Is feta cheese your favorite? How much do you think about what you put in your body? You may be interested in the calcium, protein, sodium, fat, and cholesterol content of your food.
You will learn in this article why it is inappropriate and possibly dangerous to feed feta cheese to your cat.
What is feta cheese?
Feta cheese is a nutritious alternative to other cheeses because it contains calcium and protein.
This cheese adds a rich flavor and satisfying texture to salads.
Feta is a sheep’s milk curd cheese that is brined.
Goat’s milk cheese is a healthier alternative to cow’s milk cheese because it contains more calcium. Feta cheese is frequently used in baked goods, salads, and sandwiches.
It has a distinct tangy taste and smooth texture.
Goat’s milk cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cow’s milk cheese because it contains more calcium.
There are a wide variety of feta cheeses available in the market. Its smooth consistency and tangy flavor make it a popular topping for burgers and hot dogs.
Popular uses of feta cheese include pastries, omelets, salads, and sandwiches.
Its sour flavor also makes it adaptable to a wide variety of dishes.
Can Cats Eat Feta Cheese?
Feta cheese benefits feline companions because it provides these essential nutrients.
Feta cheese is a good alternative for lactose-intolerant cats because it contains less lactose than milk.
Milk’s primary carbohydrate, lactose, feeds the bacteria that cause UTIs in the bladder. Feta cheese contains no lactose and is high in protein. Cats can also safely consume a variety of other cheeses.
Feta cheese contains a negligible amount of lactose, but since cats cannot digest lactose, it will not harm them.
They also lack the intestinal enzyme galactosidase, which is necessary for digesting the galactosides that make up lactose.
Therefore, unlike humans, cats cannot process lactose. Consuming dairy products causes them gastrointestinal distress, including bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, and gas production.
Feta cheese is a great addition to your cat’s diet because it contains protein and calcium.
Protein is essential for cats to keep their muscles strong, and calcium helps to fortify their bones and teeth. Feta cheese is beneficial for your cat because it contains both of these essential nutrients.
Why is feta cheese a problem for cats?
Higher Lactose Content than other aged cheese
Feta cheese is well-known as a suitable substitute for those who cannot digest lactose. Because of this, you might assume it’s fine for Fido, too.
Feta cheese does contain less lactose than other cheeses. However, the lactose content is higher than that of other aged cheeses.
While some people with lactose intolerance may enjoy feta cheese, cats should avoid it.
Felines don’t make lactase enzymes because they are carnivores. As a result, they lack the necessary mechanisms to digest the lactose found in foods like cheese.
Even though there is less lactose, it still has the potential to make your cat sick. It’s bad enough that it can cause other gastrointestinal problems.
High Sodium Content
Feta cheese has a higher sodium content than most other types of cheese. Both lactose and sodium are harmful to our feline friends.
Since salt is an integral part of making feta cheese, the finished product has a high sodium content.
The sodium content of various types of cheese per ounce (28g) is listed below.
- 316 milligrams of feta cheese
- 174mg of Cheddar Cheese
- 54mg of Swiss Cheese
- Cheese with 433mg of Parmesan
- Cheese, Mozzarella, 4 milligrams
- 91mg for Cottage Cheese
Even though the salt in cheese may pique their interest, you shouldn’t give it to your pet.
Cats don’t need salt or any other seasonings, so low-sodium food is best for them.
Always feed your cat food that has no added salt or seasonings. Feta cheese is dangerous and shouldn’t be fed to your pet.
Made with Unpasteurized Milk
In the past, unpasteurized milk was used to make cheese. Raw or unpasteurized milk poses health risks to humans and animals alike.
However, you need not fret. Milk used in modern day feta cheese production has already been pasteurized.
Is it OK to give cats cheese?
Perhaps cats can eat cheese without any ill effects. However, you shouldn’t feed cheese to cats.
Some feline friends can digest the lactose in cheese with no problem. Even so, keep your feline friends away from the cheese.
You won’t have to worry about stomach problems like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What happens if you feed your cat Feta cheese?
Bad things will happen if you give your cat too much of a good thing:
Eating too much salt
Your cat needs some salt as part of a balanced diet, but giving it too much could be fatal.
