Fish?

[katt]

Is a small amount of salmon skin ok?

[Heather]

Do you mean canned? raw?? cooked???
My guys eat salmon in small amounts. This is raw salmon that is a commercial ground mix for my cats. I have some ferrets who enjoy this. I would avoid canned...too salty. Cooked, no harm done though I wouldn't do it often. Just my opinion of course
ciao

[katt]

Cooked or Raw and it is home caught not canned. Oh, same Q for halibut. Is the skin AND meat ok? I don't plan on sharing my beloved salmon (Mmmmm my Favorite!) but I would give him the skin and leftover little crumbles of meat. It would only be an occasional thing, and would probably be cooked, but sometimes raw, but only offered on occasion.

[sherrylynne]

My Athena absolutely inhales the raw salmon when I give it to her(not often!). Never tried cooked, but as long as there are no spices, and it's an occasional treat, it certainly won't hurt.

[tiggyeaj]

What about shrimp? I *might* have given Muddy some on Christmas to see what she would do with it. She *might* have devoured everything but the tail. I don't eat shrimp, so this was probablly a one time thing (I filched it from my Dad), but it was hilarious how quickly she devoured it.

[Heather]

I'm assuming that this little shrimp was from a shrimp ring or a precooked? The salt content was probably over the top but the occasional shrimp isn't going to hurt her. If you offer her the next time, rinse it well with clear water but as you said the one time deal, not going to be a problem Just make sure that you don't give her the skin or tails (highly indigestible) It's a protein source. Better that than some other of the treats that are offered
Oh, by the way, halibut is good too It's a protein source. Fish are more the mink's fav food but our little guys like them as a food source too. My guys enjoy the occasional fish dish and it's a good source of oil for their coats ( fish skin, and the thin layer of fat under the skin)
ciao

[katt]

Thanks guys! I read somewhere that freshwater fish are better than saltwater because of the high mercury content, so I wasn't sure of Salmon and Halibut would be ok or not. I usually eat all of my fish so he will only get a little bit and some skin. haha I certainly don't plan on ever sharing shrimp though!!!! That is MY yummy treat! lol

What freshwater fishes are ok/best for them?

[Heather]

Any that you eat from a lake that is clear. Again, experiment. You may find that some prefer certain tastes or textures very much like you do. The only thing that would preclude to me not feeding would be where the fish may have originally came from. I know that people eat the fish from the lake here, but I won't swim in it so why would I eat the fish out of it....if you get my drift. Someone also told me to try not to feed farmed fish...that they are now filled with antibiotics and other things because of the feed they're fed. Once again I'm not sure how you would want to play this as this is another industry that has been rife with rumours and allegations. I don't know how much proof you will find that actually supports this but I will pass on this as a head's up rather than a "no don't feed" warning.
ciao

[katt]

Thanks!