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Cats tend to be picky about what they eat.
You can notice this when you give your cat something to eat, and it just leaves the food there without even tasting it.
Kittens are delicate, and you should be cautious about the food you give them.
Tuna meant for human consumption has much sodium added to it, which is harmful to kittens.
Generally, cats are known to love seafood. Once a kitten has weaned off its mother’s milk, you should be careful of what you feed it.
Since kittens are still growing, you should choose food containing the required nutrients for their dietary needs.
This dietary need implies that a kitten is better off getting its nutrients from other sources than tuna.
The risks of feeding your kitten tuna usually outweigh the benefits.
If you want to provide your kitten with tuna, here is what you need to know:
Can You Feed Your Kittens Tuna?
It is essential to consult a veterinarian on what you should feed your kitten.
Pay keen attention, especially when a kitten is born with some abnormalities or disorders.
Tuna is ok for kittens when eaten once in a while. Hence, be aware that too much tuna may cause mercury poisoning in your kitten, which may cause seizures.
As a cat owner, it is crucial to understand that even though tuna is not bad for consumption, a kitten is quite delicate compared to a mature cat.
Tuna is high in protein, which assists in the growth and development of the kitten.
It also has omega-3, which helps to boost the kitten’s immunity.
Tuna enhances blood circulation by having considerable iron, potassium, and riboflavin.
Also, tuna improves the energy levels of your kitten and makes it more energetic and hyperactive due to the presence of Thiamine and Vitamin B complex.
Which Tuna Is Healthy For A Kitten?
There are three types of canned tuna; tuna packed in water, tuna packed in oil, and tuna with added salt and other flavours.
Freshly cooked tuna is the best for your kitten since there are no added preservatives or artificial minerals.
You can only give your kitten freshly cooked or canned tuna as an occasional treat and not as a regular part of your kitten’s diet.
Canned tuna is a major cause of malnutrition because it lacks all the nutrients a cat requires.
Raw tuna may also harm your kitten because it contains bacteria and parasites.
Cooking tuna kills bacteria and parasites, making the tuna safe for cats and kittens to eat.
However, this does not mean you can give your kitten cooked tuna daily.
Light Vs White Tuna: Which is the best for kittens?
Light tuna primarily comes from skipjack, and white tuna comes from the albacore fish. These two types of tuna differ in their mercury toxin content.
Canned light tuna is the best choice for having lower mercury content.
It is important to note that these two canned tuna species have slightly different flavours, textures, and nutritional values.
Albacore “white tuna” is firm and meaty, with a light, mild flavour, while skipjack “light tuna” is a bit softer and has a more prosperous, intense taste.
Cat owners need to know which type of canned tuna they prefer before feeding it to kittens.
However, it’s recommended that cat owners limit their consumption of canned fish tuna to one portion a week for the sake of the kitten’s health.
Is Tuna In Water Good For Kittens?
In terms of calories, 500 grams of canned tuna in oil contains 145 calories, while 500 grams of canned tuna in water contain only 66 calories.
Low calories are essential in maintaining the health of young kittens since they help prevent diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Regarding proteins, tuna in water contains more omega-3 fats than in oil.
The proteins are maintained because when you drain the liquid from water-packed tuna, it does not reduce the omega-3 present in the fish.
As a cat owner, it is up to you to limit your kitten’s tuna consumption for their health.
Adverse Effects Of Tuna fish In Oil For Kittens
Oil is a fattening factor and should not be fed to cats. It may cause your kitten to develop some heart issues or high blood pressure.
A cat should be fed tuna, preserved by its juices and freshly cooked.
Moreover, tuna has a high mercury content that is harmful and acts as a neurotoxin.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning include dizziness and loss of coordination and balance.
Tuna is often tastier than regular cat food. However, when you regularly give your kitten tuna, it will quickly adapt and get addicted.
Frequent feeding of tuna to your kitten will prompt the kitten to be picky when you give it other kinds of food.
Giving your kitten too much tuna may also cause a fat yellow disease.
This disease results in inflammation under your kitten’s skin and tissue damage.
Tuna does not have a nutrient known as Taurine, which causes blindness if not included in a cat’s meal.
When cooking tuna for your kitten, you should not add too much salt since it is harmful.
The Frequency Of Feeding Tuna To Your Kitten
You should feed your kitten tuna in small quantities once in a while. However, ensure you don’t make it a habit.
You could also try to make tuna water for your kitten by mashing together unsalted, dolphin-safe tuna with 3 cups of water and letting the mashed tuna settle for around 15 minutes.
Then, mix the tuna broth into covered ice cube trays with regular kitten food.
Conclusion
Be keen to ensure your kitten does not get used to tuna.
Some contaminants in tuna are not present in the typical kitten food; therefore, you should be cautious.
Even when giving your kitten tuna occasionally, you should be attentive to how it reacts healthwise.
Regardless of the portion, canned tuna may cause your kitten to have an upset stomach.
There are also solutions to wean your kitten from eating tuna.
You could use tuna water pouring on your kitten’s typical food to motivate it to eat.
Gradually reduce the quantity of tuna water you are using to feed your kitten, and it will eventually stop the urge to eat tuna.
Purrfect n’ Pawesome is the brainchild of Amanda, who has been into researching and writing about pets to help other pet parents in nurturing their adorable pets. Currently, she runs Purrfect n’ Pawesome along with her team of experienced and dedicated pet experts. Along with being an awesome writer and entrepreneur, Amanda is a cat mom to two innocently spoiled cats, Balanca and Scruffy.
She has been writing about pet care and nurturing and wants to share her readers’ experiences, learnings, and knowledge.
Over the years, she had the opportunity to work with various pet owners having multiple breeds, and that exposure gave her experience and the lessons of a lifetime.
Her family, her entire universe revolves around her two cats, who give her endless support and inspiration to move ahead with her objectives in life. Amanda is a live example of a balanced approach to all parenthood questions we all face in life.
