store. Many veterinarians suggest that if your cat does like milk and even if he/she isn't lactose intolerant that you should get him/her used to a milk substitute anyhow as it is better for the cat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuna should not be fed to cats other than as a very rare occasional treat. Cats are primarily "obligate carnivores" and require a diet rich in animal meat proteins not soy proteins. Without the animal protein they suffer very serious ill medical effects and any vet can confirm this fact as well, which is why it's important not to convert them to become vegetarians.

Here's a link for HUMAN FOOD TO AVOID FOR CATS:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm cls=1&cat=1399&articleid=1029

Here's a web article about Tuna and how it is toxic to cats: http://www.lenhumanesoc.org/Tips/ASPCA-Tuna.htm

"TUNA FOR CATS? NO!
Tuna can be fatal to cats and is not something to be fed to them...The human variety of tuna fish contains an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine). Cats who regularly eat tuna can develop a vitamin B1 deficiency, which results in neurological symptoms like dilated eyes, loss of equilibrium, seizures and death if this vitamin is not replaced. The scientific name of this disease is polioencephlomalacia.

Clearwater veterinarian Richard Brancato said that though most domestic cats do enjoy fish, feeding them a diet of only tuna can cause serious disorders.

Although it is high in protein, tuna lacks sufficient amounts of certain amino acids, mainly taurine, to maintain feline health. There is insufficient calcium to balance the phosphorus; the ratio in canned tuna is 1-to-14.8. This results in bone disease.

Many essential vitamins such as A and most B vitamins are also lacking, Brancato said. A common disease in cats fed a mainstay of canned tuna is steatitis, or yellow fat disease, an inflammation of the fat tissue in the body due to a deficiency of vitamin E.

Source: St. Petersburg Times, published May 14, 2000"

Answer 2

Why doesn't she have some cat food? Tuna is highly addictive for cats - sometimes they decide they don't want to eat anything else and long-term feeding of it leads to serious vitamin deficiencies.

You should not use cow's milk for kittens as you have found out. Once weaned a kitten does not need milk and it has little nutritional value for them.

Answer 3

Absolutely not! Thoroughly cook some chicken, mash into small bits and with some cooked rice, maybe a few cooked green veggies. If you have a blender - - even better. Never feed it garlic, onions, salt, milk, tuna. Think of your kitten as an infant with an infant's tummy. Tuna & milk are not good for cats or kittens. If you can find IAM's for kitten's -- get that.
** Please call a local vet or the nearest humane society for advice.**

Answer 4

Not sure about tuna as my cat will only eat dry food. Cow's milk is no good for cat's though, you can buy cats milk from a supermarket mine loves it now and then.

Answer 5

I gave my cat regular tuna and he loved it! didn't hurt him a bit.
Cows milk, however is not good. Best to give kitten clean water, or buy milk substitute in cat food isle in store.

Answer 6

What do you People think cats ate before Purina invented animal chow? They ate leftover scraps of meat people fed them, in addition to catching their own birds, fish or mice.

The Love tuna and will eat it in preference to "chow" of any kind. Remember-- any prepared animal "chow" is based on a meat of some kind, which is mixed with fillers and then fortified with vitamins.

All you're losing by choosing meat is the filler--You might consider adding a drop or two of a liquid vitamin to ensure she's getting enough of that.

BTW, a cat fed on a high protein diet will poop less, because it will take less to fill her stomach. The poop will smell more strongly, though.

Answer 7

cats don't need too much milk or tuna. just buy different varieties of can food, she should have a balance of food and plenty of water. dry cat food is good too.

Answer 8

You can buy cat's milk (powdered, I think) at pet stores. This would be a better choice for her. Most animals can't digest cow's milk. In a pinch, you could try goat's milk.

Answer 9

no she won't get the nutrient that she needs from tuna. you should be feeding her real kitten food not people food. if she likes soft food you can get kitten food thats in a can.

Answer 10

why dont you just go to the store and buy her some whiskas pouches tender bites and a bag of kitten chow...wont cost more than $5 for everything...tuna is not good to give