As pet owners, we love our cats or whatever animal we have. We want them to taste everything that is good for their health. Even if it cannot be given as a proper meal, we will let our cats eat the food as a snack or supplement. We can go beyond the boundaries of the land and bring food for our cats from the seas. When it comes to seafood, mussels are one of the most common foods eaten by humans all around the world.
There is no denial that feeding your cats what you love eating is a good consideration but you should have proper knowledge about the food because some foods can lead to major health issues as well. You should have answers to questions like, can cats eat mussels? Are mussels safe for cats to eat? Are mussels healthy for cats to eat? Just continue reading this article as it will bring you all the necessary information in a single place.
Table of Contents
Can i give my cats mussels?
Cats can eat mussels and if you are able to access them easily, they should be included in their diet as well. The fact is that mussels are rich in vitamins, protein, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and nutrients.
Although these nutrients are not all required by cats, they can fulfill a major part of a cat’s nutritional needs. Make sure you treat the mussels properly before feeding them to cats so that they are not only safe but bring huge benefits as well.
Are mussels toxic to cats?
Mussels are not toxic to cats in any way. However, raw mussels should be cleaned and treated properly before feeding them to your cats. Some digestive parts of the mussels may not be good for cats and you need to remove such parts just like you do before feeding any other seafood. Also, the water and sanitary conditions can contribute to these factors because mussels from dirty waters may have toxins in them.
Are mussels healthy for cats to eat?
Mussels are healthy for cats as they include a huge amount of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Although mussels offer a great value in terms of nutrition, it is still not enough for cats to meet all their nutritional requirements.
You may feed mussels to your cats but other foods should also be given so that your cat can gain the minerals that are lacking in mussels. In a nutshell, mussels are healthy for cats but you need to add other meals to the cat’s diet routine as well.
Are blue mussels safe for cats to eat?
Mussels themselves are completely safe for cats to eat. There could be parasites or pathogens in raw mussels which should be wiped off before feeding mussels to your cats. Apart from this, try your best to have mussels from fresh and clean water because dirty water can cause some health issues as mussels feed themselves from that dirty water and all the dirty things in the water.
Can cats eat mussels every day?
You can feed mussels to cats every day and there is no harm in that but experts claim that mussels should not be given regularly as they lack some nutrients needed for better development, growth, and health of your cats.
Apart from this, mussels have very little fat which means that cats need to eat other foods as well to satisfy all their nutritional requirements. So, cats can eat mussels every day but it is better to just feed twice or thrice a week and add other meals to the cat’s weekly diet routine as well.
What are the health benefits of feeding mussels to cats?
- Proteins in muscles strengthen the body tissues of cats.
- Omega-3 and other fatty acids ensure healthy cellular function.
- Fatty acids help in keeping the joints, muscles, skin, and nerves strong even in old age.
- Helps in maintaining the required level of potassium, phosphorus, and iron in cats.
- Helps in weight loss.
- Prevent heart failure or any other fatal diseases.
- Mitigate the chances of brain strokes to almost zero.
- Fulfill a big portion of cats’ nutritional needs.
Major risks of feeding mussels to cats?
- It may cause allergies to a few cats that are already allergic to seafood.
- Parasites can cause digestive issues or may lead to illness as well.
As soon as you notice any signs or symptoms of illness, it is better to reach out to your vet so that the issue can be resolved without causing any major harm to your cat.
What kind of seafood are safe for cats to eat?
Various kinds of seafood are safe for cats to eat especially if they are not poisonous or toxic to them. Most seafood is harmful to cats if given in raw form but if you cook them properly, there are almost no chances that your cat may face health issues. Some of the best seafood that are safe and beneficial for cats to eat include the following:
- Scallops
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Cod
- Shrimp
Nutrition Facts of Mussels:
Mussels are rich in various vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It can be said that mussels are one of the best seafood to be given to your cats.
Below is the detailed table mentioning every little chunk of nutrition that comes with feeding mussels to your cats.
Take a look carefully so that you have an absolute idea of what muscles bring and what kinds of food need to be combined with them.
| Raw Mussels (100 grams) | Nutrition Facts |
| Calories | 86 |
| Saturated fat | 0.4g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.5g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.6g |
| Cholesterol | 28mg |
| Sodium | 286mg |
| Potassium | 320mg |
| Carbohydrates | 3.7g |
| Net carbs | 3.7g |
| Protein | 11.9g |
| Vitamin A | 48μg |
| Vitamin A IU | 160IU |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 12μg |
| Vitamin C | 8mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.6mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.1μg |
| Calcium | 26mg |
| Iron | 4mg |
| Magnesium | 34mg |
| Phosphorus | 197 mg |
| Zinc | 1.6mg |
| Copper | 0.1mg |
| Manganese | 3.4mg |
| Selenium | 44.8μg |
| Retinol | 48μg |
| Thiamine | 0.2mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.6mg |
| Niacin | 1.6mg |
| Folate | 42μg |
| Water | 80.6g |
| DHA | 0.3g |
| EPA | 0.2g |
| Omega-3 | 0.5g |
| Tryptophan | 0.1g |
| Threonine | 0.5g |
| Isoleucine | 0.5g |
| Leucine | 0.8g |
| Lysine | 0.9g |
| Methionine | 0.3g |
| Cystine | 0.2g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.4g |
| Tyrosine | 0.4g |
| Valine | 0.5g |
| Arginine | 0.9g |
| Histidine | 0.2g |
| Alanine | 0.7g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.1g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.6g |
| Glycine | 0.7g |
| Proline | 0.5g |
| Serine | 0.5g |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to find mussels for cats?
If you want to have fresh mussels, you should look for them in fresh flowing water mainly in streams and rivers. Mussels can be found in very small as well as large areas. Some species or kinds of mussels can also be found in standing water such as lakes. You can buy mussels from nearby pet food shops as well.
How often do people feed mussels to cats?
One thing is that mussels are not harmful if fed to cats, but as they are not able to fill all the nutritional needs of cats alone, it is better to put it in the cat’s diet cycle but not as the only diet for cats. Experts claim that feeding mussels to cats, twice or thrice a week is considered a good practice.
Can cats eat cooked mussels?
Cats cannot only eat cooked mussels but most pet owners recommend only feeding mussels to cats once they are properly cooked. Raw mussels can contain bacteria and parasites that can cause digestive issues or immediate allergic reactions if eaten. Therefore, it’s better to cook mussels without adding any spices or sauces and then feed them to your cats.
The unique literary talents of Dr. A. Barton are well known throughout the veterinary profession. He is a regular contributor to the New York City Veterinarian and his professional articles have also appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Veterinarian and Philadelphia Medicine. He is the only veterinarian ever to have had an article published in the human medical publication, What’s New.
