I know this seems like a dumb question, but I have not had barn cats before. I know I get occasional cravings for salt and it is provided to most livestock. Do cats, or dogs for that matter, need supplemental salt?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 07, 2000

Answers

The short answer is no. The longer answer is that some of them LIKE salt. They can get too much salt (especially if they like it and beg for salty foods), but a little will not hurt them. Sometimes a little bit will make their food a bit more palatable, such as if you are trying to get them to eat a special diet that they don't like (but they need for some health reasons), but in general it isn't necessary. And most of them don't really care about salt, as we do -- now, tuna fish water or oil is another story! This all assumes they are getting a good diet in general.

BTW, adding some garlic to the food will make it more appealing to a lot of dogs and some cats.

Make sure your barn kitty has access to clean, unfrozen water all winter. Most cats learn to help themselves at the other animals buckets, but prefer their own. They tend not to like it after a dog or other critter slobbered in it. And if you are worried about the cat getting too cold, I can send you instructions for making a cheap insulated box for the cat. Where you are you probably won't need it, but I recommend it wherever it gets cold enough for the ear tips or foot pads to get frostbitten. If you want the instructions, email me and I'll send them to you. :-) JOY

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 07, 2000.

Ken-we have had barn cats for years, and have never gave them anything other than fresh water, mostly dry food, and all the mice they can catch, though,once in a while we open a can of food for them. We made them straw boxes to sleep in, and they haven't left yet, so they must like it here! We do make sure they stay up on their rabies shots, for both their-and our protection!

-- Joe (Threearrs@AOL.com), December 07, 2000.

A friend who works with a vet told me that one of the biggest reasons cats suffer so much from urinary tract problems, infections, FUS and such is that owners are too dependent upon dry foods. Cats, big ones as well as our little cats, evolved getting most of their moisture needs met by eating their prey rather than by drinking water. By all means use the dry feeds for their convenience--I'd rather my cats have access to dry food than be hungry if I'm late--but also feed canned food or leftovers to which you can add extra water. I can the scraps from butchering for our cats and dogs as well as buy some canned food for them. Even excess eggs can be used this way to good advantage. Just be sure they have plenty of water in their diets, not just in the bowl.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), December 09, 2000.