Those shoes fit all of us. You open a can of crab in preparation for making crab dip or crab cakes. But there’s obviously a problem; you’re not the only one. It all starts at that point.
Sounds like a cat going crazy for the crab meat you were about to eat, complete with yowling, mewing, and rubbing. Do cats not enjoy a juicy chunk of that crab?
You are a wonderful pet parent because you checked the answer online rather than making an educated guess. Is it true that felines can enjoy crab? Well, yes, but it’s important to exercise moderation with everything.
It’s true that too much of a good thing can be bad. The benefits of feeding crab meat to cats are discussed, along with some potential risks.
It’s fine to give them some occasionally as a treat, but there are some safety measures you should take to make sure you’re not giving them something that will make them ill.
Is Crab Meat Good for Cats?
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must consume meat in order to survive. This necessitates a diet high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in fat.
Crabs are a good source of protein for cats, and cats can eat them, but crab meat is high in carbohydrates.
Is it healthy for your cat to eat three ounces of crabmeat, which has only 74 calories and 15.4 grams of protein?
Well…
Cats can and will enjoy eating a small amount of crab on occasion, but this is all they need.
Although crabmeat is delicious, it shouldn’t be fed to pets on a regular basis.
Although a diet high in crab may increase the risk of weight gain, diabetes, and kidney disease, cats can safely enjoy a small amount of crab every now and then.
You should remember the seasonings you used. Certain herbs and spices, such as garlic, are tasty to us but toxic to our furry friends, so be sure to remove a piece of meat before seasoning it.
Cat Nutrition 101
In order to survive, cats must eat only animal products; in fact, they are obligate carnivores, or “hypercarnivores,” due to their high protein requirements.
True carnivores lack the necessary digestive enzymes to properly digest plant matter. As a result, they are missing out on some essential nutrients found in plant and vegetable matter.
However, most plants are not necessarily poisonous to them. Unless it’s an animal, nothing they eat provides them with all the nutrients they need.
Cats have a heightened sense of smell for animal protein because of this requirement in their diet. Earwax and pumice stone shavings are just two of the strange things cats have been known to eat, so pet owners should be prepared.
However, vets have said there’s no need to stop them if they’re not consuming anything harmful.
A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is ideal for a cat’s health. Animal proteins are essential to their health, and because carbohydrates are so filling, we should discourage feeding them too many of those.
Can Cats Eat Raw Crab?
The answer here is obvious: no. Raw crab could potentially contain parasites that would be harmful to a cat. The last thing you want is for your kitten to become seriously ill because of this.
To kill any harmful bacteria or oceanic parasites that may be present, you must cook the meat. Just share some of the meat that you’re enjoying with them.
The indigestibility and potential choking hazards of the legs and shells make them unacceptable cat food.
While most cats won’t actively seek out the shell, they may unwittingly ingest some while trying to remove the taste. But what about crab meat substitutes?
Can Cats Eat Crab Shell?
The shells of crabs are too hard and sharp to be safely eaten. Your cat could die from choking or indigestion if it ate a crab shell.
Cats can tear the tissues of their esophagus in an effort to free the splintered shell if it becomes lodged there.
Can Cats Eat Imitation Crab?
People frequently purchase imitation crab meat due to its lower price compared to the real thing.
Even if cats have an acute sense of smell, they apparently cannot distinguish between real and fake crab meat, which begs the question: are both safe for consumption?
There are some issues that arise when working with imitation crab meat. To explain this further, let’s take a look at the nutritional information of the imitation crab meat.
Most imitation crab products use a substance called surimi. It’s like a sausage or hot dog, only made from fish instead of meat.
Unfortunately, imitation crab meat contains even more carbohydrates than the real thing does.
Crab meat isn’t the best choice because it contains a lot of salt, sugar, and preservatives that are bad for your cat. In the same way that fast food won’t make them instantly ill, this won’t have a negative effect either.
However, you shouldn’t give them too much of that stuff in the long run.
