Bologna is a tasty little snack that can be delicious on a sandwich or even on its own for a little treat. Like most cat owners, you want to share your delicious treats with your cat who follows you to the kitchen and hops up on the counter, meowing until you give in.
There are a number of human snacks you can definitely share with your feline best friend, but that doesn’t mean that all snacks suitable for humans are going to be good for your cat.
Can my cat eat bologna?
Cats have a very strong sense of smell, and can catch on to a scent they like from almost anywhere in the house. As you’re standing in the kitchen, enjoying your snack you might find yourself thinking about sharing with your cat, but it may cross your mind as to whether bologna is healthy for your cat and if you should even give it to them.
As any cat owner knows, cats can be really picky on the foods they like to eat and it can even change from day to day. Bologna may appear like an ok choice since it’s meat and your cat is showing interest in it, but that doesn’t mean they should have a lot of it.
A little bit of bologna is ok for your cat to eat, but they should not eat it every day or in large amounts.
What is dangerous about bologna for cats?
Cats can sometimes have difficulty digesting holistic, nutrient dense human foods so imagine how hard it’s going to be for your car to digest a large amount of highly processed human food.
Bologna is highly processed and it contains an incredible amount of salt per serving. Too much salt can be very dangerous for your little feline, and too much of it can also lead to salt poisoning in a cat.
Bologna also contains myrtle berries, black peppers, and coriander – to name a few – and all of these can be incredibly toxic for a cat if too much is consumer.
In addition to all of that, bologna has large fat deposits in the mean itself. Consuming large fat deposits isn’t really healthy for you or your cat, and too much over time can lead to health complications like heart disease and hypertension.
So what’s the answer: can my cat eat bologna? In conclusion, your cat can eat small amounts of bologna but human foods should only be given as a rare treat, and your cat should be trained to eat its regular food for the most part.
Your vet can give you advice for your cat specifically, and if human food would be especially harmful for your cat.
If you are going to feed your cat bologna, you should give him/her a little piece at first to make sure your cat doesn’t have an adverse or allergic reaction to eating it.
Can my cat eat other kinds of deli meat?
When you’re eating meat it can trigger your cat’s desire for animal meat as it’s a meat product you’re eating. Your cat is naturally a carnivore, so they will want to sniff around the sandwich you’re eating with deli meats on it – they might even try to steal some.
So we’ve already determined bologna isn’t the best idea for your feline friend but what about other options for deli meat – can you give those to your cat?
Cats need a lot of protein in their diet, being natural carnivores, but that doesn’t mean that all sources of protein will be healthy for your cat to consume.
With proper portion control, cats can definitely eat deli meats as a rare treat in their diet. Deli meat often contains a lot of preservatives that are rich in sodium, and a diet too high in salt content is really bad for your cat’s health.
Why are deli meats so high in sodium?
Most cold cuts are high in a chemical known as sodium-nitrate, which is used to kill off harmful bacteria that may sit on the meat and it also gives the cold cuts its pink-ish colouration.
In the human body, nitrates can kill off harmful gut bacteria. In large amounts, sodium nitrate isn’t healthy for humans to consume and it’s really no different for your cat.
Cat’s are naturally really sensitive to salt in their diet, and so it’s crucial to regulate the amount of salt your cat consumes.
What are the safe deli meats for my cat?
Not all deli meats are created the same, and some cuts of meat have more nutritional value to a diet than others.
If you are going to feed your cat deli meat, the safest options would include turkey, chicken and roast beef.
Like with any treat, moderation is key and it’s important to make sure your cat doesn’t eat too much deli meat over a short period of time.
Cat-Safe Human Food
As much as you do your best to make sure your cat only eats its cat food, it’s understandable that some variety and mixing it up is a great way to make sure your car doesn’t get totally bored with its food.
There are a number of human foods that are cat-safe and can act as a special treat for your furry best friend.
Fish
If you have an aquarium, you probably don’t want your cat snatching at the fish in it but some fatty fish – like tuna – can help with your cat’s brain function, joints and eyesight.
Meat
Cooked poultry is a great option to add into your cats regular diet, but if you can skip over foods that are high in sodium – like certain deli meats – that will make for a better overall diet for your cat.
Cheese
Adding in a little cheese to your cat’s regular food is not only a tasty treat for your cat but cheese is full of protein and calcium so it’s really good for your cat’s health.
Bananas
This might seem like an odd option for your cat, but bananas are actually a healthy treat for your cat. The amount of banana you give your cat should be regulated though as they are pretty high in sugar.
Berries
As long as this delicious fruit isn’t found in a pie, it’s a great option to share with your cat. Berries are low in sugar and high in antioxidants so they’re good for both humans and cats.
Carrots
Since cats are naturally carnivores, they don’t require veggies to get a healthy diet. That doesn’t mean that you can’t give your cat a few carrots to much on as a healthy treat. For cats, carrots should be cooked as raw carrots might prove a choking hazard for cats.
Rice
If your cat is experiencing tummy troubles, a little bit of rice can help settle their stomach. Rice wouldn’t normally be part of their diet but a little here and there can be a treat and won’t cause any harm.
Pumpkin
As long as their isn’t the added spice in it, pureed pumpkin can help with things such as constipation and hairballs.
Oatmeal
Oats are really high in iron, fiber and protein so they can be used to benefit your cat’s overall health.
Eggs
This food is really beneficial for humans and cats, alike. Eggs are full of protein, but you should only give them to your cat if they’re cooked as raw eggs can carry E. coli or salmonella.
Spinach
As many cat owners know, cats love to nibble on grass when they’re outside so it only makes sense that cats will enjoy a little extra leafy greens thrown into their diet. Spinach should not be given to your cat, though, if he or she has urinary or kidney troubles.
While all of these human foods are safe for cats to eat, it should be noted that they should be considered treats and not the regular meals you feed your cat.
In moderation, all of these human foods are a great way to add variety into your cat’s diet but they should not be given on a regular basis or constitute a whole meal.
We want to give our cat’s a variety in terms of what they eat because eating the same thing every day is going to be boring for your cat, but you’ll want to make sure what you’re feeding is safe and isn’t going to be harmful long term for your furry friend.
If you have concerns about what you can or should feed your cat you should always check with your vet for specific options.
Your cat will naturally be attracted to eating more meat because he or she is a carnivore, but your cat needs a lot of protein in its diet so you can substitute eggs and cheese – which are also high in protein.
Sharing treats with your cat is a way of bonding, but we want to make sure our little buddy is staying as healthy as possible for its whole l