Occasionally, we like to indulge in a surf-and-turf meal, and when we do, it can be hard to resist the urge to share some of the succulent lobster with our feline friends.
In light of your prior knowledge, I’m sure you agree that cats must enjoy lobster. Ask yourself if it’s safe to give your cat lobster before you do so.
There are specific circumstances in which a cat may consume lobster. It must be cooked to a safe temperature first. This indicates that no seasonings were used on the lobster meat. Second, it’s not a good idea to give cats a lot of lobster at once. An imbalanced diet may result from consuming too much of it.
Is Lobster Safe For Cats
Cats can safely eat lobster.
It’s possible you don’t know if lobster is safe seafood for your cat because many cat foods have flavors like tuna and shrimp. However, if you want to increase the amount of seafood in your cat’s diet, lobster is an excellent option.
It’s important to avoid overfeeding your cat lobster if you decide to start giving it to it.
Seafood is a favorite among felines, but it won’t provide your cat with the complete nutritional support he needs. Your cat would benefit from occasional exposure to lobster, but it shouldn’t be part of his regular diet.
It’s important to remember that some cats have seafood allergies if you intend to feed them lobster. You will likely learn this before you ever consider feeding your cat lobster.
If your cat is allergic to seafood, you probably aren’t going to feed it cat food with seafood flavoring.
Can Cats Eat Raw Lobster
Do not feed raw lobster to your cat. Lobster needs to be thoroughly cooked to kill any bacteria or other contaminants.
Cats eating raw fish from a creek or river may conjure up an image of sushi for humans.
While eating raw seafood may be the norm for stray cats who aren’t sure when they’ll get their next meal, it’s not safe for your indoor cat. This also applies to lobster.
Stomach pain and other digestive issues aren’t the only risks associated with eating raw seafood. Some bacteria and parasites in seafood are easily destroyed by cooking.
In order to prevent food poisoning in your cat, lobster should always be cooked thoroughly before being given to the animal.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Lobster
Prepared lobster is safe for cats to eat. But don’t add anything to the lobster like butter or spices; they might upset your cat’s stomach.
Cooking the lobster is the safest option for your cat’s diet. Adding seasonings or butter that has been melted on top of cooked lobster is something you might consider doing if you were preparing it for personal consumption.
While these additions are fine for your lobster, they are not appropriate for your cat’s meal.
Your cat may get some health benefits from the lobster, but those benefits are nullified by the seasoning and butter you’ve added. It’s best to avoid the seasoning and butter if you want to avoid stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
Can Cats Eat Lobster Shells
Lobster shells are toxic to cats.
Most people take the lobster out of its shell before eating it, but you shouldn’t give your cat the shell.
A lobster’s shell may have sharp edges. Although your cat’s teeth are powerful enough to pulverize food, there may be some particularly sharp pieces that your cat is unable to chew thoroughly before swallowing. Your cat’s mouth, gums, throat, and esophagus are all vulnerable to injury from these pointed pieces. A larger piece of shell could cause choking if your cat ate it.
Because lobster is sometimes served in the shell to make it seem fancier, it can be a pain to remove the shell before eating. The best way to ensure your cat’s safety is to remove the shell.
Don’t panic if your cat swallows a piece of lobster shell; it happens.
Assuming your cat digests it without a hitch, that is. Cats are safe around lobster shells. Even if your cat is experiencing some stomach discomfort, it is not necessary to take it to the vet.
What Are the Health Benefits Of Lobster For Cats
The presence of essential amino acids in lobster makes it a nourishing choice for feline companions.
Cats, like humans, can reap the health benefits of eating lobster. Some advantages are listed below for your perusal:
- Protein synthesis relies on amino acids, also known as the “building blocks of proteins.”
- It’s healthy because it’s low in carbohydrates.
- Vitamins like B12, E, and zinc can be found in abundance in lobster.
This means that cats won’t be able to snack on lobster because of its high fat and low protein content. You can rest assured that your cat will benefit from eating lobster if you give it a small amount as a treat.
The Safe Way to Feed Lobster to Cats
If you’re going to feed your cat lobster, you absolutely must cook it first.
Keep in mind that some spices and excessive amounts of butter can be harmful to your health. Do not add any seasonings or sauces if you must feed your cat lobster.
The lobster meat must be tasteless and fully cooked. Avoiding nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps by avoiding salt and pepper is a bad idea in and of itself.
What Seafood Can Cats Eat
Many types of seafood are safe for cats to eat, but it is crucial that you never give your cat seafood that has been seasoned with salt or spices.
Here are some seafood options to consider feeding your cat:
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Salmon
- Shrimp
Your cat can safely and happily eat a wide variety of delicious seafood. What can be added to seafood is what makes it harmful to your cat.
For instance, feeding your cat salt can cause unneeded weight gain. Cats can also get stomachaches from cooking oils.
Canned seafood is the most convenient option, but be aware that it is frequently preserved by being packed in salt water.
Final Thoughts
Most people go through life assuming that cats and seafood are a natural pairing. This holds true only in part. Cats can be served seafood in both safe and unsafe ways, despite the fact that they enjoy it.
Your cat will love you even more for treating them to a tasty treat like a few pieces of plain, cooked lobster meat.
If they just won’t stop eating, try switching their regular kibble to one with a seafood flavor instead of the usual chicken or turkey.