We have all grown up seeing cartoons where cats literally chase over goldfish and rats. Now, either your cat has seen one of those cartoons and wants to eat a goldfish, or you are curious to know if your cat can actually eat a goldfish. That’s why you have come here, and we have got your back. While we are shown a different reality on the screen, let us tell you more about the difficult relationship between a goldfish and cats.
Cats are naturally attracted to fish, and the colors on the fish make it only more attractive to felines. Will cats eating goldfish leave some ill effects? That is a bit controversial. There can be many answers to all these questions. However, it is a strange question, and it still is intriguing.
Goldfish are cute pets to have, but the chase is quite hard when you have paired them with cats. It is well known to all that cats love eating fish, but is it really safe to feed them that when it comes to goldfish? Is what we superficially believe actually true? To calm down your curious brain and give your bizarre thoughts justice, we have found the answer to this.
Do cats really eat golden fish?
Cats, by nature, are hunters. When it comes to goldfish, they are attractive even to humans. Their darting movements and attractive colors are enough to catch cats’ attention. As cats are playful in nature, they are more likely to play with their prey than eat it immediately. Cats get a weird thrill out of playing with their prey. To answer the main question, there are very few cats that consume fish as their normal diet. They do not eat fish on a daily basis. Moreover, there are harmful toxins in fishes that can harm cats, if consumed raw. So what we have seen on the screen may be wrong in most of the cases.
Fishes are also a great source of protein for humans and cats. Domestic cats will not consume goldfish. Even if they consume goldfishes, they shouldn’t consume too many, as too much of anything can cause issues to felines. You may think that your small acts of giving fish daily as a treat to your cat may do no harm, but let us tell you that you are completely mistaken.
Fishes, luckily, do not contain high amounts of sodium, which can be harmful to the cat. We can never compare the way humans and cats accept fish, as felines have different digestive systems than ours. Cats have a more raw yet sensitive type of digestive system. Humans, on the other hand, have a complex kind of system. Coming back to the debate of cats and fishes, fish do have their own hazards and benefits. So, it is recommended that you thoroughly check your cats’ diet and allergies before feeding stuff to them. If necessary, take guidance from the vet about what food suits your cat the best.
Fishes contain omega 3 fatty acids, which are highly beneficial for cats. Most of the cat food contains fish oil, and when it is the fish itself it definitely contains fish oils. It helps in their fur growth, brain development, and digestion. While fishes are discounted here, as they consist of less quantity of oils, thereby providing lesser nutrition. These DHA omega 3 fatty acids are the best for brain growth and health.
Cats and fish
Cats are naturally drawn to fish. It is something the ecosystem built in them. When we try to correlate the relationship between cats and fish, it is the same as that of a hunter and prey. Fishes are a high source of protein; cats can consume fish to gain certain proteins that will accelerate their growth. However, eating specific types of fish can destroy their natural vitamins and are proven detrimental to their health. The best nutrients are found in fish oils, which are excellent for brain development and growth.
Goldfishes are sourced from China; therefore, they are highly likely to contain melamine or other potentially toxic substances. It also depends if the fish is obtained from a certain contaminated area. It is important to examine the source of goldfish, before giving it to your cats to be safe than sorry in the long run. Goldfish sourced from contaminated areas can be quite toxic for your cat.
You might be surprised and relieved to know that cats do not really want to eat live goldfish. It is only the fun of playing and trying to catch them for cats. While it is also unhealthy for cats, it is a fairly bizarre practice to feed cats goldfish. Furthermore, it isn’t kind to feed a living creature to your ca. So, in our suggestion, please do not do this. The chase is worth watching. A cat watching goldfish flopping around is a great source of entertainment.
Another reason not to feed your cat’s goldfish is that it is highly possible that your kitty will choke on the tiny bones present inside the goldfish. It can either choke the windpipe or move inside the digestive system and mess with the intestines of the felines. It is not just worth taking that chance for the sake of your cats’ health.
Final Word
Yes, you can feed your cat goldfish and yes, cats are able to eat goldfish live or dead, but we highly recommend you not do so. It can be considered a balanced and nutritious diet. It would help if you did not feed your cat contaminated goldfish as they are poisonous. Cats would only play with goldfish for fun’s sake. You don’t need to feed them that.
Small bones in the goldfish’s body can rupture and harm their intestines. So, even though your cats can eat goldfish, you shouldn’t feed them this, because there are far too many risks associated with feeding goldfish to cats. Let goldfishes continue to remain as only visual treats for feline buddies. Let this boundary not cross to the extent where the attraction becomes food.