Depending on where in the world you live, lobster can be quite the luxury item. It’s a staple in the Surf ‘n’ Turf, found in many seafood dishes, and can be both the ‘real thing’ and imitation, which is cheaper but missing a lot of the good stuff that the real thing has. Lobster is pretty popular with people, but what about cats? Can cats eat lobster meat? Should cats eat lobster?
Short answer: Yes, assuming your cat doesn’t have a seafood allergy, they can eat lobster. But it’s quite a rich food and that means it’s best eaten as an occasional treat or as part of a specially formulated cat food that will be balanced for nutrition. (Some canned food for example has lobster as one of the ingredients). Lobster does have some good nutrients and things that make them beneficial for cats to eat, so all in all, it’s probably one of the better treats out there.
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Do Cats Like Lobster?
This depends entirely on the cat. My fifteen-year-old cat is not a fan of seafood at the best of times (occasionally she will have some tune/chicken bisque but that’s about as far as she’ll go), so it’s unlikely she’ll go for lobster. My three-year-old cat on the other hand will eat anything and so lobster will probably be prized as much as any other food. Some cats love it, some cats don’t care one way or the other, and some won’t like it. They have their own tastes after all.
If your cat enjoys seafood, then it’s far more likely they will like lobster than a cat that doesn’t like seafood.
Do Cats Hate Lobster?
Some cats probably will hate lobster and others are allergic to seafood and shellfish, so they might not hate it, but it certainly ‘hates’ them. Again, it depends on the cat.
If your cat doesn’t like lobster, don’t worry too much about it. They can get the nutrients from other sources and be perfectly fine. Lobster makes for a good treat or a good ingredient in quality canned food, but it’s certainly not the only treat on the market.
Can Lobster Kill Cats?
It is highly unlikely that lobster will kill cats. There are some issues that can come with lobster and cats, but even they shouldn’t be fatal.
First, some cats are allergic to seafood and shellfish. Allergic reactions often present as:
- Excessive scratching and itchiness
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Short-term lethargy (they’re not comfortable after all!)
- Sometimes drooling or swelling
And yes, cats can be allergic to seafood. Seafood is not actually food cats are ‘evolved’ to eat; they don’t generally catch fish or shellfish on their own and it’s not part of their genetic diet. Therefore, allergies to fish aren’t uncommon with cats. (My cat when I was a kid was allergic to all seafood and could only eat very specific brands of cat food).
If you notice anything strange about your cat’s behavior after eating lobster, stop letting them have it and talk to your vet.
The second thing to watch out for is that cats shouldn’t eat raw lobster. Raw lobster contains germs and bacteria that can make your cat quite ill (just like humans), so cats should only have well-cooked lobster and in small quantities. Lobster should also be cooked plain with no seasonings, preservatives, or sauces and these can make your cat ill too.
Finally, there are some vets who worry about the accumulation of metals in their bodies from eating too much shellfish. Cats have a much smaller bodyweight than humans of course and so a little metal can do a lot of damage.
Heavy metal build-up can result in kidney and liver damage as well as neurological damage. The jury is out on whether this is a genuine worry or not, but it’s best to err on the side of safety and not let your cat have too much shellfish too often.
In short, it’s very, very unlikely that lobster would even harm your cat, let alone kill it. But too much of anything is a bad thing and this includes lobster.
How Much Lobster Can My Cat Eat?
Cats really don’t need to eat much lobster. A small piece once or twice a week, fed as a treat, is all they really should have. Besides, how often do you have lobster?! Figure a small amount once in a while is going to be more than enough to put you in the good books for your cat.
Another aspect is that you can purchase cat food or cat treats that have lobster as an ingredient. This is a better way to let your cats have lobster as it will already be measured out and cooked properly to be safe, so your cat can get the flavor and the nutrients without overdoing it.
What are the Benefits of Lobster for Cats?
Lobster has a number of nutrients that are very good for cats to have in their diet. This makes lobster one of the ‘better’ treats, compared to things like fruit, vegetables, or dairy foods. The big one of course is that lobster is high in protein, fats, and has some omega-3 fatty acids, all of which a cat can definitely make use of.
- Zinc
- Vitamin A, B12, and E
- Calcium
- Selenium
- Copper
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
These are all very good things for a cat to have in its diet and while it’s only going to be trace amounts considering the serving size, a little goes a long way.
Conclusion
Lobster is probably one of the better treats you can give your cats, up there with plain cooked beef, chicken, fish, and brown rice. It’s full of nutrients, cats will probably enjoy it, and it can even be found in cat food. The main barrier will probably be the cost (so it’s not something you are likely to have all that often anyway unless you live on the coast) and making sure your cat isn’t allergic to seafood.
You should also be sure that kittens don’t eat lobster too early as it will simply fill them up, it may be too rich, and it might trigger an allergic reaction. Lobster is definitely best given to healthy adult cats.
Does your cat love lobster?
Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. This website is where she gets to share her knowledge and interact with other cat lovers.