“When food is given to a feline, they imprint your on their hearts”. This is something I wrote a few days ago and I thought what better than putting it here for you guys as it matches the topic we are about to discuss today.
On that note, when it comes to giving our little kitty food, we happen to go way beyond our reaches to provide only the best and serve only the imperative nutrients onto their plates.
But sometimes, lack of knowledge ends up being the biggest nightmare and can end up in various complications being formulated.
Mussels are another such topic that people don’t have a lot of knowledge about but they do end up feeding it to their felines as humans tend to have it for various reasons.
Today is one of those days where we are going to have a vast elucidation of mussels, can we give it to our cats? if yes, then why so?
Questions are many, but to diminish it a little bit, let me answer them in short. Mussels can be given to cats as it is rich in protein, carbohydrates, omega -3 fatty acids, etc which are required for a feline’s vital organs.
Let’s cover it more thoroughly now.
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What Are Mussels?
Mussels are fresh or saltwater bivalves that are easy to find and cook and have been a diet of various people as it comprises of major nutrients that a complex body requires.
A great deal of people mix mussels with oysters and clams which I should tell you is because they look the same and usually are found in the same way as each other.
Now, what is the deal with giving mussels to cats, where the eagerness to do so originated from?
Most of the owners are prone to give their felines mussels because it is rich in every kind of protein that a cat needs to build a healthy lifestyle which includes selenium, vitamin B12, zinc, and folate.
This happens because usually cats are very likely to outgrow food choices and to provide them with the appropriate contents, they have to rely on mussels.
Are Mussels Healthy For Cats?
Mussels are healthy for cats indeed as it provides appropriate nutrients a feline requires in their daily staple diet. Some of such nutrients are selenium, manganese, vitamin B12, zinc, and folate.
These are some of the nutrients felines need to keep their vital organs healthy.
While it should be brought to you that raw mussels can be a problem for your cat as they may contain parasites and harmful pathogens that do carry the possibility of making your cat ill and also sometimes ending up in a vet visit.
Always make sure you give your cat plain cooked mussels without adding any preservatives and sauces to make it extra tempting. It is of no value.
Keep it plain as much as you can to let your feline enjoy the nutrients in their best and fruitful form.
Health Benefits Of Mussel For Cats
Mussels have some benefits that are essential and imperative for a feline to have in their diets.
I am mentioning some points below that will incline you towards opting for them as a staple diet or also to give it to your feline every alternative day to keep their taste bud tempting.
1.Protein
Mussels are high in protein as 65% of mussels comprise protein. Also, mussel meat protein is highly bio-available which means it is easy for felines to absorb it and use it to build body tissues.
You can also give your cat mussels by adding some freshwater to mussels to also keep up with the feline’s hydration needs.
2.Fat And Omega Fatty Acids
Fat is a nutrient that is essential for a healthy cellular function and mussels are rich in healthy fats which makes it a great choice to have opted.
EPA and DHA are both types of omega 3 acids that are found in mussels. The thing why these two are required in your feline’s diet is because they possess anti-inflammatory properties for the joints, skins, and nerves.
3.Vitamins And Minerals
It is said that a 6-ounce portion of mussel has more calcium, phosphorus potassium, and iron than the size of a chicken or steak which gives your another reason to include it in your feline’s diet to preserve all the great nutrients in their body.
4.Low-Calorie Choice
Feeding a cat is not an easy job, it should be kept in mind that cats are highly prone to become obese as they don’t have the required complex body to break down macro-nutrients which keep them on the verge to gain weight and invite fatal diseases such as heart failure, brain strokes, etc. on the other hand when it comes to mussels, they are 8 kilocalories per treat.
Which makes it an appropriate choice when compared to other choices that are high in calories with no diverse nutritional value.
Pen down all these benefits and reflect on them to check why they are the best choice for your little furry baby.
All About Green Lipped Mussels For Cats
Green-lipped mussel is safe for cats but you should refrain away from giving it to your cat if it has any underlying allergy from seafood.
They are a source of proteins, amino acids, omega 3, omega 6, nucleic acids. They also boast anti-inflammatory properties which make them a great choice to opt for providing supplementary nutrients.
When it comes to why it should be given to cats, then you should know it is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in humans, cats, and also dogs.
It can also bring relief to cats and dogs that are suffering from hip dysplasia.
The green-lipped mussel can be given to your cat if it doesn’t develop any allergies to seafood.
It is been evident that usually most of the cats are prone to allergies if any kind of seafood is ingested. It can trigger allergies in such cases.
Green Lipped Mussel Dosage For Cats
Green lip dosage for cats is something to ponder a great deal of time on as it’s the thing that determines whether your feline will get the essential nutrients as a whole or not.
According to some relevant data, the weight of the feline determines the dosage of green-lipped mussel.
To put it across in brief, if your cat’s weight is 15 pounds, you should be given 15 GR of green-lipped mussel.
It should be kept in mind that one green-lipped mussel capsule contains 500gm of green-lipped powder. This means you need to adjust the dose according to the weight of your feline.
Green Lips Mussel Side Effects For Cats
There are no such side effects that can harm your cat in adverse ways or leave your cat in a state of extreme pain.
But it’s is recommended to not give your feline green-lipped mussel if it already has seafood allergies as this can trigger the vital organs in an unresponsive way and turn out to be the cause of diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and in some cases, loss of appetite too.
Another thing to ponder deep thoughts on is that you should choose the green-lipped supplement that is addictive and have a stabilizer as it may make your cat prone to have side effects.
Can Cats Eat Shellfish?
Yes, cats can have shellfish considering it has every essential nutrient that your little feline needs.
Shellfish comprises calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and other essential nutrients. Shellfish is high in protein and low in fat which makes it a great alternative to appear in your cat’s diet every alternative day without the risk of turning out in hazardous ways, paw-rents you hit a jackpot!
Here, the thing you need to pay keen attention to is, that the shellfish should be clean and given without any added additives, salt and seasonings to keep the nutrients intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay for cats to eat mussels?
It is absolutely okay for cats to have mussels because of the essential nutrients they possess. Some of them are iron, potassium, zinc, copper, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
How often a cat is given mussels?
You can try to give it to your cat every alternative day if any allergies are not developed. If it does, then stop adding it to their diets and visit a vet.
Where are mussels found?
Mussels are found in fresh or saltwater but the mussels found in freshwater are not considered palatable
Final Words
At the beginning of the article we dived in with keeping a question in our mind and in the end, I am pretty sure you have gotten all the answers, that too in a brief and systematic way.
We came across mussels and green-lipped mussels and whether they should be given to cats or not, and the answer turned out to be yes, we unfolded many things that we didn’t know of and gathered a great deal of information which was the main goal to write the article in the first place.
To put my words to a brief and peaceful end, I want you to retain that any additional good or bad should be thoroughly analyzed and checked with your feline’s vet before making it a regular addition to you’re their diet.
Lastly, do drop in comments when was the first time you heard about mussels and when you ended up giving that to your kitty?
Come, I am all ears for your answers.
