Potato chips are a popular snack. They’re a popular snack around the world and come in a wide variety of flavors, most of which are based on potatoes or corn. Do you notice if your cat attempts to eat potato chips?
While a few potato chips probably won’t make your cat sick, it’s still not a good idea to give them to him on a regular basis.
The fact that potato chips aren’t particularly good for you doesn’t stop people from eating them. You might be wondering if it’s okay to give your feline friend a sneaky one or two.
Can Cats Eat Chips?
Potato chips are a human favorite, but they are toxic to cats. Because of their inability to process carbohydrates, carnivores should not be allowed to partake in your salty chip snack.
Furthermore, chips pose a serious choking hazard. If your cat only gets a little bit of one chip, you probably don’t need to worry about it too much; just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t get sick.
And remember, if you have any concerns about your cat’s health, you should always consult your vet.
Do Cats Like Chips?
It doesn’t seem like something a cat would be interested in, but I’ve had to shoo away my old cat from a few empty chip bags.
In this case, cats are drawn to salt because, like humans, they require a certain amount of salt in their diet. They may not be too interested in the chip itself, but they will lick the salt off.
Certainly there are anecdotes of cats who enjoy the crunch of chips or who eat them because they observe their owners doing so. The answer, as always, depends on the kitty in question.
Do Cats Hate Chips?
Some cats enjoy licking and chewing on chips, while others show no interest whatsoever (my youngest cat has never dived into a bag of chips). Not yet, at least).
If this sounds like your feline friend, count yourself lucky that you won’t have to figure out how to prevent them from eating your lunch. Chips are not good for cats because they contain too much salt and provide no nutritional value.
Can I Feed My Cat Potato Chips Occasionally as a Treat?
Your cat may occasionally survive a snack of potato chips. More than that is probably unnecessary, though. There is a great selection of tasty, nutritious cat treats available today. Don’t hand out potato chips as a reward if you want peace of mind.
Can Eating Chips Make My Cat Sick?
The amount of salt in chips is too high for a cat to safely consume. You should take your cat to the vet immediately if it shows any signs of illness after eating these foods, including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, restlessness, or a distended stomach.
However, you need not worry if your cat has sampled a potato chip or two, or even licked the crumbs off the bag. Ensure proper hydration to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance.
Can Chips Kill My Cat?
Is it necessary to rush your cat to the vet if you discover it has been nibbling on your chips?
Probably not, though it hinges on how much food your cat consumed. Both salt and fat are major problems.
In order to maintain good health, cats only require about 42 mg of sodium per day, which they get from their regular diet.
On the other hand, one potato chip typically has about half that daily intake, so if your cat ate that in addition to its regular food, it would exceed its sodium intake for the day.
In humans, this typically manifests as a persistent desire to drink water and, over time, can lead to hypertension and heart issues. It can quickly lead to sodium poisoning and dehydration in cats.
In cats, sodium poisoning can cause the following signs:
- Lethargy
- Inability to eat
- Extreme dehydration
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Hemorrhaging inside
- Alterations in conduct
It’s best to take your cat to the vet if you notice any of these symptoms, though they could be caused by something else. Long-term exposure to high levels of sodium can damage a cat’s heart in the same way it can human hearts.
Another problem is that it’s high in saturated fat, which is unhealthy for people. Blood cholesterol, heart disease, and obesity can all be attributed to consuming too much saturated fat.
Cats don’t have to worry as much about this because their good cholesterol levels counteract the bad, but they still need to be wary of eating chips because they only contain saturated fat while they require much more of the essential fatty acids.
There are also the calories to consider. Keep in mind that cats only require a few hundred calories per day, and that a handful of chips can quickly deplete those stores with nothing to show for it nutritionally. Cats, like people, shouldn’t eat junk food like potato chips.
The issue of seasonings is the last one to consider. While cats won’t have to worry about anything other than the salt in plain chips, cats should avoid chips with seasonings like garlic and onion powder.
Due to the garlic and onion, even a small amount is toxic to cats and can severely impair their ability to breathe.
Cats that are lactose intolerant may become ill after eating other kinds of chips that contain dried milk powder.
Overall, the high sodium content of chips makes them a poor snack choice for cats. There is an excessive amount of garlic in flavored chips like BBQ, All Dressed, and Ketchup chips, and there is milk powder in sour cream and onion chips.
Except for maybe plain, unsalted tortilla chips, there are no chips that are “safe” for cats to eat.
How Many Chips are Safe for My Cat to Eat?
When it comes to plain, unsalted chips, a cat shouldn’t have more than one or two, and even then they should be broken up into small enough pieces that they can’t choke on them.
All potato chips are terrible because they contain excessive amounts of salt, even the unsalted varieties. Even though plain tortilla chips made primarily from cornmeal are safer, cats still shouldn’t eat them frequently or in large quantities.
A single chip, broken up and given only occasionally, is plenty as a reward. Cats should get the majority of their nutrition from their regular cat food, so refrain from giving them any extra treats.
Why Is Salt Dangerous For Cats?
Normal diets provide sufficient sodium for cats. About half of your pet’s daily salt requirement can be found in just one potato chip.
Your cat’s health can be negatively affected in the long run if even occasional chip consumption leads to a habit.
Your cat may consume an unhealthy amount of salt if it eats more than one chip.
In humans, this usually results in a feeling of thirst and, in the long run, can lead to high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart problems. However, cats can develop sodium poisoning very rapidly if they drink too much salt water.
What Are the Symptoms of Sodium Poisoning in Cats?
If your pet consumes too much salt, they may become dehydrated and urinate frequently.
Weakness, excessive thirst, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, trembling, fever, and coma are all possible outcomes of your cat consuming too much salt. If your cat exhibits any of these signs, don’t hesitate to make an emergency trip to the vet.
Like humans, cats can experience long-term heart problems from eating too much salt.
What Should My Cat Eat?
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they can only survive on a diet of meat. Therefore, they require daily meat consumption but require relatively few carbohydrates for optimal health and well-being.
Meat is a great source of protein, taurine (an amino acid), and vitamins A and D, all of which are essential for cats. However, a cat’s stomach has trouble digesting carbohydrates, so you should keep them away from your pet.
Conclusion
While potato chips are a tasty treat for us humans, they should not be fed to cats. Most cats should avoid this treat because it has a high sodium content, a high saturated fat content, too many potentially harmful flavorings, and a potential choking hazard.
If your cat is seen nibbling on the edges of a plain one, however, you probably don’t need to worry too much; just keep an eye on it for a few days to make sure it doesn’t get sick.
Do you find your cat chasing after empty chip bags or eating potato chips? Once, our elderly cat came awfully close to having her head caught in one.