# Is tuna dangerous/deadly to cats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851 "2003-10-01T05:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/1 "2003-10-01T05:02:53Z")
I have heard passing references to tuna being dangerous to cats. I thought it was because of concerns over mercury contamination (which would make it dangerous to people as well). Then I heard it also causes a deadly bladder disease in cats. Yet I think tuna is used in many canned cat foods. I tried a search online but, as expected, I got contradictory information. I wouldn’t feed a cat nothing but tuna, but when I open a can of tuna for a creamy noodle Mercury Helper, I nearly get wrestled to the floor by my hungry, salivating cat and end up surrendering a bite to three to him. Am I killing him? ---
**Author:** ![Not\_In\_Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@Not\_In\_Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_In_Anger)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/2 "2003-10-01T05:15:37Z")
Not likely. Cats thrive on tuna. Don’t think about it. If you hold back on the tuna, I can’t account for what they will, rightly, do to you ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/3 "2003-10-01T05:54:31Z")
The neat thing is if they get enough of the “right kind” of tuna they can liquify into little silvery balls at room temperature. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/4 "2003-10-01T06:20:44Z")
From what i understand, tuna can be given as a treat, but a cat would not “thrive” on tuna soley, because it lacks basic nutrients cats need. Yes, tuna flavor is a base for some cat food, but catfood companies add more stuff to it for those other nutrients. Some quicky googled cites: [http://www.minew-kajunkat.com/feeding/facts\_about\_feeding\_cats.htm](http://www.minew-kajunkat.com/feeding/facts_about_feeding_cats.htm) [http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/fish.php](http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/fish.php) [http://home.att.net/~kittycatfurball/catnutrition.html](http://home.att.net/~kittycatfurball/catnutrition.html) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/5 "2003-10-01T07:36:00Z")
Actaully humans like one part of the Tuna and cats tend to like the part we humans hate. ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/6 "2003-10-01T07:43:04Z")
[SUP]Is tuna dangerous/deadly to cats?[/SUP] In its natural environment, most probably… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuna-dangerous-deadly-to-cats/204851/7 "2003-10-01T12:24:52Z")
**astro** : and you find the cat gets longer in summer and shorter in winter.