Battle of the Omega-3s: Chia Oil vs Fish Oil
A comparision of essential fatty acids and the role they play in cat health
Essential Fatty Acids are an important part of a cat’s diet. We are going to discuss two of the better options for supplementation and the positives and negatives of each. We will also discuss what we personally use and the reasons for our decision.
Cats are unable to make their own Omega-3 fatty acids - they have low activity of the enzyme delta-6 desaturase - so it is essential to include this fat in their diet.
CHIA OIL
Let’s first discuss Chia Seed oil. We chose chia seed oil over all other plant-based omega-3’s for a number of reasons.
Chia seeds have the highest plant-based source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
About 75% of the fats in chia seeds consist of the Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and about 20% Omega-6 fatty acids.
Chia seeds are spherical and difficult to puncture in nature. Therefore, the seed is always protecting this precious omega 3 fatty acid from becoming oxidized.
This aspect is incredibly important because oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega-3’s causes rancidity. When a fat is rancid it actually becomes harmful to our bodies. Instead of having great anti-inflammatory benefits, the rancid fat is now pro-inflammatory. Inflammation is theorized to be the number one reason diseases develop in mammals. Other plant seeds high in omega-3’s like flaxseed have an oblong shaped seed that is easily punctured, exposing the oil to early oxidation and rancidity.
Chia seeds are very readily available which makes them easy to access and keep a competitive price.
The major negative to chia oil is that, as a plant-based Omega-3, it does not contain any substantial amount of the Omega 3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). There are many studies correlating EPA and DHA with brain development, among other health benefits. Large concentrations of EPA and DHA are only known to be found in marine life such as plankton and fish.
FISH OIL
Two great sources of Omega-3 that have very high concentrations of EPA and DHA, along with ALA, are fish and krill.
EPA is a great anti-inflammatory along with helping skin and hair coat health.
DHA offers great support for brain and eye health.
Both of these are very readily available on the market and are cost competitive.
One negative to these products is a quality issue due to the higher exposure of the oil to oxidation. The chain of production has to be very methodical to help ensure the oil stays fresh in a fresh state.
A second negative is that fish is a common allergen and even purified fish oil is sure to have some fish protein in it. This can be a big cause for concern among many cat owners as a high percentage of cats are allergic to fish. It is believed to be upwards of 10% of all cats have a fish allergy.
The Omega-3 we use and why
We discovered after several years that our sweet Luna Belle had slowly been developing a fish and shellfish allergy. Her allergy became very severe, so we were forced to eliminate all fish from her diet.
It is this exact reason that we began our adventure into homemade cat food.
We had to become extreme commercial food label readers, conscious of everything that was potentially going to make our sweet little girl violently ill. Through that experience, we became convinced that the pet food industry is not as cautious about its cross-contamination protocols as the human food industry. Luna Belle would randomly have allergic reactions after eating something that had no claim of “fish,” except for fish oil or salmon oil as the Omega-3 source. Our final decision was that we needed to control every aspect of her food and the only way to do that was to source our own ingredients.
Due to Luna Belle’s fish and seafood allergy, we needed an alternative, stable Omega-3 source. Based on my experience in the natural products industry, we decided on Chia Oil and it has been our Omega-3 alternative of choice. It’s also tasteless, so cats don’t even know it’s in the food. Which, if you have a picky cat, is a major benefit!
We use/have used and recommend the following Chia Seed Oils:
Since Luna Belle’s passing, we have implemented fish oil back into the diet of our other cats.
We still use both chia and fish oil interchangeably when making homemade cat food. The benefits of fish oil are undeniable and so is the attraction of the taste for many cats. This, of course, helps with their attraction to the homemade food.
We have noticed that Coconut (our Senior kitty) has a better response from the EPA and DHA added to her diet, including healthier fur and cognitive behaviors.
Also, since Mia is in her development phase as a kitten at the time of this posting, we’ve been using a pet-specific Omega-3 Wild Anchovy and Sardine Oil (with guaranteed DHA and EPA percentages - linked below) to make sure she’s getting the most nutrients to support her cognitive development.
If you decide to use fish oil, we use/have used and recommend:
Superior Feline Wild Anchovy Omega-3 Oil for Pets (sustainably sourced & higher Omega-3 concentration than most fish)
Kirkland Signature Fish Oil Softgels (Sustainably Sourced)
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Wild Anchovy & Sardine Oil (available in a variety of sizes)
In summary, depending on the needs of your cat, both chia and fish oil are great choices! If you suspect your cat may have a fish/seafood allergy, we highly recommend Chia Oil.
Ready to start making your own cat food?
Eric has a degree in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has worked in the food and nutritional supplement industry for 20+ years, specializing in probiotic and enzyme formulation. He has also co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles. He’s a proud cat dad of 4 furry children and enjoys using his knowledge to develop products to improve their health.