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  |  dooney
Face Hugger
 519 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 08:33:33 AM    |
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I see many people feed their gliders cat/dog food. But I thought I heard it was bad! now I admit I feed them some things (mac`n`cheese) very rarely, but I sly away at times with a no no food, but I was curious about cat/dog food?
how often do you offer it? does it matter on the brand or what is in it?
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 | TechnoWesley
Glider
USA
57 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 08:51:07 AM  |
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I am about to get some cat food myself because I hear it is a good dry food that has nutrients and can help clean their teeth. The brands I hear to use are Evo and Orijen.
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| Helen88uk
Fuzzy Wuzzy
United Kingdom
1417 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 09:06:01 AM  |
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Lol, i'm cringing already thinking about some of the replies that you're gona get to that question! Diet questions can and do get very heated, sometimes aggressive lol. But here's MY OPINION....
I feed high quality cat kibble as PART of my diet. The reasons being they're a good source of protein, have a neutral cal:ph ratio (or the ones I use do at least) AND because I blend all their fruits and veg together I PERSONALLY think that a bit of crunch is good for their oral health.
Mine love them, and I find it reassuring to know that when my females were carrying, I could hand feed these so I knew they were getting enough protein. I also don't like giving my gliders treats as such, I found they started leaving their proper food when I gave treats. So in the afternoon when I check on mine I give them all a piece of kibble each as a 'treat'.
The brand I use IS NOT the same quality as the US version, but high quality ones for you guys I believe are Orijen and Evo.
They only need 5 or 6 pieces of kibble each per night. I also offer egg twice a week. I know there are better protein sources out there but the protein content isn't the only reason I feed kibble.
People are against pellets because most are meant as a main part of their diet and the MAJORITY of them are very low quality. There are some pellets that are ok to be used as part of the diet, I think exotic nutrition sell them, something to do with extruded pellets, or something bein pelletised (not quite sure tbh), but people often buy pellets as an easy option, not for their nutrition.
You'd be suprised at how many responsible breeders do actually feed high quality cat or dog kibble as PART of their diet, they just choose not to mention it as so many people are to quick to voice their opinions without actually taking the time to consider the reasons WHY it's being used.
And the whole cat food is for cats - NOT gliders ... doesn't the same apply for baby food also?
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| KritterCare
Face Hugger
 USA
633 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 09:06:58 AM |
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Most of the people that offer cat food regualrly are in the UK because they have higher standards for the food than the US does. Most US glider owners will not feed cat food because most of it is unnecessary filler that isn't good for them. Some of the really high quality cat foods are offered as a "dry" food with the regular diets, but should only be offered alongside an approved diet and never as a primary part of the diet. If you have a cat/dog already and offer a good high quality kibble, you could try offering them a piece or two, but if you do not have other pets/do not use a high quality kibble I wouldn't bother. They won't miss it, and it's an extra expense that most owners will not recommend because there is no real benefit to offering it besides that it won't go bad if they aren't going to be home right away to offer dinner at the regular time.
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| dooney
Face Hugger
519 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 09:07:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Helen88uk
Lol, i'm cringing already thinking about some of the replies that you're gona get to that question! Diet questions can and do get very heated, sometimes aggressive lol. But here's MY OPINION....
oh yes I know! I was just curious because this is like the 10th time I have heard of others saying they do! just curious...
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| dooney
Face Hugger
519 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 09:20:01 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by KritterCare
no real benefit to offering it besides that it won't go bad if they aren't going to be home right away to offer dinner at the regular time.
this is what I was looking to use it more for, because at times I dog sit for my mom and spend the night over at her house....not very often though
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| KritterCare
Face Hugger
USA
633 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 10:29:19 AM |
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In those situations I would freeze a cube of fruits and vegetables and put that in there with it. The cube will take a while to defrost and shouldn't have a chance to go bad before they wake to eat.
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| dooney
Face Hugger
519 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 10:33:41 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by KritterCare
In those situations I would freeze a cube of fruits and vegetables and put that in there with it. The cube will take a while to defrost and shouldn't have a chance to go bad before they wake to eat.
GREAT! thanks for the tip. This is VERY rare that I have to do this. Normally I am ALWAYS home!
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| KritterCare
Face Hugger
USA
633 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 12:10:13 PM |
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Yeah, it happens to everyone. No one can be home every single night. =)
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| Tigerlily88
Face Hugger
KY, USA
515 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 12:32:35 PM |
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Personally I feel that using things like euc sticks and wooden foraging products are much better for cleaning teeth. The hard food diet myth has been busted in dogs and cats as a good way to keep their teeth clean for a while now. While it will help exercise their gums, the chew sticks will do a much better job for their teeth and dental health in general, since gliders are natural bark strippers in the wild. Plus, they are great for enrichment.
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| dooney
Face Hugger
519 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 12:38:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily88
Personally I feel that using things like euc sticks and wooden foraging products are much better for cleaning teeth. The hard food diet myth has been busted in dogs and cats as a good way to keep their teeth clean for a while now. While it will help exercise their gums, the chew sticks will do a much better job for their teeth and dental health in general, since gliders are natural bark strippers in the wild. Plus, they are great for enrichment.
I am not worried about their teeth! they have wood to chew and strip as well and veggies and malies with helping clean their teeth. I was looking for advice on who and why people feed cat/dog food.
