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Post by rasputin on Feb 5, 2004 22:00:17 GMT -4
How does one milk a cat?? Very carefully, and always mindful of teeth and claws.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 5, 2004 23:13:13 GMT -4
Ever see The Simpsons episode where the Mafia was milking rats and selling it to schools?? ;D
Words of wisdom from the Web:
>> Someone known only as "Jammybrice" notes that while you can drink rat milk, you probably don't want to: The quality of the milk is directly related to the quality of food that particular animal is consuming. In the best scenario, a cow is only eating things like grass, fairly natural producing a clean milk. A city rat eats a fair amount of whatever it can. It's similar to the reason why even though we eat chicken, we don't want to eat pigeons. <<
By that logic, pet hamster milk should be rather nutritious.
>> Homer Simpson: "They're milking rats! RATS!". Mayor 'Diamond' Joe Quimby: [to Fat Tony] "Rats?! You promised me dog or higher!" <<
So how does one milk a dog? (An old Dan Aykroyd bit on SNL).
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Post by adara on Feb 6, 2004 5:44:31 GMT -4
DF: I'm sure they do like it, but they are the same as us humans in the sense we may like to eat something but really it's no good for us.
Cognac: Your animals may not appear to be sick in the diarrhoea etc way, but lactose intolerance can be very very uncomfortable [I'm lactose intolerant too and god does it hurt], it also makes me feel woozy.
I'm *not* saying all your animals must be sick because you feed them milk products, but that it is a possibility [just like if someone kept their pet on pine or cedar and said "oh but they're ok they aren't sick" when sometimes you can't see the underlying damage that is being done to their liver/lungs until it's too late]
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Post by cognac on Feb 6, 2004 7:39:38 GMT -4
Animals are a lot smarter than us. If something made them sick they wouldn't eat it. As far as living on pine or cedar they wouldn't have a choice to get away from it. They have a chioce on whether or not they want to eat. Cognac
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Post by adara on Feb 6, 2004 11:54:43 GMT -4
That's really not true! You see dogs scoffing away naughtily at chocolate if a careless owner leaves it about, it's the same with my rats and hamster - they will eat anything that they consider yummy even if it *is* bad for them. I'm not going to comment anymore, obviously our opinions differ and you aren't going to change yours
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Post by rasputin on Feb 6, 2004 20:31:02 GMT -4
Actually, I must point out that I have not been able to find any research or documentation indicating a relevant lactose intolerance in the rodent species in question -- that is, gerbils and hamsters.
Rats, sugar gliders, and several other animals came up as being very lactose intolerant, but intolerance among adult rodents varies greatly by species.
Gerbils are easily fed kitten replacement milk as babies to assist in times when the mother cannot produce.or is under-stimulated. Cat milk has a very high lactose level.
Hamsters are fairly lactose intolerant overall, yet those hamster-keepers I've consulted generally have no trouble with diarrhea or indigestion from milk-inclusive baked goods -- especially as there is a generally low quantity of lactose per serving.
If in doubt, use lowfat or fat-free milk.
Remember, a baked good is far different from a dropperfull of milk. The amount of milk consumed will be smaller per serving, and will, given the eating habits of these particular species, probably be less likely to cause discomfort or loose stools, the typical signs of lactose problems in the rodent information I reviewed.
If the rodents indicate discomfort, or have loose stools, it is of course best to stop and review the situation for the health of the animals, in this or any other case.
BTW, the chocolate issue is often brought up -- we must remember that chocolate is different from other dangerous food substances. People cannot escape it's pleasurable spell, much less rodents. To the best of my knowledge, the sickness/death/etc associated with chocolate for many animals is because of the shock to their system, and not associated with indigestion. Although chocolate will cause constipation, the animal may be dead first of other associated reactions.
True, animals generally will continue to eat chocolate if allowed -- we and they both like it.
But true also is that animals will avoid pain and discomfort.
Animals do not always know what is best for them in the long-term but they do develop strong antipathy toward situations, things, and foods which cause them short-term pain and discomfort.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 6, 2004 21:31:57 GMT -4
That's really not true! You see dogs scoffing away naughtily at chocolate if a careless owner leaves it about, it's the same with my rats and hamster - they will eat anything that they consider yummy even if it *is* bad for them. I'm not going to comment anymore, obviously our opinions differ and you aren't going to change yours As far as I know cats will eat pointsettia leaves (poisonous); horses may drink until they burst; turkeys in the rain will look up and drown (admittedly not wild turkeys); and dogs seem ready to eat anything. I don't know how circumspect animals are in what they eat, but I don't think we should expose our pets at any time to the risk of a food that can harm them.
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Post by rasputin on Feb 6, 2004 22:34:56 GMT -4
This thread has raised some very interesting and important questions about the hazards of certain foods for small animals. While debatable, it seems safe to say that although there is very little risk of Cognac's biscuit recipe causing any discomfort or risk to the health of any adult small pets, every custodian must weigh carefully the benefits and risks to their own animals from any dietary or environmental source.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 6, 2004 22:59:11 GMT -4
I didn't see any risk from those biscuits, but I do believe animals may eat things that are potentially harmful if exposed to them, and especially if they were not part of their natural enviornment.
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Post by cognac on Feb 7, 2004 4:26:10 GMT -4
DF, I'm not saying that animals never get into stuff that isn't good for them, but if they get into enough of it that it causes discomfort, they will associate it and most likely stay away. My dog has a digestion system made of steel, I do put stuff away but at times to little avail. Daisy has gotten into chocolate quite a few times but not enough of it to deter her from it. Chocolate has a lot of variables, size of the dog, the quantity, and the quality (milk, dark, bakers). Daisy has also eaten half a jar of vaseline (half the product, and half the jar), needless to say she doesn't like vaseline anymore, she was sick, I had to take a day off from work. Cognac
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 7, 2004 6:45:57 GMT -4
Basically then, they may eat enough to make themsleves sick enough to deter them in the wild. At home, as pets, I don't want them sick at all, so they won't come in contact with anything troubling.
I suppose a coyote or other predator will be detered upon having an unfortunate experience with a porcupine - assuming the coyote survives. Better to avoid it altogether. A skunk it will survive, and the color will warn the predator to stay away.
Some snakes and small frogs are brightly colored; I assume for birds as many other predators are color blind, although certain dark and light patterns can be distinctive in B&W. The question though is whether or not the predator species has developed an instinctive aversion to such patterns, or, do they have to first eat one and get deathy sick; those who survive will avoid such snakes and frogs in the future. I think the latter is what happens - a risky endeavor.
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Post by sunchaser on Feb 28, 2004 22:39:43 GMT -4
How does one milk a cat?? *laughs* DF, I think they mean milk for cats, not from cats!!!!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 29, 2004 15:39:05 GMT -4
I guess the fine art of irony is lost to the world! ;D
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Post by breannehamham on Apr 20, 2004 19:34:22 GMT -4
I tried it and my horses and hamsters love it.
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Post by dosergirl on Apr 20, 2004 20:42:31 GMT -4
I definately plan on making these ...when i get around to actually shopping for groceries.
as for the eating thing....i'm with Brandy on this. Misu Cat has pretty bad food allergies and although she adores some stuff that makes her break out, But she knows that it makes her all itchy and she won't eat that stuff. Maybe just like humans, one "rule" does not go for the entire species!
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