Seafood is the only variety of food that is almost impossible for cats to eat on their own. They can only access seafood if you live on a beach. Otherwise, you as a cat owner are the only people who can let them taste these huge varieties. It is clear that cats require a huge amount of protein to survive and live a healthy life and this requirement is efficiently satisfied by feeding them meat-based food.
However, it is also a good idea to feed the seafood that is not only safe but brings some health benefits as well. With this thing being said, many food options will come into your mind and clams could be one of them.
You may ask, can cats eat clams? Are clams safe for cats to eat? Or are there any health benefits of feeding clams to cats? Well, this article is composed just to answer all these questions and all you have to do is continue reading this article till the end.
Table of Contents
Can i give my cats clams?
Yes, cats can eat clams and it is probably one of the most appreciated seafood by the cats. Although cats are good at eating clams, it really doesnāt mean that you should add them into their daily routine diet.
Eating too many clams at the same time or eating too frequently can not only wipe off the benefits that a cat can get but will bring side effects and health hazards as well.
Can cats eat clam strips?
Strips are prepared in different ways but if you are going to feed clam strips to your cats, make sure you donāt add any spices, sauces, or any other toxic ingredients. Cats are safe to eat clam strips as long as they are properly cooked and given in very small quantities.
Can cats eat clam chowder?
Yes, cats can eat clam chowder but never as a proper diet. Clam chowder is regarded as a treat, snack, or supplement that is given just to let your cats have a taste of something new, once in a while. So, if you think that clam chowder can be added to a catās daily routine diet, it is wrong as only feeding this food will not satisfy catsā nutrient requirements.
Is clam good for cats to eat?
In a single word Yes. Cats get almost all these minerals, vitamins, and acids from meat-based foods. Clams have a rich amount of taurine which is one of the essential amino acids for catsā diets.
Having a low level of taurine in catsā bodies can lead to various health problems. It may slow down the catsā growth rate (to some minor extent) as well. Apart from this, clams also include various other nutrients required by cats and it is a safe food as well.
Are clams poisonous for cats to eat?
No. Clams are completely safe for cats to eat and there is no toxicity in the food. It is recommended to clean and prepare the food in the best way possible so that it can bring nutritional benefits and taste as well.
Are cats allergic to clams?
Although most cats are good to go with clams, some cats may begin to show allergic reactions as soon as they eat clams.
This thing is common in some species or specific cats that cannot eat seafood. It is better to have a word with your vet before moving on to feed clams to your precious cats.
If cats donāt have an allergic history to seafood, clams can bring a good amount of nutrition until you donāt feed too much.
What happens if cats eat too many clams?
Clams include a good amount of sodium and if given in huge quantities, the salt can initiate some immediate but minor reactions as well.
It may lead to major issues but the chances are quite low. Also, health problems can occur if you feed too much or too frequently. The major health issues include:
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Tremors
- Decreased appetite
- Coma
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
How to serve clams to your cats?
- Start by washing clams thoroughly to ensure no contaminants or harmful organisms are attached.
- Cook them properly as feeding raw clam is just a health hazard.
- Donāt include any spices or sauces.
- Include the cooked clams into the catās meal in small quantities as a supplement.
Benefits of feeding clams to your cats:
- Fulfill the deficiency of taurine, an essential amino acid for cats.
- Taurine reduces the chances of heart and other fatal diseases.
- Decrease tooth decay.
- Mitigates the probability of blindness.
- A great source of minerals, vitamins, and essential acids.
Nutrition Fact of Clams:
Just like many other kinds of seafood, clams are also filled with a wide range of minerals, vitamins, amino and fatty acids.
All these nutrients can help your cat grow in a better way along with many other health benefits as well.
Below is the detailed table listing every chunk of nutrient in clams. This thing will help you decide how many clams are good for your cats to eat.
| Raw Clams (100 grams) | Nutrition Facts |
| Calories | 86 |
| Saturated fat | 0.1g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.1g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.2g |
| Cholesterol | 30mg |
| Sodium | 601mg |
| Potassium | 46mg |
| Carbohydrates | 3.6g |
| Net carbs | 3.6g |
| Protein | 11.9g |
| Protein | 14.7 |
| Vitamin A | 90Ī¼g |
| Vitamin A IU | 300IU |
| Vitamin B12 | 11.3Ī¼g |
| Vitamin D IU | 1 IU |
| Vitamin E | 0.7mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.2Ī¼g |
| Calcium | 39mg |
| Iron | 1.6mg |
| Magnesium | 19mg |
| Phosphorus | 198 mg |
| Zinc | 0.5mg |
| Copper | 0.1mg |
| Manganese | 0.1mg |
| Selenium | 30.6Ī¼g |
| Retinol | 90Ī¼g |
| Niacin | 0.4mg |
| FolateĀ | 5Ī¼g |
| Choline | 65mg |
| Water | 79g |
| DHA | 0.1g |
| Omega-3 | 0.1g |
| Tryptophan | 0.2g |
| Threonine | 0.7g |
| Isoleucine | 0.7g |
| Leucine | 1.2g |
| Lysine | 1.1g |
| Methionine | 0.4g |
| Cystine | 0.2g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.6g |
| Tyrosine | 0.6g |
| Valine | 0.7g |
| Arginine | 1.2g |
| Histidine | 0.3g |
| Alanine | 0.9g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.6g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.2g |
| Glycine | 0.6g |
| Proline | 0.5g |
| Serine | 0.7g |
What other seafood can cats eat?
Although your cats can safely eat clams, some other seafood options are also very popular among cat owners all around the world. The basic reason why the below-mentioned seafood options are appreciated is that cats love to eat them as a treat once in a while. Scallops and mussels come on top of this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats eat cooked clams?
Raw or unwashed clams may include various otherĀ organismsĀ that may not be safe for cats to eat. Feeding raw or fresh clamsĀ can lead to cat sickness or may even result in some short-term health issuesĀ as well. Therefore, cats can not only eat cooked clams but it is recommended by various experts to only feed clams to cats if they areĀ washed, prepared, and cookedĀ efficiently.
Can cats eat canned clams?
The answer goes both ways. Canned clams usually have aĀ high amount of saltĀ which can be harmful to cats if ingested. So, you are only advised to feed canned clams if you have washed them properly before feeding them to the cats. Without going through the washing process, feeding canned clams isĀ strictly prohibitedĀ by various vets and pet experts.
Can cats have clam juice?
Yes. Cats can have clam juice as it also includes all the nutrients that come with clams themselves. You may also have heard that the vet recommended feeding clam juice to aged cats especially if they areĀ suffering from any kind of kidney issues. Feeding clam juice to such cats not only takes in theĀ nutrientsĀ but increases the requiredĀ liquid intakeĀ as well.
References
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/clam
- https://www.nutritionadvance.com/clams-nutrition-benefits/
- https://www.healabel.com/clams/
The unique literary talents of Dr. A. Barton are well known throughout the veterinary profession. He is a regular contribĀutor to theĀ New York City VeterinarianĀ and his professional articles have also appeared in theĀ Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell VeterinarianĀ andĀ PhiladelphiaĀ Medicine.Ā He is the only veterinarian ever to have had an article published in the human medical publication,Ā Whatās New.
