Health & Vet Care2 min read11 June 2026

Can Cats Eat Raw Fish? NZ Safety Answer

Can cats eat raw fish in NZ? Avoid it as a routine treat. Raw food and tuna habits can create health and diet problems.

Quick answer

Avoid raw fish as a routine cat treat. VCA's raw food guidance for cats highlights infectious-disease and nutritional-balance concerns, and VCA also warns against feeding tuna as a routine cat food.

Why

A cat stealing a lick is different from a habit. Raw fish, bait, sashimi offcuts and fish scraps can create food-safety issues, while strong-smelling fish can crowd out complete cat food.

An owner's hand blocking a cat from a plate of raw sliced fish on a wooden table

If your cat ate it

Contact your NZ vet, after-hours emergency clinic, or SPCA for advice.

Safer alternatives

A complete cat food should stay the main diet. For treats, use a cat-specific treat or a few pieces of the cat's normal food rather than pantry leftovers.

References

PetMD — Thiamine (B1) deficiency in cats from raw fish, checked 2026-07-08: https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_vitamin_b1_thiamine_deficiency
VCA Animal Hospitals, Raw Food Diets in Cats, checked 2026-06-11: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/avoiding-raw-food-in-cats
VCA Animal Hospitals, True or False: Milk and tuna are great foods for cats, checked 2026-06-11: https://vcahospitals.com/resources/preventive-cat/nutrition/true-or-false-milk-and-tuna-are-great-foods-for-cats

Important notice

*General food-safety information for NZ pet owners, reviewed against ASPCA/VCA guidance (June 2026). For any suspected ingestion or illness, contact a NZ vet, after-hours emergency clinic, or SPCA for advice.*

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