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| Tigerlily88
Face Hugger
KY, USA
515 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 12:47:39 PM |
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Oh I know, someone else mentioned that, sorry I should have clarified who I was directing that towards. For times when you won't be home right away for dinner time, you can also leave them some dried fruits in addition to leaving frozen food out. That's what I will do with mine when I know I'm going to be late for dinner.
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| LuuLuu
Face Hugger
 USA
967 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 05:42:21 PM |
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no.... just... no. Who feeds cat food to gliders? People who don't do their homework and don't REALLY care about their gliders AND those who think a sugar glider is comparable to a dog, cat or rodent that can live off of pellet-like food. As for the why: laziness, ignorance, stupidity, bad info, mill breeders. Sounds like you don't have your gliders on a staple diet, correct me if I'm wrong though. You should really have them on something like LGRS suggie soup, or HPW or BML, etc. It's good that you're doing the other foods, but a staple diet helps give balance in their diet.
side note: that was as nice as I could put it lol
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| KritterCare
Face Hugger
USA
633 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 06:58:04 PM |
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He doesn't plan on feeding it as a staple, just as a snack when he knows that he can't be home in time for normal dinner.
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| sweetgirls
Joey
IL, USA
39 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 07:08:21 PM |
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My girls were eating kitten food when I got them and had been their whole lives (they range in age from 1-3 years). The couple I got them from fed them what they breeder they got them from fed them. They also ate fruits and veggies and I was told they were VERY picky and would only eat certain fresh foods. When I got them home, I promptly took away the kitten food (mainly because it was low quality) and offered them eggs along with some of the veggies I was told they "didn't like" and they ate EVERYTHING. I try to feed natural foods (not necassarily what they would eat in the wild but not processed) and they are doing very well. Point of the story: the kitten food didn't do them any noticable harm but it's processed and, therefore, probably not the best thing for them. If you offer them some and they eat it, ALONG with fresh foods then I don't see the harm but if all they will eat is the cat/dog food I'd say to take it out. As I understand, fresh is better for them.
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| LuuLuu
Face Hugger
USA
967 Posts
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Jun 20 2012 : 07:52:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by KritterCare
He doesn't plan on feeding it as a staple, just as a snack when he knows that he can't be home in time for normal dinner.
yeah, that still doesn't make me change my mind. lol
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| helenmac
Glider
126 Posts
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Jun 21 2012 : 01:23:29 AM |
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Hi,
I feed a few pieces of Iams cat dried food about four times a week, this is recommended in the UK and our gliders have long and healthy lives.
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| valkyriemome
Goofy Gorillatoes
USA
3478 Posts
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Jun 21 2012 : 10:07:59 AM |
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About 5 seconds ago - in the spectrum of sugar glider ownership - cat food was considered part of a good and healthy diet.
The pendulum has swung, and now it is considered harmful or negligent to feed any kind of pellets.
It is my belief that, like all extreme positions, the facts are actually somewhere in the middle. We have learned more about sugar gliders' dietary and psychological needs - but we still know next to nothing of the whole picture, compared to cats or dogs, for example.
My sugar gliders enjoy having a high-quality dry pelleted food in the cage at all times. It also makes me feel better! Some of my cages eat it all, others pick at it, and one or two cages never touch it. I still know that they are familiar with the concept of pellets as food, and if I'm delayed coming home to feed them, or if there's an emergency, they will recognize food.
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| dooney
Face Hugger
519 Posts
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Jun 21 2012 : 12:26:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by LuuLuu
no.... just... no. Who feeds cat food to gliders? People who don't do their homework and don't REALLY care about their gliders AND those who think a sugar glider is comparable to a dog, cat or rodent that can live off of pellet-like food. As for the why: laziness, ignorance, stupidity, bad info, mill breeders. Sounds like you don't have your gliders on a staple diet, correct me if I'm wrong though. You should really have them on something like LGRS suggie soup, or HPW or BML, etc. It's good that you're doing the other foods, but a staple diet helps give balance in their diet.
side note: that was as nice as I could put it lol
well I am not lazy, or ignorant and my staple diet is reeps. I was just noticing many people who do feed it ( I never have)! I was just curous who does and why!
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| Helen88uk
Fuzzy Wuzzy
United Kingdom
1417 Posts
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Jun 21 2012 : 12:58:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by LuuLuu
no.... just... no. Who feeds cat food to gliders? People who don't do their homework and don't REALLY care about their gliders AND those who think a sugar glider is comparable to a dog, cat or rodent that can live off of pellet-like food. As for the why: laziness, ignorance, stupidity, bad info, mill breeders. Sounds like you don't have your gliders on a staple diet, correct me if I'm wrong though. You should really have them on something like LGRS suggie soup, or HPW or BML, etc. It's good that you're doing the other foods, but a staple diet helps give balance in their diet.
WOW ... Remember, that is YOUR OPINION, not fact.
I feed cat food to my gliders.
I've done my homework and I care a great deal about my gliders.
I actually stated the reasons WHY I feed cat food ... in this case it seems laziness and ignorance on your part are the reasons you're questions are (in your opinion) unanswered...
As I said, MANY responsible breeders have been feeding high quality dog/cat food for years, they just choose not to mention it because of the uneducated opinions of small minded individuals.
Sorry if that comes across as harsh, but basically being told I cudn't give a flying * about my gliders health because I am too lazy/ignorant/stupid really grinds on me.
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