As cat owners, not only do we want to give our cats the best care possible, but we also want them to live long, healthy lives. Your cat may show interest in what you’re eating, but keep in mind that not everything you eat is suitable for them.
It’s common knowledge that cats thrive on meat, but what about the fatty cuts that humans prefer, like sausage? Is it okay to feed sausage to a cat? The short answer is “yes,” but there are a lot of hurdles to overcome before you find the right sausage.
Keep reading to find out what kinds of sausage you can occasionally give your cat.
Can Cats Eat Sausage?
As pet owners, we want to give our pets the healthiest diet possible, full of variety to pique their interest and keep them eating.
As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on a diet rich in animal protein. As a result, you might be wondering if it’s safe to feed your cat sausage.
The quick answer is “yes,” cats can eat sausage, but you should probably look into other, healthier treat options first.
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Potential Benefits of Sausage
Protein
There is usually a lot of meat protein in sausages. Your cat’s health and well-being depend on these.
Cats, being carnivores, get their fuel from protein whenever they can. Muscle tissue is constructed from amino acids, which are found in protein. In addition, it provides energy for a wide variety of your cat’s bodily processes and is an essential part of their diet.
Perception of Carnivore Appropriate
Sausage is more like a cat’s natural diet than some commercial cat foods, which often contain fillers like corn and soy.
There are many cat owners who feel that it is more species-appropriate to feed their cats meat treats.
Potential Risks of Sausages
Preservatives
Most sausages have a lot of preservatives in them so they last a long time. During the manufacturing process, these are thrown into the sausage mixture.
Some of these are used to prevent the growth of certain microorganisms and to improve the sausage’s flavor and color in addition to extending its shelf life, as was previously mentioned. Some examples are:
Sausage Preservatives That Are Commonly Used
- Salts of Nitrates and Sulfates
- Salt
- Nitritus causing sodium
- Potassium
You shouldn’t give your cat any of the foods listed above on a regular basis because they contain preservatives.
Limits on their presence in processed foods are set by law, but these limits may vary from one country to the next.
Unknown Ingredients
Sausage is dangerous for cats not only because of the preservatives, but also because different brands use different spices.
You can check the labels of many different brands to find out if their ingredients are safe. On the other hand, some sausages have an undisclosed ingredient list because of the proprietary spice mixture used.
Calories
Sausage, alas, is quite caloric. Obesity is a serious medical condition that affects many household cats around the world, and it can be caused by feeding your cat more calories than it needs.
Over half of cats older than five years, according to some experts, are overweight. Several diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, can develop from obesity and shorten the life of your pet.
If you feed your cat a healthy diet and give it plenty of exercise, you can easily prevent obesity.
Raw Sausage Risks
So far, we’ve mostly been discussing finished sausage products. Freshly purchased sausages may not contain as many preservatives and mystery meats if your cat is used to eating raw food. However, there are dangers associated with eating raw food as well.
Raw food poses a significant health risk for both you and your cat due to the prevalence of the dangerous bacterium salmonella, which can be found in uncooked meats.
Your cat could get sick from eating raw food because of the parasites and other toxins it could contain. You can reduce your exposure by buying raw meat from reputable suppliers or butchers who pasteurize their products.
Healthy Alternatives To Sausages
Chicken
Fresh chicken has more protein than sausage but none of the unhealthy additives or preservatives.
It’s best to boil the chicken right before feeding it to your cat, and then cut it up into small pieces.
This wholesome treat is sure to please your cat. Never give your cat any kind of cooked bone. Commercial brands are also available and they are just as nutritious and tasty.
You can also use chicken broth as a condiment for your cat’s meal.
Fish
A great alternative to sausage is fish. If you’re looking for a high-protein treat to give your cat, consider fish. Salmon and other fish are common ingredients in many commercially available cat food brands.
You can also prepare deboned fish without any seasonings for your cat.
What Happens If A Cat Eats Sausage
If your cat accidentally consumes some sausage, don’t worry.
It’s nerve-wracking to watch your cat eat for the first time. You might not know if it’s toxic to cats or how it would affect your own feline friend.
Your cat is immune to the effects of even the unhealthiest sausage.
The first time your cat tries sausage, you can anticipate some of the following effects:
- Stomachache
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Many felines have delicate stomachs, so a snack of sausage might not be the best idea. Don’t stress out about taking your cat to the vet immediately if it has any kind of reaction to the sausage.
Is Italian Sausage Bad For Cats
It’s tempting to want to share your favorite Italian sausage with your cat, but unfortunately, cats should not eat Italian sausage.
There’s no doubt that Italian sausage is a great tasting food for you, but for your cat? It’s something you should skip.
Compared to other types of sausages, Italian sausage has a greater variety of spices, such as:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Seeds of anise
- Garlic
- Various additional seasonings
Your cat shouldn’t make Italian sausage with all those spices in it a regular part of its diet because of how strongly it will affect its health.
When frying sausage, you may want to increase the amount of salt and oil you use.
Can Cats Eat Chicken Sausage
If you want to feed your cat sausage, chicken sausage is a great option.
If you want to feed your cat sausage, you should consider chicken sausage, which may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sausage.
Chicken sausage is a more nutritious alternative to traditional sausage made from beef or pork. Compared to other types of sausages, it has lower levels of sodium and fat.
Don’t season or oil the pan when cooking the chicken sausage. While oil can simplify your cooking process, it has the opposite effect on your cat’s health.
While chicken sausage may be unfamiliar to you, you should have no trouble locating it in the same places you buy regular sausage.
Can Cats Eat Breakfast Sausage
Avoid feeding your cat breakfast sausage because it is one of the worst sausages you can give them.
Sausage links for breakfast are a simple and fast option. Breakfast sausage is typically frozen after being fully cooked but before being frozen. It can be prepared in either the microwave or a hot pan.
To ensure its long shelf life, breakfast sausage is loaded with preservatives. It has a higher sodium content than fresh sausage.
Due to the presence of these ingredients, breakfast sausage is not suitable for feline consumption.
Can Kittens Eat Cooked Sausage
Kittens can eat cooked sausage, but it won’t provide them with enough protein and other nutrients to be truly healthy.
When it comes to sausage, a kitten is the same as an adult cat. Sausage is fine for kittens to snack on, but only in moderation. You shouldn’t feed sausage to your cat instead of its regular food.
To develop into healthy adults, kittens should not always be fed processed meats like sausage.
You shouldn’t feel guilty about giving your older cat some of what you give your kitten if you have both. You can share the sausage (or pie) with them both.
Home-Made Treats
Instead of buying sausage from the store, where the ingredients may be a mystery, try making your own.
Making your own cat treats gives you full creative control over the ingredients and the added benefit of knowing exactly what you’re feeding your pet. Making a tasty snack for your cat at home can be just as satisfying.
Summary
Your cat probably won’t die if it snatches some sausage off your plate, but you shouldn’t feed it to it on a regular basis.
Your cat would probably prefer chicken or fish to sausage because it provides similar nutrition without the risk of harmful additives.
On rare occasions, you can feed your cat a small portion of sausage if it is a favorite food. However, considering alternative treat options may be worthwhile in the long run.