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So, you’re looking for a healthier alternative to the packages of cat treats you can pick up in the store? Does your cat love tuna? Let’s look at a few easy ways to prepare tuna for your feline family member.
Cats and Tuna: Is It Safe?
You might consider making tuna treats for your cat because you feel they’re a healthy option. While tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, some potential problems are associated with it.
Pros of Tuna
As mentioned, tuna is full of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids benefit pets and their people by reducing inflammation. Your cat could have the following benefits:
- Healthier skin
- Less hair shedding
- Decreased joint pain
Cons of Feeding Your Cat Tuna
Tuna may contain mercury. You should avoid larger albacore tuna for your cat due to the potential health risk it poses, according to Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Tuna is also calorically dense, so your cat could become overweight. According to the Animal Medical Center of Chicago, your average 10-pound neutered cat only needs 262 kcal daily.1 The USDA Food Data Central lists a can of light tuna canned in water as having 191 kcal, meaning that one can of tuna is almost your cat’s whole day of calories, but it’s not nutritionally complete. Overweight cats are more at risk for health complications like diabetes and joint disease.
The 3 Homemade Tuna Cat Treats
1. Frozen Tuna Ice Cubes – Tuna Cubes Anyone?
Frozen Tuna Ice Cubes
Equipment
- sealed bag
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- One can of light tuna packed
- Water
Instructions
- Combine the can of tuna with enough water to make a slurry
- Pour the tuna into ice cube trays
- Freeze the mixture until solid
- Take a cube out and offer it to your cat when they need a refreshing treat
- Store the ice cubes in a sealed bag in the freezer
Notes
Nutrition
2. Kitschen Cat Tasty Tuna Treats
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces of light chunk canned tuna packed in water
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup flour
- One egg
- Two tablespoons of water
- Some cornmeal for dusting
| Servings: | servings depend on how you cut them (I’d recommend bite-sized treats.) |
| Calories: | 1,262 kcal/recipe (calories per serving will depend on the size of treats) |
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl to form a soft dough
- Let the dough rest for 10 minutes
- Roll out dough on a flat surface covered with a thin layer of cornmeal
- Cut your dough out using a knife or small cookie cutters
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet
- Allow to cool
- Store in an airtight container
Make sure you only offer these as an occasional treat to limit the extra calories your kitty is getting.
3. Crispy Tuna Treats
One of the easiest ways I’ve made crispy treats when I wanted to have them for my cats is to bake canned tuna. You read that right; you can bake canned tuna and break it into smaller, crispy bits.
Ingredients:
- One can of tuna, drained
The advantage of this recipe is that it feeds a complete and balanced AAFCO-approved product. However, you still don’t want to go overboard because you’re feeding this as a treat.
Instructions:
- Take a can of tuna and drain most of the water
- Add tuna to a blender and blend until it is close to pate
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Spread the pate onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet
- Bake until complete dried out
- Break into small pieces
- Cool before offering to your cat
- Store in an airtight container
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Considerations When Giving Your Cat Treats
Percent of Diet
The most essential consideration when giving your cat treats is giving at most 10% of its daily calories as treats. It’s better to give less, especially if your cat is overweight.
Treats are not balanced to meet all your cat’s dietary requirements. They could be higher in carbohydrates or protein than what your cat needs. They might also be missing essential nutrients such as taurine.
No Oil
If you’re offering your cat canned tuna, remember it should only be packed in water, not oil. Oil has significantly more calories than what your cat should eat.
Allergies
Remember that the more variety we offer our cats, the more potential allergens they are exposed to. According to Cornell University, food allergies are the third most common allergy in cats. Some signs of food allergies include:
- Itchy skin
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Formulating Diets for Your Cat
If you’d like to cook for your cat, you should use a recipe formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. Your veterinarian may be able to provide resources but consider using a nutritionist from the American College of Veterinary Nutritionists.
Balance.it is another helpful resource. You can plug in your cat’s profile and ingredients, and the site will generate information about recipe options and how to make it balanced.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I feed my cat canned tuna if I don’t have cat food?
Ideally, you should not feed your cat canned tuna instead of cat food. It is not balanced, so you risk missing key nutrients.
Can I give tuna salad to my cat?
No, you should not give tuna salad to your cat. Some tuna salad is made with onions, which are very toxic to pets. The mayonnaise in tuna salad can also upset your cat’s digestion.
Conclusion
Remember that tuna is not the best option for your cat, but there are some ways to make it into a treat you offer occasionally. Stick to a well-formulated cat food for their regular feeding and use treats as 10% or less of their daily calories.
Featured Image Credit: DimaBerlin, Shutterstock
