my new mate :-)

@gazlan wrote:

I really dont know, he is always in my garden and i think he has been thru bad times. When i stroke him i feel lumps on his back and his fur feels matted.. I virtually live on tuna myself, i have never felt healthier. What medical problems are you talking of? I only give him maybe a tablespoon eachday and occassionally the same amount of cheese. I dont know if he is owned or not, he has no collar

He may have strayed too far from home and not be able to find his way back, or have an uncaring home…it doesn’t sound like he’s getting brushed and flea-treated regularly, so he probably isn’t getting fed regularly either. Beware, if he is a stray, once you start feeding him regularly he may well adopt you, if you don’t want the responsibility of a cat then don’t feed him. If you do think he’s a stray then it would be kindest to take him to a local pet shelter, preferably one that doesn’t euthanise unwanted animals and will do their best to find a home for him.

Re tinned tuna and cats, here’s a copy and paste from a vet’s website:

A: If your cat just loves a tiny lick of tuna or a little bit of cooked fish now and then (with all the bones carefully removed), give it only as a small treat. Make sure these little treats do not exceed about 8 percent of your cat’s total diet (that’s a very small amount!), so you don’t throw his diet out of balance. And be sure you’re not overfeeding kitty when you give him an occasional treat.

I would keep the tuna treats to a minimum, though. Because cats love the taste of tuna, they may become addicted to it and refuse to eat anything else. These cats are often referred to as “tuna junkies.”

Certainly, cats cannot live on tuna (or any fish) alone. These foods do not provide 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition, and may lead to serious nutrient deficiencies and health problems. In addition, feeding only tuna may cause your cat to develop a vitamin E deficiency, which will lead to a painful inflammatory condition called Yellow Fat Disease. Raw or improperly cooked fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase, which destroys thiamin, leading to a thiamin deficiency that may cause serious neurological problems. There are good quality commercial cat foods that have fish varieties to satisfy your cat’s craving for fish while providing all of the essential nutrients to remain healthy.

Both my cats love tuna, cheese, pilchards…in fact one will eat absolutely anything, including citrus fruit which is supposed to be a deterrent! But they only get small bits and pieces now and again as a treat.

I once caught Paddy (cat) licking the empty foil tray from a madras take out lol… When we are at the dinner table one cat will sit at your feet in the hopes of getting scraps like a dog would… he loves some grated cheese as a treat if we are having some pasta but other than that its cat food for him and his brother… along with the odd mouse, rabbit, wood pigeon and garden bird he might bring back half eaten…. oddly they never eat shrews! Must taste like shite.

Oh and Pete… you can buy Lion poo at the garden centre but its rubbish my mum tried it.. obviously cats in the west end of Newcastle are not scared of lions coz they are geeet hard like.

@melody wrote:

I once caught Paddy (cat) licking the empty foil tray from a madras take out lol… When we are at the dinner table one cat will sit at your feet in the hopes of getting scraps like a dog would… he loves some grated cheese as a treat if we are having some pasta but other than that its cat food for him and his brother… along with the odd mouse, rabbit, wood pigeon and garden bird he might bring back half eaten…. oddly they never eat shrews! Must taste like Hot Chocolate.

Oh and Pete… you can buy Lion poo at the garden centre but its rubbish my mum tried it.. obviously cats in the west end of Newcastle are not scared of lions coz they are geeet hard like.

It’s cause they’re used to the shite at St James Park :wink: