Can cats eat canned fish?
Can cats eat canned fish? This question is asked sooner or later by anyone who has a cat. Fish is not a natural food for wild cats, and domestic fish originated from the African wild cat. Therefore, fish in any form should not become a permanent diet for a pet.
Long-term observations have revealed a number of reasons why a cat should not be given fish and canned fish every day. The main one is the low calcium content in fish, which in combination with a large amount of phosphorus can lead to urolithiasis.
Fish contains a lot of thiamine, which destroys vitamin B1, and its deficiency causes seizures in cats. There may also be a lack of vitamin E, which can lead to the cat being uncomfortable with any touch, including stroking.
Another problem is getting used to the smell of fish. After a fish diet, it is difficult to accustom a cat to any other food. In addition, fish is a powerful allergen not only for people, but also for some cats.
Marine fish, from which most canned foods are made, may contain heavy metals such as mercury. This is due to global environmental problems. Therefore, doctors do not recommend tuna and salmon for pregnant women and young children. Consequently, cats don’t need heavy metals either. And if the fish is artificially grown, which is typical for salmon, there is a danger of high levels of antibiotics in it.
The owner decides for himself whether or not to feed the cat canned fish. but veterinarians advise doing this no more than once a week.
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What kind of fish can you feed cats?
Not every animal owner knows which fish is healthier for a purring pet - sea or freshwater. Veterinarians advise against the second option. It is unacceptable to feed castrated pets with such fish. It is more advisable to offer your cat fillet as a fish treat:
Salmon is a healthy treat for cats
However, even such a healthy cat fish should not become the basis of the furry purr’s diet. And in this case, it doesn’t matter whether they are just planning to castrate/sterilize the pet or have already done it. The delicacy should be served in small quantities. As a rule, it is included in the cat's menu once every 6-10 days. The portion should be small. It should be borne in mind that the body of a mustachioed friend needs to obtain large amounts of fatty acids.
Often, pet owners lacking experience are interested in how much to cook blue whiting for a cat (or another type of product). After the water boils, the delicacy should simmer over low heat for about 15-20 minutes.
For your information! If it is not possible to cook the fish fillet, it should be pre-frozen (beef and chicken are prepared in the same way for fluffy purrs). The procedure should last about 24-48 hours. It is recommended to freeze only fresh products, since repeated freezing contributes to the destruction of beneficial omega-3 acid.
When choosing fish for your pet, it is important to pay attention to freshness
In order not to worry about your cat becoming infected with helminths, it is best to boil the fish fillet. Cooking will be able to destroy the harmful thiaminase enzyme contained in the composition and will not reduce the percentage of beneficial omega acids. After the fish fillet has been boiled and cooled, you should inspect it, removing bones that are not able to be digested in the animal’s body after cooking.
Note! If your pet is served fish that has been frozen, it is acceptable to leave the cartilage.
Fluffy purrs can feast on fish delicacies no more than 4-5 times a month. It is advisable to mix the sirloin with a small amount of oatmeal and chopped vegetables. The frequency of feeding castrated cats with fish products should not exceed 2 times a month. This will minimize the risk of bladder stones. If the diet contains factory-made food with fish ingredients, it is better to completely exclude the fish product from the menu of the four-legged friend, which will make it possible to avoid upset of the digestive system.
Fish is a product that can only be given to cats occasionally. However, it is very important which species is present on the animal’s menu. It’s better to avoid freshwater altogether. It is unlikely to bring any benefit, but it may well cause infection with helminths or the development of urolithiasis. For your pet to live for many years, it is important to provide it with the right diet.
Why do cats like canned food?
A cat's instinct calls for being in the kitchen as often as possible, where there is a refrigerator and food is being prepared. No matter how well and balanced this graceful creature is fed, it will still be drawn to the treasured room like a magnet. Naturally, cats witness their owners eating. And very often, animals feel a strong desire to try something unfamiliar to them .
Naturally, animals are attracted not so much by the appetizing appearance as by the smell. Therefore, any canned food that may not be natural, but has a stunning aroma, will attract cats.
