The jaguar cartoon in the Cheetos commercials is well-known. So, can cats eat Cheetos? He kind of looks like one.
If we’re being honest, no living thing, not even humans, should eat Cheetos. They contain numerous potentially harmful additives, including preservatives and artificial colors.
Our cats are included in this as well. Despite their savory flavor, these snacks aren’t good for our cats.
Cheetos come in a wide variety of flavors. Is it true that some Cheetos flavors are more dangerous for cats than others? Let’s check out the reasons why cats shouldn’t eat Cheetos.
Cats Shouldn’t Eat Cheetos
Your cat can safely lick a piece of Cheeto if it comes up to investigate. Before anything bad happened, they’d have to eat the whole bag. It’s not a healthy option, though. It contains many artificial ingredients that can be very difficult on their digestive systems.
When Are Cheetos Okay For Cats To Eat?
Cats aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients in Cheetos, so don’t worry if you find yours sneaking a few.
It’s probably not a big deal if, while lounging on the couch, you accidentally give your cat a bite or two of a single Cheeto.
Avoid the spicier varieties at all costs, and don’t make it a habit.
Let’s Discuss the Ingredients
Original Crunchy Cheetos-style snacks
1 ounce (or 21 pieces) is a serving size.
- Calories—160
- Fat—10 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- 13 g of carbs
- Weight: 2 g
Minerals and Vitamins
- Thiamin—8%
- Niacin—4%
- Iron—2%
- Riboflavin—4%
- 6% Vitamin B6
Different Types of Cheetos
- Cheetos, a popular brand of crunchy snacks
- Puffs of Cheetos
- Cheetos with Extra Flare
- A Bag of Cheetos and a Bag of Popcorn
- M&C Cheetos, or Mac & Cheese
- Fantastix
- Simply
- Baked
Breakdown of Ingredients
- Cornmeal, in the form of enriched corn meal, is a filler ingredient found in many commercial cat foods. This grain isn’t the healthiest option for your cat’s diet. Because of their lack of nutritional value, corn, wheat, and soy have been avoided by many pet food manufacturers recently.
- Flaxseed oil and coconut oil, for example, are two of many oils that can be good for your cats. Unfortunately, the oils in Cheetos aren’t ideal for your pets.
- Cheese and milk—it wasn’t frowned upon until recently to serve your cat a warm bowl of milk. Most cats, however, have an innate intolerance to lactose and shouldn’t be fed dairy products.
- Cheetos have a lot of salt, and that’s bad news for dogs and cats. You should avoid feeding your pets salty foods.
- Lactic acid—this acid prevents the growth of bacteria and is safe for cats to consume—controls microbial growth.
- Concentrated citric acid can cause stomach irritation in felines.
- Because of the negative effects on your cats’ health, many pet food manufacturers avoid using artificial flavors and colors. The same holds true for Cheetos.
Do Cats Like Cheetos?
To a greater or lesser extent than other animals, cats can be picky eaters. If your cat is picky, you may be surprised to learn that there are certain foods it prefers. It’s possible that Cheetos are hit or miss.
Some felines may go crazy for the creamy, cheesy texture, while others will run a mile. Ultimately, it comes down to individual taste.
Why Cats and Dairy Don’t Mix
Dairy is extremely unhealthy for cats, as we discussed when talking about what’s in Cheetos. Milk was once thought to be a healthy option for cats because of their apparent fondness for drinking it. However, cats do not naturally produce the enzymes required to digest lactose.
While cats can technically digest dairy products, doing so may lead to gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Why is Sodium Content Important?
There is a maximum level of sodium that a cat can handle. The sodium content of commercial pet foods is usually sufficient to maintain your cat’s physical well-being. However, dehydration and thirst brought on by too much sodium are not ideal.
While it’s possible that your cat won’t suffer any ill effects from a very small dose of sodium, it’s still important to be careful.
When Are Cheetos Bad For Cats?
While it’s true that the majority of the ingredients in Cheetos probably won’t make your cat sick, this cheesy snack also provides little in the way of nutrition for either you or your feline friend.
Consuming Cheetos on a regular basis may lead to weight gain due to their high sodium, calorie, and fat content.
When feline obesity develops, it can lead to a variety of additional health problems.
Keep in mind that if you give your cat too many table scraps, it may start rejecting its regular cat food in favor of the human fare. This could lead to future issues and complications with regards to meals.
Don’t freak out if your cat tries a Cheeto now and then, but don’t make it a habit, either.
Cheesy Alternatives for Cats
You shouldn’t feed your cat human snacks like Cheetos because there are treats out there made especially for cats. Cats love cheese, and now you can give them all the cheesy flavors they crave in food made just for them.
Cats and Cheetos: Final Thoughts
Overall, feeding your cat Cheetos probably won’t hurt them, but it also won’t help them.
Lots of other things might appeal to your cat just as much. It’s fine to let your cat occasionally lick the Cheeto dust off your fingers, but you shouldn’t encourage this behavior.