Research has shown that omegas are generally considered important for the overall health of animals, however, that does not mean all sources of Omega 3 are safe for them. The most important part about including fish oil (source of omega 3) in your cat’s diet is to first know which the best Omega 3 supplement for cats is.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
There are various factors that you will need to take into consideration when choosing the best Omega 3 supplements for cats from the available options.
The 3 Best Omega 3 Supplements for Cats
We’ve done some research to find the best Omega 3 supplement for your cat. Let’s go ahead and look at the best three Omega 3’s out there.
1. Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
Made from all natural ingredients and flavouring, this product is highly regarded in the market for its nutritional value. It is in the oil form instead of capsules so it mostly just needs to be mixed well with the cat’s food at meal time. One of its more convenient benefits is that it is tasty for the cats so there will not be a lot of issue feeding it to them.
Overall, it is nutritionally an excellent Omega 3 supplement for cats. It has a healthy amount of omegas 3 and 6 which not only keep the cats healthy, but also give them better mobility and a shinier coat.
2. Welactin Omega-3 Skin and Coat Support
Welactin is made from the smaller cold water fish which are known to have far less toxins than their larger counterparts. It is rich in both EPA and DHA and comes with all the benefits of the triglyceride Omega 3. It is also a product which gives it an edge over the others.
The only drawbacks for this supplement are that:
- Cats don’t particularly like its taste so it has to be fed to them specially.
- The oil stains are difficult to get rid of from all surfaces.
3. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet
Made from all natural ingredients, Nordic Naturals incorporates the maximum Omega 3 nutrition possible based on the health requirements of your pets. It is also made from anchovy and sardine oil both of which are smaller fish and have lower amounts of toxins in their bodies.
A unique feature of this product is that it is a result of ethical innovation. The company follows sustainable and ethical practices and makes products in a zero waste facility which is powered by biofuels.
How to Choose the Right Omega 3 Supplement for your Cat
Before we look at the available options, we need to know which deficiency the Omega 3 supplement is compensating for. Fish oils have a number of beneficial components but the ones you need to consider the most are the Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and the Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).
These 2 are important because cats do not naturally produce them and, therefore, they need to be included in supplementary diet of our feline friends.
How do They Help
DHA and EPA have the following health benefits for cats:
DHA:
- Helps reduce inflammation caused by allergies or illnesses like arthritis, cancer, kidney infection etc.
- Helps reduce shedding
- Gives a shinier coat and reduces itchiness
EPA:
- Improves optical and neurological development in kittens
- Healthy for pregnant and nursing cats
Choose the Triglyceride Formulation
Omega 3 has a natural formulation called the triglyceride and the purified formulation called the Ethyl Ester. The natural formulation is more beneficial for the cats as it is more stable and biologically viable compared to its manufactured counterpart.
It gets easily absorbed into the pet’s systems while the ethyl ester formation ends up making them somewhat gassy.
Choose a Supplement Designed Specifically for Cats
While both cats and dogs need Omega 3 supplements in their diets, the EPA/kg and DHA/kg requirement for dogs is different from the requirement for cats. Dogs need more EPA in their diets compared to DHA while cats need more DHA.
Since the Omega 3 supplements made for animals are more commonly designed for dogs, it is better to choose the supplements which have been made for cats only. It is also recommended to go through the nutritional facts to see the exact distribution.
For reference, the typical EPA/DHA ratio for cats is 30/50 mg per kg of their body weight.
Choose a Trustworthy Company
Because of how much the supplement can impact the health of your feline companion, make sure you buy a product approved by a vet. Since the fish oil sector is not as heavily regulated by the FDA, some of the products in the market may not have the amount of EPA and DHA claimed on the packaging.
Therefore, consult your vet before giving your cat an Omega 3 supplement.
Additional Note:
Aside from the points mentioned above, remember that humans and cats have very different biological needs. While some fish oils like Cod Liver Oil are good for humans, they are not good for cats. Make sure you buy the fish oil which is more suitable for animal consumption.
Our Final Thoughts
The best Omega 3 supplement for your cat will be the one which has:
- The required amount and ratio of EPA and DHA.
- Is a triglyceride formulation of Omega 3
- Is derived from fish with less toxins
All of the 3 mentioned above have their benefits but our personal favorite from the list is Welactin. Not only is Welactin made using the smaller fish, it is also the supplement which is recommended by vets.
However, the other 2 also have amazing benefits so anyone who might have more difficulty feeding Welactin to their reluctant cat, should definitely try either of them to see which suits their feline friend more.
If you are looking for more information about cat nutrition, you can check out our blog about the best multivitamin for cats.
