by Michelle Graf

Created on: July 20, 2011   Last Updated: July 21, 2011

Every cat owner that has tempted their pet with canned tuna knows two things for certain: 1. They love it, and 2. They can never use the electric can opener again, if they want a moment’s peace. There is simply no debating that cats love fish. Given that their ancestors and current wild cousins are not great consumers of fish, this may seem a bit odd. After all, their anatomy and physiology is much more suited to catching rodents than hundred pound tunas. But love it they do. What pet owners may not know, however, is that canned human grade tuna is not the best food for your cat.

The primary reason that cats should not eat canned tuna is that it lacks taurine. Taurine is an amino acid, a “building block” protein that builds cells and tissues. In other mammals, particularly omnivores such as humans, the body is able to manufacture taurine internally if it does not get enough in its diet. Cats lack this ability, and therefore are susceptible to taurine deficiency.  Taurine deficiency can affect the growth and development of kittens, and cause a host of problems in adult cats. These include a degenerative eye disorder called central retinal degeneration that can result in blindness, reproductive issues and a potentially fatal heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy.  Regulations on pet food require that taurine be added to cat food, and in sufficient amounts that the daily recommended feeding fully meets the cat’s taurine needs. 

As a result, any “people food”, including canned tuna or salmon, which does not have added taurine, will detract from the amount of carefully prepared commercial food that the cat eats, and reduce the amount of taurine they get.  While the odd bit of tuna will not have disastrous consequences, even small amounts on a regular basis can affect your cat’s taurine intake and, ultimately, their health.

Wild felines, including the ancestors to the domestic cat, do not generally eat fish. Their anatomy is so perfectly built around hunting rodents and game; whereas fishing is much more labour intensive for the results. For many years, however, the pet food industry used fish to flavour foods – largely as mouse or vole flavoured foods were a bit repulsive to the people with the cash and the opposable funds to spend it. Fish, unlike poultry and game, has a strong smell that tends to attract cats, which have incredibly sensitive noses. Thus the market was born. 

For those looking for a treat for their tuna-addicted cat, a healthier alternative is cat “tuna”, which is the equivalent of human grade tuna with added taurine.  There are several brands available everywhere from specialty pet food supply to department and chain stores. For the most part, the pricing is in the same range as human grade tuna, and multipacks are available. Along with tuna, you can also purchase shrimp, salmon and a range of fish entrees designed with your cat’s dietary needs in mind. The important thing to check on the ingredients list is that the fish or seafood is the first ingredient listed, and grain based fillers are low or absent. Unlike pureed or other processed pet foods, these offerings are clearly and visibly identifiable as shrimp or tuna, and have little added to them besides taurine, water, and, in some cases, gelatine.

The important thing to remember when catering to your kitties fish cravings is to share your love, not your tuna. Get him/her their own.

Resources:

SIEGEL, Mordecai, Ed.  The Cornell Book of Cats, 2nd Edition.  Villard Books, USA, 1997

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