fish that can’t be used for human consumption. In fact, Cats Protection (formerly the Cats … Updated for 2018! New research suggests that cats are especially sensitive to PBDEs (which, among other things, are used as fire retardants in carpeting and furniture), chemicals found at higher levels in both canned and dry cat foods than they were in dog foods; and there were more types in dry than in canned cat foods. To contact Jackson, please visit JacksonGalaxy.com. If you want your cat to enjoy similar nutritional benefits to raw food without the hassle and the expense, consider fresh food. We'll discuss some key topics—including its ingredients, manufacturing, price, taste, and whether there's ever been a Fancy Feast recall—all of which should ultimately help you decide if this brand is the right choice to feed your fluffball. I attempted to find any evidence or statistics that any wet cat food causes any health problems of any kind in cats, specifically due to them having fish as an ingredient. I'm planning on getting blue buffalo brand food and changing the proteins every few months. That's pretty much all he eats. Peak levels of radioactive Cesium-134 have not yet reached the North American coast; it will continue getting worse for years. I had my boy kitty on the surgery table while I inserted a catheter. They are also fed antibiotics to limit the spread of disease, and dyes to make their flesh “salmon-colored”. Make sure that the tuna you are going to give your cat is 100% real fish that is packed in water. Do you want to understand how to feed your cat for optimal health and long life? Avoid them at all costs. Common water pollutants such as PCBs, pesticides, and other chemicals are present in farmed salmon at 10 times the amount found in wild fish. They are considered essential fatty acids, meaning they cannot be manufactured in the body and therefore need to be obtained through diet. Reply; Victoria October 6, 2014 at 2:16 am (6 years ago) Mercury, while problematic, is the least of issues with fish. If you are a cat owner, it's important to familiarize yourself with the everyday foods that can be dangerous, and even deadly, for cats. If these fish are dangerous to children, cats are at even higher risk! Radioactivity was even detected in salmon in an inland B.C. Signup now and find out! If the cat food flavor has fish in its name (such as “Tuna Dinner” or “Salmon and Chicken Entrée,”), that is too much fish for everyday use. But today, salmon farms are clustered in those exact same migration channels; and sea lice are rampant. POPs are organic chemicals, commonly used as pesticides, non-stick cookware coatings, and flame retardants, that persist for long periods (many decades) in the environment. Tuna and other predatory fish eat smaller fish. Phosphorous. This fish oil comes in an easy to pump container and is available in 16, 32, and 64 ounce bottles. It can also destroy a vitamin that’s essential to cats: thiamine. The contaminant level of “organic” farmed salmon may be just as high as that of conventional farmed salmon. He turns his nose up at the chicken flavored and cries until I open a tuna one. City-Data Forum > General Forums > Pets > Cats: male cat eats wet food, but mostly fish flavored (weight, blood, foods) User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! The main reason to discourage feeding cats \"people food\" is that there are a number of foods that are toxic to cats. A substance called domoic acid is a very stable, heat resistant toxin produced by certain species of algae that are becoming more common in coastal regions due to climate change. However, they are used elsewhere in the world; and because they are stable in the environment, they are a big concern in ocean waters. These contaminants will also be present in any product made with farmed fish, including cat and dog food. Many cats love fish, but it is unsafe to feed your cat raw fish. (Fortunately, strong ocean currents largely protect the southern hemisphere’s waters, although some radioactive drift has been found a little ways south of the equator in the western Pacific. Bobcats in the wild have been known to catch salmon in shallow streams. The most common synthetic Vitamin K supplement, menadione, has toxicity issues. Fish and other animals in the Pacific Ocean have been exposed to leaking radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power facility in Japan since 2011; new (and worse) leaks continue to develop. Vitamin K is required for proper blood clotting. All Rights Reserved. Because it is so dangerous, the FDA limits the amount of this neurotoxin in seafood. Feeding fish flavored foods only compounds the exposure of toxins already present in the cat’s home environment. Thiamine can also be broken down by heat but is added to cat foods after processing to ensure that it is