Can I Feed My Cat Canned Tuna?

It is not good to feed your cat canned Tuna, especially on a regular basis. However, it is acceptable if you only feed your cat canned tuna once in a while as a special treat or if you suddenly run out of cat food till the next day. For me, I would rather not feed my cat canned tuna at all because it does more harm than good to your cat’s health. In fact, tuna can kill your cat!

Tuna contains a lot of mercury, which can cause mercury poisoning in cats. Mercury damages the brain, nervous system, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus can contribute to the formation of kidney stones and adversely impact an animal that is already prone to renal failure. Other heavy metals and compounds are also present in tuna. Canned tuna lacks the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients that cats require to maintain their health. Even humans are only allowed to consume it once a week at the most.

Normally, Cat foods are carefully prepared to include all of the vitamins and minerals that cats require in adequate amounts. Tuna in a can is not cat food, as it lacks certain vitamins and minerals, especially Taurine (an essential amino acid in cats). Cats cannot survive without taurine! It is critical for normal vision, digestion, heart muscle function, to maintain normal pregnancy and fetal development, and to maintain a healthy immune system. Your cat could die of heart failure if you don’t give him foods containing taurine. Purchase some cat foods (especially wet cat foods) instead of giving your cat canned tuna!

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Tuna also contains an enzyme called thiaminase that degrades vitamin B1 (thiamine) and too much unsaturated fatty acids which depletes vitamin E. Cat’s need high loads of vitamin B in their diet, so feeding a cat too much raw fish tuna) would give them a thiamine deficiency. The side-effects of which include seizures and a loss of control over body movements.

Canned tuna can also cause steatitis in cats. Steatitis is a painful condition that arises when there is inflammation of fat, commonly yellow fat, causing saponification and fat necrosis. It is caused by vitamin E deficiency.

Many species of fish, other than tuna, also contain thiaminase, and feeding these species of fish to any cat is dangerous.

What Else Can Canned Tuna Be Used For?

Canned tuna can be useful in other ways. It can be used to attract and capture stray cats for catch-and-release programs because it has such a strong scent that cats love. If a cat is unwell and/or refuses to eat, a small amount of tuna mixed in with the food could persuade them to eat. Also, a spoonful of tuna has been known to make cats swallow their medicine easily.

Things To Consider When Feeding Your Cat Canned Tuna

It’s very crucial to keep an eye on what’s in the canned tuna. Tuna comes either packed with water or oil. The oil is harmful to cats because it can cause vitamin E depletion, which can lead to muscle problems. As a result, you’ll want to limit your cat to tuna packed in water.

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Also, look over the ingredients. Tuna is available salted or unsalted. Because too much salt might create electrolyte imbalances in cats, only purchase unsalted tuna. You can always add salt to the portions you eat. Onions and garlic are also added to some canned tuna. Cats are poisoned by both.

Other things to pay attention to are if your cat has any allergies to fish because fish allergies are one of the most common cat allergies. And watch out if your cat becomes hooked to the taste of tuna. Most cats really love the taste of tuna and seem to want more of it but always remember it’s detrimental to their health.

Many cat owners have accidentally killed their cats by feeding them canned tuna for a long time. You will eventually kill your cat if you don’t stop feeding your cat tuna more often. There are other foods you can feed your cat if you suddenly run out of cat food other than tuna.

Foods To Feed Your Cat If You suddenly Run Out Of Cat Food

Here are some of the foods that you can feed your cat when you suddenly run out of cat food:

1. Meat
2. Fish
3. Cheese
4. Bananas
5. Eggs
6. Yogurt
7. Berries
8. Melon
9. Oatmeal
10. Pumpkin
11. Bread
12. Apples
13. Carrots
14. Rice
15. Spinach
16. Nuts
17. Most vegetables

Your cat can eat almost any meat. Anything with nitrates or too much salt, such as bacon, ham, or hot dogs, should be avoided. If the meat is particularly fatty, reduce the amount and serve with rice to prevent diarrhea. Fat isn’t bad in and of itself, but it’s high in calories and can lead to obesity if consumed on a regular basis.

Eggs are delicious. Because many adult cats, like people, are lactose intolerant, dairy products may induce diarrhea. A small amount of cheese may still be used as a treat or to aid in the absorption of medications.

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Cats will consume a variety of cooked vegetables, but only in moderation and in combination with their meat. Winter squash and pumpkin, both cooked, are popular. Some cats really love cooked carrots. In fact, cooked carrots have caused some cats to go completely crazy. A little amount of nearly any cooked green or starchy vegetable will do.

Instead of feeding your cat canned tuna, these foods can help prevent your dear cat from starving while you go out to get some cat foods the next day.

Can I Feed My Cat Tuna Out Of The Can?

You can feed your cat tuna out of the can. However, whether you serve your cat tuna out of the can or on a plate, it still doesn’t change the fact that tuna is not a healthy diet for cats. It can cause lots of health issues if you often feed your cat tuna. If you must, only use it as a special treat once in a while.

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Can I Feed My Cat Canned Tuna In Water?

Yes, you can feed your cat canned tuna in water. Canned tuna in water is much preferable to canned tuna in oil. The oil is harmful to cats because it can cause vitamin E deficiency, which can lead to steatitis and muscular issues. Tuna is not good for cats but if you must feed your cat tuna, do it once in a while and stick to canned tuna packed in water.

Conclusion

Can you feed your cat canned tuna? The simplest answer is NO! With all of the reasons, I stated above, giving your cat(s) tuna is not good as it can damage their organs and systems. However, a small amount of tuna as a special treat once in a while isn’t going to hurt them.

Tuna can be useful in other ways. It can be used to attract and capture stray cats for catch-and-release programs because it has such a strong scent that cats love. If a cat is unwell and/or refuses to eat, a small amount of tuna mixed in with the food could persuade them to eat. Always consult your vet before trying anything new with your cat.

The medical information provided in this article is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.