How Safe Are Fish Foods For Cats?

5 Top Reasons Why Cats Should NOT Eat Fish

1. Main cause of allergies in cats to fish protein 

Did you know that a leading cause of skin allergies and intolerances in cats are due to eating fish?

Cats are highly sensitive to the heavy metals in fish as well as the actual protein in fish as shown in the graph below taken from a veterinary dermatology webinar with Nextmune. 

2. Cats Are Land Mammals And Do Not Naturally Catch Fish

Cats are HYDROPHOBIC as they have only ever lived as land mammals, so they would NEVER choose to jump into water to catch and eat fish......and yet almost every cat food brand available has the addition of highly non-sustainable fish protein added to their food as it is a cheaply available product to add with most suppliers coming from heavily over-fished seas in Thailand! Fish-based cat food is NOT species specific to cats at all.

3. Cats fed fish food can suffer kidney disease

Heavy metal toxicities with Arsenic in particular result in kidney disease in cats are caused by cats eating foods rich in fish.

We absolutely agree with you Dr Mike Davies that far more emphasis needs to be put on prevention of our cats developing kidney disease due to eating fish contaminated with high levels of Arsenic. Why not feed cats the Omega 3s that they get from fish as a highly palatable and pure oil made of microalgae instead where fish get the Omegas from in the first place that has NO Arsenic contamination at all?!

3. Fish foods could be contaminated with ethoxyquin

What is ethoxyquin?

Ethoxyquin is a preservative used in fish meal, particularly during transport and storage as fish will undergo bacterial putrefaction just as soon as they are taken out of the water. It has been banned in some countries for human consumption, and there is some evidence it is harmful to a cat's liver function.

Many fish-based pet foods contain ethoxyquin, and there is no regulation requiring it to be labelled on pet foods. It’s just another reason to choose sustainable plant-based cat foods!

4. Heavy metal contamination in fish-based cat food

Heavy metals more likely to affect cats as high levels in meat and fish-based cat foods of Cadmium, Mercury, Lead and Arsenic compared to plant-based cat foods

5. Risk of Hyperthyroidism from Mercury in fish-based cat foods

Research shows that cats on fish-based diets can have mercury levels up to five times higher than humans, which may lead to serious health problems like hyperthyroidism and kidney failure, especially in older cats. This was brought to our attention by a company in the US that has developed a fish food made that will have every batch tested for lower mercury levels and only certain fish are chosen for the food as shown here - Pure Cravings launches premium mercury-tested cat food.

**CELEBRATING PLANT POWERED CAT FOOD WHICH IS FULL OF PURE MICROALGAE NOT FISH**

READ HERE HOW MICROALGAE IS THE ANSWER TO MORE SUSTAINABLE PET FOOD - HURRAH A PERFECT SOLUTION TO PROTECT OUR VALUABLE OCEANS AND YOUR CAT'S HEALTH!

This is why at Just Be Kind, we developed our pure and delicious Omega 3 Daily Algae oil for cats to ensure safety and an absence of heavy metals normally found in fish oils. We also know how notoriously fussy cats are with their food and how they prefer certain textures and varieties. Until we can stock a balanced tinned food for your cat, we do offer the option to make tasty topper replacements for those fish-based pouches!

“I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our cats that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced, wholesome and delicious diet”

"If nobody changes then nothing changes but if somebody changes, then everything changes"

- Dr Arielle with Ruff Plant Powered family dog 

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