Can Cats Eat Tuna in Canada 2026? Mercury Risks and Best Tuna Cat Foods to Buy

Tuna is one of the most common questions we hear at the counter. A customer will grab a can of human tuna, hold it up, and ask, "Can I just give my cat this?" The short answer is more nuanced than most people expect. Below we break down the real mercury risks, how much is safe, and which properly formulated wet cat food options give your cat that tuna flavour without the downsides. If you're already sold, you can jump straight to our cat food selection.

Key Takeaway: Cats can eat small amounts of tuna as an occasional treat, but human canned tuna should never be a staple diet. Complete tuna-based cat foods from brands like Tiki Cat, Weruva, and Inaba are formulated with added taurine and nutrients that plain tuna lacks.

Can Cats Eat Tuna in Canada 2026?

Yes, cats can eat tuna in small amounts, but only as an occasional treat — not a dietary staple. Plain canned tuna lacks taurine, vitamin E, and balanced fat content that cats need, and it carries mercury that accumulates over time. As of 2026, veterinarians recommend tuna make up no more than about 10% of a cat's daily calories.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must get specific nutrients from animal tissue. Tuna is high in protein and cats love the strong smell — that's exactly why it's used as a flavour in so many commercial foods. But a diet built around human tuna is nutritionally incomplete. The American Kennel Club's feline nutrition resources and veterinary sources at the American Veterinary Medical Association both warn that single-protein "people food" fed long-term leads to deficiencies.

In our store we see customers whose cats have become "tuna junkies" — they refuse balanced food after being fed straight tuna for weeks. Our nutrition experts at the North York store usually recommend switching to a complete tuna-flavoured formula instead, which satisfies the craving while meeting AAFCO nutritional standards.

What kind of tuna is safest for cats?

If you do offer plain tuna, choose tuna packed in water, not oil or brine. Oil adds unnecessary fat content and can cause digestive upset, while brine adds sodium your cat doesn't need. Skipjack (light tuna) has lower mercury than albacore (white tuna), making it the safer choice for the rare treat.

What Are the Mercury Risks of Tuna for Cats?

Mercury bioaccumulates in tuna and can cause neurological problems in cats when tuna is fed too often. Because cats are small — the average adult weighs 4 to 5 kg — a dose of mercury that's harmless to a human can be significant for them. Signs of mercury toxicity include loss of coordination, tremors, and difficulty walking.

Larger, longer-lived fish accumulate more mercury. Albacore (white) tuna can contain roughly three times the mercury of skipjack (light) tuna. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine tracks mercury levels in seafood, and the same logic that guides human seafood limits applies — scaled down — to a 4 kg cat.

The practical risk comes from frequency, not the occasional bite. A teaspoon of tuna once a week won't harm a healthy adult cat. Feeding half a can daily for months is a different story. Pet owners tell us their cats never seem to tire of it, which is exactly why moderation has to come from you, not the cat.

Bottom Line: Mercury risk is cumulative. Keep plain tuna to an occasional treat under 10% of daily calories, and rely on complete, nutritionally balanced fish foods for everyday feeding.

Does tuna cause a taurine deficiency in cats?

Plain tuna alone does not supply enough taurine for a cat's long-term needs, and a taurine-deficient diet can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (a serious heart condition) and vision loss. Cats cannot make enough taurine themselves and must get it from food. This is why complete cat foods add supplemental taurine — typically a guaranteed minimum listed in the guaranteed analysis. Always consult your veterinarian if you suspect a nutritional deficiency.

Best Tuna Cat Foods to Buy in Canada 2026

The best tuna cat foods use real, named tuna as the first ingredient and add taurine to meet AAFCO complete-and-balanced standards. At our North York store, the tuna-forward brands customers reach for most are Tiki Cat, Weruva, Inaba, and Snappy Tom — all available in our wet cat food collection.

