Tuna as a treat?

Hey everyone! Hope you are enjoying the last day of 2017! Mogee and I thank all of you for all you have done for us since diagnosis this year! We would not be where we are today if it weren't for all of you!

My fiance is making tuna noodle casserole tonight and Mogee has been going nuts!

Is tuna safe to give for a treat?

Attached is a photo of the tuna she used.

 

Yes, tuna is fine as a once in awhile treat!

Just make sure there's no onion or garlic (but that looks fine)

 

Thanks @Chris & China! Happy New Year to you!

 

In the very beginning, I used tuna (in water, like yours) as Mia's testing treat. It was the only thing that enticed her enough at the time for her to let me stick her. I was even able to use just the tuna 'juice', the liquid from the can (which usually gets drained and thrown away anyway). I would make small ice cubes with the 'juice' then pull one out and microwave it when I needed a treat for her.

 

He wouldn't stop meowing last night when she opened the cans of tuna. I don't care for seafood myself, so it was the first time we've ever had it. I will probably go get some cans when it warms up (-33° wind chill here).

Luckily for me, Mogee gives me no trouble testing. I swear he loves the attention, even though he gets more attention than anyone I know! I've already tested 5 times today. Just tested five minutes ago. When I was done, I reached up to get his Pure Bites and by the time I got them he was already face down in his FF bowls. Fortunate I never have to bribe him!

 

The only caution is to give it just as an occasional treat. Too much fish, as you have probably already read about yourself, is not good for them.

 

Mogee really likes the Ocean Whitefish and Tuna Fancy Feast Classic, as well as the Cod, Sole, and Shrimp, and the Savory Salmon Feast. How often can I give him these flavors?

I have been giving him about a can of the fishy fancy feast for about a month now. Yikes. Hope that's not a bad thing...

He usually eats the Chicken Feast, Tender Liver and Chicken Feast, and his favorite the Turkey and Giblets

 

Ugh. Now that I am doing my research, I am finding posts on here where it is recommended to only feed fish once per week. @Chris & China?

He has been getting about a can of a fishy flavor a day for about a month now. Gosh darnit!! I haven't seen any difference in him since starting these flavors but it looks like he's done getting them now!

 

A lot of people feed those fish flavors. It's another one of those things where you just have to educate yourself and decide what you are comfortable with. Here is a petmd article about fish-flavored cat foods: https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutriti...lavored-cat-foods-causing-hyperthyroidi-33397
And, here is what Dr Pierson says about fish:

• "Fish – I do not feed fish to cats for the following reasons:
  • high allergy potential (manifested as skin allergies or inflammatory bowel disease, and possibly asthma)
  • toxin/mercury contamination
  • PBDEs (fire retardant chemicals) – PBDEs are potent thyroid disruptors
  • often high in phosphorus and magnesium
  • highly addictive – the cat will not eat anything else

If you want to feed a fish-based food as a treat, please limit it to once or twice a week. (I do not feed any fish to my cats.)"
(http://catinfo.org/commercial-cat-foods/)

 

Yes, it's true that we recommend limiting fish foods, but in the long run, it's more important that the cat be willing to eat.

If you can get him to eat non-fish flavored foods, it'd be better, but as we all know, these kitties make up their own rules!!

I'd just try him on different protein sources....if he refuses to eat them, maybe mix some of his fish flavors in

It's still OK to give an occasional treat of people tuna though!

You can also make tuna juice to add to his foods to make it more tempting