What can I feed this stray cat? I don't have cat food...?

Question

it was crying at our door at 2 am, looks about half grown and is very affectionate and tame. But, we don't have cat food! I tried tuna...what else?

Any other advice re taking in a stray? We're going to search for her owner...

Answer 1

HI there...consider boiling some chicken and rice until you can go to the pet store to purchase some cat food. Leave some fresh water for the kitty and avoid milk since cats are lactose intolerant. Cow's milk causes diarrhoea in cats. Additionally, please discontinue feeding tuna as it is toxic for cats (see article below). Any vet can confirm this fact as well.

WHY TUNA IS BAD FOR CATS:
ASCPA: WE'RE TALKING TUNA: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FOR YOUR CAT?
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"

If you are brining the cat inside, keep it confined to a small room so that it will not become overwhelmed with a new environment. Provide a place to sleep and and a litterbox which can be made out of a cardboard box lined with plastic using newspaper as litter replacement.

If you have other cats keeping the stray quarantined in the small room is important as it could be carrying feline diseases that could be contagious to your cats even if they are vaccinated.

Here's a website on kitten care, but also applies to cats in general: http://www.kittencare.com/

Answer 2

Definitely don't feed it milk, you don't know how old it is, and, generally, milk isn't the best for cats.
Tuna is fine for now. If you have any bits of chicken/steak or cold cuts then that's good, too.
Before you start bonding with this cat, take it to the vet.
Because it has been roaming outside for a while, you will want the vet to give it a check up, to make sure that there is no harm done, no fleas, no diseases, etc. The vet will also be able to scan the cat for a possible microchip, and if there is one, then, chances are that you'll be able to find the owner.
As to other ways for finding the owner, I would put up posters at your vet's, at the animal shelters, and on trees/posts. You don't necessarily have to put up the cats picture, but you can write "Cat Found, color of fur/eyes:____, call (your number) if this may be your cat" That way it's a little ambiguous, and because it seems like you want to keep the cat, at least you tried finding the owner. Also, only keep the posters up for 1-2 weeks. If no one replies within that time, then, congrats on your new kitty!

Answer 3

What To Feed Stray Cats

Answer 4

Cats (all cats from Lions to housecats) are Hypercarnivores which means they require 30% fungi and plants in their diet. You can open a can of mushrooms, bake a sweet potato, boil some black rice, open a can of refried beans, open a can of black eyed peas, open a carton of dried plum pieces, then put all this in a sauce pan and heat and mix in a few sprinkles of red pepper or cayenne papper. Serve room temperature/cold/or lightly warm. My cat eats this con-cock-shun cold right out of the frig. Try warming up some dairy butter and mixing in for finiky eaters. This is an emergency only dish until you get to the store for cat food. Most people will have these ingredients in the house anyway.
If you are low on money buy Purina Cat Chow Original. You can ususally get a large 16 pound bag for $1/pound of food which is as cheap or cheaper than 1 pound loaf of typical bread. Cats need a good source of animal protein on a regular basis. Some cats can drink lactose free milk, but only small amounts, and you can flavor with berry juice or puree to make it more appealing. My cat likes milk and blue berry juice mixed.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What can I feed this stray cat? I don't have cat food...?
it was crying at our door at 2 am, looks about half grown and is very affectionate and tame. But, we don't have cat food! I tried tuna...what else?

Answer 6

(1) if tuna didn't work, then cat is most likely not hungry & wanting into a warm house or needing water or something along those lines.. perhaps get a small bag of dry cat food if the kitty still around in the next couple of days

(2) put up posters in the neighborhood... Found Kitty with a picture & your phone number

(3) if no owner located within 2 week take kitty to the vet.. otherwise, if you have other animals in the house, do not attempt to bring in stray without taking to the vet first

With regards to poster number 1.. DO NOT GIVE KITTEN MILK, it most likely will get diarreah!!

Answer 7

an hungry cat will eat anything you give him and it picked you as his new owner sometimes they will stay sometimes they are just passing thru and make sure he has plenty of water til you can buy some cat food give him whatever you have meatwise

Answer 8

A stray cat is use to garbage so any leftovers you have he or she would enjoy.If they r hungry they will eat almost anything.

Answer 9

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i would feed him that for a while but get some dog food asap! and don't forget to give him water :) and thanks for caring about him, i am sure he appreciates it :D

Answer 10

We have a few kitties that come to our house every day. I think they might be the neighbors they are scared of people though. I feed them lunch meat like bologna and turkey, I also feed them hot dogs.