# What is the fishiest smelling fish that I could buy canned? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722 "2015-07-10T02:08:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/1 "2015-07-10T02:08:27Z")
What is the fishiest smelling (and tasting) fish that I can buy in cans? I need to hide crushed flea pills in food given to the cats. The pills smell like mold. Damp books left in a dirt floor root cellar for a dozen years kind of mold smell. It’s thoroughly disgusting. Tuna in oil is not working. ☹ Since I know someone will ask, I took away the food bowl yesterday. Unsure if this should go in IMHO or not. It’s food related, so I started here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/2 "2015-07-10T02:09:59Z")
Mackerel. It is a very oily fish. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/3 "2015-07-10T02:16:24Z")
Try canned cat food, not tuna or something that is chunky. You want a puree. Mix the crushed pill into a small amount of cat food. Like a tablespoon or two, not a full serving. Mix it into the pureed food (Friskies or something similar - I think the cheap stuff actually works well). Offer to the cat. Wait until it’s eaten before offering rest of serving. Question - and this is sincere - since this is flea medicine - why not use the drops? I find it easy to scruff my cat once a month and just put drops on the back of her neck. She’s ticked off (pun intended) for a little while and then we’re friends again. It may just be easier than the pills in this case. Depends on how easy it is to handle your cat. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/4 "2015-07-10T02:17:16Z")
surstromming ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/5 "2015-07-10T02:30:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Mackerel. It is a very oily fish. Came in to say just this. You can get tuna that smells, but not in that really fishy way that mackerel does. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/6 "2015-07-10T02:36:21Z")
No vote for smoked kippers? Surely that must be the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/7 "2015-07-10T02:58:43Z")
Came in to say mackerel, but if you can get it, try cincalok. Basically fermented teeny shrimp in a jar. God does it reek. Husband bought some once and enjoyed it on stirfry and pizza…I stayed far away and made sure he washed his hands. > **[Amazon.com: Cincalok (Shrimp Sauce) - 8.8oz (Pack of 3) : Grocery & Gourmet...](https://www.amazon.com/Cincalok-Shrimp-Sauce-8-8oz-Pack/dp/B00NBT9T7W)** > > Amazon.com: Cincalok (Shrimp Sauce) - 8.8oz (Pack of 3) : Grocery & Gourmet Food I’m sure the kitties would love it. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/8 "2015-07-10T03:39:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Mackerel. It is a very oily fish. Thank you, I’ll try that!! I do have a can of it somewhere, and considered trying it before I posted, but didn’t want to waste another pill. I’d run sardines through the “garage sale blender,” if I thought it would work. > [@ddsun](#): > > Try canned cat food, not tuna or something that is chunky. You want a puree. \ > > Question - and this is sincere - since this is flea medicine - why not use the drops? > \ To answer your question, I actually would prefer the drops, but 2 summers ago they quit working for my cats. Two weeks after I’d apply the drops, they’d have fleas. Poor cats, as soon as their fur quit being oily, the fleas were back. Tried a different brand…then went to the vet for Frontline. Same thing, fleas within two weeks. I’ve tried 3 different kinds of the drops, and none of them worked longer than two weeks. I think Ohio fleas are evolving. :eek: About the canned cat food, tried that last summer when I switched them to the Comfortis. I dose 6 cats, every month of flea season. The first month, it worked. The second month, **M** iss **F** inicky wouldn’t eat hers, so I gave her dose to another cat, broke hers into thirds, and made **MF** swallow the pill. By the end of last summer, I had 3 good kitties that were willing to eat theirs, and 3 **MF** ers I had to force feed the pills to. :mad: This is the third month of flea season here, and I had 5 **MF** ers last month. I’m going to have to trick them!! ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/9 "2015-07-10T03:46:40Z")
**Elemenopy,** ahh… exactly how fermented is fermented? (Mental image of 6 cats staggering around the house… 😛 ) I’ve seen videos of drunken animals…but I’ll try it, if the mackerel quits working! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/10 "2015-07-10T04:17:42Z")
If jack mack doesn’t work, you might try canned sardines. And if that doesn’t work, try some blind robin. But don’t try surstromming. If it comes down to a choice between opening a can of surstromming in your house and learning to live with some fleas, go with the fleas. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/11 "2015-07-10T04:54:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But don’t try surstromming. If it comes down to a choice between opening a can of surstromming in your house and learning to live with some fleas, go with the fleas. he asked for super smelly fish… ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/12 "2015-07-10T06:00:26Z")
