Why is avoiding fishy flavored foods recommended?

noelle

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Hi All, 

I am new to this site and looking for the best dry and wet food to feed my cats. I was reading some of the posts trying to glean

some wisdom and noticed that several times it was advised against fishy flavored foods. Why is this? I know this may be a stupid

question but I find that confusing. Is there something in the fish that can make the cats sick or is it unhealthy due to the high mercury levels

in some fish products. A clarification would be much appreciated. Does this advice also stand for the high quality salmon flavored foods?

Thanks.
 

pharber-murphy

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Welcome to the Cat Site, Noelle. I think there may be some confusion here.

It's not fish-flavored food that's discouraged; it's fish itself. I understand that many cats are allergic to fish, which upsets their stomachs. And fish is high in phosphorous - a cat with chronic kidney disease (CKD) needs a low-phosphorous diet. Tuna (top of the food chain) could have a lot of mercury in it and shellfish is high in iodine, which can affect the thyroid.

Depending on the quality of the food you're feeding, the label will probably list something like chicken by-products or chicken meal as the first ingredient. The fish will be listed further down in the ingredients.

Best regards.
 
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noelle

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Welcome to the Cat Site, Noelle. I think there may be some confusion here.

It's not fish-flavored food that's discouraged; it's fish itself. I understand that many cats are allergic to fish, which upsets their stomachs. And fish is high in phosphorous - a cat with chronic kidney disease (CKD) needs a low-phosphorous diet. Tuna (top of the food chain) could have a lot of mercury in it and shellfish is high in iodine, which can affect the thyroid.

Depending on the quality of the food you're feeding, the label will probably list something like chicken by-products or chicken meal as the first ingredient. The fish will be listed further down in the ingredients.

Best regards.
ok, thanks that does make this more clear. My cats love fish, in fact when ever I open a can of tuna I am harassed and fussed at till I give them some. I make tuna fish sandwiches for work a lot and they have learned to associate he can opener with tuna. They eat it and love it. But of course it is people grade tuna so it does not have the oils or other things that might upset them. They have no problems with tuna, that is why I was confused, I just did not understand that. Thanks for the clarification. 
 

bonepicker

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It is not natural prey for cats either. Once a week is how I feed it as a treat, I would stop if one of the diseases mentioned above were present. Some cats get addicted to fish, that is a problem. I like to rotate all proteins if my cats like it!
 
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