liudmila_selyaninova/ Shutterstock.com
Iron is a mineral your cat needs in small amounts to replenish and maintain their body’s supply of red blood cells. These specialized cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body, and they naturally die off and get replaced by new red blood cells about every two months. If your cat’s diet is too low in iron—or if they have certain health problems—it could impact red blood cell production and lead to anemia.
As a complement to professional veterinary treatment, adding iron-rich foods to your cat’s diet could help boost red blood cell production. In this guide, we’ll discuss the importance of iron in your cat’s diet and reveal ten iron-rich foods that are safe for cats.
Why Do Cats Need Iron?
Cats suffering from anemia can become very lethargic. Pogodina Natalia / Shutterstock.com
Because the body only requires small amounts of it, iron is considered a micromineral—it’s also sometimes referred to as a trace element. In living organisms, trace elements usually make up less than 0.1% of the body’s volume. The human body, for example, only contains about 0.005% iron by body weight (roughly 4 grams on average).
The majority of the body’s iron is found in the form of hemoglobin in red blood cells or erythrocytes. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and circulate through the bloodstream for about two months before they break down. Their cellular components are then reused to create new red blood cells.
The most important role blood cells play in your cat’s body involves the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the cells and tissues throughout the body. Hemoglobin in the red blood cells binds to oxygen for transport and, after it’s delivered, the cells take up carbon dioxide molecules and carry them back to the lungs where they’re eliminated from the body through exhalation.
Because the hemoglobin in your cat’s body gets recycled and the liver stores extra iron as backup, red blood cell counts usually remain fairly stable—assuming there aren’t any underlying health issues involved. A decrease in red blood cells in the body below normal levels is known as anemia.
Signs of anemia in cats may include:
If you are concerned that your cat is showing any of these signs, seek veterinary advice.
How Much Iron Do Cats Need?
While your cat’s body has systems in place to help keep hemoglobin levels steady, they still need to get a certain amount of iron from their diet to keep those systems functioning properly. Adult cats require a diet that provides a minimum of 80 mg/kg of iron measured as dry matter, and growing kittens and pregnant or lactating female cats may require more.
Dietary iron deficiency is rare in cats fed commercial diets.
Any cat food product that meets the minimum nutritional requirements set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) will contain at least 80 mg/kg of iron measured as dry matter. Homemade diets and plant-based diets, however, may require supplementation to provide a sufficient level of iron.
Outside of dietary factors, iron deficiency anemia in cats can be caused by blood loss or chronic underlying illness. Severe bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to iron deficiency, as can blood loss related to parasites like fleas or ticks. Other causes of iron-deficiency anemia in cats may include infections like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), autoimmune conditions like immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), chronic kidney disease, blood or bone marrow disorders, and certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
Cats with severe iron-deficiency anemia may require a blood transfusion. In some cases, however, the issue can be resolved or managed with a combination of medical treatment and dietary changes.
10 Iron-Rich Foods for Cats
Beef has a high iron content, and as an animal protein is suitable for most cats. Natalia Lisovskaya / Shutterstock.com
If your cat is experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency, don’t delay in speaking to your veterinarian. It’s important to identify the underlying cause of the issue and your vet is the best person to recommend a course of treatment.
Depending on the diagnosis, your vet may recommend increasing your cat’s daily iron intake with an iron supplement. As an alternative, they may suggest adding iron-rich foods to your cat’s diet—here are some cat-safe options to consider. Foods given in addition to a complete diet should be given in fairly small quantities so as not to cause a lack of nutritional balance in the diet.
1. Beef
Beef is packed with protein for your cat, providing all the essential amino acids they need to build and maintain healthy muscle. Like all animal proteins, beef is also rich in iron. Per 100 grams, beef contains about 2.5 mg of iron (depending on the cut). Beef is also rich in other essential minerals like zinc, manganese, selenium, and potassium.
To offer your cat beef, choose the leanest cut possible and cook it through. Some lean cuts of beef include sirloin tip steak, top round, eye of round, bottom round, and top sirloin.
Some sources suggest grass-fed beef may contain higher levels of iron than factory farmed beef due to the higher iron content of their diet. Scientific support for this claim is limited, though there are some studies that show higher levels of antioxidants and essential fatty acids in organic, grass-fed beef.
2. Lamb
For cats with food allergies or sensitivities to beef, lamb is an excellent alternative. It’s a novel protein for many cats and, as a bonus, picky eaters frequently seem to enjoy the taste. Lamb contains about 7 grams of protein per ounce and it’s a little lower in calories and fat than beef, depending on the cut.
In addition to being rich in iron, lamb is a good source of zinc, selenium, taurine, and B vitamins including niacin and riboflavin. It also contains some omega-3 fatty acids which are good for your cat’s skin and coat.
To offer your cat lamb, opt for a leaner cut like lamb leg or lamb loin. It’s best to trim any excess fat from the lamb and cook it thoroughly.
3. Pork
As a leaner alternative to beef and lamb, pork is a protein-rich option that also provides plenty of iron. Keep in mind that fat content varies depending on the cut—the leanest options come from the loins and chops. It’s still wise to trim excess fat before offering pork to your cat.
Be particularly careful to thoroughly cook any pork you feed to your cat. All raw meat comes with a risk for transmitting food-borne pathogens, but parasites like roundworms and tapeworms are commonly found in raw pork.
4. Chicken and Turkey
When it comes to high protein and low fat content, poultry is generally a stronger choice than red meat. Boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast are the leanest options—they both contain under 50 calories per ounce.
