Cats have long been thought to be completely obsessed with fish and ready to do anything to get their hands on some fishy treats.
Cue visuals of cats hungrily eyeballing the family goldfish as it swims about in its bowl.
There are alley cat references to cats bothering fish shop owners and often stealing a head or a tail, which makes the fishmongers sad.
Also, we all believe the story that cats eat fish and should always be fed fish-themed meals. But is this really true? Is fish good for cats? If so, are all types of fish good, or are some better than others? Look into it!
Fish can be an excellent source of protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids for cats But with so many different types of fish available, cat owners often wonder – what kinds of fish can cats eat? And how much fish is safe to feed?
This article provides a complete guide to feeding fish to cats. We’ll discuss the benefits of fish, recommended fish types and amounts, risks to avoid, proper storage and preparation, and how to incorporate fish into a balanced feline diet.
The Benefits of Fish for Cats
Fish provides several important nutritional benefits for cats
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High-Quality Protein: Fish contains all 10 essential amino acids cats require. Protein supports strong muscles and tissues.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3s from fish support skin/coat health, immune function, brain development, and reduce inflammation.
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Moisture Content: The high moisture in fish helps cats meet their relatively high fluid needs. Canned fish is about 80% water.
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Palatability: Many cats are attracted to the strong scent and flavor of fish. It stimulates appetite.
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Low Carb: Fish is naturally low in carbohydrates, suitable for diabetic cats or those needing weight loss.
When fed properly as part of an overall balanced diet, fish can be a healthy addition to a cat’s menu.
Which Fish are Safe for Cats to Eat?
Not all fish are created equal when it comes to safety and nutrition for cats. Here are some good fish choices:
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Salmon: An excellent source of omega-3s. Look for sustainably farmed salmon.
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Sardines: A small oily fish packed with beneficial nutrients. Choose fish canned in water.
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Mackerel: Another small oily fish nutritionally similar to sardines. Offers a strong “fishy” flavor cats love.
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Pollock: A mild whitefish with a delicate flavor, often found in commercial cat foods.
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Tuna: Very popular with cats but feed only in moderation due to high mercury risk. Choose skipjack tuna which is lower in mercury.
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Shellfish: Shrimp, crab and clams provide lean protein. Ensure they are thoroughly cooked.
Avoid large predatory fish which accumulate more toxins like tuna, swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel. Anchovies can cause vitamin deficiencies.
What Fish Should Cats Not Eat?
Certain types of fish may be dangerous or toxic for cats and should be avoided. Unsafe fish include:
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Raw Fish: Raw fish may contain harmful bacteria and parasites. All fish should be thoroughly cooked before feeding to cats.
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Fish Bones: Bones can splinter and pose a choking hazard or damage cats’ digestive tract. Remove all bones before feeding fish.
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Fatty Fish: Fattier fish like tuna, mackerel, and salmon should only be fed occasionally in limited amounts to prevent vitamin E deficiency.
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Fish Skin: Difficult for cats to properly digest. Peel off skin before feeding fish to cats.
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Fish Heads, Tails, Fins: Cut off and discard inedible parts which could present a choking risk.
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Dried Fish: Extremely high in sodium, difficult to digest, lacking moisture. Not an ideal fish format for cats.
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Ornamental Fish: Goldfish and tropical fish may contain toxins or viruses. Never feed your cat fish from a pet store aquarium.
Stick to cooking plain, fresh fish. Avoid seasoned, fried, or processed types of fish which are too high in sodium, fat, and preservatives.
How Often Can Cats Eat Fish?
Fish can be fed to cats 1-2 times per week as a tasty protein treat. Limit total fish intake to no more than one quarter of your cat’s diet.
Follow these portion guidelines based on your cat’s weight:
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For an 8-10 lb adult cat, feed 1-3 oz of cooked fish per meal, 1-2x/week.
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For a 10-15 lb adult cat, feed 2-4 oz of cooked fish per meal, 1-2x/week.
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For kittens, give only 1-2 oz of fish per meal, 1-2x/week.
Cats should always receive a properly balanced commercial cat food as their dietary staple. Use fish as an occasional supplement, not the main course.
How to Prepare and Store Fish for Cats
Follow these tips for safely storing and preparing fish to feed your cat:
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Refrigerate fresh fish immediately and cook within 1-2 days of purchasing. Discard any raw fish that smells unpleasant.
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Thaw frozen fish gradually in the refrigerator. Never thaw at room temperature.
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Cook fish to an internal temperature of 165°F. Flake the fish with a fork to check for doneness.
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Remove all bones, skin, fat, tails, fins, and heads before feeding. These present choking hazards.
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Microwaving is the easiest cooking method. You can also broil, bake, or poach fish. Avoid frying.
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Let cooked fish cool completely before handling. Canned fish can be served chilled or room temp.
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Refrigerate any leftovers and use within 3 days. Discard sooner if you notice an off smell or appearance.
Follow safe handling procedures and completely cook fish to destroy any potentially harmful parasites, bacteria, or viruses present. This makes fish safe and digestible for cats to enjoy.
Can Cats Eat Raw Fish?
It’s best to avoid feeding cats raw fish. Potential risks of raw fish include:
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Parasites: Raw fish may contain harmful parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes that can infect cats if ingested.
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Bacteria: Pathogens like salmonella and E. coli found in raw fish and shellfish can cause food poisoning in cats.
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Thiamine Deficiency: Enzymes in raw fish destroy vitamin B1 (thiamine). Deficiency can cause neurological issues.
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Bones: Small bones in raw fish pose a major choking risk and may splinter and cause internal punctures.
