Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by your four-legged friend whenever you tried to recreate a TikTok recipe? Anyone? Be honest, your cat’s a bigger TikTok addict than you and she hasn’t stopped meowing about Emily Mariko’s famous salmon rice bowl. But, can cats eat canned salmon!?
Whenever the two of you watch her TikToks, Emily goes on and on about using your leftovers to create something delicious.
Canned salmon might not be fancy, but you can’t think of a better way to give your canned salmon a new life. Combine it with some mouth-watering rice and paw-licking spicy mayo, and voilà!
You’re (almost) positive you can’t share Emily’s salmon rice bowl with your furry friend. But, can you share a bite of canned salmon? You know she’s going to give you that look. She’s going to make you feel like a terrible mother for letting her starve (five minutes after scoffing down an entire bowl of kibble?!).
Worry not, we’ve got your back. But, you might want to hold your horses (cats?) before you let your four-legged friend have a bite of your canned salmon.
According to our friends over at the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), cats can eat salmon. But, cats can’t eat canned salmon without experiencing digestive problems because of additives that are typically present.
Here’s everything you need to know before you head off to your local farmer’s market to get a great deal on “buy two, get one for free” canned salmon. Let’s start from the beginning, why don’t we?
Can cats eat salmon?
They sure can! We can’t discuss whether cats can eat canned salmon without touching upon the crème de la crème part of what you’re asking about. We can’t say whether cats can eat canned salmon without having an entire rant about the je-ne-sais-quoi that makes salmon the best thing your cat’s ever eaten.
That’s right, we know French and we know everything about saumon (which happens to be French for salmon, of course)! First thing’s first, salmon seems to be a type of fish that’s super popular among humans and their four-legged friends.
Salmon contains a bunch of protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. Consuming salmon can reduce inflammation, decrease blood pressure, and reduce the risk of developing numerous diseases. So, can cats eat salmon?
Cats are carnivores which means they require a bunch of meat, animal protein, and animal nutrients to live a healthy and happy life. They don’t require fruits, veggies, and grains like humans. They don’t even possess the enzymes necessary to break down and process most foods humans eat on a regular.
Cats thrive when they’re feeding off of what’s supposed to be a natural part of their diet. Wild cats get most of their nutrients from their prey. Not-so-wild cats get most of their nutrients from the Purinas and Whiskas of the word.
Both wild cats and not-so-wild cats can eat salmon. It is a great source of nutrients that can do wonders for your cat’s health and boost her immune system. Salmon can also maintain the proper function of her nervous system and ensure the health of her digestive system.
But, that doesn’t mean that cats can eat canned salmon.
So, can cats eat canned salmon?
Here’s the thing with canned salmon… You don’t have a reason to panic on the off chance that your furry friend manages to sneak a couple of munches of canned salmon while you’re busy watching the latest episode of Stranger Things (you just can’t get over how cute Eleven looks this season!).
But, cats shouldn’t have canned salmon on a regular. Canned salmon doesn’t come without a bunch of salt, seasoning, and preservatives that can harm your cat’s health. More on that later in the article (wink). Your cat might meow and purr to get you to change your mind, but you have to give her a “No.”
And yes, we hear your “but, canned salmon contains a bunch of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats” reasoning. And yes, we understand you “but, she won’t take no for an answer” cry for help. Emily’s salmon rice bowl deserves a place on your menu, but not on the menu you plan on sharing with your cat.
What’s wrong with feeding canned salmon to your cat?
We’re completely understanding of your need to question our answer. Who can blame you for trying to do what’s best for your four-legged friend? Who can blame you for trying to make her regular Fancy Feast better with some canned salmon on the side?
What exactly seems to be the problem with feeding canned salmon to your cat? Salmon (without the can) contains a bunch of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and nutrients which are great for your furry friend. But, salmon’s not part of the canned salmon problem.
Canned salmon also contains a bunch of salt, seasonings, and preservatives that can be detrimental to your cat’s health.
First things first, consuming salt doesn’t seem to be frowned upon among cats, but consuming too much salt does. Symptoms such as excessive thirst and urination, weakness, lethargy, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea point toward salt poisoning.
And trust me, you don’t want your cat to experience those symptoms!
On the other hand, seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and hot chili flakes might even go further than rushing your furry friend to her litterbox. We’re not kidding, these seasonings can rush your cat to the nearest emergency animal center because they can be extremely toxic to cats.
Last but not least, preservatives can be detrimental to your cat’s health. Some of them (butylated hydroxytoluene) don’t have a negative effect on cats. But, most of them (sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, xylitol) do.
What’s the best way to feed salmon to your cat?
Stay away from canned salmon, that’s for sure! Other than that, there are a couple of things to consider when you’re planning on feeding salmon to your cat.
Whether you’re thinking of serving her up with some baked salmon, letting her munch on a minuscule morsel of canned salmon, or even surprising her with a nibble of raw salmon… We’re here to help. What are the different ways in which you (and your furry friend) can enjoy salmon?
Canned salmon might not be the best choice for your cat, but it’s better than raw salmon. You see, raw salmon (or pretty much raw seafood) contains a bunch of bacteria and parasites that can cause digestive problems to your cat.
Cats possess the enzymes necessary to break down and process these pesky passengers. But, who’s to say that Neorickettsia Helminthoeca won’t take your cat down!? And no, that’s not another Harry Potter wizard playing with their wand! It’s the name of the most common bacteria found on raw salmon!
Cooked salmon seems to be the way to go when you’re planning on sharing your Sunday brunch with your four-legged friend. But, you might have to cook the salmon yourself. You have to stay away from too much fat, salt, and seasonings.
Are we saying your furry friend’s better off munching on completely bland, unseasoned, and pretty much tasteless salmon? And you’re right, that’s exactly what we’re saying.
What’s the conclusion? Can cats eat canned salmon?
Yes, and no. Cats can eat a bite or two of canned salmon without experiencing digestive problems. But, that doesn’t mean that canned salmon needs its own place on your cat’s plate (crab or shrimp maybe, but not CANNED salmon).
Salmon sounds like a great pick-me-up for your four-legged friend because it contains protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. On the other hand, canned salmon contains the same nutrients along with a bunch of salt, seasonings, and preservatives.
Let’s just say your seafood scavenger should stick with fresh, properly prepared salmon (save Emily Mariko’s recipes for yourself) rather than the canned salmon you get from your local farmer’s market.
