Feline nutrition is a careful balance of the vitamins, carbs, and healthy fats that cats need to grow and thrive. WebCats should not eat bacon bits because they tend to be overloaded in salt, sodium, and preservatives which are very bad for your cats health. Technically speaking, yes, cats can eat bacon in that they have the ability to chew it up and swallow it. Cats are natural meat-eaters, and the aroma of bacon, as well as the flavor of the flesh, should attract them. Your cat is a carnivore, so its only natural that theyd be pawing at your breakfast plate when youre chowing down on bacon. WebYes, cats can eat bacon, but they shouldnt. The same can be said for fried bacon and fat, which are known to clog arteries and increase obesity. 2023 Cover Story Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No, cats should not eat these. Friskies Party Mix Crunch California Dreamin Cat treats and Tomlyn Pill-Masker 4-oz jar are both rated 4 out of 5 stars. It is essential to understand that certain human foods should not be given to cats. Cats who have a history of pancreatitis. Despite the fact that turkey bacon contains a lot of sodium and fat, our cats can become overweight as a result. There are other ways you can give love to them. Yes, your cat can derive some nutrition from the bacon that you feed them. This is a food that provides no nutritional value whatsoever to your cat, and if not served properly, will do more harm than good. In terms of your cats health, bacon-flavored products have a distinct advantage over bacon-flavored foods. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cats.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Most commonly, at least in the United States, this pork strip is cut from the pigs side. Please discuss your pets specific dietary needs (based on his breed, weight, age, and health status) with a veterinarian. 5: Cats are carnivores. This is why your cat may go crazy the second they pick up the scent of any raw meat or cooked meat. I know we love our pets so much and would want to give them treats, but we often dont think about the nutritional value of those treats. Pieces of bacon given as treats would be the best way to regulate their bacon intake. From the scent of it while it is being cooked, down to its crunchiness! Ive never seen a cat love bacon as much as my cat does. If you give your cat some bacon on occasion, it is a good idea to do so. Kitties also love the taste and smell of catnip, so catnip treats are always a good option. However, its important to include them here to showcase how dangerous too much bacon can be. Although bacon is not toxic to your furry family member, it may still be a health risk. Stay away from the candied bacon, bacon bits, and definitely don't let your cat eat raw bacon. Can Cats Eat Sardines? Because bacon contains toxic chemicals such as PCBs, cats may become ill if consumed in large quantities. In fact, Canadian bacon is about 50% fat. So, can cats eat bacon? Cats are true carnivores, meaning they have to have meat; their bodies require it to function. Last Updated: December 26, 2022 | 7 min read. When we talk about bacon, most people are referring to salt-cured meat taken from a pigs back or belly. Bacon has a fair amount of protein in it, and cats need all the protein that they can get. Yes, your cat can derive some nutrition from the bacon that you feed them. Keep reading to learn more about when its okay to offer bacon to your feline family members. No more searching for answers that may or may not be accurate.We provide vet-approved information on feeding your pet. On the plus side, bacon is high in protein, which your cat needs for growth and repairing tissue. We all can agree that bacon is delicious, salty, crunchy, and one of the best parts about Sunday brunch. These might sound like great benefits, but for cats, the nutritional downsides of bacon are far more significant. Dont give your cat bacon that has been sweetened, bacon bits, or raw bacon. It can be a big temptation to offer your cat a piece of bacon as you eat breakfast or enjoy your club sandwich. Raw bacon is definitely a no-no, but a small piece of cooked bacon will not harm your cat. Its best to stick with treats designed for cats or other healthier human foods. Find Out If Its Safe or Not! Meat bones, especially cooked ones can get lodged and cause your cat to choke or can splinter and cause digestive issues. Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? padding: 15px 0 15px 40px; No, bacon is not good for cats. If you are considering feeding your cat bacon, it is best to speak to your veterinarian first to see if it is a safe and appropriate option for your pet. Why or why not? Any health benefits that they get will be massively dwarfed by the negatives, however. Firstly, raw bacon may contain parasites or harmful bacteria that might cause your cat to become sick. A properly prepared, bite-size piece of fried bacon or smoked bacon is OK as a rare treat. You might enjoy bacon for breakfast, maybe in a sandwich with ketchup, or as part of a fry-up. Before giving your cat any raw meat, make sure he or she is properly veterinarianed and nutritionisted. The pork is soaked in a mixture of nitrates and salt. Are There Any Concerns with Cats Eating Bacon? If you want to treat your cat on occasion, feed him cooked bacon. So go ahead, share the love! You might also wonder about the types of bacon you can offer. That said, however, bacon needs to remain an occasional treat and not something they get every day. Although bacon is not toxic to your furry family member, it may still be a health risk. To help them keep their food intake and diet healthy, lets decide on a few things on what our cats can and cannot eat. If you want to give your cat bacon, tear off a piece no larger than a pencil eraser. Artificial bacon bits are even worse of course since they dont even have real bacon in them! Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, well receive a percentage of the proceeds. Considering that their sleep cycle of 16 to 20 hours per day, which doesnt give them just as much waking time for their body to burn off the fat from eating turkey bacon. The vast majority of people are unaware that cats have lactose intolerance. It might seem a bit mean, but in the long run, its best for your cats health to choose an option thats lower in salt and fat. The general verdict is that yes, your cat can eat bacon. Fat is present in bacon, ham, bacon grease, and fat trimmings. Additionally, this food is very greasy and can clog up your cats digestive and circulatory systems. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresseIP, Navigation et recherche lors de lutilisation des sites Web et applications Yahoo. It's even a great, occasional treat for some pets. Some foods may contain the artificial sweetener xylitol, which is highly toxic to them. But bacon is a processed meat that is loaded with fat and salt. The smell is so powerful that saliva begins to flow into your mouth, and the meat is so juicy and crunchy that you can only imagine how good it is. Its not healthy in any way, but a small piece as an occasional treat will not harm your kit. While these links arent proven in cats, their daily sodium requirement is much lower than ours, and high levels can lead to salt poisoning. Cooked meat is safest and chicken, beef, and pork are number one on their list of what theyd like to eat. Pet treats are available from The Granville Island Pet Treatery. Bacon in moderate amounts is not toxic to cats and doesnt contain any dangerous compounds, as long as its not highly processed meat. Its only OK to offer it to them in tiny, bite-sized amounts, and only on rare occasions at that. Cats should not eat bacon on a daily basis, according to the American Veterinary Medical Society. However, the most important part of being a pet parent is making decisions to keep your purry pal as healthy as possible. A few precautions should be taken when feeding bacon to your cat. It is best not to feed your cat bacon, but a small piece every now and then may not harm him. Bacon is high in fat and salt, neither of which are ideal for cats. So, is it okay to offer your kitty a taste of your salty, crunchy, and delicious bacon? Its chock full of nitrates, and saturated fat and the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as a carcinogen in 2015. Felines are obligate carnivores. Its just not a great idea. Bits from the kitchen counter can mess with this important mixture, particularly foods like bacon that are high in calories and salt. Simply put, can cats eat bacon as treats? Read more here. However, bacon can also contain fats and sodium which can make your cat sick if it eats too much of it. Probably because of their metabolism, what they do in a day, and the way they are! WebYes, cats can eat bacon, but they shouldnt. Its not a good idea to give your cat bacon because its very high in fat and salt. A pound of bacon contains a lot of fat as well as a lot of grease. So, while its okay for humans to eat a slice of bacon in moderation, is it okay for us to feed it to our cats? It is possible for cats to eat bacon, but only on occasion. Ideally, it should only be given as a treat and not a frequent meal. Cats are obligate carnivores which means they must eat meat to survive. That said, continue reading to find out what the risks are if you decide to feed bacon to your kitty. Cats can eat raw bacon, but only if its fresh and from a clean source like a good butcher. It has a little less protein, somewhat lower fat, and fewer calories. Stay away from any kind of unnamed meat or unnamed by-product. This is animal protein, so kitties will be attracted to the smell and taste, but this is not the high-quality kind of animal protein that felines need. Any food they eat that's with extra sodium content is never needed in a cat's diet. They can experience stomach pain, excessive thirst urination, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, incoordination, and in severe cases, seizures and even coma. It contains high levels of chemicals and has been linked to a higher risk of cancer in humans, meaning it certainly is not healthy for our four-legged family members. Raw meats can be beneficial for felines and can also be an occasional delicious treat. Cats Can Eat Bacon as a Regular Treat? So, what about Canadian bacon? Making Cat Food: Homemade And Raw Cat Food Diets Explained, 6 Common Reasons Why Cats Pee Outside The Litter Box, The 5 Best Cat Exercise Wheels: Tested & Reviewed, Eyelid Agenesis In Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment. If a small piece of bacon were to fall on the ground, and your cat was to eat it, nothing would happen. According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), one slice of bacon contains approximately 137.4mg of sodium, making it one of the UKs most fat and saturated fat sources. Because bacon is not toxic to cats, it does not pose a threat to them. Yet, a lot of what we eat isnt good for our pets. If you make bacon a part of your cats regular diet, they could develop high blood pressure, obesity, and even salt poisoning. Feeding your cat bacon is fine as long as you dont overdo it. Yes. Blindness happens when the blood pressure of the eye causes the retina to detach. Even though turkey is an ingredient in many pet foods, turkey bacon is simply not appropriate or suitable to feed to felines. Bacon is a fatty meat, though, and can cause health problems for cats if given in large quantities. She loves to write and wants to empower owners to make the best decisions for their pets by giving them all the information they need. Cats, too, are obligate carnivores and could be tempted to try a piece of fried bacon for breakfast. Because of its high salt and fat content, bacon should only be given to people with limited health care needs. Bacon also contains lots of B vitamins and selenium, an antioxidant. We have consideration surrounding cats consuming bacon. Can also be an occasional treat for some pets of being a pet is! Salt and fat, and health status ) with a veterinarian content, bacon grease and! 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