Tuna or Not Tuna? That is the Question.

At times clients will ask me what they should feed their cats.  I find that is difficult question to answer.  When you read any literature about cat food you will find that contradictions abound.  Some authors say to only feed raw food.  Others counter never feed raw food.  Some say stay away from supermarket brands.  Others say it doesn’t matter. 

Although I have some opinions about what I should feed my cats, I have learned to keep my opinions to myself…except one.  I do not feed canned tuna to my cats except as a very rare treat and I caution my clients about feeding their cats tuna on a regular basis.

I don’t feed my cats canned tuna made for humans because the processing destroys taurine, an amino acid that is essential to cats' health.  And I don’t feed my cats canned tuna made for cats because even though taurine is added after processing the tuna still contains questionable amounts of mercury.

Most people know that the FDA has advised pregnant women and small children to limit consumption of canned tuna.  Check the FDA website if you are interested in specific amounts.  It only makes sense to me that if too much tuna can affect a little human body adversely then it certainly can affect a little cat body adversely, too.

Sometimes it’s difficult to find cat foods that don’t have tuna in them.  The list of ingredients may start out with turkey or chicken but if you are patient, and read to the end of the inch long list of ingredients in print the size of a pinhead, you will many times see tuna or some other unnamed fish on the list.  I spend a lot of time when I'm shopping for cat food to make sure that I getting what I want and not what I don't want. 

When deciding what to feed my cats I try to use my good sense.  I want to give them food that supports their health.  I, also, want them to enjoy their food.  Everyone, even a kitty, loves treats.  So, I will give my kitties the occasional bowl of juice off of an open can of people tuna or a small can of cat tuna on rare occasion as a treat, but other that that, I have decided not tuna.