According to Cat Behavior Associates , some cats will become so obsessed with tuna that they refuse to eat anything else. Some of the biggest concerns when it comes to giving your cat tuna are obesity, mercury, and nutritional balance. First, the number of calories in tuna water is going to be much lower than in the actual tuna. Depending on how much you dilute the tuna water, the amount of calories could be barely noticeable. An all tuna diet not only lacks the needed nutritional balance but some studies even suggest that it can cause negative behavioral changes!
Tuna naturally absorb mercury from the deep-sea environment and it becomes concentrated in their tissues. Over time, this can build up and cause a long list of issues. Heinze is recommending. Even though mercury is stored in the tissue of tuna, we expect some of it to be present in the tuna-soaked water that we feed our kitties. In a small bowl, mix in tuna and a cup or two of water then mix it around. Try mashing the tuna up with a wooden spoon and then strain the extra chunks of tuna to leave the remaining tuna water or juice.
Then when you want to give your cat a little treat, just drop a cube in the water bowl and let them find it. Do you feel like a tuna fish sandwich for lunch? As you start opening the can of shredded albacore, your kitty wanders into the kitchen. In recent years, the danger of eating canned tuna increased after the discovery of microplastics in the tuna meat.
Microplastics are the result of plastic breaking down to microscopic size in the ocean. These microplastics end up in the fish, releasing toxins into the tuna. Canned tuna juice tastes terrific to your cat, but the brine or spring water can come with several preservatives and artificial ingredients incorporated into the water to improve the shelf life of the fish.
We recommend avoiding the white-labeled tuna brands and go with something like John West instead. Before you pick up any old can of shredded albacore off the shelf at the supermarket, take a second to read the ingredients label. Some manufacturers can the fish with oils to improve the consistency of the tuna and extend its shelf life.
Check the label for the addition of soybean oil, olive oil, or vegetable broth mixed. You can also get tuna canned in brine or spring water. As a concerned cat owner, the best option is tuna packed in spring water.
The sodium content in tuna canned in brine is a problem for cats. As humans, we already know that high sodium levels in our diet are bad for our health. High sodium diets lead to the onset of heart disease and digestive complications. Avoid feeding your cat tuna juice with brine more than once a week to avoid increasing the sodium levels in their body. This is what Skipjack is often labelled as. Tuna might not the only ingredient in the can.
You might see some obvious extras, like flavoured tuna or tuna packed in oil. Salt is a very common additive in canned foods. It can improve palatability, for humans, and act as a preservative for the fish.
This excess salt is bad for your cat, so try to look for tuna with no salt added or low sodium. Other ingredients like vegetable broth or soy are also commonly found in canned tuna too. Try to find the purest option to keep your pet safe. Better yet, avoid canned tuna altogether. If your cat is a tunaholic, then you could be encouraging poor eating habits by feeding her addiction. Whether you offer tuna as a meal or just a topper, your cat may become dependent on this tasty food.
She may even decide that she should only be fed tuna or food with tuna on it. Tuna does not offer complete nutrition. Over time, a tuna-heavy diet will not provide the correct balance of nutrients, and your cat may develop health problems associated with nutrient deficiencies. If your cat is overeating because of the tasty tuna topper or undereating because she is protesting her tuna-less food, then it will be hard for her to maintain a healthy weight and activity level.
Make sure your cat is getting appropriate calories and nutrients from a complete and balanced diet. Tuna is high in unsaturated fat, like omega fatty acids. These are a good type of fat, but if your cat is consuming an inappropriate amount of fat regularly, they could be susceptible to conditions like pancreatitis or steatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas or fat tissues, respectively.
This is an especially high risk if your cat is eating a diet already rich in omega fatty acids like fish or plant oils. For cats that have become accustomed to their daily tuna fix, you may find that breaking this habit is not going to be pleasant, but don't worry. My cat is a long-standing member of the tunaholics anonymous club, and I can assure you it is possible to wean your picky cat off of her tuna dependency with minimal protesting.
Your cat can't use a can opener. It shouldn't be a surprise that without you, there would be no tuna. We know that it's hard to say no to the desperate purrs at your feet, but cutting out the canned tuna is better for her health. You may see some hissy fits, emphasis on the hiss, or some destructive behaviours during this recovery period, but you can free your cat of her tuna addiction with a little bit of willpower and a few sneaky substitutions. Cats that depend on their tuna topper to eat are probably not going to do well with the cold turkey approach.
Instead of removing the flavour burst entirely, try gradually using less and less. Then start to switch out the tuna or juice for a more appropriate topper.
For example, you can ditch the human tuna for some cat tuna. Looking for some recommendations? Here are a few brands that use tuna, as well as other types of fish and seafood:.
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