Have you ever owned an animal that would eat anything and everything? A goat perhaps? Or even a dog? How bout a cat? No? Well I do and she walks in a black, silky coat, fit for a queen, yet curiously enough, her name is that of the Egyptian Cat Goddess of Fertility but don't let my cat know that!
Bastet, Bassy, Bass, as many call her, enjoys many things. Lounging in the sun, laying in the window, watching the birds, walks on her leash, the easy stuff. She also enjoys, Smartfood Popcorn. But here's the clincher, it has to be the White Cheddar, or she will simply turn her nose up at it.
This cat knows when I've brought a bag of this stuff home, and she along with her mother, knows when it's being opened for they both come running, noses twitching, ears twitching and tails lashing too and fro. Then, as you dip your hand into the bag, they start letting off soft but gradually building in volume, meows of disdain when you don't share with them, such as is their right.
Both Bastet and her mother, will even do tricks. Such as fetching, sitting up on their hind paws, and gingerly taking a piece from your fingers. Bastet has even learned how to take a piece from someone's very lips! Not an easy task for a cat who would much rather just bit your lips to get said piece of popcorn!
However, what are the hazards of this stuff? Well, that's easy. The kernels for one, aren't for a cat, even the shell can get lodged in their throats and cause infection, bleeding, or even death should they choke. I've always, no matter what, removed the shellings, even if it meant biting it off myself, before giving it to them.
What else do these frisky felines of mine like? Well, Jack Link's Teriyaki Beef Jerky isn't safe even as an unopened package with Bastet and Nala around. These two have, at one time, ripped a bag to shreds and eaten the entire contents! And they know when a bag has been brought into the home. They greet you at the door with a rather accusing look on their faces, as if asking just what in hell you're doing with their jerky!
Nala however, was trained to do tricks with this stuff. Get a stool and hold your hand over it and she'll jump up onit, sit on her hind legs and holding her head straight up, will gently take that piece of jerky right from your fingers without even so much as a whisker touching you! Want to play over under? Get a bigger stool, and have her crawl under each of the 4 sides, then have her jump onto the top and have her bow, by making her come to the very edge, and lower her front end downwards.
Bastet on the other hand, would much prefer if you would just give her the damn piece of jerky, rather than make her do a bunch of seemingly worthless tricks. She's funny that way. However, if encouraged, she will do a few tricks, such as sitting on her hind end, following your hand that holds the jerky piece and so on.
So as someone once asked me "Is it wise to feed our cats these things?" and my reply is always the same; "In small quantities and not all the time. Like a human, cats enjoy a lil zest in their everyday life and spicing it up with new and interesting treats, is often the best way to go. Plus these are items that are family owned and can often be trusted not to have anything bad in them (ie. poison or being recalled for one stupid thing or other)." Remember, a happy cat, is a happy owner, no matter what you may feed your furry feline friend.
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