Is tuna fish safe to give my cats as a treat once in a while?

Pauline
Philadelphia, PA

Unless one of your cats has a medical condition that requires a special diet, I see no problem with giving them a little bit of tuna fish now and then.

Tuna has taken a bit of a bad rap in the world of cats. For a while, some people believed that tuna was linked to urinary crystals because of its high magnesium and phosphorus content. As well, tuna may contain high levels of mercury, which is bad for both cats and humans.

In fact, recent studies have shown that excessive levels of magnesium and phosphorus in the diet are not likely to cause urinary crystals. The real culprit is an abnormally low level of acidity in the urine (click here for more information about urinary crystals in cats). And if tuna is used sparingly as a treat then the risk of mercury poisoning is extremely low.

Cats absolutely cannot survive on an exclusive diet of tuna. However, if tuna comprises only a small portion of their food intake, it is unlikely to cause problems. That´s a good thing. The cats I know would consider me very cruel indeed if I were to open a can of tuna and not give them any.

Hi everybody, Snuzzy here… Jumping in to ask Dr. Barchas a question about my cat Tailer. The little guy is making a smooth adjustment after his trip from Sweden last year, but he seems to be eating a HECK of a lot of cat treats, almost to the point where he turns his nose up at his regular food. So Dr. Barchas, hopefully you can clue me in on whether or not I should be concerned about Tailer’s eating habits. I’d really appreciate it!

Enjoy Treats in Moderation

I am reminded of an aphorism: all things should be enjoyed in moderation, except for moderation itself, which should be enjoyed in excess.

The good news, Tailer, is that there is nothing wrong with an occasional treat here and there. The bad news is that it’s generally not a good idea for any creature to exist solely on treats.

Unless the nutrition information for the treats specifically states that they provide complete and balanced nutrition, it is safe to assume that they do not. Feeding nothing but treats could lead to nutritional deficiencies. Some treats are very high in carbohydrates–some experts believe this predisposes cats to diabetes. Excess treats also put some cats at risk of obesity (although it is clear from the video that Tailer’s weight is fine).

Anders, I recommend that you encourage Tailer to eat more of his regular food. Use the treats only as treats.

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM, is a veterinarian who lives and works in San Francisco. His emphasis is on small animal medicine, surgery and wellness. An avid traveler, he has studied lions in Botswana and salmon in southern Chile.

Dr. Barchas is the resident veterinarian of Dogster and Catster. Since May of 2005, he has provided insightful and thoughtful answers to questions from members. His professional advice has added greatly to the wealth of pet health information on Dogster.com and Catster.com from which this column comes.