Catfish
29 foods contain this ingredient
This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.
About Catfish
In pet food, catfish is a freshwater fish protein added mainly for its digestible protein and amino acid profile, with a modest omega-3 fatty acid contribution.
Catfish is used in pet foods as a digestible animal protein and source of omega‑3 fatty acids, supporting muscle maintenance and skin/coat health in both dogs and cats. It can enhance palatability and provide lean protein but may trigger fish allergies in some animals or present contaminant risks depending on source (e.g., mercury or PCBs), and cat diets should still be formulated or supplemented to ensure adequate taurine and complete nutrition.
- Derived from
- farmed or wild freshwater catfish
- Primary role
- animal protein source with a modest omega-3 contribution
Why it's used
Catfish offers a readily digestible protein source with a fatty acid profile that includes omega-3s, making it a common choice for fish-based recipes marketed for skin and coat support. Farm-raised catfish, which supplies most of the catfish used in U.S. food production, has been measured with lower average mercury levels than many wild-caught species, which is one reason it appears in formulations aiming for a lower-contaminant fish option.
Common concerns
- Fish allergy Veterinary references identify fish as one of the more frequently reported food allergens in cats, alongside beef and dairy, based on elimination-diet studies.
- Contaminant variability Mercury and PCB levels in catfish can vary by water source and whether the fish is wild-caught versus farm-raised, since bottom-feeding fish can bioaccumulate contaminants from sediment.
- Taurine formulation Because taurine can be lost during pet food processing, cat diets containing fish proteins like catfish still require formulators to verify and typically supplement taurine to meet feline requirements.
Also relevant
Farm-raised catfish, the dominant source in U.S. commercial catfish production, has been reported by the FDA among lower-mercury seafood choices compared to longer-lived predatory species.
4 sources cited
- Fish is among the more common reported food allergens in cats
- Beef, fish, and dairy are commonly cited food allergens in cats per veterinary literature review
- FDA mercury monitoring data (1990-2012) and seafood mercury guidance placing catfish among lower-mercury choices
- FDA advice about eating fish, mercury guidance for lower-mercury 'Best Choices' seafood
Common Questions
What category is Catfish?
Catfish is categorized as a protein ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Catfish part of an allergen group?
Yes. Catfish is grouped under the Fish allergen group in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Catfish?
29 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Catfish, including Fussie Cat, NutriSource, Purina Beyond.
Foods with Catfish
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
Find the right food for your pet
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