Overview:

Steatitis is a painful condition resulting from a diet high in unsaturated fatty acids & deficient in Vitamin E. Tuna is the most comonly known cause of this problem.

Can I feed my cat human grade tuna?

The short answer is yes, but feeding tuna should be restricted to special treats only, and only fed extremely infrequently.

Tuna is quite addictive to cats & they can quickly develop a taste for tuna & refuse any other foods. The term "tuna junkie" has been used to describe such cats.

Feeding too much tuna can  result in a condition known as Steatitis.

Raw fish also contains the enzyme thiaminase  which destroys thiamine (Vitamin B1), resulting in thiamine deficiency. Cooking destroys thiaminase, thus protecting thiamine.

What is Steatitis?

Also known as Yellow Fat Disease or Pansteatitis, steatitis is caused by feeding a diet high in unsaturated fatty acids and deficient in vitamin E. Oily fish, especially red tuna are the cause of this condition.

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, & unfortunately tuna is an inadequate source of Vitamin E. Therefore the overabundance of unsaturated fatty acids (which also oxidize & destroy Vitamin E), combined with the deficiency of Vitamin E causes damage to body fat, which results in a painful inflammatory response. [1]

What's the difference between human grade tuna & tuna flavoured cat food?

Human grade tuna is just that, tuna whereas tuna flavoured cat food is not 100% tuna, and usually contains other meats & nutrients which are necessary in the cat's diet.

What are the symptoms of steatitis?

How is steatitis diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually based on the feeding history of the cat & a biopsy of the fat.

How is steatitis treated?

If left untreated steatitis can result in death. So it is important to seek veterinary attention immediately so they can begin the cat on the following treatments:

References:

*1 The Cornell Book of Cats.