General Discussion

leftyladyfrommo

(20,000 posts)

48. Cats and raccoons do OK together.

Sat Nov 23, 2013, 08:47 PM

Nov 2013

They don't mix it up but they don't bother each other.

I was taking care of some cats at a house where the owners fed the raccoons. After dark there would be a bunch of them on the deck (and that is not a good idea but they liked to watch them all). The cats would just be sitting on the sides of the deck watching all of the commotion because raccoons are pretty cranky when it comes to their food and they fight over it a lot.

The raccoons never tried to hurt the cats. And possums would come, too. And they all just kind of had a mutual respect for each other.

It's still a very good idea to bring the cat in before dark. We have coyotes around here and they will kill cats and small dogs - or even bigger dogs if they gang up on one. And we also have bobcats and foxes. Too dangerous for cats to be out.

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Oh, That Food Is Unsafe for Humans? Let�s Give it to Our Pets [View all] Omaha Steve Nov 2013 OP

Dogs and cats have completely different pipoman Nov 2013 #1

It shouldn't be fed to anything. Should be thrown away. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #3

Yeah pipoman Nov 2013 #4

It's not perfectly healthy or nutritious for animals. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #6

Not to say there isn't probably some product pipoman Nov 2013 #8

Eat it if you want! leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #9

Imagine how many hungry people could be fed pipoman Nov 2013 #11

I hope you don't have any dogs. newfie11 Nov 2013 #16

Huh. Hunry people need rice and beans and veggies and fruits. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #21

I am one of those "morons." MADem Nov 2013 #24

IMHO the real issues with commercial pet food are 1)inadequate nutritional labeling Gormy Cuss Nov 2013 #72

I agree--cats should eat meat and fish; it's what suits them. MADem Nov 2013 #73

I hear ya. Gormy Cuss Nov 2013 #78

It's not binary. ag_dude Nov 2013 #26

When a cat or dog will find it nutritious and tasty? No way. Warpy Nov 2013 #28

Dogs also eat their own poop. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #46

They also eat cat shit Warpy Nov 2013 #47

You are so correct. As one of my herding instructors said "There is a amount of cattle shit each Vincardog Nov 2013 #57

Yeah, all you can say at that point is tha'll do, dog. Warpy Nov 2013 #60

Since we are generally headed to work, all I say is "Where is the cows Chief?" Vincardog Nov 2013 #61

Border collies love to eat sheep poop, too. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #64

My cat eats raw lizard Aerows Nov 2013 #18

I have one just like her. Warpy Nov 2013 #29

My Her Highness Aerows Nov 2013 #37

Pet food is regulated by the FDA Major Nikon Nov 2013 #25

yep Kali Nov 2013 #55

This is why my dogs eat only raw food newfie11 Nov 2013 #2

Feeding raw meat to pets is a major public health risk. kestrel91316 Nov 2013 #7

Read on grasshopper newfie11 Nov 2013 #14

I am a veterinarian with over 30 years in practice. I also have a degree in microbiology. kestrel91316 Nov 2013 #20

I don't feed raw because I don't like leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #23

My vet agrees with raw feeding newfie11 Nov 2013 #34

Whereas your food could never be recalled for salmonella... ag_dude Nov 2013 #27

I don't care newfie11 Nov 2013 #36

My deceased brother-in-law fadedrose Nov 2013 #45

I can't thank you enough for pointing out Aerows Nov 2013 #39

I used to treat my cat to raw chicken liver once in a while Warpy Nov 2013 #30

Newman's Own is suitable for humans too. frogmarch Nov 2013 #5

Yeah, Newman's certainly smells fine enough for human meals. hunter Nov 2013 #15

My poodle makes friends with frogmarch Nov 2013 #17

All our dogs are from the animal shelter and experienced longer periods of homelessness. hunter Nov 2013 #22

Raccoons are a major problem here Aerows Nov 2013 #42

Cats and raccoons do OK together. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #48

Oh no, they don't, not here. Aerows Nov 2013 #54

I agree with Pipoman here gollygee Nov 2013 #10

aside from pilfering rotting garbage from my compost heap, scarfing dead mice before I magical thyme Nov 2013 #12

Kirkland Dry Dog Food from CostCo is rated highly. hunter Nov 2013 #31

you have no idea how much I wish there was a Costco near me. magical thyme Nov 2013 #32

There is ONE in Omaha Omaha Steve Nov 2013 #40

Dog food that costs less doesn't necessarily lower your costs Major Nikon Nov 2013 #62

And you get a lot less poop. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #65

I was amazed at how dramatic the difference was Major Nikon Nov 2013 #67

A couple of good links fadedrose Nov 2013 #13

Dog food ratings LWolf Nov 2013 #33

The one I used to feed was EVO newfie11 Nov 2013 #38

I tried Evo once because it was supposed to have a really high leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #50

Dogs will sometimes have problems when you switch their diet Major Nikon Nov 2013 #58

That was a while ago but I'm sure I changed food gradually. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #63

I feed my dogs Orijen Adult Major Nikon Nov 2013 #66

One thing I thought about. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #68

Actually they list that as the initial feeding guide Major Nikon Nov 2013 #69

I think Orijen is a really good food. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #70

I get it via mail order Major Nikon Nov 2013 #71

Raw food info newfie11 Nov 2013 #19

There are like a million things we can worry more about than pet food. Things that help humans. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #35

A single track mind is such a terrible thing to have. n/t flvegan Nov 2013 #52

Then I am terrible. How about we actually regulate the human food better first?? n-t Logical Nov 2013 #53

Why not do both? flvegan Nov 2013 #59

The good pet foods have ingredient lists you can understand BainsBane Nov 2013 #41

It's useless if you pet won't eat it Aerows Nov 2013 #43

I feed my dog dry food BainsBane Nov 2013 #44

If it looked completely nasty to me Aerows Nov 2013 #49

Cats imprint on their food at an early age. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #51

Mine imprinted on lizards, mice and birds Aerows Nov 2013 #56

you can get them to switch over to almost anything, if you mix it in their favorite food in ever bettyellen Nov 2013 #74

Thanks for the tip, BettyEllen Aerows Nov 2013 #75

yes, my little girl was totally repulsed by the food at first, I thought it was hopeless! bettyellen Nov 2013 #76

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #77