There is a saying: Happiness is when cats eat fish and dogs eat meat. It is customary for people to think that cats like to eat fish, but in fact this is not the case. Cats are not born to like to eat fish. However, fish is still very good for the health of cats. Feeding it in moderation has many benefits.

1. Cats are not born to love fish

1. Analysis of the evolution of cats

Today’s domestic cats evolved from grassland cats and desert cats. It was difficult to find water sources in the environment of cat ancestors. It can be seen that cat ancestors did not eat fish until cats entered human families.

2. Cat’s concept inference

After becoming human companions, fish rich in protein and taurine became favored by domestic cats. In cats’ concept, fishy food is fresh, and the fishy smell also satisfies cats’ sense of smell.

2. Pet cats eat freshwater fish

1. Freshwater fish is ideal

Freshwater fish are ideal for cats. Although most fish have many spines, they do not pose a great threat to the cat’s digestive tract, because most of the fine spines will be smoothed out by the barbs on the cat’s tongue. It is then swallowed and digested in the stomach.

2. Do not feed cats alive

What you need to pay attention to when feeding freshwater fish to cats is that the fish must be cooked, and cats must not eat raw fish, especially the fish heads, gills and internal organs that are discarded during the cooking process, and do not give it to cats casually.

3. Raw fish has parasites

Freshwater fish, especially those raised in natural waters and old ponds, have a terrible parasite. If a cat is infected when eating raw freshwater fish, the adult worms will parasitize in the cat's liver and cause liver tissue lesions.

4. Concurrency may be fatal

Infected cats will develop anorexia and depression in the early stages of the disease, and then develop symptoms of jaundice, vomiting, weight loss, and sometimes an increase in body temperature. If the owner is careless at this time and fails to detect the condition in time and delays the condition, the cat's life will be endangered.

3. Rules for Feeding Cats Saltwater Fish

1. Remove thick fish bones

Saltwater fish generally have hard and thick fish bones. These fish bones are difficult for cats to chew and swallow. If the main bone is swallowed backwards into the mouth, it may get stuck in the throat and be difficult to remove. Therefore, when feeding saltwater fish to cats, the fish bones must be removed.

2. Avoid regular consumption

Some cats often pee due to their own physical factorsWhen urethral stones occur, the large amount of magnesium salts contained in seawater fish will form stones in the cat's urethra. Therefore, cats with a history of urethral stones or a genetic history should avoid eating seawater fish as much as possible.

3. Cause cervical pain

Marine fish contain a large amount of thiamine enzyme, which can decompose thiamine in food and body. If seawater fish is the main food for a long time, it can cause vitamin B deficiency in cats, causing cervical pain, inability to lift the neck and other symptoms.

4. Pay attention to feeding fish to cats

1. Fish cannot be used as staple food

Fish cannot meet the daily nutritional needs of adult cats. Fish has low fat content, and the main nutritional needs and energy source of adult cats come from fat. If only fish is used as the cat’s staple food, it will also cause malnutrition in cats.

But it can be eaten 3 or 4 times a week in the form of complementary food or rewards.

2. Remove all fish internal organs

Fish heads, gills, and internal organs must be removed. Because river or lake water is more or less polluted, these pollutants will remain on the heads and gills of fish. Once the cat eats it, it will also have a certain impact on the cat's body.

3. Eat less if you have a sensitive stomach

When feeding cats, be careful not to give them too much salt. Therefore, when preparing fish for your favorite cats at home, you can boil or steam the fish, and the fish must be cooked before it can be eaten by cats. Pet owners should remember that if your cat has a sensitive stomach, you will have to give up food such as fish.