The cat loves fish, but can it also eat its bones? Let’s see together what happens if cats eat fish bones.
Felines as we well know are carnivorous animals, and feed not only on meat but also on fish. While the latter is consumed by the human being a few times and above all cooked, our beloved cats love to eat fish and eat it both cooked and raw.
Many people feed their cat with fish, although they are worried about the bones of the latter. But if cats eat fish bones what happens? Let’s find out together below.
Can the cat eat the bones of the fish?
Fish is a food rich in proteins, nutrients very important for the health of the feline. On the other hand, however, it is necessary to know that there are some fish that do not have vitamin K, important for the clotting of the cat’s blood and other fish that do not make the cat absorb vitamin B.
For this reason the feline can eat fish but not as a daily meal, but from time to time. As a high intake of fish can provoke such problems in the cat:
- Vitamin deficiencies in cats
- Cat thyroid problems
- Allergies
But if the cat ate not only the fish but also its bones what would happen? On this topic there are those who say that if the cat eats raw fish, its bones can not cause them any problems. As they are raw, they are softer and therefore more chewable for the cat.
On the other hand, there are those who declare that it would be appropriate never to give raw fish to the cat as it has an enzyme that eliminates vitamin B1, very useful to the cat. Lack of this vitamin can provoke neurological problems in the cat with symptoms such as:
- Anorexia in the cat
- Dilated pupils
- Problems in movements
- Aggressiveness
- Seizures
In addition, raw fish could also transmit parasites to the cat.
While if the fish offered to the cat is cooked, the bones could cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract and throat of the feline, as the splinters of the bones could cause injuries or clog the cat’s throat causing it to suffocate. So it would be appropriate to remove the bones before offering the fish to the cat. Alternatively you can give the cat frozen fish, which is already clean.
What to do if the cat is choking on fishbone?
In the event that carelessly your cat has ingested a fishbone and can not breathe, the first thing to do is to calm the cat, as the latter due to his difficulty breathing will shake a lot.
After that it would be appropriate to explore its mouth to try to locate the obstruction. Once the fishbone has been highlighted, it would be advisable to remove it gently with tweezers. In case you can’t pull out the bone with tweezers because it’s too deep or stuck, you should save your cat with the Heimlich maneuver.
If you do not know how to carry out such a maneuver, it is recommended to take the cat immediately to the veterinarian or to the emergency room. The speed of first aid to the animal is very important to save the life of your four-legged friend.
Finally, always remember to keep your cat under control when eating the fish, so as to act promptly in case the cat feels sick.