Feed your cat the usual wet food and little by little
When feeding wet diets, you should avoid variety; it is better to choose one type of food that suits your cat and stick with it. Constantly changing your pet’s diet is neither necessary nor beneficial.
Unlike dry food, wet food cannot be left in a bowl, so the feeding pattern will be fundamentally different. The daily intake should be determined according to the instructions on the product packaging and adjusted depending on the condition of the animal. To prevent overeating, get into the habit of weighing your cat regularly.
The daily norm should be divided into several feedings and given often, but little by little. We immediately put the uneaten portion in the refrigerator, and then be sure to warm it up to room temperature in the microwave.
The contents of an open package can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day in a tightly closed container, for which the edges of the bag are tightly wrapped and secured with a paper clip, and the contents of the jar are transferred to a glass or plastic container with a lid. It is very important to wash the bowl after each feeding because even microscopic remains of wet food become a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you do not have the opportunity or time to feed your cat wet food correctly, taking into account all of the above, it is better to abandon this idea in favor of high-quality dry food.
And one more thing: despite the fact that canned diets contain a lot of moisture, feeding wet food does not negate strict control over the cat’s water intake.
What kind of canned food attracts cats?
To arouse the interest of pets, canned food must have a pronounced fish or meat aroma . These aromas that cats prefer in food will be felt brighter in canned food, since in addition to natural ingredients, manufacturers can add artificial additives and flavor enhancers.
Cats have a very keen sense of smell, so it is not difficult for them to determine the freshness of food from afar. The animal will not approach stale canned food.
To give or not to give?
But if the animal is healthy and has a great desire to eat canned food, you can give it to the animal in small quantities, but not on a regular basis . Anyone, even the healthiest animal, can begin to fail if the cat is fed canned food constantly, in large quantities.
If the cat is completely healthy, you can add a small amount of canned meat or fish to its usual natural diet, you can significantly please the animal, which will lead to a decrease in aggression and anxiety.
Once again about economy class cat food
Ready-made cat food is presented in the form of economy class, premium, super premium and holistic food. Ready-made food can be in dry granular form, or can also be presented in the form of canned food.
It should be emphasized right away that a responsible cat owner, having studied the statistical data on the negative impact of economy-class food on the health of a pet, will make the right decision and never use it. This is really dangerous for the cat's health. Unfortunately, economy class food is not suitable for feeding domestic cats. They can be used only in extreme cases for feeding stray animals on the street, when the use of higher quality feed is associated with certain material costs.
Similar foods include Whiskas, Friskas, Kittyket, Meow, Felix and even Sheba and Gurmet. In our modern times of widespread information availability, only a lazy and completely irresponsible cat owner does not know that feeding these foods can lead to very serious diseases, the treatment of which in the future will be very expensive. In this case, it makes absolutely no difference whether the food is used in dry form or in the form of canned food for cats. Many pet owners associate food quality with price. This is true to a certain extent. However, this is not the case with economy class feed. , canned food for cats will always be much more expensive than their counterparts presented in granular form, but this in no way indicates their higher quality. Economy class food is equally harmful both in dry form and in canned form.
Therefore, everything described below will apply to all feeds, except economy class feeds.
How to give canned food correctly?
Naturally, the dose of treats given should be small. Canned food can be given to healthy cats whose diet consists of natural products: porridge, soups, meat, fish, eggs.
You should not combine regular canned food with cat food to avoid intestinal dysfunction. If an animal consumes exclusively specialized food, a sudden change in its diet by introducing unfamiliar products will have a detrimental effect on its body.
Since ordinary canned food may contain substances that irritate the delicate lining of the intestines, they should be given mixed with other foods, thus, the negative effects after eating them can be somewhat reduced.
It is very important to remember that a mono-diet of canned food alone can harm even the healthiest animal.
Canned food should not be given together with fermented milk products, such as fermented baked milk or cottage cheese, as the protein contained in them will conflict with fermented milk bacteria.
