It’s a well-known fact that felines enjoy a good meaty meal. The mere whiff of a roasting chicken, a roasting turkey, a roasting beef, or a frying salmon will bring these obligate carnivores right up next to you!
Cats are naturally scavengers and will do just about anything for a tasty meal, so keep your eyes on what you put on the table.
Unfortunately, felines don’t always make the best food choices.
the ones that have a meaty scent but are actually processed, full of preservatives, and devoid of the nutrients your cat requires. One type of processed meat is Vienna sausages.
Don’t worry if your cat disappears with a few sausage links. Only if it occurs frequently or in large quantities should you be worried.
Vienna sausage can cause stomach upset in cats, so it’s best to avoid feeding it to them.
What makes Vienna sausages so unhealthy, what to do if your cat accidentally eats one, why they’re not good for cats, and what they should eat instead are all topics we’ll cover in this article.
Can Cats Eat Vienna Sausages?
A lot of people all over the world love Vienna sausage.
Is it okay for your cat to eat them though? Because of their dietary requirements, cats are considered obligate carnivores.
Cats, unlike humans who might get an allergic reaction or diarrhea from eating too much Vienna sausage, have a high tolerance for foods that contain salt and sulfites.
Even though your cat probably won’t get sick from eating a single Vienna sausage, you still shouldn’t make them a regular part of their diet.
For optimal health and longevity, felines must regularly consume meat.
What’s in Vienna Sausages?
Vienna sausages, or wieners as they are known in Europe, are thin-cased sausages typically made from a combination of pork, beef, or chicken.
Fat, sodium, sugar, additives, and preservatives are abundant in Vienna sausages, as they are in all cold cuts. Therefore, these foods are highly processed and should be eaten rarely.
Are There Any Benefits?
While Vienna sausages do have some positive effects on felines, there are far superior product options and meats available that provide the same effects without the laundry list of negative effects that Vienna sausages come with. Instead of Vienna sausages, we suggest treating yourself to some fresh meat or fish.
Vienna sausages, on the other hand, do provide the protein that cats need in their diet. Protein aids in your cat’s physical development, builds strong muscles, and supplies the energy necessary for daily activities like playing, hunting, exploring, and staying active.
As an additional factor, it contains meats, which cats find appetizing. Fillers, corn, and soy are commonplace in commercial cat food, but they aren’t healthy for cats and they don’t taste good to them.
Are Vienna Sausages Harmful to Cats?
Vienna sausages are safe for cats to eat even though they provide no nutritional value.
However, their high sodium content can cause gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, weakness, and loss of appetite.
In addition, sausages are high in calories, additives, and preservatives, even if some studies have shown that a diet up to three times higher in sodium has little effect on kidney function, blood pressure, or cardiac function in older cats.
On the one hand, consuming an excessive amount of calories can result in obesity, which is harmful to the cat’s health in a number of ways.
But sausages’ additives and preservatives can cause a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency if eaten in large enough quantities. Severe symptoms, many of which have their roots in the nervous system, accompany thiamine deficiency.
What Does a Cat Need to Be Healthy?
For optimal health, an adult cat requires certain nutrients, as stated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO):
- Protein Content in the Crude Form, 26%
- Lean Muscle 1% Crude Fat 9%
- Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and the other minerals.
- vitamins (a, d, e, k, t, r, b, m, n, p, r, s, e, b, b2, b6,
High-quality kibble is the easiest and best way to ensure your cat gets all the nutrients it needs. If you feed your cat a healthy, well-rounded diet, you won’t need to give him any extra treats. You should feed your pet primarily table scraps, but on occasion you can offer them something more nutritious.
What’s a Better Alternative to Vienna Sausage?
In general, treats shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your cat’s total daily calorie intake.
Meat and fish prepared at home should be thoroughly cooked, served skinless and boneless, and served with no added salt. If you buy commercial cat treats, follow the instructions on the packaging for how often and how much to feed.
Keep in mind that treats may be strongly discouraged if your veterinarian has recommended a special diet for your cat to help with weight loss or another medical problem. Instead, it’s best to check with your veterinarian about what medicines your pet can receive.
Never give your cat table scraps or leftovers from your own meal. Dr. Nicole Silva of PetMD notes that eating something that isn’t meant for cats can have a negative impact on the digestive system, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
What Foods Can My Cat Eat?
You may be wondering what foods in your pantry are safe to share with your cat, given that Vienna Sausages aren’t toxic to them but also aren’t good for them. The good news is that there are plenty available; the bad news is that a cat’s snack shouldn’t account for more than 10 percent of its daily caloric intake.
Meat and Fish
Meat is essential to a cat’s diet because it provides them with the energy they need, helps them maintain strong muscles and a healthy heart, and improves their eyesight and vision. Pieces of cooked chicken, beef, turkey, or fish can be offered.
Cats with heart disease can benefit from the omega-3 fatty acids’ effects on heart rate, arthritis, and kidney disease, as well as the prevention of blood clots.
If you’re going to feed your cat meat or fish, make sure it’s thoroughly cooked to prevent salmonella poisoning.
Oats
You might be surprised to learn that cats can eat oats, but they do. They are a good source of protein, fat, and vitamins, and digest easily in feline bodies.
Eggs
Eggs are a good source of protein and essential amino acids, and your cat is sure to enjoy eating them. Although they can be fed to your cat raw, it is safer to cook them to kill any salmonella.
Vegetables
Vegetables may not be the most exciting thing in the world for your cat, but they are good for him or her. Your pet will benefit greatly from the vitamins, fiber, and water found in vegetables, which help with digestion and strengthen their immune system.
Cheese
Cheese is a high-protein treat that may be more beneficial to your cat than a bowl of milk if your cat can tolerate dairy.
However, if your cat has an extremely sensitive stomach, you should never give it dairy because it will cause pain and terrible gas.
Foods To Avoid Giving Your Cat
Cats are notoriously picky eaters, so just because your cat seems interested in a particular food doesn’t mean it’s healthy for them. In spite of their apparent innocuousness, many of the foods commonly found in homes today can have serious consequences for your cat’s health.
- Cats can be poisoned by eating too much chocolate because of theobromine in it.
- Highly toxic raisins can quickly poison a cat’s kidneys, leading to death.
- Cats should not eat macadamia nuts because they can make them sick, become overheated, and shake.
- Cats shouldn’t eat bread dough because it can cause intestinal blockage.
- Consuming even a small amount of alcohol can be fatal to a cat due to ethanol poisoning.
Don’t be careless if you’re handling or consuming any of these potentially harmful foods.
If you’ve been providing your cat with a healthy diet of appropriate foods, have hidden any potentially harmful foods from your cat, or don’t keep them around, your cat will have fewer opportunities to eat something they shouldn’t.
Conclusion
Vienna sausages contain protein that could be beneficial to your cat, but otherwise they won’t do them much good.
Vienna sausage is not toxic to cats, but it is unhealthy for them to consume on a regular basis due to the high levels of sodium, additives, preservatives, and calories it contains.
Instead, feed your cat healthful foods like raw meats and fish, whole eggs, cheese, fresh produce, and oats.
Put potentially poisonous foods in cabinets that the cat can’t access, and never eat or cook with them unattended.