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Can Cats Eat It?

Can Cats Eat Anchovies?

By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026

Only now and thenTreat size for a 10 lb adult cat: About 1/4 ounce (7 grams) fresh anchovy, cooked plain and deboned (a few calories); no salt-cured fillets

Anchovies are an occasional treat at most, and only when they are fresh and cooked plain. The anchovies most people keep in the pantry are a different product. Canned and jarred anchovy fillets are cured in salt and packed in oil, and the ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures in pets. Those salty fillets, anchovy paste and anything made with them should stay off a cat's plate.

A pile of fresh whole anchovies
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels

What Anchovies Offer a Cat

A fresh anchovy is a small oily fish, so it provides animal protein and fish fat. The Merck Veterinary Manual names oily fish among the best dietary sources of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. A cat on a complete diet already gets the fats it needs, and anchovies do not add anything that diet lacks. FDA advice for people lists anchovy among the lowest-mercury fish. The usual fish caution applies here too: Merck's cat owner guide says most known cases of yellow fat disease involved animals whose diets were made partly or entirely of fish.

How Much Anchovy Can a Cat Have?

WSAVA advises keeping treats under 10% of a cat's daily calories. For a 10-pound adult cat, that is roughly 22 to 25 treat calories a day. We could not verify a calorie figure for fresh anchovy, so measure by weight. About 1/4 ounce (7 grams) of cooked, deboned fresh anchovy adds only a few calories and replaces a bit of the regular food. Do not count salt-cured fillets as a treat at any amount. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should get their vet's okay before eating fish treats.

How to Serve It

Fresh anchovies are sometimes sold whole at fish counters. Gut them, bake or poach them with no salt, oil or seasoning, and remove the head and spine. Merck lists bones as the most common objects lodged in a cat's esophagus, so check the flesh for small bones. Never serve them raw. Merck lists raw fish diets as a cause of thiamine deficiency in cats. Keep pizza toppings, Caesar dressing, anchovy paste and fish sauce away from your cat. These are salty, and many contain garlic, which the ASPCA lists among foods pets should not eat. Rinsing a cured fillet does not turn it into a plain fish.

If your cat has a heart, kidney or other medical condition, or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before sharing any anchovy.

Common Questions

Are anchovies too salty for cats?

Most anchovies sold in jars and tins are too salty for cats. They are cured in salt, and the ASPCA warns that excessive salt can cause increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures in pets. Fresh anchovies cooked with no salt are a different matter, and a small deboned piece is fine as an occasional treat for most cats.

Can cats eat anchovy paste?

No, keep anchovy paste away from cats. It is concentrated salted fish, and many pastes and sauces built on it also contain garlic, which the ASPCA lists among foods pets should not eat. The ASPCA also warns that too much salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea and tremors. If your cat licks a large amount, call your veterinarian for advice.

What happens if my cat eats an anchovy off a pizza?

One anchovy is a small amount, but watch your cat closely. The fish is salty, and pizza toppings and sauce often include garlic and onion, which the ASPCA lists among foods pets should not eat. Make sure fresh water is available. Call your veterinarian if your cat vomits, has diarrhea, seems weak or ate more than a bite.

Can cats eat Caesar dressing?

No, Caesar dressing is not a suitable food for cats. It is usually made with anchovies, garlic, cheese and oil, and the ASPCA lists garlic among foods to keep away from pets and notes that most pets lack enough lactase to handle dairy well. The salt and fat add to the problem. Keep salads with this dressing out of your cat's reach.

Can kittens eat anchovies?

Kittens should not be given salted anchovies at all, and even fresh cooked anchovy is best left until your veterinarian approves it. A kitten is small, so salt adds up quickly. WSAVA advises that treats stay under 10% of daily calories for any cat. A growing kitten does best on a complete kitten food with very few extras.

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