If you are a cat lover or owner, you think that cats can quickly eat tuna fish. After all, cats can eat fish, and tuna belongs to the fish family!
You may be shocked to hear the real answer: “no!”
You may think to yourself,” How can tuna be off-limits for cats to eat? Isn’t it one of the main ingredients in most wet cat foods?”
There is a difference between feeding your cat food that’s tuna flavored and real tuna!
The cat food you buy from the store doesn’t have any real tuna in it.
What’s more, it’s specially formulated to be easy on your cat’s stomach while meeting all nutritional needs.
It’s high in the protein that your cat needs to stay strong and healthy.
However, it does not contain the magnesium and mercury that tuna is loaded with.
Both are heavy metals that can harm and even kill your cat!
Aside from being rich in harmful heavy metals, tuna does not contain the vital minerals and nutrients your cat needs to be healthy.
You must add variety to your cat’s diet for this reason.
Note, however, that it’s perfect for adding tuna to supplement your cat’s food occasionally!
You can occasionally add small nuggets of tuna to your cat’s food.
They can also be given to your cat by itself.
Keep in mind that it’s best to buy cat food with tuna in it that is rich in essential minerals, vitamins, and amino acids like taurine.
These all promote healthy growth and development in your cat.
Cat food manufacturers can add unique ingredients containing these minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.
You will probably not find them (individual elements) on the shelves in your local grocery store!
Additionally, the type of tuna you find on your grocer’s shelves is specifically designed for the human digestive system. Felines have a completely different digestive and gastrointestinal system.
Indeed, a few morsels of any human food that your cat eats occasionally will not harm his or her digestive system (though it probably won’t help it).
But, large quantities of human food can be hard for your cat’s digestive system to break down.
This scenario can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and severe illnesses and digestive problems.
These are the reasons why you shouldn’t feed your cat tuna
Believe it or not, you can starve your cat if you regularly feed him or her lots of tuna.
This fact is because your cat will eventually become malnourished. While you may be shaking your head in disbelief and disagreement, remember what you read about tuna having few minerals and other nutrients cats need to survive.
Also, remember what you read about tuna being hard for your cat’s system to digest.
If you look at the ingredients of any dry or wet cat food package, you will see high iron, sodium, vitamins B and E, copper, and calcium.
Your cat needs these nutrients in large quantities to survive.
It is true that, while tuna does have some nutrients that can benefit cats, it doesn’t have any of the nutrients mentioned above.
It is why you should give your cat tuna only as a reward for eating his or her regular cat food.
Tuna isn’t rich in Thiamine
Not only is tuna not rich in Thiamine, but it lacks the nutrients that your cat needs to stay healthy and grow.
This fact in itself can cause your cat to have a thiamine deficiency!
Since Thiamine belongs to the Vitamin B family, your cat can suffer from temper tantrums and appetite loss.
In extreme cases, thiamine and Vitamin B deficiency can even cause your cat to die!
Tuna has a harmful enzyme called thiaminase
While this doesn’t really affect humans and may even benefit them, high concentrations of thiaminase can block your cat’s digestive system from breaking down and absorbing what little Thiamine and Vitamin B are present in the tuna you give him or her.
The result is often dire for your cat.
Lack of Vitamin E is not suitable for your cat
Tuna doesn’t have Vitamin E at all. This reality spells doom for your cat because it can deplete the vital nutrients he or she needs to survive.
What’s even worse is that cats who don’t get enough Vitamin E can develop steatitis.
This sickness is also referred to as ‘yellow fat disease!‘ you know your cat has this disease if you see swollen fat tissues in his or her body.
You’ll notice the following as well:
• Extreme weight loss
• Mental problems
• Extreme indigestion
• Appetite loss
• Muscle loss and loss of strength
• Poor coordination
• Skin rashes
• Memory loss
• Poor eyesight
• Sensitivity
• Fever
Tuna contains toxic mercury
Mercury is a poisonous metal. Tuna contains this in high concentrations.
This truth is one reason why pregnant women can’t eat it – it’s not just cats who shouldn’t consume tuna! Tuna is a more precious fish, which is the main reason for its high mercury levels.
Your cat can’t break the mercury down.
The result is that this mercury accumulates in his or her body and eventually poisons it (to death!).
Your cat has a digestive system that was designed to eat vermin. These animals don’t contain any mercury.
Tuna is high in unsaturated fats
Guess what? Your cat doesn’t need these. Your cat’s digestive system can’t process these fats; much less use it in its body. What ends up occurring is that these fats accumulate in their bodies and can cause extreme obesity, diabetes, and heart problems (among other severe health afflictions!).
You can train your cat to crave tuna!
Yes, this is possible if you’re giving it all the time. It is because tuna smells and tastes good. Well, so does anti-freeze, and that is deadly for anything living!
You can train your cat to crave tuna and no other kind of food.
It will jeopardize your cat’s health and survival prospects.
Tuna can trigger bad allergies
If your cat regularly eats tuna, he or she can develop bad allergies.
For best results, always watch your cat when you occasionally feed him or her a few morsels of tuna.
If you see any allergic reactions, immediately stop and consult with your vet.
Your Lion is tamed
If your Lion was a pure, wild, and outdoor cat, he or she may have the digestive system that could tolerate eating raw tuna.
But since your personal lion is domesticated, his or her digestive system can’t process or use tuna at all.
You need to understand that wild and domesticated cats have different digestive systems and nutritional needs.
The verdict is in!
You can occasionally feed your cat a few morsels of tuna because tuna has some amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids that your cat can use.
Just make sure to offer it as a rare treat. Also, make sure that it is not canned.
Canned tuna is high in sodium, and this isn’t good for your cat!
