If a cat tastes octopus, it probably won’t hurt it.
Unfortunately, it could cause some digestive issues. If your cat seems to a taste for octopus, consult with your vet.
So, can cats eat octopus? A shocking new trend is emerging among cat owners: feeding their felines octopus.
Some owners believe that octopuses are an all-natural protein source and that feeding them to their cats will strengthen their fur and improve their overall health.
Unfortunately, science hasn’t backed up these claims and octopuses may in fact cause health issues for cats.
Can Cats Eat Octopus?
Cats can eat octopus.
However, they should only eat a tentacle or two as a treat and not in large masses.
You must also ensure that the octopus is fresh and not rotten or spoiled in any way.
Cooked octopus is usually safe for cats to ingest, but raw tentacles may cause gastrointestinal issues for your cat.
Do Cats Like Octopus?
This is going a bit far.
Most cats will be ready to try octopus at 6 months or so, and in only small amounts.
And now that they’ve tasted it, they’ll likely want more.
Octopus isn’t something a wild cat is likely to come across, and therefore it’s new to kitties and can be a challenge for them to adapt to and digest.
You won’t know whether your kitty like or doesn’t like it until you give it a try and watch her reaction.
However, any cat that like seafood would most like to eat ahi tuna fish, salmon and shrimp and these would be much better and safer choices than octopus.
Is Octopus Safe For Cats To Eat?
Yes, as long as the octopus is fresh and not rotten or spoiled in any way.
Cooked octopus is a much safer choice than raw tentacles, as raw tentacles may cause gastrointestinal issues for your cat.
On the other hand, raw octopus contaminated by bacteria would be hazardous for your cat and would pose a serious health risk.
While cats aren’t known to be affected by eating raw squid or octopus, the chances of it happening are very low and it’s best not to take the risk.
Cadmium may also be detected when eating octopus, so it would not be healthy for cats to consume large amounts of octopus in anyway.
Because cats are especially sensitive to heavy-metal toxicity and cadmium in particular, and because there’s so much of it in most seafood and in octopus in particular, it’s advised to limit.
Do Cats Hate Octopus?
When your cat tries octopus for a first time, she’ll be very cautious and resist eating it because its texture may resemble that of a worm and she’s more likely to avoid it than eat it,.
They may not like the taste or smell either, although cats who’re used to eating seafood may gradually adjust to it and learn to enjoy it.
Some cats aren’t big on seafood of any kind, probably because of its texture and smell that they don’t like.
Some cats may be turned off by the odor of seafood and prefer to stay away from it.
Don’t worry if your kitty won’t eat octopus, there’re plenty of other fish that are good alternatives for your cat to eat.
While octopus offers some health advantages, it’s nothing you couldn’t achieve by eating the fish your cat prefers the most.
Can Kittens Eat Octopus?
Kittens are vulnerable to sickness and disease just like adult cats, and to make sure they get what they need for overall growth and healthy development, you need to be sure they’re getting.
Bacteria and parasites found in raw octopus are more harmful than those found in cooked octopus (although parasites and bacteria are inherent in all raw seafood).
If you’re going to feed your cat octopus, make sure that it’s cooked properly before giving it to her.
Even then, it should only be given as an occasional treat and in small amounts only.
All of the nutrients a developing kitten needs can be found in a balanced diet for kitties that’s rich in protein, low in carbohydrates, yet high in fat.
As a result, it’s advisable to stick with a kitten food diet that’s specially formulated to meet their nutritional requirements.
Nutritional Benefits of Eating Octopus for Cats
Octopuses are nutrient-dense and have tons of benefits to provide your cat but it is also important to provide her with a balanced diet.
Your cat will receive enough of proteins, vitamins, and minerals by consuming the foods listed above.
Copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium are just a few of the nutrients that octopus contain and beneficial for your cat’s health.
This isn’t to say that octopus isn’t safe for your cat to eat; however, it should only be given in very small quantities as a treat and in limited amounts.
You should always give your cat a well-balanced diet made up of a healthy amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Foods such as ham, tuna, octopus, salmon and prawns can be great sources of protein for cats naturally.
Risks of Cats Eating Octopus
Gastrointestinal Upset
There’s always the risk of gastrointestinal distress when feeding your cat octopus.
It is important to seek veterinarian attention should your cat experience vomiting or diarrhea after eating octopus.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are naturally occurring minerals found within this marine invertebrate and can cause a potential threat if consumed in excess amounts.
Because of their nutrition, octopuses can have high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury which can accumulate in the cat’s digestive system and affect their kidneys and liver not to mention.
Octopuses are carnivores that eat other small creatures that may contain traces of heavy metals such as shellfish and crustaceans.
Because of their location on the ocean’s floor, they are exposed to various toxins that can become toxic when ingested by octopuses.
They are also filter feeders, which make them gather plankton and algae that contain various pollutants such as mercury and all of it’s related toxins.
Ocean predators, such as octopuses, ingest so much heavy metal-laden food that eventually all of the toxins can be concentrated within their muscle tissues.
While an octopus may contain a variety of these toxins, amounts that are considered dangerous to cats are usually only present in the muscle tissues.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Octopus?
Cooked octopus is completely safe for cats to eat.
If you want to give octopus to your kitty, then try to buy it already cooked and cleaned so there is no risk of contamination from chemicals or bacteria.
Never give your cat a raw tentacle or raw octopus meat as they may suffer from food poisoning and have to undergo veterinary assessment.
To prevent any difficulties, always cook octopus before giving it to your pet.
How Much Octopus Can I Feed My Cat?
Once a month or so, it’s ok to give your cat a small bowl of cooked octopus as a treat, but it shouldn’t make up the bulk of their diet.
The octopus, however, should be simple, white and firm with no red or brown stains – this would suggest that it has been contaminated with bacteria from the ocean floor.
Octopus should be cooked thoroughly, as raw seafood can lead to food poisoning or bacterial infections in cats.
If you’re frying your octopus, make sure you choose the correct oil as extra virgin coconut and palm kernel oils are best for cooking fish and other seafood.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Fish Sticks?
Conclusion
Sadly, feeding cats octopus isn’t a very smart idea.
Although people believe that octopuses are a natural protein source, eating them isn’t healthy for cats at all. Cats have sensitive digestive systems that make them prone to digestive issues if their diet is too high in protein or fat.
Octopuses are high in both protein and fat, so feeding them to cats can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, cats are carnivores and shouldn’t eat anything besides meat or fish.
Octopuses aren’t even technically fish; they’re actually mollusks.
In addition , octopuses contain toxins from their environment that can affect your cat’s health if eaten in the raw or cooked form.
The toxins found in octopuses include heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury that can build up in your cat’s body and lead to liver and kidney damage if eaten in excessive amounts.
It’s best to keep octopus away from your feline friends and steer towards another natural protein source that’s safe for them to eat like chicken or turkey instead.
