The short answer is a resounding yes! Tuna offers some exceptional nutritional value for your cat. Tuna is a good source of high-quality protein, which is essential for a cat’s overall health. Protein is crucial for muscle development, maintenance, and various physiological functions.
It is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, which contribute to a healthy coat and skin and can have anti-inflammatory benefits. These fatty acids are essential for the overall well-being of cats. Another benefit is that it is a good source of vitamin D, which our pets need from their food since they are not efficient at making it from sunlight on their skin like humans. Best of all, cats often find tuna highly palatable, which can make it a useful ingredient in cat food or treats, especially for picky eaters. Tuna can be considered healthy for cats when given as part of a balanced diet.
However, it’s important to note the potential downsides. While tuna can offer nutritional benefits, it should not be the sole or primary source of nutrition for a cat. Excessive consumption of tuna can lead to health issues, such as mercury toxicity, nutrient imbalances, and thiamine deficiency.
Mercury Content: Tuna, especially large fish like albacore tuna, can contain high levels of mercury. Excessive mercury intake can be harmful to cats, just as it can be for humans. To reduce this risk, we use smaller, younger tuna species called frigate tuna, and our tuna is tested for mercury levels before processing to be below the acceptable level for humans.
Nutrient Imbalance: Tuna alone does not provide all the essential nutrients that cats need for a balanced diet. Feeding your cat only tuna can lead to nutrient deficiencies and even serious health problems if not balanced appropriately for a cat. This is why it is never recommended to feed human canned tuna as a majority of a cat’s diet.
Salt Content: Many commercially available canned tuna products are packed in oil or brine, and they may contain added salt. Excessive salt intake can be harmful to cats, leading to dehydration and other health issues.
Thiamine Deficiency: Feeding your cat too much tuna can result in thiamine deficiency, as tuna contains an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (a B-vitamin). Thiamine is essential for a cat’s neurological health.
If you’re considering incorporating tuna into your cat’s diet, it’s best to do so with a well-balanced AFFCO-compliant cat food. Tuna is one of the most popular types of fish people like to feed their cats. Our feline friends seem to love it, and some cats will eat as much as we give them.
Birdie & Louie Cat Foods Meet AAFCO Standards for All Life Stages Feline Nutritional Levels That means Birdie & Louie cat food formulas offer a balanced meal for your cat, no matter what age.
So there you have it. Here at Birdie & Louie, we have created a nutritionally balanced way to help loving cat owners treat their furry family to tuna on a regular basis.
Feeling Purrrrty Good About Birdie & Louie
If you’ve made it all the way through this article, it’s because you want to make sure that you’re giving your cat a treat that’s healthy and balanced. We want you to know we’ve done the research, tested in the labs, and made sure our tuna fishery sources meet important eco-friendly standards. But the best judge of all is your finicky feline. Cats love Birdie & Louie!
Treat Your Cat to Birdie & Louie Tuna-Based Gourmet Cat Food Entrees
Why do we call it gourmet? We’ve created a variety of tuna-based recipes for nutritiously balanced wet cat food that delivers a safe serving size of tuna that’s delicious and healthy. Other ingredients we’ve added to some of our products are also super popular with the purring population. Olives, shrimp, papaya, and pineapple are all excellent additions to a tuna-based treat. All safe, nutritiously balanced, and deeeeeelicious.