Juicy and well-cooked meat never ceases to attract the attention of humans and their pets. Now, if that meat also comes with many health benefits, would you dare say no when somebody gives you the same? We will talk about one such healthy meat in this article today, and if your cats can have it. Yes, smoked salmon is the star of this article today. While you know that smoked salmon is tasty and healthy, you may doubt in your mind if you can give this to your furry friend that is watching you with longing and curious eyes.
Cats are naturally curious creatures. So, whenever you eat anything, they look at you with a cute and innocent expression. They trick you into feeding them whatever you eat because they know they can beat you with their curiosity. Before we get into telling you about feeding smoked salmon to cats, we would like to remind you that it is not correct to feed all human foods to felines. Cats have a very sensitive digestive system, and they are light-bodied as well. So, many human foods may prove to be toxic for cats.
Is smoked salmon safe for cats?
Smoked salmon is something that many humans enjoy. The way to prepare smoked salmon is to first cure it, which will turn it into lox. This is then introduced to the hot or cold smoking process. Smoked salmon is high in omega 3 fatty acids. These are all healthy fatty acids that are required for the body to work and function. These acids are all fine and fit for human consumption but are they safe for cats? Let’s find out about the same in the following sections.
As we all know, cats cannot eat food high in sodium. Sodium-rich food is absolutely not okay for cats. So, for them to consume smoked salmon, you should have the green flag from your vet. Salmon daily is not recommended anyway. because it contains quite a lot of salt and fat content. Overconsumption of salmon can make your fat obese. Feline obesity can lead to other severe health issues; therefore, we recommend you to give small bits of salmon to cats, as treats only.
What salmon is best for cats?
If the question is whether raw salmon is good for cats or smoked salmon s good for them, you don’t have to think too much for an answer. Obviously, the answer has to be smoked salmon, because the digestive system of cats cannot handle the toxins present in raw fish. Salmon is a high-quality protein source for cats. We know cats are picky eaters. While some cats may like to eat salmon raw, it is advised not to provide them with what they ask for. Giving those salmon raw will only lead to serious health hazards. After all, it only takes one small infection for your cat to become seriously ill.
Canned salmon and cats
When it comes to giving your cat canned salmon, we suggest that some canned salmon is okay for cats. You would have to take care that it is not filled with preservatives, as they are harmful to your feline. Also, you will have to check if the canned salmon is too salty. If yes, we suggest you skip the canned salmon altogether. Too much salty salmon can lead to hypernatremia, which affects the cats’ ability to regulate the water in their body. This can lead to permanent brain damage or seizures.
Salmon skin and cats
If you are looking to feed your cat salmon skin, then we would hate to break it to you, but it is a clear no. There are no notable eating benefits for salmon skin. The worst part is that salmon skin can also cause choking hazards in felines if you are not careful.
Salmon when provided in small and accurate amounts to cats can be beneficial. It is a nutritious item to put on your cat’s plate, as it will protect your cat from fur problems. Salmon is also rich in potassium, vitamin B, selenium, and niacin. Your cat will need vitamins to throw sass on you; so, ensure you fetch those vitamins for them!
More about salmon
Apart from the scientific background that rejects salmon, there are some other reasons that we do not suggest salmon for cats. They are:
- Salmon contains bones, which in turn contain magnesium and phosphorous. According to some claims, overconsumption of these minerals can cause kidney problems in cats.
- If you have sensitive cats that are prone to allergies, you may have to check with your vet if you can give salmons to them. Some cats are allergic to the contents found in this fish.
- Overconsumption of salmon can lead to serious health issues. It is important to feed cats only a little bit of salmon, occasionally. Always practice moderation while feeding salmon to cats, if you want your furry friends to stay healthy and safe forever.
- When it comes to feeding your cat foods that are salmon-based, we suggest you read the labels of the packet properly, before feeding them to your feline.
- If your cat has kidney disease, we recommend that you keep your cat away from salmon, as it may be a bit too high in potassium.
- Cats tend to like salmon a lot; likely, they are naturally attracted to them. However, never encourage them to eat more salmon than they should eat. While feeding salmon, you should ensure that the fish should be smoked, grilled, or cooked. Raw salmon or even freshly stored canned salmon is not at all recommended for cats.
Final Word
Yes, cats can eat smoked salmon as it is healthy for them. However, you will have to take care of the proportion of salmon you provide them. They cannot consume a lot of smoked salmon as it may be hazardous to them. Also, it cannot be served to them as a daily meal. Although the fish oil in salmon is highly nutritious to cats and helps their fur become shiny, you can feed your cat smoked salmon as occasional treats only.