My cat ate sardines. Can they cause serious neurological issues?

Listlessness and lethargy in an older cat could be due to acute renal failure, metabolic disease, pancreatitis (possibly secondary to the sardines) or even neoplasia. Since this is an acute event, it is important to get The Fruits checked out by a veterinarian since blood work abnormalities can come on very suddenly. Please do not give your cat sodium chloride fluid since this could impact the kidneys, especially when there is a possibility of acute kidney disease. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you whether or not fluid administration is appropriate depending on the underlying disease process and if so, what fluid and in what amounts would be suitable.

If you feed occasionally and in moderation, it should not be cause for concern. Discuss the recurring UTI with your vet. Consider a urine culture and sensitivity panel to identify the organism responsible as well as the best antibiotic to use in treatment. Reculture the urine after a course of antibiotics to confirm resolution. Abdominal xrays or ultrasound can diagnose stones or tumors in the kidneys or bladder or bladder inflammation (cystitis). Sometimes, a cause for cystitis cannot be diagnosed. The sardines will contain beneficial omega 3 essential fatty acids which are thought to decrease inflammation. Consider adding an EFA supplement to the diet. Recommended brands to be discussed with your vet are DermCaps or EicosaCaps.

If your cats have not had any issues with either product then they are probably ok for a treat occasionally for your kitties. The sardines if they contain bones may pose a slight risk as occasionally we can see obstruction or damage to the esophagus or stomach due to bones. If the sardines in tomato sauce have garlic or onion in them, they would not be recommended. Neither food would be recommended as a sole diet however as they wouldn't be a complete and balanced diet for your kitty.

Although good as a treat, sardines do not make up a balanced diet. What your kitty is doing is training you to feed her what she wants, when she wants it. Discontinue feeding the sardines. You can mix a tiny bit of the water from the can into the food to simulate her appetite. Warming the food slightly may also help. Be firm and be consistent. She won't starve herself.

Although not a recommended snack due to possible irritants and pesticides in both smoke and cottonseed products a one off episode is unlikely to cause anything other than mild intestinal upset. Try to avoid future access however and contact your vet if any unusual signs or symptoms develop

It is likely Steve did not ingest a toxic dose. Monitor for lethargy, pale gums, difficulty breathing or exercise intolerance for the next 24-72 hours. You may see some minor stomach upset which, in the absence of other symptoms, can be managed with a short fast followed by a bland diet fed in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. If he develops any of the other symptoms, have him seem by your veterinarian.

The tuna salad itself should not cause any serious problems at all. The only thing on your list that is potentially toxic to cats is onion - so you think she may have eaten a significant amount of onion, it would be best to take her to the vet to be safe. Otherwise, I would not expect her to have any serious issues. You may see some mild stomach upset for the next day or so, if she isn't used to eating human food like this, but no toxicity concerns.