Food safety
Can Cats Eat Sardines? Yes, as a Rare Treat in Water
Yes, cats can eat sardines as an occasional treat, provided they are canned in water with no added salt, or cooked plain. Most cats love them, and the soft bones in canned sardines are edible. The limits matter, though: the Cornell Feline Health Center warns against feeding canned fish made for people as a regular food, and fish packed in oil, tomato sauce or brine adds fat and salt a cat does not need. Here is how much to give, what to avoid and when to call a vet.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why a little sardine is safe for cats
Sardines are small, oily fish, rich in protein and omega-3 fats, and they are not toxic to cats. As obligate carnivores, which Cornell describes as relying on nutrients found only in animal products, cats are well suited to the taste and texture of fish.
Canned sardines are already cooked, and the canning process softens the small bones so they can be eaten. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that cooking destroys thiaminase, an enzyme in some raw fish that breaks down vitamin B1, which is one reason cooked or canned fish is preferable to raw.
Why sardines should not become meals
A sardine is not a balanced diet. Cornell specifically warns that canned fish products meant for humans have been linked to neurological problems in some cats when fed regularly, and VCA Animal Hospitals notes the same problem with tuna: fish canned for people lacks some nutrients cats need.
The Merck Veterinary Manual also describes vitamin E deficiency and inflamed body fat, called pansteatitis or yellow fat disease, in cats fed large amounts of oily canned fish. One sardine a week is a world away from that, but a cat that starts refusing its food until fish appears is heading in the wrong direction.
Choosing and preparing sardines
Pick sardines canned in water with no added salt. Drain them well. Sardines in olive oil or other oils add extra fat that can cause vomiting or diarrhea; if that is all you have, rinse them under the tap and give half the usual amount.
Avoid sardines in tomato sauce, mustard, hot sauce or flavored oils, which may contain onion, garlic, spices or a lot of salt. Never give raw sardines. Mash or flake the fish with a fork and check for any hard pieces of spine before serving.
A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.
How much sardine a cat can have
For an average adult cat of 8 to 12 lb, half of one small canned sardine, or about a teaspoon of flaked fish, is a sensible treat. Once a week is plenty. Cornell recommends keeping all treats to roughly 10 to 15 percent of daily calories, and sardines are calorie-dense.
Cats with kidney disease, urinary problems, food allergies or obesity should only be given sardines if their vet agrees. Some prescription diets are designed around tightly controlled minerals, and an extra treat can undo that.
Kittens and sardines
Kittens need a diet balanced for growth, and every treat takes space from their kitten food. If you want to share, a tiny flake of plain sardine in water is fine for a kitten that is fully weaned and eating solid food well.
Keep it rare, because kittens that get a taste for fish early can become picky eaters. Use kitten treats for handling and training practice, and save fish for very special moments.
Signs sardines disagreed with your cat
Too much oily fish usually shows as vomiting or soft, greasy stool within a few hours. This normally settles within a day with their regular food and fresh water. Itching, ear scratching or repeated tummy upsets after fish can point to a food sensitivity.
Call your vet the same day if vomiting repeats, your cat will not eat for more than a day, or seems lethargic. If your cat ate sardines in a sauce containing onion or garlic, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435; a fee may apply.
Other fish treats for cats
Plain cooked white fish or salmon with bones removed, or freeze-dried fish treats made for cats, give the same appeal in a more controlled form. Cat food and cat treats with fish in them are formulated with added vitamins, including vitamin E.
If you are hoping to add omega-3s for your cat's skin or joints, ask your vet about a measured product instead of adding more sardines.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can cats eat sardines in olive oil?
Olive oil is not toxic, but it adds fat that can upset a cat's stomach. Water-packed, no-salt sardines are better. If you only have oil-packed ones, drain and rinse them and give a smaller piece.
Can cats eat sardine bones?
The bones in canned sardines are softened by the canning process and are generally fine to eat. Bones in fresh fish you cook yourself are harder and should be removed before sharing.
Can cats eat sardines every day?
No. Daily sardines can unbalance a cat's diet and have been linked with vitamin E deficiency in cats fed lots of oily canned fish. Keep it to a small piece about once a week.
Can cats eat sardines in tomato sauce?
It is best not to. Tomato sauces often contain onion, garlic and salt. If your cat licked a little, watch for vomiting, and call your vet if the label lists onion or garlic.
Are sardines better than tuna for cats?
Sardines are smaller fish, so they carry less mercury than large tuna, and water-packed sardines are a reasonable rare treat. Neither should replace complete cat food.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
