What do you feed your cat? Does she sometimes (or all the time) beg for whatever you’re eating? Does she get excited when you’re grating cheese and wait for shreds to land on the floor? Does he look over your shoulder while you’re eating your scrambled egg in the morning?
Lily is a beggar. And she’ll eat just about anything I eat, including apples, cantaloupe, and peas. Since she’s on a special kidney diet, I’m careful what I feed her from my plate. And I think we’ve all heard that people food isn’t good for cats—don’t feed your cats from the table.
You might be pleased to know that some of our food is actually good for healthy cats and okay to feed them. You want to omit any seasoning, however. Here’s a link that lists 15 foods that are good for your cat: http://www.pawculture.com/pet-wellness/nutrition/15-human-foods-that-are-safe-for-cats/
Included here are peas, apples, and cantaloupe. In fact, I’ve discovered that most cats
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seem to like cantaloupe. Our white odd-eye cat, Winfield, was a cantaloupe connoisseur. When I’d come home from the grocery store with a cantaloupe, if he greeted me in the kitchen almost immediately, sniffing in the direction of the grocery bag, I knew I’d picked a good one.
Other foods that are supposed to be safe for cats are chicken and turkey. But please remove the seasoning. I remember my grandmother cooking whole chickens for her cats every week. That’s what she fed them—fresh chicken.
Pumpkin is on the list of safe foods. Pumpkin is used to help increase an ill cat’s appetite. We fed Lily plain, unseasoned pumpkin for a period when she was struggling health-wise—before her kidney disease was discovered. This, along with some other natural remedies and a total change in diet, helped get her over the hump. She still loves pumpkin to this day.
Some of the surprising items on this list are bread (Lily draws the line at eating bread), bananas, and blueberries.
Check out the list and maybe you’ll discover a new healthy treat for your cats.
Your Maine Coon Cat
Are you blessed with a Maine coon cat or a part Maine coon? Aren’t they wonderful creatures? I’ve known a few and I suspect that Lily might have this breed in her background. My folks took in a large, hairy grey cat some years ago. The poor thing came out of the baranca behind their house and ended up staying. A trip to the veterinarian confirmed that the cat was probably of the Maine coon variety—a gentle giant. What a sweet boy he was.
But this is a breed rather different than most cats. If you have a Maine coon cat, you know what this means. Even if you don’t have one, you might be interested in this article explaining the 20 things a Maine coon cat owner understands. http://kittentoob.com/cat-breeds/20-things-maine-coon-cat-owners-understand/
My cats all begged when I had cheese or when I BBQ so I would cook an extra chicken no seasoning or piece of stake and cut it up for them so I could eat I miss them but still not ready for a new fur baby
Some cats are real little beggars and others have manners. I know that I have created my little beggar–Lily. There was a time when she was quite ill and not eating. I hand-fed her several times a day, trying a variety of foods. She would eat as long as I fed her. She’s healthy now, but still loves the extra treats coming from my plate and the extra attention. And I’m too weak to resist. She loves her afternoon nap. But she won’t take it until I’ve eaten lunch. She waits up to see what I’m going to eat and usually watches me eat it. If it’s something she thinks she’ll like and her stare doesn’t get my attention, she’ll tap my hand with her paw now and then as a reminder that she’d like a bite. At least I’ve trained her to stay out of my plate until I give her the sign that she can take a tiny bite I’ve set aside for her.
I loved all your Klepto Cat books, I was so disappointed when I finished book 23 and there was no 24. I just read that it is coming out this month. Keep the tales of Rags and the other kitties coming. Can’t wait to find out more about Michael’s roots. Really great characters.
Hi Linda,
Book 24, Cats in the Belfry, is available now in print. The Kindle is coming soon. Needs to be formatted and it is in the process as we speak. So glad you’re enjoying my stories.