Food safety

Can Cats Eat Salmon?

Safe in small amounts — Salmon for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Plain cooked salmon is an excellent protein for cats, rich in omega-3s. Serve it boneless and unseasoned. Raw salmon can carry parasites, and smoked salmon is very salty — cooked is the safe preparation.

Safe serving: A small piece of plain cooked boneless salmon once or twice a week.

If your cat ate salmon: No action needed for plain cooked salmon. If it was raw or heavily salted, watch for an upset stomach.

Related: Canned Salmon, Smoked Salmon, Sardines

Why this verdict

Plain cooked salmon is an excellent protein for cats, rich in omega-3s. Serve it boneless and unseasoned. Raw salmon can carry parasites, and smoked salmon is very salty — cooked is the safe preparation.

Safe serving

A small piece of plain cooked boneless salmon once or twice a week.

If your cat ate salmon

No action needed for plain cooked salmon. If it was raw or heavily salted, watch for an upset stomach.

Related foods

Canned Salmon, Smoked Salmon, Sardines

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.