We all know that cats are natural predators, so there is no surprise if they love to hunt & eat fish. I know that you gotta a question which is the best fish to feed my cat?
However, there are risks associated with feeding fish to your furball.
I had the same question when my British cat “Lola” Ate raw fish accidentally. In this blog, I have tried to provide you with all the topics that are related to feeding fish to cats.
So if you are finding the best alternative for the commercial cat food or you are just finding the best answer for your question related to feeding fish to your cat. Then you should just dive in & find all the answers in this article.
Can Cats Eat Fish?
Yes, cats can eat fish! Even in wild, cats used to hunt for fish. In fact, fish is a good source of protein, cats are designed to digest the fish as they are obligate carnivores.
They are made to immerse 70% of nutrients from meat, in most commercial cat food you will find a protein that is extracted from fish & meat.
The fishes contain many types of vitamins, minerals & other beneficial fatty acids. If you are feeding fish to your cat then it might be beneficial for them, until a moderation.
Fish will surely fulfill your cat’s protein needs, & all the vitamins & mineral deficiencies If you feed them a balanced diet.
Why Cats Are Attracted to Fishes?
When we have domestic cats at home, they are unable to hunt fish just like their ancestor do in the wild. So they are very fascinated by the distinct smell of fish.
Moreover, they are attracted to the sparkling scales that look very awesome in lighting. As they have the tendency to hunt, these scales are irresistible for the cats.
Can Cats Eat Raw Fish?
In the wild cats have to hunt for their living & they have to eat raw fish. The wildcats have the ability to digest the raw fish, in current times as we have taught them to live like a domestic cat.
They do not have the ability to digest all the meat, as compared to their wild ancestors. Moreover, if we talk about fish, there are many types of fish that are scavengers.
Which means they eat almost everything that is dead. So there might be chances that they are infected with harmful parasites and bacteria such as E. Coli and salmonella.
This might lead your cat to food poisoning or be very harmful to your domestic cats.
The best recommendation is to consult your veterinarian before you feed anything to your cat different from their regular diet.
Can Cats Eat Fish Bones?
Yes, you can feed fish bones to your cat, however, you should provide the bones that are well cooked, so that bones are soft enough for your cats to gulp them down.
In wild cats munches down the whole fish with bones, but they have that type of digestive system. However, domestic cats have a weaker digestive system compared to their wild ancestors.
To avoid choking you should remove the fish bones before your feed fish to your cat. Once they finish the fish then you can provide the fish bones that would be better for you to monitor them.
Fish in Commercial Cat Foods
Talking about the commercial cat foods then they have fish as key ingredients in some of the cat foods.
But the truth is they provide you with the cat food at very affordable prices right, did your think how it is possible, to provide a good quality fish in cat foods. Let me tell the truth about it most of the commercial cat food companies.
They use the leftovers & offcuts that we humans cannot consume. Also, it does not have any nutritional value left, basically, it does not provide any benefits to your cats.
The leftover fishes are high in minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus. It might damage your cat’s kidney if it consumes too much cat food.
The best recommendation would be, that you should not feed commercial cat food that contains fish. It might be dangerous for your cat consumes for a long time. If still, you have doubts then you can contact your veterinarian.
Benefits of Fish Oil
Fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, that are beneficial for your cat. It will improve your furball’s skin & hair quality, Moreover, it will improve joint mobility & it will support cognitive function.
Feeding fish to your cat can be risky sometimes because some fishes contain high levels of mercury. It can be toxic for your domestic cats, mercury can cause health problems such as kidney damage. You can feed the fishes that are low in mercury such as salmon, Tuna, and COD.
FAQs
What kind of fish is best to feed your cat?
You can feed fish to your cat but it should be low in mercury, as I have mentioned in the article. There are good options that you can select from. You also have to keep in mind that remove the bones from the fish before you are feeding it to your feline.
If the bones are properly cooked then you can provide them after your cat is done with the fish. So that you can keep an eye on the bone that might choke in your cat’s throat. Moreover, the fish bones provide a good amount of calcium to your cat.
Can cats get sick from eating raw fish?
Yes of course, As I have mentioned in the blog article that feeding raw fish to your cat can be dangerous as the fish contain harmful parasites and bacteria such as E. Coli and salmonella.
The enzyme that raw fish contains destroys the thiamine present in a cat’s body, which will lead your cat to neurological issues such as convulsions and coma.
Can Cats Eat Fish Heads?
Most people think that the fish head is not the most attractive part of the fish. However, you can feed the head part to your cat as it has a good amount of protein.
You will have to prepare it properly before you feed your cat, as it contains a good amount of bones, cooking will soften that bones.
Final Thoughts
I would like to end this “Can Cats Eat Fish?” blog here. I hope that this blog was helpful to you. You got all the answers to the questions that you had in your mind.
Once I had the same question when My Persian cat “Lola” was eager to eat the fish that I cooked. I was unaware that how can I can feed fish to my cat.
I tried to search on the internet, but I did not find any satisfying answer.
So I gathered the information from other cat owners & veterinarians, to provide the best information & make it easy for you.
If still, you have any doubts related to feeding fish to your cat, then you can ask in the comment section below, I will surely get back to you with the best answer possible.
Reference:
- Feeding Your Cat— vetwest
- Foods That Are Toxic To Cats— Central Pet
- Factors Influencing The Food Preference of Cats— PubMed