Mary Allen
Fish tastes great for cats and is healthy! But there are a few things to consider if you want to serve your cat the delicious protein bombs. Read here what you need to consider when feeding fish.
Fish is healthy, but cats can do just fine without them, as they are not part of the cat’s main natural prey spectrum. However, when they do get it, most cats happily eat it. Cats whose fish meal may contain bones should always be closely monitored. If you want to be on the safe side here, you should only feed fish that has been severely chopped up or ready-to-eat cat food with fish.
This Is How Often You Should Feed Your Catfish
Fish contains a lot of easily digestible protein and is rich in vitamins and trace elements. Most varieties are also low in calories. Fatty fish provide valuable oils. Basically, the cat can get all types of edible fish. It doesn’t matter whether the fish is in the bowl every day or just occasionally, as long as the overall recipe of the food is balanced. Fish alone is not a balanced diet for cats.
Valuable Oils In Fish For Cats
Fish oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered particularly valuable because the cat’s organism cannot produce them itself. The unsaturated fatty acids are important for natural skin protection and nerve function. They support cell division, are essential for a healthy hormone balance, and have a reputation for being able to prevent inflammation and diseases. However, excessive consumption of fish oil can lead to diarrhea in sensitive animals.
Feed The Cat Raw Or Cooked Fish?
Experts advise always cooking fish well, even for cats, because raw fish can contain thiaminase and parasites. The enzyme thiaminase destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine). If the cat ingests too much thiaminase, a vitamin B1 deficiency can develop. Symptoms of deficiency are refusal to feed and vomiting. Movement disorders can occur later.
In Europe, the larvae of two types of worms in raw fish can become a health problem for cats:
- Freshwater fish can contain the larvae of the fish tapeworm, which can grow into monsters up to 40 cm long in the intestine.
- In sea fish, on the other hand, the larvae of the herring worm can parasitize. The ringworm larvae cause pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
In addition to cooking, freezing the fish at -20 degrees for 72 hours can kill the parasites. Cats affected by the parasites must be treated by the vet with specific deworming. In order to avoid health problems, it is best not to feed the cat raw fish!
Fish In The Food Is Not Suitable For These Cats
For some cats, eating fish is not a good choice. This is especially true for those cats who are allergic to fish and fish products. The actually healthy iodine richness of sea fish can become a problem for cats with an overactive thyroid gland.
Cats with feline asthma may react to histamines in the meat of the fish with respiratory problems. Ready cat food with fish, on the other hand, is usually low in histamine and can therefore be offered without hesitation.