While poultry is generally leaner than red meat, it’s not quite as high in iron. Per 100 grams, chicken or turkey breast only provides a little more than 1 mg of iron. Turkey breast is the leaner of the two and is slightly higher in iron and zinc but chicken breast contains more protein.
Like red meat, poultry should be thoroughly cooked before offering it to your cat. Never give your cat cooked bones, as they can be a choking hazard or cause an intestinal obstruction.
5. Duck
If you’re more concerned about iron than fat content, duck may be preferable to chicken and turkey. Per 100 grams, wild duck breast contains about 123 calories, 19.8 grams of protein, 4.3 grams of fat, and 4.5mg of iron.
Though still classified as a white meat like other poultry, duck meat tends to be darker in color due to higher levels of myoglobin. While hemoglobin carries oxygen in the red blood cells, myoglobin holds it in the muscle cells. Birds of flight like ducks need more oxygen in their muscles than ground birds to enable sustained exertion.
6. Eggs
Like meat and poultry, eggs are a biologically appropriate source of protein for obligate carnivores like your cat. They’re less ideal than chicken or turkey due to the increased fat and calorie content, but they can be offered as an occasional source of supplemental iron.
One medium egg (44g) contains about 63 calories with 5.5 grams of protein, 4.2 grams of fat, and 0.8 mg of iron. Eggs are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamins A, D, and E. When it comes to iron content, duck eggs have the edge over chicken eggs. Quail eggs contain nearly double the amount of iron and B vitamins by weight than chicken eggs, but they’re also higher in fat.
Always cook eggs before offering them to your cat and keep in mind that most of the iron is concentrated in the yolk. Egg whites are lower in calories and fat but they don’t contain as many micronutrients.
7. Organs
Organ meats are often described as superfoods due to their high nutrient content. The organs with the highest iron content are liver, kidney, brain, and heart. Organ meats also tend to be rich in copper, selenium, and B vitamins as well as protein.
The iron content of organ meat depends on the animal of origin and, to some extent, that animal’s diet. Beef liver is the highest in iron with about 1.4 mg per ounce. As mentioned above, grass-fed beef liver may contain a higher concentration of iron than factory farmed beef.
If you want to offer your cat a concentrated source of iron without significantly increasing their caloric intake, pieces of freeze-dried liver or heart may be a good choice. All organ meats are high in calories and fat but they provide your cat with more iron than a similarly sized serving of meat or poultry.
8. Shellfish
Like organ meats, shellfish offers a higher concentration of micronutrients by weight than red meat and poultry. Clams, oysters, and mussels are particularly rich in iron. Shellfish is also an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Per ounce, clams contain 24 calories with about 4.2 grams of protein and 0.5mg of iron. Oysters contain between 4.6 and 5.8 mg of iron per 100 grams, though the iron content may differ depending on the variety and whether the oysters are farmed or wild. Mussels contain about 4 mg of iron per 100 grams.
9. Fish
Fish is rich in protein and it tends to be a leaner option than red meat like beef and lamb. Small, oily types of fish like sardines and anchovies contain a lot of fat but it’s primarily in the form of omega-3s. Larger fish like salmon and tuna also contain omega-3s but in lower concentrations.
When it comes to iron content, those oily fish tend to win out. Anchovies provide about 4.6mg of iron per 100 grams while a similar serving of sardines contains about 2.9 mg. You can purchase these fish canned in oil—just be sure to drain as much oil as possible before offering them to your cat.
Iron content varies among larger fish. Fresh skipjack tuna provides about 1.3 mg of iron per 100 grams while white canned tuna only provides 0.7 mg. For Atlantic salmon, farmed salmon provides about 0.3mg per 100 grams while wild-caught salmon offers more than double that, around 0.8mg. Haddock and halibut are low in iron by comparison.
10. Vegetables
While animal-based foods are more biologically valuable for your cat, certain plant foods offer a decent amount of iron as well. The iron in plants is called non-heme iron. Good sources include broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens like spinach and swiss chard. A cup of cooked broccoli provides about 1 mg of iron.
Some of the strongest plant sources of iron are legumes, including peas, beans, and lentils. These are common ingredients in grain-free cat food. Most cats won’t be interested in these foods when offered plain but they can be included in a properly balanced homemade diet as a source of plant-based protein and iron.
Remember, always check with your veterinarian before giving your cat supplements or making changes to their diet. Make sure any non-commercial food products you offer are safe for cats and refer to your vet’s advice regarding the proper amount to feed your cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cat foods are high in iron?
All commercial cat foods formulated according to AAFCO nutrient profiles must contain at least 80 mg/kg of iron measured as dry matter. High-protein cat food may contain more than the minimum, though bioavailability may depend on the protein source. Animal-sourced protein contains heme iron which is generally more readily absorbed by cats than non-heme iron from plant-sourced protein.
How to increase iron levels in cats?
Cats with iron deficiency or anemia related to underlying health problems should be treated medically (or surgically, in some cases) by a veterinarian. For cats with mild iron deficiency, adding iron supplements or iron-rich foods like meat and poultry to the daily diet may help increase iron levels.
What iron supplement is best for cats?
Oral iron supplements for cats with iron deficiency anemia usually contain ferrous sulfate. If your cat requires an iron supplement, it’s best to get a prescription or product recommendation (with dosing advice) directly from your veterinarian.
Is tuna good for an anemic cat?
Tuna and other types of fish (like sardines, mackerel, and haddock) are rich in iron as well as other essential nutrients. Due to the risk of mercury poisoning, however, fish should not be the foundation of a daily diet for cats. Cats with anemia may also require medical treatment beyond dietary iron supplementation.
