Food safety ยท 2 min read

Can cats eat Raw tuna / raw fish?

Caution

Caution. Raw fish (including sushi-grade tuna, salmon, and mackerel) carries parasitic risk, thiaminase (which destroys thiamine), and the same mercury concerns as cooked tuna in larger amounts.

If your cat has eaten raw tuna / raw fish

  1. For a small amount of raw fish: monitor.
  2. For larger amounts or cats fed raw fish regularly: discuss with your vet.

What's the full picture?

Raw fish contains thiaminase โ€” an enzyme that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). Cats on a diet including regular raw fish can develop thiamine deficiency, which causes neurological signs and is potentially fatal.

Parasites are a real risk with raw supermarket fish. Tapeworms and roundworms from raw fish are treatable but avoidable.

A small taste of raw fish left over from prep isn't a crisis. Repeated feeding is.

Symptoms to watch for

Days to weeks
Thiamine deficiency signs โ€” inappetence, neurological signs, seizures in severe cases.

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources โ€” International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know โ€” corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: ยท By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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