The answer might be obvious since cats love fish. You may have considered giving your cat this savory fish.
But don’t give it to your cat just yet, especially if you haven’t before. Make sure you read below to avoid any problems with your cat.
Salmon contains a lot of vitamins, proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Since it’s packed with nutrients, it has a lot of health benefits.
In humans, salmon helps relieve stress and depression. Studies show that it also boosts our body’s immunity against disease.
Cats may also enjoy similar health benefits from eating salmon.
What are the benefits of salmon in cats?
Since salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it has the following benefits in cats:
It can prevent cancer
Some studies have correlated omega-3 fatty acids with a decrease in the number of cancer cells in cats.
It prevents obesity
Obesity causes health complications and diseases. Since it’s common among cats, you prevent obesity by feeding your cat salmon.
It increases the body’s response toward insulin
Insulin effectively lowers the body’s blood sugar levels.
So if your cat is diabetic, adding salmon to their diet can help prevent complications from diabetes.
It has anti-inflammatory effects
Salmon can help relieve inflammation in the body.
The intake of this superfood helps relieve joint pains, especially among elderly animals.
As a result, it’s less painful for them to move around.
It helps soothe dry and itchy skin
It can help keep your cat’s coat healthy, especially if it has thin hairs.
With these benefits in cats, salmon can help in preventing and managing diseases.
Whether your cat is in good shape or suffering from an illness, it’s good to give your cat salmon.
There are raw, canned, and smoked salmons available in the market. However, note that what’s safe for humans may not be safe for cats.
Raw salmon
Animals such as cats are capable of handling raw meat.
After all, they wouldn’t survive in the wild, where they have no access to cooked meat.
However, it’s not recommended to give raw salmon to cats.
Why?
Raw fish can contain high amounts of bacteria
The cooking process kills bacteria in raw meat.
By giving salmon to your cat, you’re giving them food with lots of bacteria, leading to food poisoning.
The effects of food poisoning may only last for a while, without any permanent damage to your cat’s health.
Its common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.
But in some cases, it can lead to severe complications. Thus, it should be prevented.
Raw salmon also contains thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys a crucial vitamin called thiamine
Giving your cat raw salmon may destroy thiamine in the body.
This can spell trouble for your cat. Having low levels of thiamine can cause problems in their blood vessels. Thiamine deficiency can even damage their nerves.
Salmons may come from polluted areas
Salmons are usually found in regions such as Alaska, Eastern Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Greenland, or Norway.
We cannot be sure if these areas are free from pollution.
So to be safe, it’s better not to give them raw salmon to avoid contamination.
Canned salmon
Although canned salmons are already cooked and ready to eat, you might not want to give it to your cat.
Canned salmon contains high amounts of salt and other additives necessary to preserve its taste and texture.
Giving it to your cat can result in sodium poisoning.
Cats require less salt than we do. Also, their bodies are not capable of handling too much salt.
Smoked salmon
Similar to canned salmons, smoked salmons also contain high amounts of salt.
It is often cured with salt before smoking, so giving it to cats may lead to sodium poisoning, or worse, permanent damage or death.
Can salmon replace my cat’s daily meal?
Salmon alone cannot replace a full and well-balanced diet.
It does not have all the vitamins and amino acids that cats need daily.
For example, taurine, an amino acid found in salmon, is often destroyed during cooking.
If you only feed your cat with cooked salmon, your cat may not get adequate taurine.
Since taurine is essential in maintaining health, a deficiency can lead to serious health problems such as blindness.
It’s also not recommended to give salmon to your cat in large amounts. Make sure that you provide them with a diet that will satisfy all their nutritional needs.
Watch out for fish allergy
Even though cats love fish, it’s quite common for them to have a fish allergy.
You need to be careful if you haven’t given your cat this type of fish before.
As a general rule, every time you introduce a new food, give it in small amounts first and then observe if your cat shows any signs of an allergic reaction.
The following are symptoms of allergy:
1. Diarrhea
2. Vomiting
3. Sneezing
4. Excessive itching
5. Swelling, especially in the tongue, lips, and throat
If you observe one of these symptoms, take your cat to a veterinarian to avoid further complications.
Conclusion
Salmons are safe for cats.
It will surely benefit your cat because of its nutrient contents.
But like everything else, it should be given in moderation.
Salmon is not a replacement for regular cat food.
Even with its health benefits, it’s also not a substitute for your cat’s medications and vitamins.
It is best given as a supplement to your cat’s daily diet.
If your cat is allergic to salmon, don’t worry about your cat missing out on its health benefits.
There are other types of fish in the market that are just as healthy. At the end of the day, giving your cat a well-balanced diet is still the key to ensure your cat’s health.
Treat your cat with salmon if you haven’t. Your cat will surely appreciate the taste of this delicious fish from time to time.