Cats love sardines, but is it good for them? Sardines are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. However, there are some risks associated with feeding your cat too much sardine. It is not recommended to give an excess of fish to your cats because they can develop a thiamine deficiency, which can lead to a severe type of anemia called “Fish Anemia,” also known as “Vitamin B1 deficiency.” To prevent this from happening, you need to know how often and how many sardines you should feed your feline friend.
Sardines are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
Contrary to many beliefs, cats do not need fish in order to stay healthy. In fact, excess intake of fish can cause vitamin A poisoning! If your cat is a feline at heart when it comes to food, then consider giving them quality dry food that contains no more than 5% – 10 % fish meal or oil instead of feeding them sardines. Fish is not the only source of Omega-3s as there are other meat sources such as poultry and red meats which contain Omega-3s as well. You may know that Omega-3s help people increase their blood flow and lower their bad cholesterol, but did you know that Omega-3s also help cats to produce prostaglandins that keep their skin healthy, reduce pain and inflammation, and regulate their body temperature?
Apart from vitamin, A poisoning, feeding too much fish to your cat can cause some other health issues. If your cat loves sardines so much that you are worried about not being able to provide them with sardines on a regular basis, then consider providing them with quality dry food instead of sardines. Many brands of canned foods or wet food for cats contain more than 2% fish meal or oil. That’s why giving your cat high-quality dry food one day is alright as long as they don’t eat too much of it.
Whether you feed your feline friend fish or not, remember:
– Sardines and other fish should make up only 10% of your cat’s diet
– Feeding your cat with fish can cause vitamin A poisoning
– Excess intake of fish can lead to a thiamine deficiency.
If you know that feeding your feline friend sardines is the best option for their health, then it’s always good to consult your vet beforehand. Your veterinarian will tell you how often and how much you should feed your pet sardines so that they stay healthy.