Cats are naturally drawn to fish. In any size and shape, fishes are attractive to cats; it’s a Romeo Juliet story here, except that in this new saga, one is running away from the other. Cats are creatures that need constant love and care. When we think about cats, the first visuals that come to our mind is that of the animals eating rats, fish, or drinking milk. But the question is, are those safe to consume?
In this article, we will tell you if you can feed your cats raw fish or not. Cats need specific nutrients that they can only get through the ingestion of animal meat. The smell of fish can arouse your cats instantly. Cats are moody and grumpy most of the time. However, even small creatures like fish can make them feel happy. Your cats sport a bright look and cute expression when they spot raw fish in our kitchen. Does this mean you can feed them this? Not at all. Why? Keep reading to know more about the same.
Cats tend to get attracted to foods that are not healthy for them. Since they cannot distinguish between foods that are safe and unsafe for them, you must keep track of their diet. So, let us get into the details about feeding raw fish to cats in the following sections.
Can cats eat raw food?
For cats, raw fish is exactly proportional to health problems. When it comes to raw fish, they are not healthy for your cats. Cats are such picky eaters that sometimes we just have to know what is best for them. The fact that they will walk away from bad-smelling meat does not mean they will bypass a raw fish. You will be surprised at how cats are immediately drawn towards fish. Contrary to popular belief, though, cats cannot eat raw fish.
Cats can become addicted to raw fish. Fish and cats are like some love story that can never be completed. Though cats love to chase fishes, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to feed them fish. This might surprise you because you have been thinking all along that fishes do form part of a cat’s balanced diet.
Yes, you are right though. Though fishes can be a normal part of a cat’s food, the way you feed them the fish makes a great deal of difference. When you don’t feed fish cooked properly, it can cause them many health issues. Eating raw fish can be proven harmful for humans too. Raw fish is toxic for humans too. We have a well-developed digestive system and the average weight of an adult is about 60kg, but still, our digestive systems cannot accept raw fish at all. So, it is only natural that light-bodied felines with sensitive digestive systems cannot be given raw fish. It would help if you always gave smoked, well-cooked, or grilled fish (cooked without spices and bones) to cats, to keep them safe.
Is raw fish safe for cats?
Cats shouldn’t be given raw fish at all, because raw fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase. This enzyme destroys the thiamine and essential vitamin B in cats. Thiamine is so important in cats that the absence of it or low quantity of it can cause neurological problems and coma in the felines.
When the raw fish is sourced from polluted water, it can be very toxic for cats. When it comes to feeding tuna or packed raw fish to cats, we suggest you feed them as little as possible. Any kind of packed food will be harming your feline as they will have added flavors or preservatives, which are not suitable for cats. You may not see any immediate response from cats, but sooner or later, these preservatives will lead to serious health issues in cats. Your pet has to undergo emergency procedures or treatments or IV fluids to get rid of the toxicity from its system.
When it comes to salmon, cats can consume this if it is not raw. Smoked salmon s a healthier option for cats than tuna. Once your cat gets a taste of salmon it may not eat anything else. So be careful owners! Salmon contains omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, Vitamin b12, potassium, selenium, and niacin – all nutrients needed for your cat’s overall diet and health.
So if you are looking for an alternative to raw fish, look no further than cooked salmon. Feeding smoked salmon to cats will not only provide your cat with a full stomach. Still, it will also give it a lot more benefits like increased immunity, increased metabolism, better hair, vision, and skin, and reduced risk of anemia. When served in moderation, salmon helps them in obesity too.
When it comes to serving cats fish bones, we think you already know the answer. It would help if you never fed fish bones to cats. Unlike dogs, cats don’t enjoy having bones as a meal. There is a very high chance that your cat will choke on the bones. Not just fish bones, but any type of bones should be kept away from cats. Small bones that do not seem hazardous can also cause your cat jaw injuries and rupture their digestive tract. So, it is suggested you check your meat before you serve them to the cat.
Final Word
No, cats cannot consume raw The possibility of them getting food poisoning is very high if they consume such foods. Raw fish includes an enzyme that kills vitamin B in their body, which is very much needed for them. So if you love your cats do not feed them raw fish. When cooked food has so many benefits, why would you want to serve your cat something raw that is harmful? All y9ou need to do is speak to your vet and chalk out a proper diet plan for your felines so that you can include only cooked and healthy fish in the plan. This way, you can keep your cats as far as possible from raw fish. Since cats are attracted to the smell of fish, ensure that you keep the felines far away from your kitchens when cooking raw fish.