Is it ok 2 feed our cat tuna fish every day?

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FelixRichards

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not had cat very long (he's approx. 6 yrs old) just seems 2 have gone right off his food lately apart from his biscuit treats. my wife gave him a tin of tuna this morning and he could'nt get enough of it
 
Although a diet including or consisting of fish is not natural for the domestic cat, could a diet of fish nonetheless meet the nutritional needs of the cat?

Canned Tuna is among the most popular food stuff to feed to companion cats, because cats are very fond of it. It is not uncommon for cats, that regularly receive tuna, to refuse all other foods. Cats displaying this addiction-like behaviour are often referred to by Veterinarians as “tuna junkies”. Feeding a mainstay of canned tuna is long known to cause diseases of dietary origin. One of the most prevailing diseases afflicting “tuna junkies” is Steatitis or Yellow Fat Disease – an inflammation of the fat tissue in the body due to a deficiency of vitamin E. A vitamin E deficiency is usually the result of feeding tuna, or any canned fish, packed in vegetable oil. These products are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids which oxidate vitamin E, besides being a poor source of vitamin E to begin with. Currently, a diet consisting of large amount of any type of fish is considered the most common cause of this syndrome.

Canned fish- tuna or other, packed in water or oil – is not a complete diet for cats. Although it is high in protein, it does not supply the cat with sufficient amounts of certain amino acids, mainly taurine, to maintain health. The Calcium to Phosphorus ratio in canned tuna is 1:14.8 [2.] – providing the cat with too little Calcium to balance Phosphorus, resulting in bone disease caused by a loss of Calcium in the bone due to a deficiency of this mineral in the diet. The only canned fish providing sufficient Calcium is salmon with bones. Many essential vitamins are not provided in sufficient amounts through a diet of canned fish, such as vitamin A and most B vitamins, like Thiamin, Riboflavin. Pantothenic Acid, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B-12. Last but not least, canned fish is high in sodium, possibly providing the cat with too much of this mineral.
 
You could give him a half tin a day along with the hard cat food. Try pouring the water from the tuna can over the hard food to make it more appealing.
 
You could give him a half tin a day along with the hard cat food. Try pouring the water from the tuna can over the hard food to make it more appealing.
 
Yes ofcourse, but feeding him tuna for too long will cause them serious medical problems on the long run. Tuna contains q chemical that cause stelasis (yellow fat). Ocassional treats are fine ofcourse. But he cant live on canned tuna.

Are you feeding him dry or wet food? If your feeding him dry he might not like tge brand of food. Mix some kibble with his canned food or try changing the flavours or textures!

Tuna addiction leads to vitamin E deficiency. Ask a vet if he refuses to eat.
 
it's ok every once in a while, but not regularly. I would feel ok giving my cats a can once perhaps even twice a week, but they need to eat food formulated for cats,because there are specific nutrients that they can't go without in the cat food. My cats love the canned 9-lives tuna. This is the only can that does not come with a flip top lid. I give this to them almost every other day, and it is by far their favorite kind. If you read the crude protein, there is way more protein than all of their other kinds.
 
definately not because of the zinc content of tuna fish which is in the water where tuna is fished.
You are better off getting cheap cuts of fresh fish and boiling this for your cat, and if you get your cats normal food mix a little it.
If you encourage him to eat tuna or fresh fish, he wont touch the canned food, and they need the canned food because it has the relevant nutrients for your cat.
so boiled fish, chicken and egg are good sources of food, but mix it in with normal cat food, to encourage him to eat the normal cat food too XXX
 
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