Mixing different types of food when feeding cats
Let's go back to the basic principles of cat nutrition and make it clear again. Mixing natural food and ready-made food in one feeding is strictly contraindicated! The use of ready-made feed and natural food at the same time (at different feeding periods) is possible, but is not strongly recommended. This also applies to canned food for cats and dry food. You need to decide once and for all about the type of food your pet needs and not return to this issue in the future.
As for mixing dry and canned food in one feeding, we note that such manipulations are also devoid of common sense. Proper dosing of cat food requires that the animal receive a certain amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. It should not be insufficient and it should not be excessive. The instructions for both dry food and canned food clearly state the required dosages, based on the cat’s weight plus or minus the permissible 10-15%. By mixing dry food and canned food, it is impossible to achieve optimal feeding in terms of basic indicators. The balance will be upset. In other words, if you approach this issue scrupulously, professional nutritionists do not recommend experiments of this kind. Moreover, the product itself does not imply such a combination.
What you need to know about canned food
Canned food was invented by mankind in order to preserve food supplies for as long as possible, for example, during travel or military campaigns. It is clear that this product is intended to lead to a feeling of satiety, and not to saturate the body with nutrients as much as possible. Although not the healthiest product, canned food perfectly serves the function of preserving food for the required moment.
Regarding their effect on the cat’s body, it should be noted that all of the above applies to canned food consumed by humans.
But there are special canned food for cats . They contain many specially added beneficial substances and can be fed to your domestic cat all the time without fear for its health. These canned foods are created for the daily diet of pets.
This product was specifically developed for these animals; all their needs were taken into account during production, so consumption will not irritate the intestinal mucosa.
These canned foods also have an appetizing aroma, which instinctively attracts animals to them.
Another significant advantage is that this method of feeding domestic cats is ideal for busy people.
The benefits and harms of a fish diet
Fish is a product that is not mandatory in the diet of cats, but is loved by animals. You can’t argue that its benefits are obvious: it contains healthy fatty acids that promote the growth of beautiful hair, stop inflammatory processes in the body, and support vascular health.
However, it is important to know about the dangers of fish when consumed in abundance. This is evidenced by a combination of reviews from cat owners, as well as the opinions of practicing veterinarians.
- Urolithiasis disease . Due to excess magnesium when consuming fish and the balance of minerals, the functioning of the kidneys of healthy pets gradually becomes more difficult, which leads to the provocation of the development of this serious disease. It is especially contraindicated in castrated and sterilized cats.
- Metabolic disorder or, in other words, oxidative stress in the body. It develops especially actively in cats that eat only raw fish.
- Overweight. This occurs due to a lack of vitamin E and oversaturation with fatty acids. All adipose tissue of the body becomes inflamed, body temperature rises, and general lethargy appears. Sometimes even soft and gentle touches to the fur will cause pain in the cat.
- Difficult metabolism. Fish contains a lot of thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1, which is so necessary for pets. This enzyme can be destroyed by heat treatment or boiling the product for 30-40 minutes, but the beneficial properties are also lost.
- Anemia. Fish contains trimethylamine oxide, which does not allow iron to be absorbed in cells, therefore the development process of the animal slows down and leads to infertility.
- Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. This disease develops in cats that consume fish products every day and in unlimited quantities.
- Excess fish in the diet leads to a lack of vitamin K, which is responsible for blood clotting. For this reason, very often animals die in case of hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
- Infection with helminths . As is known, fish are carriers of parasite larvae that can infect pets.
- This product is also a strong allergen and can provoke the development of allergic reactions.
- Pets often injure the esophagus and intestines with sharp bones.
Against the backdrop of all the dangers that await our pets when eating fish, the benefits are lost. Before you diversify your cat's menu with his favorite delicacy, you should think about the consequences.
Fish for cats - examples of what is and is not possible
Most cat owners sooner or later face the question of whether they can give their furry pet fish. Cats belong to the category of carnivores. According to their physiological needs, the diet should contain dishes that enrich the body with proteins and fats. In addition, the animal requires the intake of the amino acid arginine, aminosulfonic and arachidonic acids. The listed substances help to establish metabolism in the mustachioed body and restore the normal functioning of internal organs.