present in … It’s estimated that, globally, some three million farmed salmon get loose, Virtually all Pacific and Alaskan salmon, both wild and farmed, are sent to China for processing, where workers pick out the fish’s 36 pin bones by hand, then ship the salmon back to U.S. markets. A recent study found mercury in many fish-based cat foods. The meat is unsafe, and the fishing/aquaculture industry is cruel and environmentally destructive—need we say more? Should I get rid of all of it and only buy beef/chicken/turkey flavored? There’s an old Chinese folktale about a young cat who learns that he must be patient and learn to focus if he wants fish. Jaguars and Siberian tigers aren ’t afraid to get a little wet if it means fish. (Sorry about the image quality; we are working on getting a better one.) However, it is unclear whether this law is being applied to pet food. (See “, Because bonito is fast-growing, it bio-accumulates less toxins. Feeding fish flavored foods only compounds the exposure of toxins already present in the cat’s home environment. Here’s why: Most fish used in canned pet foods comes from the decaying leftovers of the seafood industry around the world. It could lead to dehydration, high blood pressure, and urinary problems. Yet, this claim appears to be widespread and also very … These are high in phosphorus and magnesium and can present problems for cats, especially those with kidney or urinary tract disease. He likes chicken and beef flavored food but loves fish flavored. Luckily, most of my cats don't even like fish.)" The best cat food for diabetic cats could be a more powerful asset than any other tool in your diabetes control kit. It’s not just another cookbook, either! Fish farms are a form of factory farming, where the fish are kept in overcrowded pens in coastal waters which are often polluted with PCB’s, pesticides and other contaminants. (Coastal regions are, of course, exactly where the world’s fish farms are located, and where most crabs are harvested.) Unsuspecting cat parents think they’re doing something wonderful and delicious for their feline charges. While it’s tempting to indulge a finicky palate, canned fish is not necessarily good for her health. After beef and dairy products, fish, having been identified as one of the most common feline allergens, may cause frequent vomiting or loose stools. Bonito flakes, a popular cat treat, are acceptable. Fish is deficient in the calcium, sodium, and iron cats need. A meta-analysis found reported significant negative effects of radioactivity on the immune system, and well as increased mutations and disease occurrence, even at extremely low levels. An occasional bite of dog food won't hurt your cat. When it comes to raw food, the science is arguably dubious. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. She shares her Northern Virginia home with her two tortoiseshell cats, Allegra and Ruby. Also check out Dr. Jean’s #1-recommended canned cat food: Instinctive Choice by Life’s Abundance. The situation has only deteriorated since then, and it grieves me to see this amazing animal so damaged and abused. Cats certainly seem to like fish of all kinds. Full page here. Fish is not a food that most cats evolved eating in the wild. Research finds that persistent organic pollutants (POPs), found in various seafood species, interact in the body with a crucial protein that helps remove unwanted toxins from cells; even when the quantity ingested is very small. (That said, I do not feed my cats any fish on a regular basis. Fish catfood, causes this problem in mostly male cats. Artificial flavors of tuna have been known to contribute to hyperthyroidism in cats. Get the truth in “WHAT CATS SHOULD EAT” — only on Amazon.com! Fish tends to be “addictive” to cats. More than a million farm fish have escaped from Washington State alone. The rest of her site is interesting, too. Is Tuna Fish Bad for Cats? First off, fish is a great source of protein, whether you are a cat, or a cat owner. It is high in EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids that can help maintain a healthy skin and coat, as well as brain, vision, immune and reproductive health.. Additionally, tuna is highly addictive to cats. But dog food is not a substitute for cat food. Nevertheless, fish has become a routine part of the feline diet—almost like corn, wheat middlings, and other species-inappropriate ingredients, but a little bit more natural. However. In practice, I have seen many cats develop urinary tract infections and blockages if they eat fish—even canned tuna. Is that too much fish? These toxins (as well as chemicals like BPA in the plastic itself) then readily move up the food chain, starting when fish eat small, contaminated pieces of plastic. Dr. Jean’s best-selling e-book, What Cats Should Eat, updated for 2018! Thailand is a