Cats and tuna?

Why is it that tuna is so attractive to cats? Mine, when she has eaten
and does not want anything anymore, will keep running for canned tuna
if it were available.

I understand that tuna should be fed sparingly. Is that because of
absence of balanced nutrition, which I can try to address, or presence
of harmful things like sodium, which is more difficult to address? I
found a low sodium tuna at Trader Joe's, is that acceptable?

It is not the sodium that is the only problem with I believe the mercury


"Kiran" wrote in message
...
Why is it that tuna is so attractive to cats? Mine, when she has eaten
and does not want anything anymore, will keep running for canned tuna
if it were available.

I understand that tuna should be fed sparingly. Is that because of
absence of balanced nutrition, which I can try to address, or presence
of harmful things like sodium, which is more difficult to address? I
found a low sodium tuna at Trader Joe's, is that acceptable?

Kiran wrote:
Why is it that tuna is so attractive to cats? Mine, when she has eaten
and does not want anything anymore, will keep running for canned tuna
if it were available.

I understand that tuna should be fed sparingly. Is that because of
absence of balanced nutrition, which I can try to address, or presence
of harmful things like sodium, which is more difficult to address? I
found a low sodium tuna at Trader Joe's, is that acceptable?

I think tuna as a treat in small amounts is fine. The problem comes in
when the cat decides she likes tuna better than cat food and won't eat
her cat food. Do a google search on "steatitis". The primary cause is
when cats eat too much fish, and don't get enough of the nutrients they
need, or get from cat food. Have you tried the tuna cat food? If she
likes that, it's much better for her. She'll also be getting taurine,
and the other stuff they need in their diet.

Sherry

Hill's make a fish flavor cat food that is nutritionally complete. Your vet
probably has some. It ain't cheap but when it comes to our cats we should
never think about anything except their moment to moment bliss. -:

Mike in Illinois



"Kiran" wrote in message
...
Why is it that tuna is so attractive to cats? Mine, when she has eaten
and does not want anything anymore, will keep running for canned tuna
if it were available.

I understand that tuna should be fed sparingly. Is that because of
absence of balanced nutrition, which I can try to address, or presence
of harmful things like sodium, which is more difficult to address? I
found a low sodium tuna at Trader Joe's, is that acceptable?

Kiran wrote:

I understand that tuna should be fed sparingly. Is that because of
absence of balanced nutrition, which I can try to address, or presence
of harmful things like sodium, which is more difficult to address? I
found a low sodium tuna at Trader Joe's, is that acceptable?

The problem with tuna (and any fish actually) is that the cat cannot
digest fish without using vitamin E. So a diet that has too much fish
in it will result in a deficiency of vitamin E and that leads to
illness.

Cat food companies add extra vitamin E to any product with fish to
counteract this problem, so cat food is okay. But regula fish products
should be limited and not a staple part of their diet.

As to why they like it so much, it is probably because of the smell.
Cats are attracted to most foods by smell, so the stronger the smell,
the more attractive it is. Fish tends to have a stronger smell to it.

" wrote:

: But regula fish products should be limited and not a staple part
: of their diet.

How limited is ok? How often can she have a can of tuna--once every
week, two weeks, month? Just trying to get an idea.

PS. I suppose I could add supplements too, but I am not sure if the
taste/smell will remain attractive. She likes tuna-based cat food, but
not any more than some other formulas.

wrote:

: I think tuna as a treat in small amounts is fine.

Thanks Sherry. I am trying to get some sense of how much tuna is OK.
One can per week, 2 weeks, month?

: Have you tried the tuna cat food?

She likes it ok but surprisingly not any more than her other favorites.
However, canned tuna packed in water is a different story!

Kiran wrote:
wrote:

: I think tuna as a treat in small amounts is fine.

Thanks Sherry. I am trying to get some sense of how much tuna is OK.
One can per week, 2 weeks, month?

Gosh, I wouldn't even guess. As long as she's eating plenty of her
regular food, I don't think a can a week is too much at all. That's
only about a tablespoon a day. That's about what I give my cats when
they beg. What mine really go nuts for is whipping cream. They get
about tablespoon of that once in a while too. Mine don't like any
commercially packaged cat treats that I've ever bought.

I wonder if your kitty would go after the "grilled" variety of Fancy
Feast Tuna cat food.

Sherry

: Have you tried the tuna cat food?

She likes it ok but surprisingly not any more than her other favorites.
However, canned tuna packed in water is a different story!

wrote in message
ups.com...

Kiran wrote:
wrote:

: I think tuna as a treat in small amounts is fine.

Thanks Sherry. I am trying to get some sense of how much tuna is OK.
One can per week, 2 weeks, month?

Gosh, I wouldn't even guess. As long as she's eating plenty of her
regular food, I don't think a can a week is too much at all. That's
only about a tablespoon a day. That's about what I give my cats when
they beg. What mine really go nuts for is whipping cream. They get
about tablespoon of that once in a while too. Mine don't like any
commercially packaged cat treats that I've ever bought.

I wonder if your kitty would go after the "grilled" variety of Fancy
Feast Tuna cat food.


That has high carbs ;-) sorry now that Rumble is on the diabetic diet I
watch things like that
Sherry

: Have you tried the tuna cat food?

She likes it ok but surprisingly not any more than her other favorites.
However, canned tuna packed in water is a different story!

Once a week as a special meal is okay. Try to trade up the times (not
the same day each week), so they don't get the clever idea to pass on
the cat food till the tuna comes. Besides it adds a little excitement
to their life when any meal could be the fabulous tuna

grin
Matthew wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

Kiran wrote:
wrote:

: I think tuna as a treat in small amounts is fine.

Thanks Sherry. I am trying to get some sense of how much tuna is OK.
One can per week, 2 weeks, month?

Gosh, I wouldn't even guess. As long as she's eating plenty of her
regular food, I don't think a can a week is too much at all. That's
only about a tablespoon a day. That's about what I give my cats when
they beg. What mine really go nuts for is whipping cream. They get
about tablespoon of that once in a while too. Mine don't like any
commercially packaged cat treats that I've ever bought.

I wonder if your kitty would go after the "grilled" variety of Fancy
Feast Tuna cat food.


That has high carbs ;-) sorry now that Rumble is on the diabetic diet I
watch things like that
Sherry

: Have you tried the tuna cat food?

She likes it ok but surprisingly not any more than her other favorites.
However, canned tuna packed in water is a different story!