While your frisky feline may jump in delight and meow to her heart’s content at the sight of an open can of tuna, in all honesty it is not the best option as far as a healthy, well balanced diet goes. Cats may love tuna, some may even be addicted to the fishy goodness however the unfortunate truth is that a steady diet of the fish prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition since it will not have all of the required nutrients your kitty needs.

Too much tuna can also lead to mercury poisoning, a very serious and sometimes lethal condition. A can or pouch of tuna every now and then is okay if given as an occasional treat but just remember to only give it to your cat in moderation. In any case, tuna should never make up more than 5% of your cat’s diet and/or daily calorie intake. Speak to your veterinarian about other dietary options to make the best decision for your cat and keep in mind that your feline friend is an obligate carnivore which means he or she needs a diet that most closely resembles the wild prey they would hunt and devour in the wild.

While there is still not much information on whether or not cranberries are toxic to animals such as cats and/or dogs, they should still be used with discretion and best with the advice of a veterinarian as the berries can cause gastrointestinal upset. Nonetheless, if you are worried about your cat having a urinary tract infection, this is something that should be addressed with your veterinarian as medication is almost always needed and is most beneficial to your feline companion.

If your kitty is getting frequent infections there are appropriate therapies, medications, antibiotics etc. that your veterinarian can prescribe to help. Occasionally he or she may suggest using some form of cranberry extract either by itself or mixed in with your cat’s food to help with UTI’s etc. but again giving cranberry juice to your cat is not the best option and probably won’t do much to benefit them in the long run anyways. Especially since these types of juices often contain a lot of sugar and high fructose corn syrups, which are very bad for kitty’s health and wellbeing. Speak to your veterinarian to see what can be done to help your cat if you suspect they may have bladder issues, a kidney infection and/or a urinary tract infection. These types of issues should never be left untreated as they can be potentially fatal.

Eggs are not an ideal form of food when looking at helping your cat maintain a healthy and well balanced diet. Every now and then a veterinarian may suggest scrambled eggs for a cat with an upset stomach, but even this advice seems somewhat skeptical as cats are obligatory carnivores that thrive on meat and not much else.

Dairy products such as milk and eggs (as long as they are cooked) are generally okay to give to kitty once in a blue moon as a special treat but should be just that; a treat. These types of things should be given in very small portions and in moderation.

Raw eggs on the other hand are not safe and should never be given to your cat. There are a few different problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli. The second is that a protein in raw egg whites, known as avidin, actually interferes with the absorption of the B Vitamin biotin. This can cause skin issues as well as other problems with your cat’s coat.

Bananas would most likely do your cat more harm than good as cats really have no use for them since cats are obligatory carnivores that eat meat. They have no use for fruits, plants, etc. Not only do cats not really have any real desire for bananas, they also cannot taste sweet things. Carbohydrates and other things that your cat is not used to eating as a carnivore can actually be very difficult to digest and can do more harm than good, also leading to obesity if given to kitty in excessive amounts.

Bananas are also full of acid and sugar, neither of which is ideal for your cat and could upset his stomach. Although your cat will most likely be fine if you happen to drop a piece of banana on the floor and he eats it, bananas shouldn’t be fed to him on a regular basis as it will most likely only lead to diarrhea, vomiting and/or stomach discomfort.

While dogs may be at the top of the league when it comes to playing fetch, some cats have actually been known to get down with a little game of fetch every now and then as well. In fact research has shown feline intelligence to include the ability to acquire new behavior that applies previously learned knowledge to new situations, communicating needs and desires within a social group, and responding to training cues.

The brain of the domesticated cat is about 5 centimeters long and weighs 25-30 grams and its physical structure is actually quite similar to that of a humans. Both the human brain and the cat brain have cerebral cortices with similar lobes.

Many cats have been known to be trained as circus animals because they are so highly intelligent. However some have also been called difficult as they do not like to assume training behaviors except for in exchange for a direct benefit. Another common belief is that cats can be difficult to train because they grow impatient and/or bored with the training exercise at hand. I guess the only real way to see if your cat will play fetch is to try it.

Cats are carnivores, which means that they eat mostly meat or the flesh of other animals. In fact, the cat’s most natural inclination is geared toward the hunting and expelling of their primary food source, or prey. This innate inclination is something that even the tiniest kitten or cub is born with. From the moment he or she starts walking, they can usually be found inquisitively exploring every nook and cranny of their environment and can also often be found stalking, chasing, pouncing, and attacking anything that moves.

