OK, I've been doing a lot of research on this so here goes:
1. Don't feed your cat tuna from a can. It's toxic to them. The water or oil, however, are fine. I let my cat lick the can after I have removed the tuna.
2. You can add salmon oil to your cat's food and that will be very beneficial (lots of omega 3s). To open the capsule, use a pair of kitchen scissors to slit the end then squeeze. The real problem is that they don't need the whole capsule -- only about 1/4.
If you really want to be kind to your cat and reduce shedding, reduce his/her chances of getting cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, and a host of other feline ailments and to help her/him live a long, active, healthy life, switch him/her to a raw meat diet.
I switched my 19-month-old cat Ruggles to an all meat diet (I use CatInstincTS to supplement the meat) about 4 months ago and I have seen such a difference. He was neutered late (13 months) and so became very indolent and started gaining weight rapidly and he had no control over his eating habits. He was also shedding terribly and had horrible mats in his fur that I had to have shaved. Ruggles is a ragdoll and is not supposed to have problems with mats.
Since I put him on his raw meat diet he has returned to the kitten he was when I got him (almost annoyingly so
) and his fur problem has totally cleared up.
I have also put my 12-year-old sheltie Bandit on an all meat diet and his health and energy have improved remarkably as well. He seems at leat 5 years younger.
I did lots of research on the Internet before I switched Bandit and Ruggles to their new WsOE, and I haven't regretted it one minute even though it does require more work and money to feed them properly.
One other interesting thing about a more natural diet for my "kids" is that they drink a lot less water and they go to the "bathroom" less. This is natural and more to how they would be in their natural "wild" state. And the catbox is not so stinky.
;-Deb