When treats make up less than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake, you have to pick and choose carefully.
You may need to fight off his persuasive fork swiping while you enjoy your breakfast of bacon and eggs.
Do cats like bacon? Sure, a little bit here and there as a treat is fine. Cats get almost all of their nutritional requirements met by meat because they are obligate carnivores.
This is because it contains an adequate quantity of protein and the amino acid taurine, which is essential for the proper functioning of your cat’s heart and eyes.
Therefore, cats can eat bacon, but only if the high fat and sodium content is monitored.
Therefore, it’s probably best to give your cat only the food and treats your vet has approved.
Can Cats Eat Bacon Grease?
Bacon grease is extremely difficult for a cat to digest and absorb, so it should be avoided at all costs.
Bacon grease is rendered bacon fat, meaning that all of the water has been removed.
The high levels of saturated and monounsaturated fat in bacon grease are harmful to your cat in a number of ways, including its potential to cause pancreatitis, greasy dermatitis, and clogging.
What Is Bacon Grease?
Bacon contains water and its fat is liquid at room temperature if it is eaten raw.
When bacon fat is cooled, it solidifies from a liquid state.
Lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit causes the bacon fat to solidify into white lardons.
So bacon grease is just the water that was drained off while the bacon was cooking so that the fat could solidify into lardons.
Bacon grease’s high smoke point means it can be used for both baking and frying.
Bacon grease can be stored for months in the refrigerator and up to a year in the freezer in a small container.
Bacon grease has many uses, but it should never be given to a cat.
Is Bacon Safe for Cats?
Every serving of regular pork bacon isn’t completely devoid of health benefits, thanks to the presence of complex B vitamins and nutrients like selenium and zinc.
Cats can eat cooked bacon in moderation, according to Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP(F), owner of Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital and Feline Thyroid Center in Queenstown, Maryland; however, this only applies to bacon without additional seasonings or nitrates. Nothing with honey barbecue sauce or black pepper. O
Onions and garlic are poisonous to cats, so avoid serving them these foods. Don’t give your cat cooked bacon, raw bacon, candied bacon, or bacon bits.
Well-formulated commercial cat food will provide all the minerals your cat needs, including chloride, salt, and potassium.
Adult cats require about 740 milligrams of sodium per day to remain healthy.
Therefore, while kitty can enjoy bacon as a special treat on occasion, the average strip contains about 147 milligrams of salt, which is too much for a daily diet.
The fat content is something else to keep an eye on. An adult cat who isn’t nursing needs about 5 grams of fat per day.
One serving of bacon, however, could contain as much as 4 grams of fat. You guessed correctly; we are aware. What makes it so appealing, however, is still too much for poor Kitty.
Another disclaimer applies to the occasional provision of bacon bits. Rucinsky says, “For cats with sensitive stomachs, bacon might be a little too much.”
If your cat is suffering from a digestive disorder like pancreatitis, feed it only the cat food and treats your vet has approved, and don’t give in to your cat’s persistent attempts to steal bacon from your plate.
Why Does My Cat Eat Bacon Grease?
Cats have a reputation for being picky eaters, but they still occasionally snack on undesirable items.
There may never be an explanation for why bacon grease ended up in your cat’s water bowl.
If your cat is particularly inquisitive, it will eat just about anything you leave out for it.
Is Bacon Grease Bad for Your Cat?
Bacon grease is high in calories and contains proteins and fats that are not good for a cat’s digestive system, so it’s not a good idea to give it to a cat.
Meat consumption was never intended for them.
If your cat eats bacon grease, it could get sick or even develop a blockage in its digestive tract.
The most severe cases may also experience bleeding in the digestive tract or ulcers.
It’s best to collect the fluid within the first 24 to 48 hours, before the lardons solidify into tiny white spheres.
What If My Cat Ate Bacon Grease?
Symptoms of a bacon grease overdose include nausea, diarrhoea, and fatigue.
If Leo keeps showing these symptoms, he needs to see the vet immediately to rule out a life-threatening intestine blockage or intestinal bleeding.
If you act quickly, he should be fine, but if his condition worsens at all, medical attention is necessary immediately.
How Can You Prevent Your Cat From Eating Bacon Grease?
Cover it Well
If you want to feed bacon grease to your cat, you can do so in a few different ways.
Cats can get under aluminum foil and chew on it, irritating their paw pads.
Using a Pantry
You shouldn’t put bacon grease in the fridge for obvious reasons, but you can put it in a cabinet where your cat can’t get to it.
Cover the bacon grease well to prevent access by your cat.
Is Butter Healthier Than Bacon Grease?
Butter on your cat’s food is just as good as a can of bacon grease if you don’t want to give it to your pet.
If given in moderation, butter can be safely fed to cats. It’s possible that your pet will lick some melted butter off the table or eat a small amount of it if it reaches for it as it warms up.
Butter is safe for cats in small amounts, but feeding your cat too much butter can make them sick.
Even though it’s not necessarily worse than regular shortening or butter, it’s not recommended because it may make your cat sick with vomiting and diarrhea.
What Kinds of Bacon Can Cats Eat?
You’ll have to put in a little more effort if you decide to fry or bake regular pork bacon for your cat.
To prevent your cat from getting sick, place her treat on a paper towel and wipe off any remaining grease.
If your cat isn’t eating, you can try removing the fatty portion of the meat, dicing up the remaining meat, and offering it to her. What about we check out some alternative bacons?
Turkey Bacon
Moderate consumption of turkey bacon, which typically contains both white and dark turkey meat, is deemed acceptable by Rucinsky. Although it has less fat, it still has a lot of sodium.
Canadian Bacon
Canadian bacon, also called “back bacon” in Canada, is unsmoked ham made from the pig’s loin. Ham is another unusual treat for cats; while it is not toxic, it is also not particularly nutritious.
Plant-based Bacon
It’s easy to assume that cats can eat bacon alternatives like seitan, tempeh, or coconut if you occasionally snack on these meat substitutes yourself.
They continue to be carnivorous. As an additional point, Rucinsky says, “And like more ‘regular’ bacons, these alternatives can also be really high in salt content.” There is nothing inherently bad about them, but they should be made available in extremely limited quantities. ”
Unique treats are perfect for encouraging interaction and reinforcing learning. Rucinsky, on the other hand, suggests picking from among the many different shaped and flavored commercial treats and cat-friendly homemade goodies available.
What To Do If Your Cat Eats Too Much Bacon
If you find your cat eating a piece of bacon it found on the counter or in the trash, you should take it to the vet right away.
Vitals like blood pressure, fluid levels, and symptoms of sodium ion poisoning will need to be tracked. Common signs of this condition are:
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration or excessive thirst
- Tremors
Call the Pet Poison Hotline at (855) 764-7661 if you think too much bacon is to blame but can’t get in touch with your vet.
Conclusion
In sum, felines shouldn’t consume bacon grease or apply it topically.
It’s difficult for cats to process, and it can even be harmful to their health. A buildup of fat in the liver or pancreas can lead to serious health problems or even death.
The flavoring in bacon grease is toxic to cats, and eating any of it can make them sick with vomiting and diarrhea.
Feeding your cat a diet high in natural cat foods is a great way to keep them healthy and reduce the likelihood that they will scratch up your furniture or other household items.
They are beneficial to their kidneys and digestive systems and will protect them from malnutrition-related illnesses.