The only exception is sushi or sashimi grade raw fish intended for human consumption. However, this is expensive and still poses a low risk. For safety, it’s best to cook all fish fed to cats.
Can Cats Eat Human Fish Foods?
Avoid feeding cats the following human fish foods:
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Canned Tuna for Humans: Very high in sodium, lacks balanced nutrients cats need. Choose tuna made for cats instead.
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Fish Sauces and Condiments: High in salt, spices, onions, garlic toxic to cats. Always avoid seasonings.
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Breaded Fish Products: High fat and carbs, low in meat. Stick to plain cooked fish.
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Fish Jerky Treats: Can have high sodium and preservatives. Not a substitute for balanced cat food.
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Salted Fish: Excessive salt causes dehydration, hypertension, and kidney damage in cats.
Stick to plain, unseasoned, cooked fish. Human fish products often contain additives and unsafe ingredients for cats. Read labels carefully.
Providing a Balanced Diet With Fish
While fish provides wonderful nutrition for cats, it should never be the sole item in their diet. For optimal health, follow these tips:
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Feed a complete, balanced commercial cat food for the bulk of your cat’s diet. Look for foods containing fish as an ingredient.
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Supplement with 1-2 small fish meals weekly. Focus on salmon, sardines, shrimp and other recommended safe fish.
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Limit tuna to just once a month to avoid mercury exposure.
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Serve fish in moderation along with poultry, meat, eggs and cat-safe fruits/veggies for variety.
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Cats need animal-based protein. Avoid plant-exclusive diets.
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Provide plenty of fresh water to help dilute fish’s high sodium content.
By incorporating nutritious fish as part of a mixed diet, your cat can reap the benefits of omega-3s while still getting balanced everyday nutrition covered.
The Verdict on Cats and Fish
Fish makes a great supplemental protein source for cats. Focus on wild caught salmon, sardines, shellfish and other mercury-free fish. Cook all fish thoroughly before feeding. Limit total weekly fish intake to avoid vitamin deficiencies. Always combine fish with commercial cat food and other proteins for a balanced feline diet. By feeding fish properly, your cat can gain shinier fur, improved joint health, brain development, and reduced inflammation. Just don’t go overboard on the fishy treats. Feed fish to your cat in moderate amounts for optimal health and variety.
What to do if you think your cat has a food allergy
Always consult your vet first. They will be able to rule out any other medical conditions. Never try to treat a suspected allergy by yourself. If you change your cat’s food, make sure you keep a close eye on it to make sure your kitten is still getting all the nutrients they need.
If there aren’t any other conditions that could be causing the symptoms, your vet will probably tell you to put your cat on an exclusion diet and keep a close eye on its symptoms to help find the allergen that is causing the problem.
Our pets are not immune to allergies because they cannot be 100% predicted. You can do allergy tests on all of the items, but it will take a long time and cost a lot of money.
If you gave your cat fish or something else and it made it sick or gave it allergies, it would be good to have another type of pet insurance. Supporting the Pet Emergency Fund for less than $1 a day makes sure that your vet bills will be paid in case of an emergency and that you can see a board-certified vet. He can answer all your questions online anytime and wherever you are.
- Cats don’t normally eat fish, but adding fish to a healthy, well-balanced diet can be good for them. If you give your cat fish as a treat once in a while, they should be fine, unless they are allergic to a certain type of fish or seafood.
- Don’t forget to give your cat the best fish you can find. Choose fresh cuts over ready-to-eat, pre-packaged, or canned ones that might contain salt, preservatives, or other ingredients that are bad for you. Boneless or deboned fish is preferable.
- Never give raw fish to your cat. It can cause severe depletion of essential vitamins.
- If you want to feed your cat fish, you should never cook it in too much oil, garlic, or spices. Boiled, baked, or grilled fish works best for your cat.
- Fish that are oily, like tuna and sardines, are better for your cat’s health because they contain healthy fats than white fish, like flounder and hake.
- Always talk to your vet if you have questions about what your cat should eat. If you think your cat might have an allergy, don’t try to treat it yourself. Also, if you want to add supplements to its food, talk to your vet first. He or she can tell you the right amount and best brands to use.
Can cats eat tuna
If you open a can of tuna, your cat will go on a mad dash to get some at any cost, as any cat owner will tell you. But is tuna good for cats?.
Even though cats LOVE tuna, it has a lot of mercury in it, and if your cat eats a lot of tuna, it could get mercury poisoning. Because tuna is a predatory fish that eats other fish, it tends to accumulate higher levels of heavy metals and toxins, so it shouldn’t be eaten too often.
That said, cats can eat tuna as an occasional treat if its cooked and not raw. Additionally, you shouldn’t give your cat tuna all the time; some cats can become so obsessed with it that they won’t eat anything else.
If you only eat canned tuna once in a while, that’s probably fine, but keep in mind that it usually has more sodium and other preservatives than fresh tuna.
It’s not good for your cat to eat tuna in brine because it has too much salt. On the other hand, tuna in oil should be drained properly so that the oily fish and extra oil don’t give your cat too many calories.
Again, keeping an eye on your cat is important so it doesn’t do something like steal your sushi like a ninja (which they may have been in a past life). Although I’m joking, cats are naturally curious, so they may play with or eat food that they find lying around. Because of this, it is important for us to monitor our cat to prevent them from possible harm.
Some useful tools for keeping an eye on your cat are the Petcube Cam and the Petcube Video Monitor. It has HD video, two-way audio, and night vision, so you can keep an eye on your cat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On top of that, you can talk to a vet online whenever you need to, without having to make an appointment.