Can Cats Eat Oysters

Cats are pet animals with innate impulses passed down from their untamed predecessors. Pet cats with human parents who provide nutritious, well-balanced meals may still be drawn to other foods. Parents of cats are often inclined to fall into their feline’s pleading but can cats eat oysters?

You must not feed oysters to your kitties since raw oysters contain bacteria that can induce digestive and gastrointestinal issues. You should not feed oysters to cats since they lack all the essential elements that kitties need in a healthy meal. Because cats cannot cope with enzymes, there’s a good chance that the enzymes contained in oysters may cause your little pet to get quite unwell. 

We will see in this post if we should feed cats oyster shells or canned oysters or, if not, what seafood cats can be fed. Read the entire post to learn what food you can give and should avoid giving to your feline. 

Can Cats Eat Oysters Shells?

Though oyster shells are high in calcium and may be nutritious to your cat, you must avoid giving them to your cat regularly. 

Uncooked oysters must not be given to cats since they might contain bacteria that might clog your cat’s intestinal tract, which is something you never want to happen to your feline friend. 

Seafood should not be fed to cats daily since it is unhealthy and can result in severe consequences.

It’s usually a good idea to add seafood as an afterthought, as cats are typically allergic to shellfish and can develop sensitivities if provided on a continuous routine.

What About Canned Oysters? Can Cats Have Those?

No, cats should not consume oysters since they contain enzymes that adversely affect cats and can be lethal to them. Oyster enzymes break down thiamine in any little feline’s body.

It’s been suggested that cats may be fed oysters in small amounts, but this is entirely untrue. If provided in high numbers, oysters can potentially kill your little pet. 

However, if we’re talking about canned oysters, they’re considered to contain better nutrition than uncooked oysters and may be fed to your kitties.  

But, remember, you must only offer your cat canned oysters in small amounts, and if at all possible, avoid giving your cat canned oysters.  

Is Oyster Sauce Harmful To Cats?

It would be best if you didn’t also feed oyster sauce to your feline friend since it contains artificial seasoning and additives that might upset your cat’s digestion process, resulting in diarrhea and sickness.

Sauces usually contain various ingredients that are susceptible to your cat’s digestive cycle. You must keep it far from your feline friend.

However, if your cat enjoys oyster sauce and begs you to serve it to them, don’t include it in the regular meal; instead, provide it as an occasional treat with extreme caution.

Reasons Oysters Are Bad For Cats

Specific reasons suggest oysters are bad for cats, a few of which are included below:

Enzymes

The type of enzyme that oysters possess is the most significant wellness consequence that will hit you square in the face.

Enzymes degrade the thiamine present in your little pet’s body, which is essential for survival. Thiamine is a vitamin B that allows cats to maintain their balance. Oysters deficient in thiamine can cause cognitive problems, convulsions, and brain death in cats.

In this instance, just a tiny quantity can also harm your cat.

Food Poisoning

Oysters contain bacteria that can be dangerous to cats and even us. Raw oysters contain Vibrio Vulnificus, a bacteria that can induce gut and gastrointestinal issues if left untreated and might induce severe disease and even fatality in your kitties.

This bacterium can induce diarrhea in cats, which can be deadly if left untreated. After reading these pertinent arguments that clearly show why you must not feed your feline oysters, you will have solid reasons for abandoning your desire to provide your cat oysters.

What Seafood Can Cats Eat?

Mussels

Mussels, a bivalve clam variety, are a good form of energy, nutrients, vitamins, and vital fats for kitties. You may offer your cat mussels if you wish, but only occasionally.

Mussels are heavy on thiamine, which could also cause long-term medical issues in felines, and they also have a strong salt level, which isn’t optimal for them. 

Clams

Kitties can consume Clams, but only in tiny amounts and preferably from reliable suppliers.

If not handled properly, their significant salt level may be dangerous, and if consumed in substantial numbers, this could harm their kidneys and liver. Merely said, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for cats and nothing extra.

Scallops

Scallops possess a shell; however, it is not difficult to remove them. They may be barbecued, roasted, cooked, poached, or deep-fried, and they’ll be ready in no time.

In most cases, kitties could consume scallops since they are pretty healthy. Nutrients, proteins, minerals, and vital essential fats are all abundant.

On the other hand, uncooked scallops must be resisted at all costs by any cat parent since the thiamine will create medical issues in your cat’s intestines.

Although cooking fresh seafood removes poisons, it may potentially be harmful if it makes up a major part of a person’s diet.

So, if you’re going to give this shellfish to the little pet, maintain the serving size minimally, don’t develop it as a regular practice, and avoid feeding your cat seafood as few times as possible. 

Lobsters

Lobsters are likely to be one of the safest seafood for your cats to consume.

Clean lobsters are generally okay for kitties to consume in small quantities if they aren’t sensitive to shellfish. However, they shouldn’t be treated with additional toxic substances, such as milk items or garlic.

As a response, maintain the servings minimal and reserve them for exceptional times.

However, cats should not be fed fish every day since it is unhealthy and can result in severe consequences. It’s also good to add seafood as an afterthought, as kitties are typically allergic to seafood and can develop illnesses if consumed regularly.

Things to Consider

Oysters are found in saline waters in their native habitat. Even though certain oysters are cultivated intentionally, they are frequently maintained in oyster fields in ocean water. 

Consequently, oil spills, garbage, and other poisons released into the environment harm the water where the oysters are kept. 

Even if the contamination isn’t severe enough to harm people, oysters cultivated in dirty water can kill a kitty who eats it. Contamination may harm cats, causing both physiological and mental harm to them.

Owners provide industrial pet food meals to the majority of household cats. Components like meat, cereals, and vitamins are mixed to make solid and liquid cat meals.  

On the other hand, oyster-containing cat feed could possess similar detrimental health effects as consuming oysters raw. Manufactured cat food containing oysters might be harmful to cats.

In various parts of the globe, consuming uncooked oysters is normal. Raw oysters are a different type of cuisine than cooked or grilled oysters. Oyster bacteria can cause illness in humans and kitties. 

Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium that induces gastrointestinal and digestive disorders in people and pets, may be found in raw oysters. Regular intake of oysters can cause several health issues in cats and may even lead them to die from diarrhea and dehydration.