major source of fish and seafood products used in pet foods. * While cats can synthesize their own Vitamin K from most food sources, fish-based foods may not support sufficient Vitamin K synthesis. Another possible risk factor is fish flavored food cat food. To make your home cat-friendly (and solve a bunch of health and behavior problems at the same time, check out Jackson Galaxy’s newest book, Total Cat Mojo! Please, feed fish no more than once a week, and even then, only in very small amounts. Avoid farmed species (especially salmon and tilapia); herring, anchovies, and smelt are far safer. ealthyWeight, and Freedom from Illness by Nurturing His Inner Wolf. Many cats are sensitive or even allergic to fish; it is one of the top three most common feline food allergens. In this respect it is very important to know what foods are bad for cats,to avoid your cat ingesting them and risking its life. Raw food is great, but it is also expensive and can be a hassle prepare. Because it is simply not safe to feed fish to cats (and humans should be very careful about eating it themselves, and especially about feeding it to their children!). Some brands are made right there in Thailand, then shipped to the U.S., including several popular “boutique” brands of canned cat foods. Do you really know what's in your cat's food? That means that pound for pound, it supplies a good amount of protein that is very usable by cats' bodies. A 2016 study by NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle found that the tissues of. We do not recommend feeding any cat food containing menadione. Overall Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease: Some veterinarians recommend a raw food diet for cats with kidney failure because it is easier to control the ingredients. Some cat owners will pay more for gourmet foods. They love it, and will often stage a “hunger strike” by refusing their regular food in favor of fish. Do you want know which cat foods are safe and healthful, and which ones aren’t? Do you want to know how to prevent and treat the most common feline diseases with nutrition? It might even be harmful. Because fish is so palatable to most cats, many cat foods do contain some fish so be careful to read the labels. Cat food with plenty of real fish and chicken are excellent options for preventing and reversing urinary problems. But fish isn’t always an optimal food for cats. While the Pacific Ocean’s vastness can and does greatly dilute the radioactive materials, the continuing leakage—as well as Japan’s dishonesty about the amount of radiation involved—is cause for concern. If the cat food flavor has fish in its name (such as “Tuna Dinner” or “Salmon and Chicken Entrée,”), that is too much fish for everyday use. Asking the manufacturer if the food has "safe" amounts of fish probably wouldn't be a trustable answer, either. I switched to chicken flavored, as the vet said that tuna-based food is not good because this fish itself contains mercury. Paleo Dog: Give Your Best Friend a Long Life. Dr. Jean’s book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care: An Illustrated Handbook, co-authored with Celeste Yarnall, and 2010 winner of a Certificate of Excellence and the prestigious Muse Medallion award from the Cat Writers’ Association, is available now at your favorite online bookstores! Is this true? Tilefish (listed on pet food labels as “ocean whitefish”) are among the worst contaminated, along with mackerel, shark, and swordfish. If you want to feed a fish-based food as a treat, please limit it to once or twice a week. Cat Daddy: How One Very Special Cat Fixed One Very Broken Man. Do you want know which cat foods are safe and healthful, and which ones aren’t? Although fish is safe for cats to eat, it’s not a nutritionally complete food. Symptoms include a loss of appetite, seizures, and possibly death. While it is tasty and harmless to humans, a simple nibble could be life-threatening for your cat. It is science-based, understandable, and practical; its comprehensive scope and down-to-earth details will satisfy both pet guardians and pet professionals. So, is dry food bad for cats? PBDE’s are flame retardants commonly found in building materials, furniture, carpeting, and textiles. 30% of “wild-caught” Alaskan and Pacific salmon are not fully wild; they were born and raised in a hatchery, where they are fed the same trash as other farm-raised fish. Avoid all the artificial flavors and tunas packed in oil. It makes it impossible for the cat … In this cat Fancy Feast cat foods review, we're going in-depth to answer your questions about this popular kitty food brand. We do not recommend feeding cat food containing menadione. [Note that they mention in passing that they found a food labeled “Duck” that actually contained sheep!]. 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