That’s why being careful with how much salty cheese you give your cat is so important. Your cat will have a hard time digesting this toxic food, and it also tastes terrible.
Do not feed your cat this potentially poisonous food for at least a few days. That way, her digestive system can rest after consuming the high-fat Feta cheese.
Your cat may be tempted to eat feta cheese meant for humans, but doing so could be fatal. While some felines may have a hankering for cheese, doing so could be disastrous for their health.
Therefore, you should keep an eye on how much cheese your cat is eating to make sure she isn’t getting sick.
Eating a lot of fat
By choosing nutritious foods, you can avoid the weight gain, heart disease, and pancreatitis that may otherwise result.
Cats have dietary restrictions that make it difficult to get the fats they need. For instance, the fat content of some cheeses can be quite high.
These fats can’t be digested, so the body stores them instead. Since a cat’s body doesn’t require this fat, many people incorrectly assume that feeding it to their cat will make it overweight.
Cheese has a longer shelf life because its fat content has a preservative effect.
Therefore, increasing the amount of fat in a cat’s diet is unnecessary.
Lactose intolerance is causing a stomach ache.
You should know that feeding your cat cheese increases the risk of her developing Lactose intolerance, an allergy to the sugar Lactose, which is found in milk.
Cats may eventually become lactose intolerant. This may cause stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
If your cat has a chronic allergy, this is likely to be a temporary problem.
The most common symptoms are bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting. When lactose intolerance is addressed medically, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea subside; however, abdominal distention may continue.
One, two, or three cubes of cheese shouldn’t be a problem.
What kind of cheese is good for cats?
You should keep your cat away from cheesy treats if at all possible.
However, those low in lactose, sodium, and fats should be given if you must.
A little bit of cheddar cheese would be fine. A sum proportional to the dice’s size is adequate.
The occasional serving of cheddar cheese, which is low in lactose, may not be harmful.
Swiss cheese, another variety, is a popular pick among health-conscious eaters.
Swiss cheese has a high protein content with a low sodium and fat content. However, Swiss cheese has a lot less lactose than other varieties. However, cats should not consume it in large quantities because it can be toxic.
Low-lactose cheese, low-sodium cheese, and low-fat cheese are generally safer options. However, these cheeses should only be consumed occasionally and in moderation.
Can cheese kill cats?
Cats probably won’t perish from eating cheese. Cats can safely consume a tiny bit of cheese once in a while.
Consumption on a regular basis, especially in large quantities, can lead to stomach problems.
Cats can die from eating cheese if they aren’t rushed to the vet right away.
Cheese poses less of a danger than other potentially poisonous foods. But that’s not a good enough reason to always give it cheese to eat.
How Is Feta Cheese For Kittens?
Feta cheese is a healthy treat that won’t upset your feline friend’s stomach.
Kittens are better able to digest this food than adult cats are because their stomachs are still developing.
Feta cheese is safe for kittens, but only in small amounts.
Feta cheese may cause diarrhea in cats if they consume too much water.
Salty food can cause cardiac arrhythmias and obesity in kittens.
What happens if you or your cat eat bad feta cheese?
Feta cheese, like any other cheese, can go bad if left out for too long. Too much time in the fridge will cause it to dry out, rendering it unusable.
Humans can get a stomachache from eating spoiled feta cheese. It’s safe to assume that cats will experience the same, or even worse, effects.
Therefore, if you find some old feta cheese, especially if it has mold on it, it’s best to just throw it away.
The unpleasant flavor of bad feta cheese makes it unfit for consumption.
Cats should be kept away from any feta cheese that has gone bad before it is thrown away.
Conclusion
Feta cheese, in particular, is a tasty and nutritious alternative to other types of cheese.
Therefore, during the warmer months of the year, it’s hard to resist sharing some cheese with our cats.
We love cheese, and so do our cats, but they shouldn’t eat too much of it because it can be toxic to them.
To forestall future health issues, it’s important to find alternative foods that are both tasty and healthy for your furry friend.
Of course, you can treat your cat to some cheese now and then. However, if you feed your cat every day, you run the risk of giving it unhealthy, fatty food that could be fatal.