> [@Why\_Child](#): > > **Elemenopy,** ahh… exactly how fermented is fermented? (Mental image of 6 cats staggering around the house… 😛 ) > > I’ve seen videos of drunken animals…but I’ll try it, if the mackerel quits working! Ah no, fermented as in sauerkraut or kimchi or pickles, not as in beer. 😃 If cats can have vinegar (there was a slight undertone of that lurking behind the **DEAD FISH HERE!** smell), then they’ll be ok. Product is 99% yucky shrimp in a slight glaze of 1% vinegary yuck. No offense to anyone who likes this stuff, I cook with fish sauce now… ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/13 "2015-07-10T06:02:32Z")
What about the Seresto flea collars? I’m just thinking that no matter how stinky the fish, you’re heading for a problem. I haven’t tried them myself. Might be worth asking your vet. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/14 "2015-07-10T07:27:29Z")
Now that I’ve given more thought to running stuff through the blender, I might also try them with shrimp or oysters!! **Elemenopy,** I clicked your link again and read to the bottom of the page this time, and I read that it has a salty taste, which is one of the reasons I had decided against anchovies. I’m not too sure how cats handle salt. They don’t drink enough water to start with, _my vet said,_ so possible dehydration would be an issue. Upon further reading, I found “Bagoong Alamang (see shrimp paste)” so I might try looking for shrimp paste. I’m not sure how they’d feel about the vinegar. Next time I go into the kitchen, I’ll let them smell some, and see what kind of reviews it gets! 😃 :rolleyes: **ddsun,** if flea collars still have the same smell as the ones I remember using on the family dog from my childhood, I think I’d rather try the surstromming. (Thank you, **adhemar,** and… **Little Nemo** …with your caution in mind, I will dose them on the porch. On a windy day. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/15 "2015-07-10T07:44:30Z")
[Proceed with caution.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_haw_YDC_zo) ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/16 "2015-07-10T08:01:53Z")
**ddsun,** I also let my cats go outside, so collars kind of make me nervous. I’m probably being hypocritical complaining about my neighbors that let their dogs run free, but then again, it isn’t like my cats go running into anyone else’s yard trying to kill their pet. We’ve had this problem with dogs chasing our cats. I’m half afraid of the cat getting hung up on something and choking due to the collar, and half afraid of the dog catching them because they got hung up by the collar. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/17 "2015-07-10T08:29:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Proceed with caution.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_haw_YDC_zo) :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Oh, hell no! **adhemar!!** What have I ever done to you?! 😕 I’m guessing you read the thread title and just posted whatever came to mind? And it was _THAT?_!! :eek: :eek: :eek: Wonder if they’d eat it? Provided I lived through opening the can… Thank you, thank you, **Little Nemo.** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/18 "2015-07-10T14:03:04Z")
wow! I had heard it was super stinky but damn. The picture of it was too disgusting to keep watching not to mention the retching. So this is probably no help to you and your cats but when my super finicky dog had to take pills that would have been too big for ME to swallow, I crushed them into a spoon full of plain yogurt. she lapped it up like it was the best thing ever. Pumpkin puree worked as well but I didn’t like having such a large amount open. My vet approved her eating yogurt and pumpkin because I didn’t feed her people food. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/19 "2015-07-10T14:39:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No vote for smoked kippers? > > Surely that must be the winner. MUCH too good for cats! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722/20 "2015-07-10T16:08:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Proceed with caution.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_haw_YDC_zo) I think we have a winner. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-fishiest-smelling-fish-that-i-could-buy-canned/724722.md?page=2)