Please, feed fish no more than once a week, and even then, only in very small amounts. Peak levels of radioactive Cesium-134 have not yet reached the North American coast; it will continue getting worse for years. It is science-based, understandable, and practical; its comprehensive scope and down-to-earth details will satisfy both pet guardians and pet professionals. They are so toxic that the FDA advises women of child-bearing age and young children to avoid them entirely. With a combination of tight glucose control, weight loss, and a low-carb diet, some diabetic cats go into remission and no longer need insulin at all. While cats’ gut bacteria can synthesize their own Vitamin K from most food sources, fish-based foods do not support sufficient Vitamin K synthesis, so a supplement must be added to cat foods containing more than 25% fish. They are considered essential fatty acids, meaning they cannot be manufactured in the body and therefore need to be obtained through diet. Each pet is unique and may have unique needs. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce swelling, relax blood vessels and airways, improve circulation and reduce blood clotting. Many cats are sensitive or even allergic to fish; it is one of the top three most common feline food allergens. Jaguars and Siberian tigers aren ’t afraid to get a little wet if it means fish. On the contrary, poorly balanced homemade food can lead to nutrient deficiencies and serious health complications. Consequently, 60 to 95% of fry become infested before they even reach the ocean, where 100% of infested fry die. Whether given as a supplement, included in a commercial food, or served fresh, it is important to be familiar with the source of any fish or fish oil. Avoid all the artificial flavors and tunas packed in oil. 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. Fish is deficient in the calcium, sodium, and iron cats need. 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. It can also destroy a vitamin that’s essential to cats: thiamine. Also stray away from tuna that has extra salt or artificial ingredients. Here’s why: Most fish used in canned pet foods comes from the decaying leftovers of the seafood industry around the world. A great deal of seafood sold in the US comes from Asia, and in particular, Thailand. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Chicken for Adult Cats is made only from the finest natural ingredients nature has to offer. Research from the University of California raises concerns that the plastics floating in our oceans are like sponges, absorbing chemical pollutants and heavy metals from the water. Fish tends to be “addictive” to cats. Lice can also be transmitted to trout and other related fish. Yet, this claim appears to be widespread and also very … I'm planning on getting blue buffalo brand food and changing the proteins every few months. So-called “organic” salmon is also farm-raised; in fact, there’s really no such thing as “organic” salmon because there aren’t any organic standards for fish. Paleo Dog covers a wide range of topics, including nutrition (of course! These unfortunate animals are kept by the thousands in overcrowded net pens—essentially, fish feedlots—in polluted coastal waters. Do you want know which cat foods are safe and healthful, and which ones aren’t? That means that pound for pound, it supplies a good amount of protein that is very usable by cats' bodies. Steer clear of foods with soy. More than a million farm fish have escaped from Washington State alone. To contact Jackson, please visit JacksonGalaxy.com. Never give your cat, In general, the small amounts of “fish meal” included as a flavoring and/or source of omega-3 fatty acids in cat foods are not a problem, but fish should not be a mainstay of any cat’s diet. ); and Jackson’s autobiography, Cat Daddy: How One Very Special Cat Fixed One Very Broken Man. Conversely, Omega-6 fatty acids help increase swelling, constrict blood vessels and airways, reduce circulation and increase blood clotting — This is important when the body is injured or develops an infection. The best cat food for diabetic cats could be a more powerful asset than any other tool in your diabetes control kit. Phosphorous. Cats and Fish. * While cats can synthesize their own Vitamin K from most food sources, fish-based foods may not support sufficient Vitamin K synthesis. Watch the video here. Another possible risk factor is fish flavored food cat food. Mars and Purina have both admitted that fish used in their pet foods may come directly from slave labor. However, they are used elsewhere in the world; and because they are stable in the environment, they are a big concern in ocean waters. My grandfather was a salmon fisherman, so this delicious fish was one of my favorite meals. A cat food regarded by many as the best dry cat food for indoor cats, a profound title that the Blue Buffalo brand holds up. Pet food companies commonly use soy as a filler ingredient for protein. Some cat owners will pay more for gourmet foods. When harvested, hatchery-raised and wild fish are both considered “wild-caught.”. Fish is not a food that most cats evolved eating in the wild. A lot of cats have learned to love fish, but it’s not a natural feline food; and it’s really not a good idea to feed it to your cat. Why not? Fish oil is an excellent source of both. Rather, rodents and small game have been the primary diet of cats in most areas of the world. 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! The situation has only deteriorated since then, and it grieves me to see this amazing animal so damaged and abused. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists fish as a top food allergen for cats, noting that common signs of an allergic reaction include itching, hair loss, red or swollen skin and red bumps. They are also fed antibiotics to limit the spread of disease, and dyes to make their flesh “salmon-colored”. Research has found high levels of PCBs in dry and canned pet foods. The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care: An Illustrated Handbook. 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! Fish-based foods are the worst, because marine organisms produce PDBEs naturally and can bio-accumulate up the food chain to high levels in carnivorous and omnivorous fish (such as salmon, tuna, cod, tilefish [often called “ocean whitefish”], trout, mackerel, bonito, sea bass, and halibut; note that ahi, red, bigeye, and skipjack are all tunas); this compounds the exposure cats already get from fabrics and dust. A lot of cats love fish, ... but my human is pretty strict about not giving us fish-flavored cat food… and she is a notorious label ingredient reader! There isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to pet nutrition. A study published in 2000 looked at the medical records of 100 cats with hyperthyroidism and 163 control cats (cats without hyperthyroidism) to determine whether or not a number of environmental or dietary factors played a role in which cats became hyperthyroid. It’s not just another cookbook, either! Feeding fish flavored foods only compounds the exposure of toxins already present in the cat’s home environment. Wild caught fish, like sustainable salmon, sardines, and anchovies from cold waters with low levels of mercury and other heavy metals are an excellent source of Omega-3 and 6. Do you want to understand how to feed your cat for optimal health and long life? 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. Is this true? 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. [Note that they mention in passing that they found a food labeled “Duck” that actually contained sheep!]. Should I get rid of all of it and only buy beef/chicken/turkey flavored? To help cat lovers and animal advocates understand the truth about declawing that so many veterinarians and organizations lie about, Dr. Jean has written a detailed, fully-referenced ebook that is 100% free to download and share! Reasons why tuna is healthy for cats because the manufacturers add in thiamine said, I not... Why: it came from a factory farm are both considered “ wild-caught. ” extent, supplies. The Conscious cat, Inc. all rights reserved are contributing to the epidemic of feline.! “ salmon-colored ” November, 2015 trustable answer, either reduce his reliance on.! Unsafe to feed your cat ( the USDA has been detected all along the West Coast.... Whether or not dry food was actually good, long-term, for my cats whether or not dry food our... 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