Here's how three popular tuna-based options compare:

A few things worth knowing about each:

• Tiki Cat — Known for shredded, high-moisture recipes with protein content often above 15% as-fed (much higher on a dry-matter basis). The broth boosts hydration, which matters because cats are notoriously low-thirst drinkers.
• Weruva — Uses wild-caught fish in light, gravy-style broths. Popular for cats needing more water in their diet, especially those prone to urinary issues (with veterinary guidance).
• Inaba — Makes both complete meals and the well-loved lickable tuna treats. Great for training, pilling, or bonding, though the treat versions aren't meant as full meals.
• Snappy Tom — A straightforward, affordable tuna wet food that customers use as a topper or full meal.

If your cat prefers dry food, you'll find fish-based recipes across our dry cat food range too. Fish oil supplements in our cat health and wellness section can add omega-3 and omega-6 benefits for skin and coat without the mercury concern of whole fish.

Should I choose fish food over other proteins?

Fish shouldn't be the only protein in a cat's rotation. Many veterinary nutritionists suggest rotating proteins — chicken, turkey, rabbit, and fish — to reduce the chance of a single-protein sensitivity and to keep mercury exposure low. A limited ingredient or single-protein fish diet has its place, especially for cats with certain allergies, but variety is generally healthier for most cats.

How Much Tuna Can I Feed My Cat Safely?

A healthy adult cat can have about 1 teaspoon (roughly 5g) of plain, water-packed tuna once or twice a week as a treat. Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of daily calories — for a typical cat eating around 200 kcal per day, that's about 20 kcal from treats. Never replace complete meals with plain tuna.

When a customer comes in asking about adding tuna to their cat's routine, we typically suggest using it as a topper on complete food rather than a standalone meal. A small spoonful mixed into balanced wet food gives the flavour boost cats crave while keeping the overall diet nutritionally sound. Kittens, senior cats, and cats with kidney or heart conditions should only get tuna with veterinary approval.

Watch body condition. If your cat is gaining weight, cut the treats first. Our team at Ashario Pets recommends weighing treats mentally against the day's total intake — a few grams here and there adds up faster than most owners realize.

Our North York store on Finch Ave gets a lot of these questions from customers in the Yonge-Finch and Downsview areas, especially new cat owners transitioning kittens onto adult food. The advice is consistent: real balanced food first, tuna as the occasional flavour reward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cats eat canned tuna meant for humans?

Cats can eat small amounts of human canned tuna occasionally, but it should never replace complete cat food. Choose tuna packed in water with no salt or oil. Human tuna lacks taurine, vitamin E, and the balanced nutrition cats need, so limit it to about 1 teaspoon once or twice a week and rely on AAFCO-complete formulas for daily meals.

Is tuna for cats safe every day?

No, tuna is not safe to feed daily. Daily tuna feeding leads to mercury buildup and can cause taurine deficiency, which risks heart disease and vision loss. Complete tuna-flavoured cat foods from brands like Tiki Cat or Weruva are formulated for everyday feeding because they add taurine and balance the fat content — plain tuna does not.

Which tuna cat food is best in Canada?

The best tuna cat foods in Canada use real, named tuna as the first ingredient and meet AAFCO complete-and-balanced standards. At Ashario Pets, top choices include Tiki Cat for high-protein shredded recipes, Weruva for hydration-focused broth meals, and Inaba for lickable treats. All are available in our North York store and our wet cat food collection.

How much mercury is dangerous for a cat?

There's no exact "safe" mercury dose, but the risk is cumulative and rises with frequent feeding of high-mercury fish like albacore tuna. Because cats weigh only 4 to 5 kg on average, they're far more sensitive than people. Keep tuna occasional, choose light (skipjack) over white (albacore), and consult your veterinarian if you notice tremors, wobbliness, or coordination problems.

Can I give my cat tuna as a supplement for omega-3?

Tuna does contain omega-3, but a dedicated fish oil supplement is a safer, more consistent source without the mercury concern. You'll find cat-specific omega-3 supplements in our cat health and wellness collection. Ask your veterinarian about the right dosage for your cat's weight before starting any supplement.