Best Omega 3 Supplements for Cats

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Choosing the right omega 3 supplement for your cat
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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

Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats – Supports Joint Function, Immune & Heart Health – Omega 3 Liquid Food Supplement for Pets – All Natural EPA + DHA Fatty Acids for Skin & Coat – 8 FL OZ
  • A tasty & body nourishing treat for cats & dogs - Zesty Paws Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is a natural fish oil additive supplement that supports the skin, coat, hips and joints, heart, and immune system.
  • Healthy, powerful Omega fatty acids - This premium Salmon Oil is rich with Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acid from EPA & DHA, that can help keep skin & coats soft & support the holistic health of your pet.
  • Help your pet stay in great shape - The rich Omegas in Salmon Oil help to aid hip, joint, heart, and immune function to keep your pet healthy.
  • A treat for pets thats easy & mess-free - For pet parents looking for an alternative to capsules or soft chews, all it takes is a few quick pumps of this liquid Salmon Oil to mix nicely with your dog or cat foods. Small, medium, and large breeds love it.
  • A pet supplement you can trust - Zesty Paws understands how much your pet’s wellness means to you, so they manufacture their Salmon Oil in FDA-registered facilities that are NSF and GMP-certified in the USA.
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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 Omega-3 Skin and Coat Support, Liquid, 4 oz, Green
  • RICH SOURCE OF EPA and DHA: Welactin provides a rich source of beneficial long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA from wild-caught, cold-water fish
  • BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3’S: Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids support healthy skin and a shiny coat
  • DERIVED FROM SMALL COLD-WATER FISH: The fish oil found in Welactin is derived from small cold-water fish, which typically have less accumulation of toxins than larger cold-water fish
  • QUALITY TESTED: Welactin is quality tested for contaminants and heavy met
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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:

  1. Cats don’t particularly like its taste so it has to be fed to them specially.
  2. The oil stains are difficult to get rid of from all surfaces.

3. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet, Unflavored – 304 mg Omega-3 Per One mL – 2 oz – Fish Oil for Cats & Dogs with EPA & DHA – Promotes Heart, Skin, Coat, Joint, & Immune Health – Non-GMO
  • WHY OMEGA-3 PET - This Nordic Naturals pet product is made with the same exceptional quality oil as our human products, but has been specially formulated for your cat or small breed dog. Omega-3 Pet features omega-3 fish oil in liquid form.
  • PROACTIVE PROTECTION FOR YOUR PUP - Research shows that the essential fatty acids EPA & DHA in fish oil help support your pet’s heart, skin & coat, immune & joint health.
  • GIVE THEM THE BEST - All of our omega-3 fish oils are in the triglyceride molecular form (the form naturally found in fish) for optimal absorption. Please use only our pet products for your dog or cat, not our human products.
  • PURITY GUARANTEED - Every batch of Nordic Naturals fish oil is crafted from fresh, wild-caught, omega-rich fish. We are committed to using only non-GMO, gluten- & dairy-free ingredients with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
  • ETHICAL INNOVATION - Nordic Naturals has always been at the forefront of sustainable & ethical practices in the natural products industry. Our fish oils are Friend of the Sea certified & sustainably made in a zero waste facility powered by biofu
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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:

  1. The required amount and ratio of EPA and DHA.
  2. Is a triglyceride formulation of Omega 3
  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.