| Verdict for cats | Caution |
| Severity | 2 / 5 — Mild — usually stomach upset; watch them. |
| Safe amount | A taste at most |
| Category | Protein |
| Source | VCA Animal Hospitals — pet health library; Merck Veterinary Manual · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
Cooked plain salmon suits cats. Raw fish is a poorer idea: bacteria, bones, and raw fish eaten regularly can cause a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Smoked salmon is too salty.
Don't make it a habit. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or a lost appetite over the next day and call your vet if it doesn't settle or your cat seems unwell.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
If you're sharing food because you want to treat them, a treat formulated for cats does the job without the guesswork.
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Can dogs eat salmon? — Feed with caution to dogs.
Not toxic, but be careful — salmon isn't poisonous to cats, and it comes with caveats that matter. Cooked plain salmon suits cats. Raw fish is a poorer idea: bacteria, bones, and raw fish eaten regularly can cause a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Smoked salmon is too salty.
Watch for: Vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes bloody; A high fever; Swollen lymph nodes; Loss of appetite and weakness — usually 5–7 days after eating raw salmon. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
The safe amount is a taste at most, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.