A Cat’s Carnivorous Characteristics

The following are just a few of the cat’s carnivorous characteristics:

• Superior eyesight
• Keen sense of smell
• Strong predatory instincts such as stalking, chasing and/or pouncing
• Acute heating
• Soft paw pads that are ideal for silently stalking prey during a hunt
• Sharp claws that have good traction which aids in hunting and catching prey
• Sharp teeth that come together to slice, gnaw, rip and tear the flesh of prey
• Jaws that open and close in a vertical plane only
• Strong stomach acids used for neutralizing potentially harmful bacteria on meat
• Short digestive tract which cuts down digestive time, thus also minimizing the opportunity for potentially harmful bacteria to colonize within the body

What Do Cats Eat?

Some carnivores such as the cat are technically considered to be what is referred to as obligate carnivores. What this means is that they depend only on meat for survival. Their bodies cannot digest plants properly and do not provide felines with enough nutrients.

In the wild, cats would mainly eat small rodents and birds and would consume organs, bones and hide, as well as the meat of these animals. Cats require an amino called taurine for healthy vision and heart function. This amino acid is found in meat.

Protein And Carbohydrates

Over time cats have evolved to eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Protein can be found in all types of meat, fish, chicken and eggs. In addition, cats have a short digestive tract that is naturally pathogen resistant and is also very efficient in metabolizing raw meat. Interestingly enough, cats do not actually require carbohydrates in their diet and also do not have the enzymes in their saliva and liver that are required to process them. Typically, carbohydrates are what make many house cats obese.

Commercial Cat Food

Many cat foods come in some form of wet food either in cans or pouches. Dry commercial foods are also sold. For many years it was believed that dry kibble was beneficial to cats and it was rumored to help clean a cat’s teeth, however we now know that this is no more correct than expecting to clean your own teeth by eating food. In addition, we also now know that most dry foods contain excessive levels of carbohydrates because they contain ingredients such as corn, soybean and wheat. Most dry commercial cat foods contain high levels of these types of ingredients because they are cheaper to make than putting animal protein in the kibble. Wet foods are closer to a cat’s natural diet, but still are not exactly ideal and should not be left out for more than a day as they can spoil easily and make your cat ill.

An Ideal Diet

Technically the best food for your cat would be anything that mimics a natural cat diet. A good rule of thumb to ensure that your cat is getting the proper nutrients and not too many carbs etc. is to give them at least one wet meal a day even if it has dry food available all day. Buying cheap cuts like chicken necks can also help strengthen a cat’s teeth. Some owners have even gone as far as to feed their cat feeder mice every now and then.

In addition to feeding your cat well, you should also ensure that he or she always has plenty of water available. A good way to encourage your cat to drink plenty of water is to have several different bowls with different depths scattered throughout the house, readily available to kitty. Never feed your cat cooked bones as they are a choking hazard and also cannot be properly digested. If you decide to transition your cat to a more natural diet it is best to start out with 25% new food and 75% of whatever he or she is used to eating. This transition should be done over a week’s time so as to avoid any stomach issues from occurring and help kitty get used to their new food.

Cheese and other dairy products are not really meant to be consumed by cats and kittens and something most people do not realize is that cat’s do not have a taste for sweet things so they probably don’t taste much when they try these products anyway. Although kittens are able to tolerate their mother’s milk when they are young, most adult cats actually become lactose intolerant and their digestive systems simply cannot process dairy foods. This usually results in digestive issues with an upset stomach, diarrhea and/or vomiting being common symptoms.

A little bit of milk or other dairy products given in moderation as a small treat every now and then is probably fine if your cat doesn’t seem to have a lactose intolerance issue, but just keep in mind that this should only be done occasionally and in small portions. A good way to test your kitty for lactose intolerance before giving her said products is to give her a teaspoon of milk or a tiny piece of cheese and see how her body reacts. Overall, none of these products are going to be of any real health benefit to your cat so it’d probably be best to just leave them all alone and let kitty stick to her usual diet of meat.

Cats should not be given things like soy or almond milk because overall it is not good for them. In fact, contrary to what many have grown up seeing on TV or being told, most cats are technically lactose intolerant and should therefore not even be drinking actual milk products that contain dairy. While soy and almond milk may seem like healthy alternatives since they don’t actually contain dairy, the truth of the matter is that they can still do more harm than good.

A Kitten’s Digestive System

From the time a kitten is born up until about 4 weeks of age, its diet is compromised solely of its mother’s milk. A kitten is able to derive all of the nutrients he or she needs from mama cat’s milk. During this stage of development, a kitten is producing its peak levels of an enzyme that is known as lactase. This enzyme is what aids in the digestion of lactose, found in milk. As kitty begins to mature and is weaned from mama’s milk, the amount of lactase produced actually begins to drop off. It is at this point that the cat’s digestive track becomes quite delicate and begins to further develop, making it harder for them to tolerate milk, whether it be animal based or a synthetic form such as soy and/or almond milk.

