Cat diet.

[geo0939]

I have a 6 year old cat who has developed a strange liking for a certain margarine- type spread, the one which is very hard to distinguish from butter. He eats his usual cat foods with vigour, but two or three times a day he really enjoys a tiny spot of this spread to lick. I just wonder if this will have a lasting effect on his health. If I thought it would harm, I'd stop it right away, but he does love it. Any advice would be appreciated. I do like a laugh, but it is a serious question.

[snapdarlich]

I would stop it immediately. There will be some lactose in the margarine which is really bad for cats. That's why you shouldn't give them Cow's milk either. And there will be salt in the margarine that is bad for puss too. A lot of the time when we give pets a treat, it is more for the owner than the pet.I'm sure you can find a cat friendly treat for it instead. It only found the fondness for the spread after it was fed it, it didn't go down the shops and buy a tub, did it? If you love and care for your cat, you'll stop - and probably add a few years to it's life.

[snapdarlich]

http://www.petngarden.com/cats/cats3.php

[geo0939]

Thank you both for your considered response to my question. To explain my position further I sould say that I'm in my mid sixties, and have always had cats and dogs. I understand the effect of feeding cows milk to pets and have never done it. All my pets have had long and healthy lives( except the two that were run over, and the one that was stood on by a horse). I was actually more curious about the vegetable oils and poly-unsaturates. I do appreciate your input, however, apart from the asinine suggestion from snapdarlich that the cat might have gone to the shop and bought some. This sort of schoolboy comment helps niether the sender nor the recipient. Also, the cat was never fed this stuff, it was first spotted licking the discarded lid of the carton on the kitchen worktop. You'll be glad to hear that this practice has now ceased, which I was about to do in any case.

Thanks again both. G

[delilahcat]

In actual fact, if you read that link that snap has provided, you will see that tolerance to lactose varies widely from cat to cat. I have found that the cats who are most likely to have an intolerance to lactose are pedigree cats. Ordinary moggies are often fine with small amounts of milk or cream, but it should be kept as an occasional treat.

As far as the margarine-type spread goes though, I do agree that it's probably not a good idea - the preservatives/salt/flavourings etc can't be good for cats.I have to say that I've found I have to be very quick off the mark when using butter - if I don't replace the lid IMMEDIATELY and wash up the knife just as quickly, I'm liable to get a cat licking the lid/knife!

[geo0939]

Thanks delilahcat; yes, I did read the info on the link, most of which I already knew. The main point of my question was concerning the vegetable fats and poly-unsaturates and, by the way, my moggie couldn't be moggier, out all night and in all day. To reiterate,I have stopped now.

Thanks again for your interest.

[snapdarlich]

It wasn't intended to be an asinine comment, it was intended to illustrate the fact that pet owners can often begin to feed their animals incorrect foodstuff to their pets in the simple belief that it's a treat. As you stated in your question, you have been feeding the cat margarine, and therefore you allowed you cat to develop a taste for it! simple as that. And if you really do care for your animals, you would realise this and stop feeding your cat irresponsibly.