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Fish, why is it bad?

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Hunter Master of- Disaster!     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 5:30am PST  Okay, so I was always told that fish isn't that good for cats because of the mercury content. Is that the only reason? I ask because I kind of feel that Hunter is being deprived of certain foods. I have not bought any foods that contain fish since Hunters wellness issue as a kitten. So for about a year and a half he has had only proteins that 'walk on land'. He does get a variety of protein (Chicken, Beef, Buffalo, Lamb, Venison, Quail, and Rabbit) however I noticed yesterday that I buy the same brands over and over again. There are so many other brands I could buy, but I don't because they contain fish, especially Tuna. Like BFF, Soulistic, Dave's, Tiki Cat, some Weruva etc. He is missing out on so much. Is Hunter healthier without the fish? Or would fish make his diet more complete? Then again, I don't want him to love the fish so much that, he'll eat nothing else. I suppose I should just stick to what I'm feeding him. He doesn't know what hes missing. I just feel bad So can someone explain to me why fish (Tuna, crab, salmon, lobster) isn't the best to feed a cat? my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Shade My name is not- Kittyfloss!     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 8:55am PST  Hi Hunter! Tell your mom to read this: http://www.littlebigcat.com/nutrition/why-fish-is-dangerous -for-cats/ However, I think it is ok every once in a while to feed a canned food that has a little fish in it if you aren't allergic to it, something like Merrick's Surf & Turf. It's a beef and fish flavor and maybe once every 3 weeks we get to have it for breakfast. Purrs, Shade my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Ralphie &- Randy 1201140     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 9:03am PST  It is my understanding that fish-based diets can cause urinary and kidney problems in cats, especially male cats. If I understand correctly, it's not so much the fish itself, but the bone which is cooked during processing, and which contains high levels of magnesium. I hope someone will correct me if I am mistaken. I fed Ralphie some fish-based foods before I knew of the potential for such problems and he really loves fish, so I limit their fish meals to about twice per week, including salmon, tuna, and mackerel. There are many varying opinions on the subject, from those who say never ever feed a cat fish to those who say it's all a myth and fish is fine. My opinion falls in the middle, probably because I believe that moderation is generally a safe default position. Since Hunter has never had fish and doesn't know what he's missing, and he might not even like it anyway, I don't think you should worry about adding fish to his diet. It sounds like he gets plenty of variety from the foods you are feeding, and already has a well-rounded diet without the fish. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become friends [notify]

Merlin - An Angel- Forever *Poof*     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 9:24am PST  Fish/seafood can be fed, just limit it to once in awhile meals or treats. There's a list of why fish/seafood isn't good to feed every day here: http://www.catnutrition.org/faq.html It's in the middle of the page somewhere. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Hunter Master of- Disaster!     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 9:42am PST  Thanks Merlin! Thats all I needed to read. No fish for this big boy! Edited by author Wed Feb 1, '12 9:43am PST my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Pandora go getter kitter     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 10:32am PST  Most food companies do add other nutrients to balance out the magnesium these days also; it isn't the minerals but the imbalance that is the problem. Alsao, many fish flavored foods have as much chicken as fish in them. We do feed it in rotation. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Amber I didn't do it!     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 2:37pm PST  I think I remember something about Weruva removing the bones from the fish they use in their foods to avoid the problems with magnesium and other minerals. Does anyone know what I am talking about? my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Pequena- (Sasha's- sister) 1210304     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 7:43pm PST  I didnt know any of this, except for mercury in tuna. I used to buy fresh organic fish fillets and make it for my cats. I used to make salmon, mackeral, sole, etc. They loved it. Well sasha went nuts over anything I made or fed her. Pequena sometimes would eat it, sometimes not. Since Sasha passed, I tried making salmon a couple of times for Pequena and she wont eat it. So now I dont make her fish anymore, but some of the flavors of wet food I buy for her have salmon or herring in it. Maybe I will buy those kinds less often now my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

ZACK BLACK is- HANDSOME     Purred: Wed Feb 1, '12 10:23pm PST  Mom has never fed us any fish food and doesn't plan to. We do get our little bit of daily fish oil thru Nordic Naturals Omega 3 for Pets. Distilled and 3rd party tested. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Mocha 1138114     Purred: Thu Feb 2, '12 12:16am PST  There's also been studies done that are showing a link between diets high in fish (most wet foods contain fish somewhere after the first few ingredients) and hyperthyroidism later in life. I can't remember where I read them, but I remember stumbling across them when I was researching hyperthyroidism for Mocha. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

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