Fish contains a high percentage of phosphorus. If you often feed your animal fish delicacies, there is a risk of triggering the development of urolithiasis. However, most veterinarians believe that not all pets are susceptible to this disease, but only those with weak immunity. The information presented below will help you figure out whether fish for cats will be harmful or beneficial to the body.
A fish delicacy for a pet can both strengthen and weaken the immune system.
What fish should you not feed your cat?
Cats are prohibited:
- Waste . Heads and bones injure the esophagus, larynx, get stuck in the intestines, and do not carry anything useful. They have little calcium.
- Salty . Excess salt is deposited in the bladder and kidneys, which provokes the development of urolithiasis.
- Smoked . Contains carcinogens and allergens. Helminths are not destroyed by smoking.
- Canned fish . Seasonings, salt, and spices disrupt metabolism.
- Fried . Excessive fat disrupts the functioning of the pancreas and liver. Calorie content increases by 2–3 times.
- Sun-dried, dried . The fish is sprinkled with salt or soaked in a saline solution, so the final product is unsuitable for cats.
The table lists the fish varieties that should not be given:
The need for fish for cats
Can cats fish and is it necessary to include this delicacy in your pet’s diet? Veterinary experts believe that the menu for four-legged friends can include boiled marine fish. Before cooking the product, you need to separate all the bones to avoid injury to the animal’s larynx and esophagus.
Can a neutered cat eat fish?
Why can't cats fish? It is believed that after castration the risk of developing bladder stones increases. Poor nutrition can contribute to the development of a dangerous pathology. However, some veterinary experts believe that it is still possible to occasionally give fish delicacies in small quantities to pets who have undergone the castration procedure.
Note! The presence of fish in the diet of animals does not in any way affect the risk of urolithiasis, despite the fact that the product contains a large percentage of phosphorus, which creates conditions for the formation of struvite in the bladder area.
Fish for a sterilized cat
Why can't cats be fed fish? Cats that have been neutered should not eat this product frequently. Scaly ones can only be in a pet’s diet as a rare treat. Although, if possible, it is better to avoid such a product.
Important! Under no circumstances should you give raw products, as this risks, at a minimum, infection with helminthiasis. If you want to give your cat a fish, you should give preference to marine varieties that will do more good than harm. All dice must be pre-selected.
Is it possible to give canned food?
Super-premium canned food, which is prepared for fluffy purrs, does not contain harmful substances. Among the main ingredients of the products, there are a large number of natural elements, minerals and vitamins that can help restore the health of the animal and compensate for their deficiency in the body. However, when choosing canned food, you should pay attention to quality. Of course, not every owner has the opportunity to purchase ready-made holistic food, but a super-premium diet is available to the majority of consumers.
Important! Fish, like milk, should rarely be present in the diet of animals.
What kind of fish to give: raw or boiled
It is important to pay attention not only to the type of fish, but also to the method of its preparation. It is unacceptable to give your pets whole fish raw. It is worth considering that not every part is digested by the four-legged friend’s body in the same way. In addition, raw fish can cause the development of helminthiasis. Cat owners who introduce raw food into their cat's daily diet can cause a deficiency of vitamin B1 in the body. If a cat eats raw fish systematically, its health will undoubtedly worsen.
Packaging for canned food
Canned food is packaged in a variety of ways. They do not differ significantly from each other; the main goal of all packaging methods is to maintain tightness and lack of contact with environmental microflora and chemically active surfaces. Therefore, you need to pay attention to its integrity, the absence of cracks in glass jars and bruises in tin jars.
Feed manufacturers use the following types of packaging:
- metal and glass jars, with screw caps and screw caps;
- pouches - soft metallized bags in which food is packaged for one feeding;
- plastic containers of various shapes with a metallized or film lid, similar to yoghurts - pots, lamisters;
- cardboard boxes with a metalized inner surface, like those in which juices are packaged - Tetra Pak;
- vacuum packaging – packages sausages and sausages for cats.
