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have you noticed if your cat fancies human food, unusual to a cat?!
I thought it might be interesting to compare. For instance, with out exception, my seven cats love carrot cake, and bolognese! Puca(pro;Pookah) loves toast, Willow loves banana, Candi loves malteesers! ofcourse they don't get fed these things, but they more or less beat us up for some, when we have them! How about you? Gina! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
I once had a cat that loved olives, I assume for the salt. One of my current cats loves saltines, again probably for the salt. One cat liked raisins of all things, and my brother had a cat years ago that was crazy for McDonald's hash browns. I have heard of cats that eat pumpkin and cantaloupe, too. One of the strangest things, though, was a cat that ate rubber bands. I tried to keep them away from him because I was afraid it might be dangerous for him to eat them, but he still occasionally found them. My sister's cat likes italian salad dressing. There's no accounting for a cat's taste! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif!
Pieper loves saltines and sunflower seeds...guess she likes the salt too! And she tries to steel cinnamon grahams...she just licks all the sugar and cinnamon off and leaves this soggy cracker for the next unsuspecting human! Our Charlie loves bananas, cantalope and tapioca pudding...do they get this stuff? No, but occasionally they get to clean out the tuna can http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif
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If a cat spoke, it would say things like, "Hey, I don't see a problem here!"
I have created a monster. My orange tabby loves yogurt. I let him have some of mine in the past and now I can't eat it in peace. He will follow me all over the house meowing until I give him his taste.
One morning a few years ago I came downstairs and noticed that my dogs were standing in the dining room staring at him. As I came closer I noticed he had a cream donut in his mouth. He had gotten up on the counter during the night and nudged open the Dunkin Donut box and jumped down on the floor to eat it. The dogs were just waiting for him to drop it and he had no intention of doing that. They were at an impasse. It was so comical watching two dogs stare at a cat with a cream donut in his mouth! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
That is SO funny, Pam, about your cat and the donut and the dogs! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif Ha! I would have loved to have witnessed that scene!
By the way, my cat Saima is pretty normal when it comes to food. No weird tastes! I just had to comment on Pam's donut story...
One of my moms cats, her male named Mewton (Muttie, Mew Mew, Mutt, Tubbie, Mootaloop, Fatty Cake, Mutton.....I think that cat has close to 50 names!!) used to LOVE avacado PEELS! He was a stray before she adopted him from the local shealter so perhaps he got a taste for strange things so he could stay alive. We happened to drop a slice of avacado peel on the floor and he ran up to it, grabbed it, and started growling and drooling with his "prize". He is not the type of cat that will just growl...he's about as mean as a sack of potatoes, but he was sure defending his avacodo peel. He ate it all up and wanted more.
The cat I grew up with used to love to chew on the toilet brush. We could not keep him off it!
All of these stories are so funny to read! I have six cats and five of them have favourite human foods that they prefer (of course, it's not a regular routine that they get human food, just a treat once in a while). Well, my youngest Whiskey just LOVES green peppers. She also likes mushrooms, broccoli, onions, carrots, peas and alot of other veggies. She'll sit there in front of me until I throw her something and then she'll chase it. She loves to chase her food (maybe that's why she's so thin) lol..Then my other cat Kally LOVES cotton candy. I'll give her a little piece and while she's eating it her tongue comes out of her mouth atleast 2 inches (it gets stuck!) It is truly the funniest thing to see. Shadow LOVES chocolate pudding and donuts. By the way, Shadow is a BIG boy. He does not need any more junk food but my mother and sister insisted on feeding him donuts and that is how he became so LARGE. Simba LOVES macaroni and cheese. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't lactose intolerant, but everytime he gets a hold of cheese he has the runs for days after which is not funny lol. Next would have to be B Girl. She has a fetish with Halls throat drops. As soon as she hears the wrapper crinkle, she is right there at your side. She also likes strong smelling things like muscle rub medication (rub a535) and icy hot. She loves to smell everything! Patches is the sixth cat but she doesn't eat human food, she's extremely picky and prefers her own food. Well, those are just a few weird foods that my cats like and I'm sure there are lots more. As for now, I can hear one of the strays outside the window looking for attention so I must tend to him..lol Talk to you later..
Hi Everyone! great to see you all! Wow! your stories here crack me up http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif! I got a great laugh! keep 'em comin'! if anyone new comes in do tell of you fuzzy pal! I love reading about everyones pets, makes me feel like I'm not alone with my babies antics http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/tongue.gif!....>^..^< !
Seeing Sarah's stories of her cats reminded me of a cat my family had when I was a teenager - she loved anything mint or with menthol or camphor in it. She would steal my doublemint gum and chew it, package and all. If I left my tube of blistex around it would mean disaster because if she ever found it, it would be useless with all the toothholes she would punch into it. My brother would put bengay on his legs after working out and she would lick it off. I've had a few cats everynow and then that would like to smell my breath if I was chewing gum or would sniff at my lips after I put mentholatum on them, but none ever approached Ginger in her mint fetishness.
