It rained heavily that night. While perusing Twitter, I came across a post that posed the question, “Can cats eat hot Cheetos?” Due to my curiosity, I decided to check it out. The resulting article was published on a site called “The Dodo.”
A video of a cat, who appears to enjoy hot Cheetos, was included. My curiosity about whether or not my feline friends would enjoy spicy Cheetos peaked. So, I set out to learn more about it.
Even though cats have been observed eating hot Cheetos, this is not recommended. Your cat won’t be harmed by the spices in hot Cheetos, but she may get a stomachache from eating them. You should give your cat lots of water and keep an eye out for signs of stomach upset if it eats hot Cheetos.
In this article, I’ll explain why I don’t think it’s a good idea to give your cat hot Cheetos and explain why I do.
Can Cats Eat Hot Cheetos?
A cat can eat hot Cheetos in the sense that a nibble or lick won’t kill it, but this is yet another food they really shouldn’t eat and likely won’t eat anyway.
While hot Cheetos aren’t harmful to cats, they also aren’t particularly healthy or tasty.
In addition, even a small amount of this food can cause nausea, vomiting, and eventual death in cats due to sodium poisoning. It’s not something you should push on them.
Can Cats Eat Flamin’ Hot Cheetos?
I discovered a number of people asking this on reddit and Quora as I was writing. Apparently, it’s more common than I thought to feed cats hot Cheetos. I did some more research and discovered it!
Do not give Flamin’ hot Cheetos to your cat. Cheetos are safe for cats to eat, but they’re not the best snack option. Cheetos have a lot of fat and salt, which is bad for a cat’s health.
Flamin’ hot Cheetos, with their spicy flavor, can also aggravate a cat’s stomach. If your cat is set on eating Cheetos, you should only give them a small amount occasionally as a treat.
Can Kittens Eat Hot Cheetos?
Anyone who has ever owned a kitten knows that they are naturally inquisitive. They have a habit of investigating everything within reach of their noses (and mouths).
It’s understandable that some people would worry about giving their kitten Hot Cheetos.
Basically, the answer is not. Kittens should never be given hot Cheetos because of the choking risk and digestive irritation the spices present. Weight gain and other health issues have been linked to the high fat content of Hot Cheetos.
Your kitten may be curious about Hot Cheetos, but you should keep them safely out of their reach.
Do Cats Like Hot Cheetos?
The good news? It’s safe to assume that felines do not enjoy spicy Cheetos. The powdered cheese (and I use that word loosely) is probably the only thing that might interest a cat, since they won’t care much for the texture either way and probably won’t like the ‘hot’ sensation.
However, when it comes to human food, you can never tell which way a cat will go.
Some cats will want to eat everything their owner does in order to bond with them, because they are curious, and because they enjoy a wide variety of foods (they may even like the salt!), while others will not eat anything other than their own.
Do Cats Hate Hot Cheetos?
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that most cats will despise hot Cheetos, but since there’s nothing in them to entice most cats, they will likely just ignore them after giving them a quick lick out of curiosity. In addition, the heat from the Cheetos will scare most cats away.
Why Do Cats Like to Eat Hot Cheetos?
In this article, I’ll go over some of the possible causes for your cat’s fascination with spicy Cheetos.
1. Smell of Cheetos
Cats may be lured in by the aroma of hot Cheetos. They are probably drawn to the snack because of the pungent aroma of the spices.
2. Texture of Cheetos
Cats enjoy Cheetos because of their crunchy texture. Cheetos have a similar texture to cat food, and many cats enjoy eating crunchy foods.
3. Taste of Cheetos
Hot Cheetos may not have the same allure for cats as they do for humans, but some of them may still enjoy the flavor. Some cats may not be able to handle the intense flavor of hot Cheetos, but others seem to enjoy the snack.
Why you Should not Feed Hot Cheetos to Cats?
Here I’ll go over a few arguments against feeding your cat hot Cheetos.
1. Hot Cheetos are high in fat
Hot Cheetos are loaded with fat; I forgot to mention that. They certainly are. One serving of Cheetos provides about 5 percent of a cat’s daily fat requirement. That might not sound like much, but if your cat is chowing down on Cheetos, the cost can quickly mount up.
2. Hot Cheetos are high in salt
There is a lot of salt in hot Cheetos, too. About 2% of a cat’s daily salt requirement can be found in just one serving of Cheetos. Dehydration and other health issues can occur when cats consume too much salt.
3. Hot Cheetos can irritate a cat’s digestive system
Cats shouldn’t eat hot Cheetos because the spicy flavors can cause stomach upset. Too many spicy Cheetos can cause nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal distress in your cat.
4. Hot Cheetos are not a nutritious snack for cats
As a responsible pet owner, you should always consider your cat’s health when selecting a snack. In no way are hot Cheetos a healthy choice for a feline snack. They’re low on nutrients and high in fat and salt.
5. Hot Cheetos can be a choking hazard for cats
Hot Cheetos pose a serious choking risk to cats, and I failed to mention that earlier. Cats are susceptible to choking on the snack’s small, crunchy pieces. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cat if you’re feeding it hot Cheetos.
Can Hot Cheetos Kill My Cat?
The good news is that it’s highly unlikely that your cat will die from eating a single hot Cheeto or even a few.
There is nothing in this product besides carbohydrates, spices, and a lot of salt, so giving your cat just one lick won’t do it much good (though it may send it running for the water).
Even though your cat won’t die from eating hot Cheetos right away, that doesn’t mean they’re safe.
All varieties of Cheetos are unhealthy for your cat because they contain excessive amounts of sodium, calories, and carbohydrates. Sodium is a major issue in this case.
Sodium intake limits for cats are relatively low, at just 42 milligrams per day.
