how harmful is canned salmon to cats?

Answer 1

There are so many great foods on the market why would you want to feed them canned salmon? It has salt and stuff added to it that cats don't need.

It won't kill them but might give them horrible diarrhea!!!

Answer 2

I have never served my cats any food from a can that humans eat. Fish is not generally considered to be a good source of protein for cats. Too much can lead to urinary problems, fish like tuna is especially bad, it can lead to an addiction, causes vitamin deficiency and there is a disease called steatitis associated with the feeding of tuna.

I sometimes feed a Wellness canned food that is a combination of turkey and salmon. My cats seem to find that tasty. I do a raw meat diet for my cats that includes one salmon capsule per pound of meat. That's a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids and contributes to a shiny, soft coat. As with all foods for cats when the food is cooked you are going to lose the benefits of these things.

So, I don't know if the salmon is harmful, maybe just not the best food.

Answer 3

I don't know that there is anything 'harmful' to cats about canned salmon. But I do know this...
When feeding your cat it is really best to keep them on a dry food diet. It will help their digestion and teeth in the long run. Plus their breath doesn't smell as bad. Also they can get all they need from a good quality dry food. Most canned foods have fillers that are just not good for them. Some times cats can end up with loose stool.
Ask your vet they would tell you the same thing.
Good luck with Kitty! >^..^<

Answer 4

Salmon (all oily fish for that matter) lacks certain vitamins and minerals essential to a cat such as vitamin e and taurine (only available from red meat) which they can not synthesise, it's fine as an occasional treat but should not be fed too often or long term.

Taurine deficiency leads to blindness, lameness and as it's essential to cardiac function it can cause heart problems, also affect the central nervous system; Taurine is indispensable for the development and the integrity of the nervous system. One knows also that it has a protective effect on cellular membranes. It plays a role in the blood coagulation mechanisms, immunitary reactions, protection of the respiratory tissue and can cause death.

Vitamin E deficit leads to Yellow Fat Disease also known as Pansteatitis or steatitis. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, & unfortunately tuna is an inadequate source of Vitamin E. The excess of unsaturated fatty acids (which oxidize & destroy Vitamin E), in combination with the lack of Vitamin E causes damage to body fat, which results in a painful inflammatory reaction. The symptoms include:Greasy, dull coat & flaky skin. Severe pain when touched.Anorexia (loss of appetite).Fever. Aversion to moving. This disease can result in death.

Not only that, these fish are addictive to cats.

Answer 5

It can be very harmfull to their kidneys and urinary tracks. Its the sodium content causes the problem. If the salmon is sodium free and the content of magnesium is close to the one in the cat food variety, its not that bad. An occasionnal bite or two as a treat wont kill kitty if he never had kidney or urinary tract problems. Fresh salmon is excellent for cats, they contain good fats and nutrients, cook it tough, raw salmon can cause tapeworm. Never give him smoked salmon either.

Answer 6

As a treat I think it would be fine. However, long term feeding of tuna can cause nutritional deficiencies - I am sure salmon is probably in the same category.

Answer 7

With the price of canned salmon, I imagine you're well-to-do and can afford to pay the price. I wouldn't feed my cats anything that wasn't made specifically for them. It can cause health issues down the road.

Answer 8

harmful to you when you open it and the cats come out of the woodwork.

my cats used to love salmon.. canned.. they'd eat the spine too! yummers!

sometimes i treated them to some salmon from the deli... they'd almost rip my eyeballs out to get to it.

:D

it's not harmful, not anymore harmful than that junk they pass off at petfood.

Answer 9

the bones would be the worst part, other than that, it should be no problem at all as long as it is just salmon, not in any preservatives..but then, you shouldn't be eating it either!

Answer 10

probably not but I wouldn't recomend giving them anything that isn't made for them. though I have been guilty of once in a long while (in the 10 months since we have had our cats only 2 twice have I ever) given a small piece of my hamburger to them.