The Pros And Cons Of Milk Alternatives

Pet owners may be tempted to try and give kitty a taste of soy or almond milk, or maybe even regular cow’s milk. However it is important to keep in mind that this will not really benefit your cat in any way and will most likely just cause more harm than good. Most kitties’ will end up with indigestion and experience vomiting and/or diarrhea when given products such as these, or could become finicky eaters as a result. It is extremely important for cat owner’s to remember that until a kitten is weaned, it only needs its mother’s milk. After it has been weaned, about 30% of its total energy should come from protein, which soy milk does contain. However, soy milk and/or almond milk should never become a major component in your feline’s diet as it does not contain all of the nutrients needed to help your kitten grow up to be a healthy cat. Milk or Milk alternatives should also never take place of water. Making sure your cat is drinking plenty of water is crucial to his or her health.

Technically speaking, from the time kitty is weaned to about 1 year of age, she or he should be fed a nutrient-rich kitten formula, which can be easily found in the pet supply section at your local grocery store or at your local pet store. If your cat seems to enjoy the flavor of soy milk or almond milk it can be offered to your cat as a special treat but should only be done so every once in a blue moon. Soy and/or almond milk should never be anything more than the occasional and very special treat for kitty. In fact “treats” that are given to kitty should also never compromise more than 5% of its daily calorie intake. It should also be noted that cats cannot technically taste sweets, so they probably won’t be too disappointed if you don’t give them milk or soy milk as they probably can’t taste much of it anyways.

How To Tell If Your Cat Has Indigestion

A cat’s stomach can be quite delicate, especially the younger the feline. It is not uncommon for your kitty to be easily upset by new foods. It is for this reason that when you are introducing new foods or drinks to kitty, to do so in moderation. Whether you are giving your cat soy products or dairy products, it is best to start out with a teaspoon or other very small amount to see how kitty will react.

Symptoms Of Indigestion

• Symptoms of indigestion include the following
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation (this is less common but does sometimes occur)

Cats and rabbits are both mammals, but as far as any other type of relation goes between the two, that’s about as good as it gets. Technically speaking, cats actually belong to a family that is referred to as Felidae, and the order Carnivora. Rabbits on the other hand belong to the family known as Leporidae and the order Lagomorpha.

The two have no other type of relation other than they are both cute and cuddly and make great pets. In fact, the last common ancestor that either of these furry little critters had in common would have been about 90 million years ago.

Cats are very susceptible to the volatile oil that is found in the stems and leaves of the catnip plant. When cats smell catnip they exhibit several behaviors common to females in heat. For instance, you may notice your cat rubbing their head and body on the herb, or they may even jump, roll around, vocalize and salivate. This response typically lasts for about 10 minutes, after which the cat then becomes temporarily immune to the catnip’s effects for about 30 minutes. Response to the herb is actually hereditary. 70 to 80 percent of cats exhibit the types of behaviors listed above when within the plant’s presence. Something that many people may not know is that catnip does not affect kittens until they are about six months old and/or begin to reach sexual maturity.

About Catnip

The catnip plant (Nepeta cataria and other Nepeta species) are members of the mint family and contain volatile oils, sterols, acids and tannins. Native to Europe, Asia and Africa, the plant was brought to North America by settlers. Nowadays the plant has become quite popular in herb gardens and also grows wildly as a weed. Catnip is considered to be non-addictive and is completely harmless to our feline companions. Surprisingly enough, even lions and tigers are susceptible to the oil found in the stems and leaves of the herb.

How Catnip Works

So how does catnip work? Nepetalactone, which is one of the herb’s volatile oils, enters the cat’s nasal tissue, where it is then thought to bind to protein receptors that stimulate sensory neurons. In turn, these cells provoke a response in neurons in the olfactory bulb, which project to several brain regions including the amygdale (two neuronal clusters in the midbrain that mediate emotional responses to stimuli) and the hypothalamus, the brain’s master gland that plays a role in regulating things such as hunger and emotions.

The amygdala integrates the information flow from the olfactory bulb cells and projects to areas governing behavior responses. The hypothalamus regulates neuroendocrine responses through the pituitary gland, and creates a “sexual response”. Basically, what this means is that your cat is essentially reacting to an artificial cat pheromone.

Human brains are physiologically different from a cat’s brain and people do not react to catnip by “getting high” as a cat would. Native Americans however did once use catnip as a means to try and treat the uncontrollable crying that comes along with infant colic. The herb also serves as a mild sedative in some herbal teas.

When it comes to alternative medicine, some herbalists often recommend catnip for treating migraine headaches, relieving cramps, gas, indigestion, insomnia, nervousness, and anorexia. It has also been used as an herbal paste from time to time to reduce swelling that is associated with arthritis and soft tissue injury. While catnip may be useful in a number of ways, one thing is for sure; your cat will love it and keep coming back for more!