Tuna for kittens + Can you feed kitten food to an old cat?

pinkteapot

Cats have been domesticated and away from a wild diet for thousands of years (ferals aside). There’s no harm at all in feeding tuna cat food. There’s very little tuna in it anyway. 

Not all adult cats are lactose intolerant. Some are, some aren’t. If milk upsets your cat’s stomach, don’t give it. If not, a bit won’t hurt if they like it. Our cat’s very favourite treat is a bit of squirty cream. 😂

Agree that kitten food isn’t generally suitable for an older cat, but, as already said, older cat is late in life now and if they like the kitten food then subbing it in for an occasional meal won’t hurt. Alternatively, donate unused kitten food to your local cat rescue - they’re always needing it.

aroominyork

Also, Pyewacket (5 months old Maine Coon) seems to eat a lot and then a little on alternate days. Is that common?

Silvertabby

aroominyork said:

Also, Pyewacket (5 months old Maine Coon) seems to eat a lot and then a little on alternate days. Is that common?

Yes.  Guessing he eats less in hot weather?  

aroominyork

No, she (she!) doesn't seem affected by weather in her eating patterns. Just one day on (followed by an impressive litter tray) and one day off. 

Silvertabby

aroominyork said:

No, she (she!) doesn't seem affected by weather in her eating patterns. Just one day on (followed by an impressive litter tray) and one day off. 

She's probably still finding her routine.  As long as she's eating and producing 'nice' poos I wouldn't worry.  

aroominyork

Silvertabby said:

aroominyork said:

No, she (she!) doesn't seem affected by weather in her eating patterns. Just one day on (followed by an impressive litter tray) and one day off. 

She's probably still finding her routine.  As long as she's eating and producing 'nice' poos I wouldn't worry.  

Thanks. It would be less annoying if she didn't turn her nose up at pouched wet food opened earlier in the day, even though left in the pouch and clipped close. It's a constant dilemna when to open a new one! Still, she's the most remarkable cat and it is true about Maine Coons being the dog of the cat world - she follows us around more than our German Shepherd (who she adores) and carries things around the house in her mouth.

Silvertabby

aroominyork said:

Silvertabby said:

aroominyork said:

No, she (she!) doesn't seem affected by weather in her eating patterns. Just one day on (followed by an impressive litter tray) and one day off. 

She's probably still finding her routine.  As long as she's eating and producing 'nice' poos I wouldn't worry.  

Thanks. It would be less annoying if she didn't turn her nose up at pouched wet food opened earlier in the day, even though left in the pouch and clipped close. It's a constant dilemna when to open a new one! Still, she's the most remarkable cat and it is true about Maine Coons being the dog of the cat world - she follows us around more than our German Shepherd (who she adores) and carries things around the house in her mouth.

My BSH is exactly the same.  We don't have a dog for her to play with, but when she wants a game she brings a toy to us and throws it at our feet.  Meaning: 'throw it for me so I can catch it and being it back to you'. 

She's not keen on pouched food that's been open before either - and I use a clip as well !

aroominyork

So how do you minimise the amount of wet food that you throw away? Open fewer pouches than if she was less fussy and let her top up on the always-available kibble?

Silvertabby

aroominyork said:

So how do you minimise the amount of wet food that you throw away? Open fewer pouches than if she was less fussy and let her top up on the always-available kibble?

She won't eat dry food.  Not even Dreamies !  At the moment, any left over chicken pouches are put out for our hedgehogs and hoglets, along with the chicken dry cat food that we buy specially for them.  

TripleH

We have offered fish to ours on rare occasions (and when there are no small bones) sometimes they eat it, sometimes they don't. Our oldest may have fished when younger, she loves splashing in water and has a worrying interest in ducks...
We don't give our cats milk and to be fair even the kitten milk was a waste of time. The only time they have milk is when they stalk our cerial bowls when working from home although sadly for them we don't have dairy.