So, if the fish meat used to make imitation crab isn’t the best for your cat, what can they eat instead?
Is Lobster Safe to Feed Cats?
Unfortunately, if you’re trying to cut costs, this isn’t the best option. The good news is that, yes, a little bit of cooked lobster is a great treat for a cat, just like a little bit of crab is for a human.
The amino acids in lobster meat give it a slight nutritional edge over crab.
Like crab, it must be thoroughly cooked and void of any potentially poisonous seasonings. In addition, keep them far away from the shell because it poses a choking hazard.
Is Seafood Safe for Cats?
Cats can safely consume the types of fish most commonly consumed by humans, but only under certain circumstances.
To begin, the fish we’re discussing aren’t rare or unusual; they’re just the kinds of fish that people regularly eat. Your cat can eat these oily fish in moderation, but giving them too much could cause a thiamine deficiency.
However, cats should not be allowed to lap at an oyster because it contains enzymes that can be fatal to them.
It’s also important to remember that, like humans, cats can develop an allergy to certain types of seafood. When giving your cat a new treat, you should always supervise them closely.
Cats, for the same reasons that we humans cook most seafood, should never be given raw seafood.
Because of the risk of parasites and harmful bacteria, seafood should always be cooked thoroughly before being consumed.
Can Cats Eat Crab Sticks?
Crab sticks are safe for cats to eat in moderation. The high sodium content of crab sticks is the main health concern. Your cat may not be able to handle the amount of sodium in even one crab stick.
Toxins like sodium pyrophosphate and potassium chloride can be found in some crab sticks, which can be harmful to cats in large doses.
People eat junk food like crab sticks, and humans serve as nature’s garbage collectors. If you can help it, don’t give them to your cat.
Can Cats Eat Canned Crab?
Canned crab is toxic to cats. Avoid canned meats because they may contain excessive amounts of sodium.
Most canned meats only have two ingredients: meat and salt. You should limit the amount of canned meat your cat eats.
Are Other Shellfish Safe for Cats?
Cats can get all the essential nutrients from shellfish or a patch. They contain a high concentration of nutrients, including zinc, iron, calcium, and many others. Similarly to crab, none of these meats should be given to your cat in their raw form.
The introduction of pathogens, gastrointestinal distress, and even death can result from feeding your cat raw meat from the grocery store.
After being thoroughly cleaned and cooked, cats can enjoy seafood like shrimp and other fish. Cats can withstand a lot of abuse when it comes to their diet of meat.
Cats in the wild eat everything from meat to tendons to bones. Therefore, there should be no problems feeding them to your cats so long as the meat is cooked and cleaned.
Fish and shellfish, like other foods, should be cooked without seasonings, especially salt, before being given to a cat. Cats can experience health problems from eating too much sodium, so their sodium intake from people’s food should be closely monitored.
Feeding Cats Crab Safely
Never give your cat crab any raw crab, as this can cause serious health problems. Many potentially harmful pathogens can be introduced into your cat’s diet and digestive system through the raw crab.
However, the raw feeding diet is not just comprised of bromine splint meats that have been preserved and prepared to be served raw safely, despite the claims of the diet’s many vocal proponents. Even for raw food diets, it’s not a good idea to introduce raw meats from unprovenanced sources.
If you want to make sure your cat is safe from illness, prepare the meat the same way you would for human consumption.
Cat food should be prepared without the use of any oils or spices because these additions are poisonous to felines. Your cat will, at best, put on weight, and felines are predisposed to being overweight.
Conclusion
If you’re reading this, we can assume you’re already taking the necessary precautions before feeding your cat seafood like crabmeat or any other type of seafood.
It’s not always easy to resist giving in to the demands of our little friends for snacks and treats.
No matter how well-meaning you are, you should never feed an animal something you aren’t sure is good for them.
You did the right thing by checking, so go ahead and treat them if you haven’t overseasoned (or burned!) it. With some precautions, spoiling them can be both enjoyable and risk-free.