Many animals have enzymes specifically designed for digesting plant matter. On the other hand, cats lack these enzymes and have a digestive system meant for digesting meat. A cat has a digestive tract that has evolved to digest meat-based proteins as well as to obtain other essential nutrients, like taurine, that cats need. Cats, for example, have special needs for certain fatty acids and vitamins primarily found in meat. But does that mean any meat is fine to be used as your cat’s meal? Let’s take a look at bacon. This popular snack usually appears on our plates. Can you share bacon with your cat? Let’s check it.
Is Bacon Safe For Cats?
Being mindful about what you feed your cat can go a long way to ensure they are healthy and free of medical issues. This is why professionals would most likely recommend choosing a higher-quality pet food with the best nutrients for every cat. Nevertheless, there are times that cats ask for table food or filch different morsels from plates. That’s when some owners may fear their pet has ingested something toxic. It has no risk for the cat if it is meat. Well, not necessarily! And now, here is what the experts have to say about bacon.
Bacon, being meat, is generally free of any toxins. So, cats can eat bacon. But is this an optimal manner to feed your feline? This is a moot point here. If your cat ingests a portion of bacon, they ought to be okay. But a little too much bacon in the cat’s diet is not good, especially if it is fried in fat and polished with a whole range of additives. Here, we’ll explore why bacon isn’t all that great for your cat and how to safely feed your feline bacon if your furry friend insists on it.
Bacon Risks
Although cats can eat bacon, it is best not to give this delicacy to pets. Bacon in moderation will not harm your cat, but be careful. Commercial bacon contains additives that cause more damage to cats than people. Garlic and onion additives are toxic for cats; be cautious with any of those additives. Salt is another dangerous component, and it is found in high levels in bacon. Our furry family members do not do well with salt in high amounts.
Also, bacon is a type of meat that is extremely high in fat. Moreover, when we fry bacon with fat, it makes it even more calorie-dense. While cats require a relatively high level of fat in their diet, there are limits. Research has found that excessive fat in a cat’s diet can cause serious health issues, such as high cholesterol, which raises the likelihood of developing heart disease or diabetes. This is why a protein-based diet is recommended for a cat. A large portion of fat, such as bacon, is not remarkably advisable for obese cats. Raw bacon is another risk. Raw meat is controversial as it can also be bacteria-laden. Hence, do not feed your cats raw bacon or other raw types of meat.
How to Feed a Cat Bacon Safely?
Some cats are very stubborn. If you notice that your feline likes bacon and meows very loudly whenever you eat this meat, you can give them a small bite. Bacon is okay for cats to eat as long as no harmful additives are present in the meat. Look on the package to see if the bacon has garlic or onions. Cooked and unsalted bacon are also the best choices. This will be the best and safest bet for your cat.
Then, you can feed your cat a small portion of chopped bacon. Well, bacon is animal protein, after all. Besides amino acids, this meat will also give your cat most other essential nutrients. However, just keep in mind that there are much better and much healthier alternatives, which is why cats shouldn’t eat bacon so frequently. Instead, it is better to feed them different meat meals that are not so high in fat.
Summary
Can cats eat bacon? Yes, they can. There are no poisons in this meat. However, experts advise against giving bacon to cats. The flesh is very fatty and usually comes with salt and other harmful additives. So let it be better avoided. If you are still uncertain if you can provide bacon to your feline friend, ask your vet.
Sources
- Rebecca L. Remillard, Stephen W. Crane (2021). Small Animal Clinical Nutrition – Making Pet Foods at Home.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/mmi_sacn5/2019/SACN5_10.pdf - Chad F. Berman, Remo G. Lobetti, Eric Zini, Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Johan P. Schoeman (2021). Influence of high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets on serum lipid and fructosamine concentrations in healthy cats.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10812288/
