Can cats eat pasta?
Can cats eat pasta?
Anonim

Anyone who owns cats knows, or at least should know, that you have to be very responsible in managing theirs Power supply: although it is tempting to give them leftovers from our table or delicacies that we cook for us, there are some foods that are absolutely forbidden for them as they are poisonous, toxic or not easily assimilated by their body. There pasta it is not among the foods that are actively harmful to our four-legged friends, so it is questionable if they can eat it securely. The answer is in this article.

plate of pasta
plate of pasta

Pasta hasn't no nutritional value for a feline: it does not contain proteins but a large amount of carbohydrates, which can be difficult for them to digest, not to mention the fact that some cats are sensitive to gluten.

However, it is not a dangerous food, as it is not neither toxic nor poisonous for the animal. In essence, eating pasta represents an intake of calories that you can do without but which you can also enjoy in small quantities, if you like the taste and have no allergies.

kitten eats pasta
kitten eats pasta

In this regard, it should be noted that sensitivity, rather than allergy (very rare) to gluten may occur in cats with recurrent vomiting and diarrhea, itchy skin with possible hives, weight loss, asthma and difficulty breathing; if you observe such reactions in your cat after offering him some paste, take him to the vet and be careful not to give it to him in the future.

cat attracted to plate of pasta
cat attracted to plate of pasta

We still have to avoid that it constitutes a usual meal, especially if not supplemented with proteins. As carnivores, cats need a considerable amount of protein but few carbohydrates. While metabolizing the latter in a similar way to us, that is, transforming them into energy, they take much longer to do so, and this reduces the amount of energy they have immediately available, causing them to save and be less active. Especially in the case of indoor cats carbohydrates can often stop producing energy and turn into fat, leading them to gain weight and risk obesity and digestive problems.

cat eats spaghetti
cat eats spaghetti

If you decide to give your cat some pasta, there are mainly three precautions that you must absolutely follow:

  • Cook it well: raw pasta will also have the appearance of a crunchy and inviting snack for them, but it is even more difficult to digest; it could also shatter into small splinters that risk injuring or suffocating the animal. The pasta for the cat must necessarily be very cooked.
  • Do not add salt: it is in fact very dangerous for the delicate kidneys of cats.
  • Avoid seasonings, especially the ready-made ones: as we said at the beginning, there are many foods (garlic, onion, bay leaf, mushrooms and some aromas) which, while tempting us, are poisonous or even deadly for the cat and often appear among the ingredients of pasta sauces. The cat doesn't need to eat them, so why put their health at risk?

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