Sardine

Cats love fish, but canned sardines are high in both salt and oil, and regular feeding encourages fussiness and an unbalanced diet; the small bones are still a choking risk.

Vomiting, diarrhoea or loose stools; long-term fish treats lead to fussy eating and changes in weight and coat.

A small amount of water-packed sardine needs monitoring only; contact a vet immediately if vomiting or diarrhoea persists.

Keep sardines to an occasional one-small-piece treat: water-packed and unsalted, drained, mashed and with the bones removed; it never replaces complete cat food.

Most tins are oil-packed or in brine, so sardines are high in salt and fat; regular feeding strains the heart and kidneys and can trigger pancreatitis, and fish cannot be a long-term main food because the diet becomes unbalanced.

Vomiting, diarrhoea or loose stools after a large serving; a salty diet causes thirst and frequent urination, while a fish-based diet leads to nutrient deficiency.

A small amount of water-packed sardine usually needs monitoring only; contact a vet if vomiting, diarrhoea or marked thirst and urination persist.

Choose water-packed, unsalted, unseasoned tins, drain thoroughly and mash; the small bones are soft but still a choking and obstruction risk, so pick them out. One small piece per serving, within about 10% of daily energy intake.