Can cats not eat pork?

wrote:
-L. wrote:


Pork biproducts by and large go into hot dogs and bologna. They are
too expensive for cat food.


Can cats not eat pork? Is it harmful to them?

They can and will eat pork. My cats love pork.

-L.

I did read somewhere that pork isn't good for cats. It was on one of
those websites about homemade cat food--I know anybody can say anything
they want to on a website, so I don't know if it's true or not. I wish
I could remember the reason specified.

Probably because pork is higher in sodium than most other meats. The
only pork we eat is lean shoulder loin, and occasional ham, but all the
pets get are the loin. The ham is too salty.

-L.

Observer same@ wrote:

: Cats can eat pork...

I still don't understand why it is so rare in commercial cans, but as
Mishi's post show it has been spotted!

wrote:

I did read somewhere that pork isn't good for cats. It was on one of
those websites about homemade cat food--I know anybody can say anything
they want to on a website, so I don't know if it's true or not. I wish
I could remember the reason specified.
Boots loves a chunk of cooked bacon anytime she can get it. And being
the picky little thing she is, we let her have just about anything
she'll eat.

Actually, I've read that ham and bacon are bad for cats
because they can caused intestinal inflamation (as can
pastrami and corned beef). Raw pork might be bad for the
same reason humans should always eat it well-cooked - it can
carry a painful parasite that causes trichinosis. There's
no reason (other than the aforementioned expense) why either
cats or humans can't eat it (although many humans have
religious objections).

Sherry

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:05:59 GMT, Ajanta wrote:

Quite clearly, cat food seems to be derived not from what cats would
eat but from what humans eat: beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, etc.

However, I also notice a conspicuous absence of one very popular and
common human staple from cat foods: pork.

Why is that? Can cats not eat pork? Is it harmful to them?

I'd suggest that pork is a very expensive meat compared to some
others... I don't think you'll see a lot of lamb catfood out there
either. Our furry girls love ham and last night I had sweet roast pork
for dinner and our little feline vacuumcleaner came running to beg so
I gave her some scraps. Her sister thought it was plain nasty and
tried to bury it!

--
~Karen aka Kajikit
Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life
http://www.kajikitscorner.com
Online photo album - http://community.webshots.com/user/kajikit

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:



Ajanta wrote:

Norm wrote:

: Can cats not eat pork? Is it harmful to them?
:
: Mine love it, particularly to gnaw on the bones and it hasn't hurt
: them any way I can see.

Hmmm I wonder why there is no pork in commercially sold cans?

Maybe because they use all the less desireable bits in
canned meat products for humans, instead?

If it were just a matter of cost, you'd think pork would show up in some
of the expensive "gourmet" foods, like Sheba. But I don't recall seeing
pork in those brands either.

Ajanta wrote:
Observer same@ wrote:

: Cats can eat pork...

I still don't understand why it is so rare in commercial cans, but as
Mishi's post show it has been spotted!

It's present as "meat by-products". It's just too valuable in the
secondary market (hot dogs, etc.) to be sent to the animal food market.

-L.

You know we need our pickled pigs feet
I think I am going to be sick

No More Retail wrote:
You know we need our pickled pigs feet
I think I am going to be sick

LOL...I have never understood some tastes.

-L.

Our cats are notorious for thieving pork, particularly ham. Putting the
story of our Roxie, stealing a chunk of ham right from Louie's sandwich,
ultimately led to my posting on this group.

They're so bats for h*m that we can't say the infamous word in their
presence. Smoked pork, cured pig, trayf, non-Kosher, cochon, puerco, making
piggy squeals, are about the only ways we can refer to this rare and highly
favored treat. At least for the moment. If we dare say The Word, Roxie will
come and yell and throw a princess fit because we dared say it without
giving her some. We rarely serve people-food, but Roxie especially loves
good h*m and once a month or so we go to the deli and get just enough to
give the kids a piece or two, about the size of a Pounce. The deli people
think we're a couple of crackpots. My in-laws think I just need to get
pregnant.

Blessed be,
Baha

Ajanta wrote in message
...
Quite clearly, cat food seems to be derived not from what cats would
eat but from what humans eat: beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, etc.

However, I also notice a conspicuous absence of one very popular and
common human staple from cat foods: pork.

Why is that? Can cats not eat pork? Is it harmful to them?

I did some research in Veterinary Journals and Vin.com (a Vet & Vet Tech
website) and here's what I found out.
On the Iams food labels it lists "animal fat" which a pig fat represents a
small amount. (Melody Foess Raasch, D.V.M., Technical Services Veterinarian,
Consumer Care, The Iams Company).
Purina has documentation on their website that
"While we do incorporate pork as an ingredient in some of our pet food
products, we do not manufacture any dog or cat food products with pork as
one of the primary ingredients. There is no reason from a nutrition
standpoint not to use pork for pet foods. However, market research studies
indicate that there isn't a lot of consumer demand for dog or cat food
products which contain pork as a primary ingredient. Should that perception
change, we would re-evaluate the use of pork as a primary ingredient in pet
food products."
Several vets have "alternate diets" and home-cooked diet recipes that have
cooked pork as a protein source.



Just thoughts. I have no specific facts
"Ajanta" wrote in message
...
Quite clearly, cat food seems to be derived not from what cats would
eat but from what humans eat: beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, etc.

However, I also notice a conspicuous absence of one very popular and
common human staple from cat foods: pork.

Why is that? Can cats not eat pork? Is it harmful to them?