Should Your Be Feeding Your Cat From The Table

You are cleaning up after your wonderful dinner when you look down and see your kitty staring at you with those big eyes.  “Please,” she says, “I’m hungry.”  Even though you know you probably shouldn’t, you set your plate down for her to lick clean.  Besides, a little taste of leftovers won’t hurt, right?  Soon, you notice that your cat has gained weight.  Where could it have come from, since you were only feeding her a little here and a little there?  Little did you know that your entire family was doing the same thing.

Obesity in cats has become a huge problem.  Many owners chuckle at their cute, round felines not realizing that their cats’ health is in serious jeopardy.  But, how does a cat get so big without the interference of the owner?  In all actuality, the owner is probably the one who has caused the obesity.  When a higher number of calories are being consumed compared to what is being expended, weight gain results.  Unfortunately, indoor cats don’t always have the opportunity to burn off calories, causing the weight to just build up.  When table scraps and excessive treats come into play, the cat is facing an obesity problem. 

With such a high percentage of household cats being obese, is it okay to feed the cat from the table?  Many owners refuse to give their cat even a morsel of human food, while others will set a place for their cat at the table.  Veterinarians are even torn when it comes to feeding cats table scraps.  In some cases, the scraps are healthier than treats or even everyday cat food.  In other cases, the scraps can upset the cat’s digestive system or lead to a finicky eater.  The middle ground in this dilemma would be a form of regulated table feeding. 

The first thing to realize about feeding your cat is that her normal cat food meets (or should meet) her nutritional requirements.  Cat food is specifically designed for a cat’s diet.  But, as with many things, a higher quality food is better than one of lower quality.  Lower quality foods normally contain a high amount of fillers.  Either way, your cat does not need any additional food or human food to satisfy her needs.  In fact, giving her human food on a regular basis may cause her to stop eating her own food –then you have a big problem.  Giving her a large amount of human food may also cause nutritional deficiencies, leading to serious health problems.  Not to mention that a cat’s digestive system is not the same as a human.  Many foods that agree with us will not agree with our cats.  The last thing you want is a cat with an upset stomach and a mess of diarrhea around your home. 

Before you give your cat leftovers, evaluate what it is you are feeding her.  Pieces of fresh fish or boiled chicken are both healthy and tasty treats for a cat.  A chunk of cheese or strawberry pie may both be tasty, but neither offers any sort of nutritional value.  The amount you feed your cat is also a concern.  As mentioned, a piece of fish is not too bad, but an entire fish fillet can cause problems.  If you choose to feed your cat from the table, then make sure you are feeding her treat-sized portions.    

Feeding your cat directly from the table can also cause problems for you.  Your cat won’t understand that she can’t have the food anytime she wants it.  So, any food that you leave out –even for a few seconds- is fair game.  To treat your cat to table scraps, don’t give them during or directly after your meal.  Instead, wait until all the food is put away, and then place the treat in her bowl.  This will help teach her that your dinner time is not necessarily her dinner time.

Feeding a cat scraps from the table is not the worst thing in the world.  As long as you carefully consider what you are giving her and only feed her the scraps as a treat, then feeding her from your table isn’t that bad.  However, over consumption and consuming the wrong foods can lead to an unhealthy cat.  The bottom line is that if you want to feed your cat human food, you better regulate what and how much you are feeding her.  

This article was provided by the authors at another perfect gift which is an online gift shop featuring the perfect gifts for mom