Which Raw Fish Are Safe For Cats?

Which fish are safe for cats? Fish can be incredibly nutritious for your cat, but not every fish is safe to feed. Whether you feed your cat dry, canned, or raw food, in this video you'll learn exactly what fish to buy and which to avoid when shopping. 1. Sardines Sardines are my cat Tangy's favorite fish, especially canned sardines in water. He loves that strong fishy smell. Sardines are safe fish to feed because of their small size. And the smaller the fish, the less likely they are to accumulate heavy metals like mercury since they're lower on the food chain. They're also exploding with nutrients cats need, like omega-3s. Omega-3s like EPA and DHA support a soft, shiny coat and healthy skin. So sardines are a safe fish that can really improve your cat's coat. 2. Smelt I absolutely love smelt, because they're the perfect size for cats. Sometimes you'll find them with the head and organs still intact, and other times you might find them gutted and headless. But regardless, they still include their little bones. Some pet owners worry that fish bones are unsafe, but smelt bones are very small and soft, so they're easy to break down. Even though they're tiny, the bones and organs still provide a boost of calcium, iron, and B vitamins that benefit your cat's body. You can usually find them frozen at Asian markets or in the frozen seafood section of some stores. 3. Herring Herring are a bit bigger than sardines and smelt, but they're also low in heavy metals, so they are a safe fish to feed. Because herring are larger, they're a great option if your cat enjoys chewing up their food. This provides a lot of mental enrichment. 4. Salmon Salmon is easy to find, very nutritious, and usually doesn't come with a head or bones attached. Like the other fish we talked about, it's rich in omega-3 fatty acids. But where salmon really stands out is its vitamin D content. Not many whole foods provide vitamin D naturally, but salmon is one of the rare foods that does. So if you're feeding a homemade raw diet, salmon is definitely a fish worth considering for vitamin D. And if you feed dry or canned food, salmon is a great source for natural omega-3s. 5. Minnows Minnows are a fish that I recently started feeding after I discovered them at a local bait and tackle shop. They're super tiny, but don't underestimate them. They're still a good source of omega-3s. And because they're so small, they're also low in mercury. If you don't have a bait and tackle shop nearby, you can sometimes find them freeze-dried at pet stores. 6. Anchovies Anchovies look pretty similar to some of other fish, but something that makes anchovies unique is how much iron they provide. And you know what mineral that cats need a lot of in their diet? Iron. Anchovies are also very low in mercury. So if you can find anchovies, whether raw, canned, or dried, they're a great option to add to your cat's meal. 7. Mackerel Mackerel is my top favorite fish to feed cats because out of all of the fish on this list, it's by far the most nutritious. It's the highest in omega-3s, vitamin D, and even certain B vitamins, which are all important for your cat's body. Mackerel is a bit larger than most of the fish that we just looked at, but luckily, almost every type of mackerel is still safe to feed. Well, except for one. But we'll talk about that in a moment. I often feed Atlantic mackerel because it's the easiest for me to find at Asian markets. Sometimes I'll find big ones like this. Other times, I'll find small ones like this. These small ones are great for cats. Okay, what's the one type of mackerel that you shouldn't feed? It actually falls into a large category of fish that you should avoid. These are fish that can be dangerous to feed your cat long term. So here are fish that you need to avoid when shopping. 1. Large predatory fish When I was growing up, I would often give our family cats a little bit of tuna as a treat. But once I started learning more about fish, I realized something shocking. Large predatory fish high on the food chain, like tuna, swordfish, and king mackerel, can accumulate high levels of heavy metals like mercury. This is not something that you want building up in your cat's body. Because over time, these heavy metals can lead to serious health problems. You can feed tuna to your cat occasionally, but feeding it regularly can cause heavy metals to build up in their body over time. So it's best to choose a safer canned fish like salmon or sardines. And when you're looking for mackerel, be sure to avoid king mackerel. 2. Wild caught salmon from the Pacific Northwest Wait, didn't we just talk about how salmon is a safe fish to feed? Well, most salmon is. But salmon caught in the Pacific Northwest can sometimes carry a bacterium that has caused salmon poisoning in dogs. There haven't been any cases of cats falling ill, but it's still good to be cautious. If you do happen to buy salmon from the Pacific Northwest, cooking it will destroy that bacterium. Now, here are some important questions that I often get on how to safely prepare and feed fish to cats. 1. Can I feed fish bones? Yes, as long as the bones are raw. Raw fish bones are soft and flexible, especially in small fish like sardines or smelt. When I give Tangy whole smelt, he crunches right through the bones. 2. Do I have to freeze the fish first? If the fish is farmed, usually not. But if they're wild caught, it's best to freeze it for about 3-4 weeks to make sure any parasites are killed. 3. Do I have to gut the fish? Usually, no. With small fish like sardines, smelt, and minnows, I just feed them whole. The organs inside are actually very nutritious. The only time I've gutted a fish was when I got a large Atlantic mackerel. Tangy isn't always a fan of the intestines. 4. How much fish should I feed my cat? The great thing about feeding fish is that it doesn't take much to provide enough omega-3s and vitamin D. If your cat eats dry or canned food, fish acts like a treat or natural omega-3 booster. So adding 0.1 to 0.3 ounces, or 3-9 grams, of fish every few days along with their food is just fine. It doesn't have to be fed daily, it can just be a fun addition from time to time. If you're feeding a homemade raw diet, fish should be included often enough to help provide vitamin D to the meal. When I'm making Tangy's raw meals, fish usually makes up about 5% of his daily meal. I also try to include a high vitamin D fish often, because not all fish in this video are rich in vitamin D. If you want to have a quick reference guide on which fish are safe to feed, along with which nutrients they provide, my free raw feeding cheat sheet lists all the fish in this video. It also includes tons of other natural whole foods that you can feed to your cat alongside their current food, or to make a homemade raw diet. You can download it in the link below.