Oh no!!!! Not tuna! Tuna causes a miserable and painful ailment in cats called steatitis.

Please, under no circumstances, feed you kitty tuna. Cats easily become 'tuna junkies' as the oil is very addicting. Tuna is considered a cat allergen and can cause all sorts of illnesses - epilepsy, asthma, hyperactivity and skin troubles. It also causes heavy metal intoxication with such high amounts of mercury that leads to chronic UTIs, liver, kidney and pancreatic damage. Tuna destroys the cats vitamin E stores and can also cause a muscular dystrophy-like ailment called steatitis. If you must feed tuna, supplement with E daily (even so - Es basically ineffective). The heavy metal poisoning is also a problem for us lowly humans as well. The fact that it's in aluminum cans is dangerous, too.

Tuna can actually be fatal to cats - as fatal as chocolate (oxalic acid in chocolate prevents calcium absorption in dogs. In cats it's the theobromine that's fatal). First, they become 'hooked' on the strong flavor; Second, there's a high amount of polyunsaturated fat (the 'oil' I refer to) in tuna and a cat's system cannot metabolize it. If it is packed in a vegetable oil (as in some commercial pet foods - great tuna parts as well) this adds the additional danger of destroying the vitamin E in the system, causing steatitis (a muscular dystrophy-type of ailment). This ailment results in the cat's nerve endings becoming supersensitive and the animal experiences pain whenever touched or held. Actually, supplementing w/vitamin E isn't good enough. Third, tuna does contain high amounts of mercury and is systemically poisonous due to heavy metal intoxication.

Steatitis or Yellow Fat Disease is found primarily in cats and fur-bearing animals (Minks). It is characterized by a marked inflammation of adipose tissue and the deposition of 'ceroid' (wax) pigment in the interstices (small gaps) of the adipose (fat) tissue.

Etiology: It is believed that an overabundance of unsaturated fatty acids in the food, together with a deficiency of vitamin E, results in the deposition of the pigment in the fat. Most naturally occurring and experimentally produced cases have occurred in animals that have had fish, or fish by-products, as all or part of the diet; fish oil may be the primary agent.

Clinical Findings and Diagnosis: Affected cats are frequently plump and well fed, usually young, and may be of either sex. They show loss of agility and general unwillingness to move. Resentment is exhibited on palpation of the back and abdomen. In the advanced cases, even a light touch will cause pain. Fever is a constant finding and anorexia may be present. (I won't go into the findings regarding mink unless there are some owners on the list that wish this info).

The typical laboratory finding is an elevated leukocyte count, with neutrophilia (high white blood cell count) and sometimes eosinophilia (abnormally large number of eosinophils-red staining white blood cells-in the circulating blood). Biopsy of the subcut. fat shows it to be yellowish brown, with a nodular or granular appearance. Microscopic examination reveals severe inflammatory changes and associated ceroid pigment.

Treatment: Elimination of the offending food from the diet is imperative. The administration of vitamin E, in the form of a-tocopherol, at least 30 mg daily for cats, or 15 mg daily for mink, is necessary. Antibiotics are of doubtful value, in spite of the fever and leukocytosis. Administration of fluids is not advisable unless dehydration exists and the animal should be handled as little as possible.

Basically - a cat and mink ailment that is only caused by fish oil. I see nothing in my veterinary texts regarding dogs or other animals getting this problem.

Rev. Debra L. Moore, D.N.
Doctor of Naturology
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