Whitefish

It is a general name for white-fleshed sea fish such as cod, whiting and pollock.

Whitefish is a label term for pale, lean sea fish such as cod, whiting and pollock, used in cat food as an animal protein. The exact species is often not stated. The Merck Veterinary Manual names fish as one of the most common food allergens in cats. If your cat has a food allergy or another medical condition, ask your veterinarian before changing foods.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Whitefish gives a lean animal protein with a mild flavor. It also adds minerals such as iodine and selenium. Manufacturers use it as a main protein in fish recipes or as a second protein next to salmon or poultry. Because the term covers several fish, it lets a maker use whichever white fish is available.

Whitefish narrows the ingredient to pale, lean fish such as cod, whiting or pollock, while ocean fish can mean any saltwater fish. Neither term names one species. AAFCO asks that non-mammal ingredients use their identifying term, and a single named fish like pollock gives the most detail. Pettings lists the two terms on separate pages.

Source: aafco.org

Some can, but many vets would avoid it during an allergy workup. The Merck Veterinary Manual suggests that diet trials avoid species similar to those the cat has already eaten. Salmon and whitefish are both fish, and a cat that reacts to one may react to another. Your veterinarian can help choose a protein that is new to your cat.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Pettings gives whitefish 4 out of 5 and files it under its general cat food ingredient category. It appears on 7 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. It loses a point because the exact fish species is often not named. Each food's page shows how the whole recipe scores overall.