The Balanced Diet V

Fish

It’s no secret that cats absolutely love fish. Cooked fish, raw fish and any fish they can get their paws on. Too much of a good thing can be sometimes detrimental and this is the case of serving fresh fish often in a feline diet.

Fish can contain around 10% of protein content and fish roe (eggs) contain almost double this, a highly nutritional snack. As mentioned with some dairy products and particularly eggs, uncooked fish contains enzymes that causes molecular destruction of vitamin B. Deficiency in vitamin B is a serious matter and can lead to various ailments including damage of the nervous system, intestinal issues and skin problems. Raw fish treats should be on occasion and limited to keep this in check, keep this in mind if planning on opening a cat’s sushi bar!

As fish is a rare treat, selecting the better quality choices is important to get the most out of these special occasions. Oily fishes are the prime choices here as they contain vital nutrients that help with joint problems like arthritis. The high fatty acid content make oily fishes stand out above white fish. So when picking out a fishy treat for a furry companion it is often better to opt for the oily Sardines, Herring, Salmon etc.

Deboning before serving is crucial as fish bones can be extremely painful for cats if they get stuck in the throat or mouth.