A cat would be unable to handle the 250mg in a 28g bag of hot Cheetos. In fact, your cat can become very ill from sodium poisoning after ingesting even a small amount. Sodium poisoning symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Swelling
- Extreme dehydration
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Chronic hypertension
- Lethargy
- Anorexia and incoordination
A fatal stroke can result from consuming too much alcohol over a long period of time. Keep in mind that cats can become sick from consuming much less sodium than humans can.
The carbohydrates in spicy Cheetos are another major drawback. Proteins and fats, rather than carbohydrates, make up the bulk of a cat’s ideal diet because of their physiological make-up.
Beyond a certain point, carbohydrates serve little purpose for cats other than to be stored as fat. Fat cats often experience health issues such as joint pain, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Cats get about all the carbohydrates they need from their regular cat food, and giving them more than that can be harmful.
Cats are usually lactose intolerant, but Cheetos contain milk powder. It’s not in any dangerously high quantities, but it could make your cat very uncomfortable for some time after ingestion.
Cheese, milk, and cream all have the potential to make cats sick, so it’s best to keep them away.
Finally, before feeding a snack to your cat, always check the ingredients list to make sure there’s nothing that could make them sick.
Onion and garlic powder are frequently the cause of cats becoming very ill in a short amount of time due to their extreme toxicity. If your cat consumes enough of it, it can be fatal.
(And for the record, garlic powder is an ingredient in hot Cheetos. It’s unlikely that your cat will be harmed by a lick or bite, but it’s still important to be aware of the possibility.
Short-term ingestion of hot Cheetos is unlikely to prove fatal for your cat, but chronic consumption can have serious consequences for your pet’s health and longevity.
Even among human foods, such as yogurt, chicken, or beef, there are far superior treats available for your cat to eat.
How Many Hot Cheetos are Safe for My Cat to Eat?
Is it possible that your cat sneaked a couple of Cheetos? As long as it doesn’t become a regular occurrence, I wouldn’t be too concerned.
Your cat probably won’t be hurt if it licks a Cheeto or even runs off with one, but it may be sorry when the spice kicks in.
You should keep an eye on your cat for a day or two afterward for signs of sodium poisoning or other ill effects, like gastrointestinal upset or pain, even if you think they only ingested a small amount.
It can also be eliminated via a very unpleasant trip to the bathroom.
Is it Dangerous for Cats to Eat Cheetos Puffs?
Cheetos puffs themselves are not toxic to cats, but eating too many of them can be dangerous. The high fat and calorie content of Cheetos puffs is the main cause for concern.
Obesity is a serious health risk for cats, and a diet high in Cheetos puffs has been linked to diabetes and arthritis. Constipation and gastrointestinal distress are two more side effects of eating Cheetos puffs.
That’s why it’s not a good idea to feed your cat Cheetos puffs. Keep a close eye on your cat if they eat Cheetos puffs, and if you have any worries, talk to your vet.
What Happens if a Cat Eats Hot Cheetos?
To what extent, then, do hot Cheetos affect a cat? How much and what kind of hot Cheetos you eat can affect how quickly you feel the effects of the spice. In this post, I’ll go over a few possibilities.
1. Your cat eats a few hot Cheetos
Your cat probably won’t get sick from eating a few hot Cheetos. There probably won’t be any adverse reactions to the Cheetos’ trace amounts of spices.
2. Your cat eats a lot of hot Cheetos
Your cat may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if it eats too many spicy Cheetos. Cats shouldn’t eat Cheetos because of the spicy seasonings.
3. Your cat eats a lot of hot Cheetos and is obese
Health issues like diabetes and joint pain can develop in an overweight cat that feasts on hot Cheetos. Cheetos have been linked to gastrointestinal distress and inactivity.
4. Your cat eats a lot of hot Cheetos and has a health condition
Eating a lot of hot Cheetos can be dangerous for your cat, especially if they already have a medical condition like diabetes or kidney disease.
You should check with your vet before giving your cat any kind of snack, including hot Cheetos, if it has a health condition.
5. Your cat eats a lot of hot Cheetos and is pregnant
Your pregnant cat runs the risk of developing diabetes and joint pain if they consume large quantities of hot Cheetos. Cheetos have been linked to gastrointestinal distress and inactivity.
Talk to your vet before giving your pregnant cat any kind of snack, especially something hot like Cheetos.
My Cat Already Ate Hot Cheetos – Now What?
There’s not much you, a man, can do now that you’ve made it down to this section because your cat has already eaten hot Cheetos. In this article, I’ll tell you what to do if your cat eats a bag of hot Cheetos.
1. Do not give your cat any more hot Cheetos
Do not feed your cat any more hot Cheetos if it has already eaten some. Cats shouldn’t eat Cheetos because the spices can irritate their stomachs and lead to throwing up and diarrhea.
2. Monitor your cat closely
Keep an eye out for symptoms of illness, like vomiting and diarrhea, if your cat has recently consumed hot Cheetos. Make an appointment with your vet if your cat starts throwing up or has diarrhea.
3. Give your cat plenty of water
Give your cat lots of water to drink if it has already consumed hot Cheetos; this will help flush the spices out of its system.
4. Contact your veterinarian
Contact your vet immediately if your cat has already consumed hot Cheetos and is exhibiting symptoms of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea.
Conclusion
Although it’s not recommended, cats can technically eat hot Cheetos because they aren’t typically toxic. They cause stomachaches because they are too high in salt and carbohydrates and offer no nutritional value to cats.
Thankfully, many felines couldn’t care less about your snack and would rather have something of their own. Even if your cat has a sweet tooth, you should keep your treats out of reach to avoid health problems like diabetes, obesity, or an unpleasant trip to the litter box.