Is fish good for cats?

I know cats loooove fish, at least some of them do, but I read that tuna isn't good for them. Is that only tuna, or fish in general, or are they referring to human food that is prepared for humans which can be bad for cats?
Is other kinds of fish good for them, like cod, polloc, salmon?

Fish can be ok in small amounts, as long as it's cooked, not buttered or spiced up or breaded, and not too much. It also shouldn't sit out too long, because the acids in it build up to almost poisonous levels when it sits out. Kind of like when we eat mayo that's been left out too long. It's really best to stick to one type of food, and not change the diet too much. Cats can be or become finicky eaters, and will sometimes hold out for the treat food instead of eating the normal food. Hard food daily with the occasional canned food treat is also best.

Fish is okay in moderate levals and if you know where it is from... when i make cooked or raw fish I make sure it is from low polution h2o and low mercury... I have a cat that would love to have a fish tank of fishable fish..lmao.//./

raw fish destroy B-vitamins in the cat. And all fish "destroys" E-vitamin.
- But small amounts are of course OK!
There is also some risk for parasites in raw fish. And of course the pollution risk...
Much sea/ocean fish gives also to much of the different salts - no good for kidneys...

But they must have something to live on, and all cats love tuna.

Tuna prepared for cats is vitaminised with B and E vitamin and is therefore OK.
This tuna has usually most of intestines and bones left = very useful for the cat.
Had it not been for the some excess of salts I would say this tuna is a excellent - yes ultimate - food for any cat.

If you give your cat much tuna for humans you should give the cat extra E-vitamin.

I'm not sure how bad it is, but Ollie is a seafood freak (as is my black lab!)... he doesn't get it on a regular basis though - usually a tiny amount when I make it for myself... I get holy hell when the tuna can is opened, so he gets some of the juice in a dish as a treat, but he also enjoys salmon and tilapia - both of which I THOROUGHLY cook and make sure his tiny parts have no seasonings on them... I'd never feed it to him as a staple food, but I don't see how an occasional treat of it can hurt that much... I basically CANNOT prepare fish without getting the N-th degree from the monster and since I cant give up my love of seafood, I guess he'll continue to get his way, haha

In my understanding only fatty fish like tuna or salmon destroys vitamin E. I can't say anything about your local circumstances, but here sea fish is parasite free, but sweet water fish must always be cooked or freezed to kill possible parasites. I agree with the vitamin B -issue with raw fish, so I give cooked low fat fish perhaps once a week, raw fish a few times a year.

Originally Posted by StefanZ

raw fish destroy B-vitamins in the cat. And all fish "destroys" E-vitamin.
- But small amounts are of course OK!
There is also some risk for parasites in raw fish. And of course the pollution risk...
Much sea/ocean fish gives also to much of the different salts - no good for kidneys...

But they must have something to live on, and all cats love tuna.

Tuna prepared for cats is vitaminised with B and E vitamin and is therefore OK.
This tuna has usually most of intestines and bones left = very useful for the cat.
Had it not been for the some excess of salts I would say this tuna is a excellent - yes ultimate - food for any cat.

If you give your cat much tuna for humans you should give the cat extra E-vitamin.

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I don't feed my cats fish, I don't eat much of it so they miss out

Originally Posted by BuzbyJLC10

I'm not sure how bad it is, but Ollie is a seafood freak (as is my black lab!)... he doesn't get it on a regular basis though - usually a tiny amount when I make it for myself... I get holy hell

when the tuna can is opened,

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Haha... It's the same thing here when we have shrimp in the house. I keep a bag of little whole ones in the freezer and she gets a couple - cooked and peeled - every now and then, as a treat.

