Is it dangerous for cats to eat tuna?

Question

I've heard that tuna can cause cats to bleed internally and that cats can become addicted to tuna. Are either of these assertions true?

Answer 1

No... go to Purina.com.

Answer 2

Alleycat has it correct!

I'd like to add that no, cats don't really get "addicted" to tuna (like how people get addicted to crack).....

It's just that tuna, especially cooked, canned tuna is a very powerful smelling and tasting food. For some cats, tuna can make other foods seem very bland to where they won't eat anything but the tuna. And that's bad, for all the reasons that Alleycat mentioned.

Someone else suggested that raw, swimming tuna would be bad. How obviously incorrect is that? If a cat catches a fish in the wild, he sure doesn't pop it in the oven before eating it. Raw, whole foods are what cats are supposed to eat! And dogs, too!

Answer 3

I don't know about dangerous. I know a recent study suggested that humans not eat tuna more than once a week because of it's high mercury content. They do however put tuna in most cat foods, but who knows how much real tuna is actually in it. I would still give some to my cat, but not too much.

Answer 4

A lot of people on this forum are well intentioned, but unfortunately they offer poor advice to unsuspecting people.

Listen, there is no question as to whether or not cats love tuna. Of course they do. But if you were to feed a cat a diet exclusively of tuna, you'd have one significantly sick and malnourished cat. Tuna has several problems. First, it's very low in vitamin E which is essential to cats. Second, commercially canned tuna has been know to contain trace quantities of mercury which is at safe enough levels for humans, but not cats. Third a diet of tuna alone will cause taurine deficiencies in cats. Taurine is an essential nutrient for cats. Forth, and most important, the lack of vitamin E in the diet from feeding tuna exclusively can lead to steatitis - a painful inflammatory condition in cats, which causes muscles to atrophy, sensitivity and pain when touched, and other symtoms such as fever and poor appetite.

In a nutshell, tuna is fine when you want to give your cat a special treat. In other words, when you make yourself some tuna, it's okay to give kitty a nibble or two (not a whole can!) Feed your cat food that has been commercially tested and developed to meet the nutritional requirements, health and safety of your kitty.

Answer 5

It's perfectly OK for him to have a bite of your sandwich tuna. Just don't get him into a habit of eating human tuna. It is very addictive for cats and causes serious vitamin deficiencies when it is a regular part of a cat diet.

Answer 6

Tuna isn't dangerous for them, but it isn't recommended to feed a cat any people food at all. If your cat really likes the taste of tuna you should buy a can of cat food that is flavored that way. Eating people food can make your cat very overweight; believe me, I see them every day.

Answer 7

make sure you buy tuna fish for cats. cats that eat tuna too much will develop heart problems. regular tuna fish does not have an amino acid cats need to maintain normal strength and function of the heart called taurine. make sure you look to see if this amino acid is added.

Answer 8

I had a cat that would eat nothing but tuna flaked and packed in water.Don't give tuna in oil something about it she couldn't digest right and got really fat!It took a loong time to trim her down.She wouldn't touch any food that was for cats and would eat my chicken,turkey,ham and even green beans bean sprouts vanilla ice cream cheese spaghetti and really loved cream cheese.

Answer 9

No it's not. Dont feed it to them as their only food source, but tuna is good for them. i use to give mine tuna several times a week.

Answer 10

no way..my cats would die without their tuna,bacon,cantaloupe
and of course MILK!our cats were eating tuna since the day they could handle it which was like a week old--if your cats are not used to it then make sure you only give them a tiny bit and you provide fresh grass for them to eat to maintain smooth rolling in their digestive system if the tuna doesn't agree with them,did you know that most cat foods contain tuna,and so do most cat treats,Like said before"milk is bad for them"--that is not true,my vet makes me give my cats at least two cups each,each week!For some cats it may cause a upset tummy,but like people,not every body's body is going to like the same thing!Cats are different too......some cats have a bigger stomach and some cats have a little little one,some cats eyes are green while others could be blue{yes my cat has two Sapphire blue eyes},some cats are white while others are black-and like in real live-some are gray.but who cares the color or what the cat eats,the cat should be loved and cared for either way...........

cats are a gift sent from above
for humans to take care of and love!

Answer 11

It is fine for cats to eat tuna occationally. They love it.