My cat prefers people food. How can I feed her people food without leading to nutritional imbalances?
Each time I eat lunch there is a cat in my lap demanding attention. It's not hunger, her bowl is full. She definitely prefers people food (at least meat, cheese and sour cream) over canned food or kibble. I am afraid that if I feed her what she likes she will get some sort of nutritional imbalance.
How much people food can I give her without causing health issues?
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Pets bugging people for food is not usually a pet problem, but a people problem. By giving them food, you are reinforcing the behaviour that it is OK for them to ask for it. The more you do it, the more pesky they will become.
What I learned through various sources, including Cesar Milan's "Be the Pack Leader" is that in animals, in Milan's case dogs, but I've found it applies to cats as well, the dominant members eat first. You can see this in a pride of lions, when the lionesses do the hunting, but wait for the lions to eat first, and then the cubs eat after the lionesses.
What I do in my home, is not feed the animals until I've eaten. While I'm eating, I don't acknowledge them at all, and I will reprimand them with a gentle
push or a snap of my fingers if they try to interact with me. If I have some scraps, leftovers, or treats that I want to give them, I keep it aside and give it to them, in their food bowls, when I am done eating.
They have learned to not disturb me, or my guests, when we're eating. This makes for an overall more enjoyable experience around them, rather than being embarrassed and fight with them.
You will not cause a nutritional imbalance by giving "people food" on top of her regular food. My only concern at this point would be that she becomes over-weight or obese by having more calories than needed a day.
Unhealthy Food Items
Cats are lactose intolerant, it would be best to stay away from the cheese and sour cream.
Other unhealthy items include but not limited to:
onions
chocolate
garlic
coffee
avocado
Home Made Diets
If you have the time and patience, making a balanced home made diet is a great way to satisfy his needs for the real deal. Hilary's Blend is our go to, the recipes have been shown to be completely balanced, each have had a full nutrient analysis as well. You need to buy her supplements to compliment the recipes.
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