Also, I think it's funny how so many pet lovers attach so many "pet names" (pun intended http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif) to their animals. I, too, have a large cat who frequently gets called Tubbie (even though his "given name" is Big Mac), and I once had another large cat I would sometimes call Fattycake even though his real name was Zebo. I could write a book with all the cats I've had over the years (even the fosters got named) and all the names, and nicknames, and nicknames of nicknames they all had! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Just a reminder to all of us that we should occasionally review lists of the foods that are toxic to cats. It can be hard to remember, at the moment a kitty is just begging for a taste of our dinner, that there are some foods they should not have. One toxic foods mentioned in the thread is onions, for instance.
These "weird cat" stories are hilarious!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
Mimi, our 11 year old cat, goes nuts over the smell of decongestants like Mentholatum or Vick's Vapor Rub. She's not much on food, just thrives on Fancy Feast and Purina Kitten Chow, and the occasional egg or shrimp tail! But, when she smells any kind of menthol, she goes nuts and wants to lick your lips off!
But, the Doughnut story reminded me of my previous cat, Shrimp Boat. I found her at a seafood market in NC. She had been riding on the shrimpboat for a week. Someone had dumped her off at the seafood market and they just took her in. She was in Heaven with all the seafood selections to eat. When I stopped there to pick up some fresh seafood before returning home from vacation, there she was, eating a JELLY DOUGHNUT!!! I had her for about 6 years before we had a tragic loss (long, sad http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif story). I have such wonderful memories of her love for any type of food! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif She stuck to quite a schedule for eating as I guess she had been deprived at one time. Just talking about her has made me miss her again. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif
One of my cats,Bushes,loves human food. Cheese (especially havarti, cheddar and chevre), chicken, steak (filet mignon, of course), venison sausage, corn, peas, mashed potatoes. I can't leave a plate of anything around without watching her. She'll steal it right off the plate and run under the bed with it. She begs just like a dog at the table, but she doesn't get anything until I clear the table, so she's gotten used to waiting. When I'm standing at the kitchen counter she stretches up as high as she can, and hooks her paws into my pants waistband. Then she hangs there, meowing, meowing, meowing for the food! She makes me laugh hysterically!
Laura
I see Laura mentioned her cats that wait for their treats - many of my cats (current and passsed) like the leftovers (or at least to lick the plate) after I've eaten, and I find it's been very easy to train each one to wait. They sit patiently at my feet, and have even learned to recognize the distinctive (to them, anyway) rattle of the fork against the plate that signals I'm about to put the plate on the floor for them to help themselves. And dog people say you can't train cats! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/tongue.gif! I also have a current cat (who used to be a homeless street cat) that would run with her treats to another room to "hide" them from the other cats! Bless her heart, I'm sure i'ts because in her homeless days she had to eat like that.
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[This message has been edited by 4 feline house (edited October 28, 2000).]
Missed these great postings before I started a similar line under "Behavior." So far, I seem to have the only cantaloupe eaters. Nice to know there are other banana, avacado freaks besides my 2 boys (her ladyship is pure carnivor).
my cat loves potatoe chips
I found another one they love! I made pumpkin soup, it being Hallowe'en and stuff. My guys, especially Rufus, couldn't get enough of it, he cried constantly for more: he's the only cat I know that can meow and purr at the same time! LOL!
The stories about the doughnuts are tooo funny! My little "senior" (19) Lizzie is so tiny and picky about food. I worry so about her weight; although she constantly begs for food, it may take opening 2 or 3 packages or cans before she'll eat one. Of course, all the ones she refused today, she loved yesterday! She loves human food and you cannot sit in a room with her and eat! She will steal anything off it, run to a corner, eat, and return for more. "Mr. B" my 16 lber (A big boy) will eat anything at any time. When he doesn't get his snack, he get on the counter where I keep all my loose change (mostly quarters) He stands there, throwing to floor, one quarter at a time till he gets my atttention. No response from me and he will run into the room I am in, stare me down, meow, and run back, continuing his prank until the can opener comes out! Sometimes its a real battle of wills, and toooo funny. Who says cats aren't smart!
My cat Joe also has some strange dietary requirements. He likes raisin muesli with milk, he enjoys chewing on the raisins, oats,and nuts - and seems to enjoy it more than I do (which is not saying much). I also started an herb garden which, amongst others, has rosemary, cat-mint, and thyme - all of which Joe likes.
I don't let my cats eat anything sweet as cats do not have the necessary taste-buds to "taste" sweet food. Because of this I wonder if sugars are bad for cats?
"Troy!" How's it goin' mate?! Yes, I agree with the muesli thing, Pearl and Rufus go crazy for it. It's the only time Pearl forgets her manners http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif if I'm not quite enough she'll have her head in my bowl, and the language out of her, oh my!
regarding the taste bud thing: :confused I have a tabby called Candi who won't let anyone come between her and a malteeser, but will share her turkey! Any ideas?...G!
