Can Cats Eat Tuna? NZ Safety Answer

Quick answer

Not as a regular food. VCA says cats should not be fed tuna as a routine food. A tuna habit can crowd out complete cat food and does not provide the balanced nutrition cats need.

Why

Cats can become very focused on strong-smelling foods. The problem is not that every sniff of tuna is a toxin; it is that tuna is not a balanced cat diet, and salty or flavoured human tuna products can add more problems. Kittens especially need complete growth nutrition.

If your cat ate it

If the food was not plain, included a toxic ingredient, your pet seems unwell, or you are unsure what was eaten, contact your NZ vet, after-hours emergency clinic, or SPCA for advice.

Safer alternatives

Use complete cat food and cat-specific treats. If you need to tempt a sick cat to eat, contact your NZ vet; appetite loss in cats should not be managed by guessing at pantry foods.

Related reading

• Cat Food Guide NZ
• Cat Care NZ Complete Guide
• New Kitten Checklist NZ
• Pet Emergency Kit NZ Civil Defence Guide

References

• 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.*