I wouldn't give fish or fish-flavors to a male. They are more likely to develop urinary blockages after eating fish. It's ok to give females fish and fish flavored things in small amounts, though. For instance, I feed Lola the Turkey and Salmon variety of the Wellness wet and it's fine with me and my vet, but I won't let Leo have it. He gets poultry (which is fine by him )

My cat is 6 months and since the being introduced to kibble or canned food he turns his nose up and behaves as though it is litter.  Scratching the ground and refusing to eat.  I have fed him pork, steak, fish, all cooked.  He won't eat tuna or salmon.   I want to cover all his nutritional needs , but he is so hard to feed.  Yes, I have held out for almost 48 hrs. with just kibble and some wet food and he would not budge.   So, I got a multiple vitamin and continue to do my best.  I give him baby pablum at night so there is some grain in his diet.  Suggestions please?????????????  I am not so sure I should be feeding him so much fish.  Pollock, or Sole.

First, for anyone who believes fish is "fine" for cats, your cats would probably suggest that you check out this http://www.littlebigcat.com/nutrition/why-fish-is-dangerous-for-cats/ (The author was the host of an Expert Forum here at TCS http://www.thecatsite.com/f/60/holistic-feline-health-and-nutrition )
 

corky said:

My cat is 6 months and since the being introduced to kibble or canned food he turns his nose up and behaves as though it is litter.  Scratching the ground and refusing to eat.  I have fed him pork, steak, fish, all cooked.  He won't eat tuna or salmon.   I want to cover all his nutritional needs , but he is so hard to feed.  Yes, I have held out for almost 48 hrs. with just kibble and some wet food and he would not budge.   So, I got a multiple vitamin and continue to do my best.  I give him baby pablum at night so there is some grain in his diet.  Suggestions please?????????????  I am not so sure I should be feeding him so much fish.  Pollock, or Sole.

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Welcome to the forum corky!

Kittens should have high protein and fat MEAT foods available for free-feeding 24/7 and until they are about one year of age...food should NEVER be withheld..."vitamins" do not substitute for the all-meat diet...pablum is completely inappropriate for any cat because they are strictly carnivores...and, as Dr. Jean says, 'no fish'.

If you want to learn what's OK and what's not to feed your kitten, read a little bit of this every day 'till you get through it all http://www.catinfo.org/

One crucial nutrient will be missing in almost anything you give your cat, and that is taurine.  Look it up; maybe it will give you a clue on how to supplement it.

Fish is an excellent source of protein, omega 3 and taurine (crucial to a cat but deadly if given too much).  Mine love tuna and salmon.  They don't get it all the time but once a week or so they do and a tablespoon at a time.  I think like anything, it's about balance... Here are 2 excellent articles, each supporting each side of the debate...

In favor of

http://www.hillspet.ie/Cat/Adult/Feeding an adult cat/Feeding fish to cats.aspx

Against

http://www.littlebigcat.com/nutrition/why-fish-is-dangerous-for-cats/

Each make excellent points.  But it is a question of balance in the end.  And as the latter article states during the hunger strike that is what they put into almost all cat foods because it was cheap and started the marketing that cats love fish.  So, it is really up to you. 

I have stopped feeding my kitten fish.  He has had fish once or twice a week in the last month.  Mostly steak, pork, chicken thighs and legs,.  I will stop the pablum and instead feed him cut up pieces of chicken, meat or whatever protein I have on hand.  He has not as yet taken a liking to any commercial product but I am not going to give up.  There is a new pet food store nearby that deals with alternative feeding, so I will have a look in there as well.  I hope there will be no bad effects on his health as time moves on.  So far he seems so luxurious and playful.  I have added some Omega 3 oil to his food on occasion to try to grease it up a bit.  I have read that saturated fat is good for cats.  True??   Please respond with any recipe that can be made at home and is simple.  If I have to feed protein in the form of meat or chicken, that is not a problem.  The other nutrients are a problem if they are not in the meat or whatever protein I chose.

fish is good in average for the food. it should be given to the cat in average quantity. give the milk and other foods for the health of cat.

give him also chicken, meat and other foods full of protein. 

the car him very much ....