Gina, I do know that cats adore the smell of chocolate and malt. I'm not saying that's why Candi likes them but it does explain why cats appear to like some unusual foods. Both of my cats adore the smell of some chocolate, herbs, herbal teabags, and balms (with strong aromas)but won't actually eat them - just drooling and rubbing. Of course then there are all the other herbs that they do eat (I now buy most of MY herbs).
I have never heard that cats can't taste sweet - I am not disputing that, but wonder if maybe what we consider sweet is not so to them, and vice versa. Or maybe they can't taste it but still smell it. The reason I'm saying all this is because it's a well known fact that the reason anti-freeze is so dangerous to cats (and dogs) is because it is so deadly but so sweet to them.
As carnivores cats would not have the need or requirement to taste "sweet" foods. I don't know why they would be attracted to anti-freeze, but perhaps as you said it is all in the way we perceive taste? Perhaps there is another chemical they can detect which is attractive to them? Anyone know what anti-freeze is made of?
The poisonous ingredient is polyethylene glycol. Many earth/animal friendly companies are manufacturing anti-freezes without polyehtylene glycol that are not poisonous to animals. Of course, this is what they use in the US, it's quite possible that other countries use anti-freeze ingredients that are not hazardous to pets.Quote:
Originally posted by Troy:
Anyone know what anti-freeze is made of?
Hi everyone! Isn't it just brill?! just look at where we are all from! US, Canada, Holland, me- Ireland, hey, I think this is so cool!
"Cat"...Pishi is a lovely name, and sounds like a real cutey pussycat! I'm sorry for your loss.
"4feline house2- I don't know what anti freeze is made of but I'm going to check it out for you.
It's been great reading all these posts, thanks guys, and I'll be watchin' out incase any one else want to add to it! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gina:
[B]Hi everyone! Isn't it just brill?!
Yes Gina it is fun "talking" to people from all over the world! What is brill? I think you are teaching those of us in the United States a new word. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
I couldnt help but smile at all the cat "food" stories. My best friend used to have 5 cats!! They were the craziest cats!! One time she told me that she had cooked a really good dinner for her husband, she fixed him a plate and wrapped it in plastic wrap and then left the house to go pick him up from work. She said she could not believe her eyes when she got home and went into the kitchen...HAHAHAHA...Those 5 cats had managed to work together to get the refridgerator door open and that wrapped plate of food pushed out onto the floor, they had chewed and clawed their way thru the plastic and were throwing down eating her husbands special dinner!!! I laughed so hard, cuz I could just imagine what those guys were thinking as they were doing that...her huge black one had to be the instigator and the two tabby's (Fruit and Fiber) had to do the rest while the other two looked on in disgust!!!!! Toooooo funny!!
Those names are the funniest part of the story! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gifQuote:
Originally posted by rhonni:
Fruit and Fiber
[This message has been edited by 4 feline house (edited December 10, 2000).]
Great stories, everyone. I have one to add about D'Artagnon -- my "chunk o' cheese" boy (translate that to BIG). When my little JRT had Parvo, I had to clean the house with bleach solution before she could come home and I was on my hands and knees doing this when I noticed D'Ar rubbing around on a small piece of carpet we kept in front of the door. I had already done the bleach solution on it and he was in kitty heaven. Saw him do the same thing on top of the washer when I had bleached some whites. Silly boy. He's such a big lover, but when we have chicken for dinner -- he about tears up my leg trying to sneak up to see what it is.
Troy: Why don't you think cats have sweet taste buds? I can't see why they wouldn't have much the same form of taste buds we do or they would have difficulty differentiating between tastes of things such as cat mint and meat. Admittedly, smell plays a large part of taste, but it also does for us. Consider how food tastes when your nose is stuffed up -- pretty bland. I'll have to check it out -- wonder if anyone has done a study on it or identified the taste bud areas of cat or dog tongues???? I'll let you know.
:-)*4 Feline House*: I actually eventually found out what ant-freeze is made of!:- Antifreeze is typically a Glycol Based Compound with SCA's
(Supplimental Coolant Additives). These additives can include
Sodium, Borates, Phosphates, Silicates, Nitrites, and Mobybdates. It doesn't light any light bulbs in my head, just that I know it's lethal!
*Pam*:- Sorry it took a while to get back to you "Brill" is "Brilliant!(drumroll & cymbol!) Spencer is Right!
hi everyone from beautiful warm nc! I once had a siemese cat name Princess that I bought a premium can of sardines for licked all the ketchup off of it and left the sardines! Go figure, isn't that just like a cat. I now have a tabbycat that loves to watch the weather channel on tv, I put a chair in front of the tv and she jumps up in it and starts watching it and meows if I turn it off!