Some cats are like vacuums, walking behind you and eating up any food that you drop while cooking. We normally don’t think much of this when it’s a protein source such as meat, but what about when your feline friend eats pasta?
Don’t freak out – pasta is not toxic to cats, meaning that they can eat it if they want to. But what does this mean for cats? What are the effects, and should you switch your cat’s diet to lots of pasta? Let’s find out together.
Pasta Facts
Pasta is made from durum wheat flour (also known as semolina), water, salt, and sometimes eggs or other ingredients. It comes in many different shapes and sizes, including spaghetti, penne, macaroni, rigatoni, rotini, and so on.
The main ingredient in pasta is durum wheat flour. This is also used to make bread, couscous, crackers, pancakes, and more. Durum wheat flour contains gluten which makes it stretchy and elastic. Gluten is found in most grains, including barley, rye, oats, and spelt.
Durum wheat flour is high in fiber, making it great for cats’ digestive tracts. The fiber helps keep them regular, and it may help prevent certain diseases. In addition, durum wheat flour is low in fat and calories, so one piece won’t contribute to cat obesity.
The main nutrition in pasta is carbohydrates, with very little protein and fat.
An Ideal Diet For Cats
Cats need a diet high in protein. Protein keeps their bodies healthy by providing amino acids, which are building blocks for all body tissues. They also provide energy to run around and play. Protein can come from meat sources such as chicken, fish, beef, lamb, and more.
Cats are playful creatures, but they still spend 15 hours napping. This means that they don’t need too many carbohydrates to provide energy for them. Protein gives them more than enough energy to fulfill their dietary needs.
You also don’t need to give your cat too much fat in their diet. Again, as cats spend more than half the day relaxing, they might not need fat to fuel their muscles.
Protein, vitamins and minerals, and water are by far the most important components found in cat food. These are the most beneficial nutrients for your cat to keep them thriving.
Should Pasta Be Incorporated Into Your Cat’s Diet?
As you can see from the information above, pasta doesn’t correlate with the best diet for cats. This is because cats need a high protein diet with less carbohydrates and fat, and pasta is a carbohydrate.
Cats are natural born hunters, meaning that they need protein to fuel their muscles and keep them in top shape. Carbohydrates can add more fat to the cat’s body, slowing them down and making their hunting sessions less effective.
What’s more is that some brands of pasta include added sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. This makes the pasta more unhealthy for both cats and humans.
So, while pasta is not toxic for cats and you don’t need to freak out if they eat one or two pieces, you shouldn’t incorporate it into their diet for good.
If you were to do this, you might find that your cat fills up on pasta before eating any of the meat in their food, which contains the vital protein that they need.
You also need to be wary of any pastas that include fillings. The ingredients in these fillings might be toxic to cats, especially if they contain garlic or onion. These two ingredients are toxic to cats and therefore your cat will need medical attention if they consume them.
Pasta dishes often include garlic or onion for flavor, so if your cat has eaten some pasta that has filling in it, make sure that you check the ingredients thoroughly before deciding that you don’t need to contact your veterinarian.
Common Toxic Foods To Avoid In Your Cat’s Diet
Most human food is not toxic to cats and therefore isn’t a concern if they eat. However, there are some foods that can harm your cat, from mild symptoms such as vomiting to severe symptoms such as paralysis or even death.
For this reason, it is incredibly important to know which foods are toxic to your animals. If you are unsure, remain on the safe side and don’t feed them human food. Only allow them to eat it if you’re sure that it is not toxic.
Here are 5 toxic foods to never feed your cat.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol should never be given to pets as it can cause serious health issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, coma and even death.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two substances that are toxic to cats. This can cause tremors, seizures, and even death. White chocolate is the least toxic and dark chocolate is the most toxic, but all chocolate should be avoided.
3. Coffee
Similar to chocolate, coffee contains caffeine which is a toxic methylxanthine to cats.
4. Bread dough
Yeast within the dough rises and causes gas within a cat’s digestive system. This can lead to bloating and even a twisted stomach, which can be fatal. Bread that has been baked, however, is not toxic to cats.
5. Coconut
Small amounts of coconut might not be harmful, although higher quantities are considered to be toxic.
How To Give Pasta To Cats Safely
If you want to incorporate pasta into your cat’s diet for some reason, make sure to check with your veterinarian first. If they give you the green light, start by giving your cat one or two pieces to see if there are any adverse effects.
Pasta should only be given occasionally as a treat, and remember that the quantity should be small. Always make sure that the pasta is thoroughly cooked before giving it to your cat.
Summary
Cats are carnivores and therefore require high levels of protein in their diets. They have evolved over millions of years to eat meat, and therefore cannot survive without it.
For this reason, carbohydrates are not often needed in a cat’s diet. However, pasta is not toxic and therefore can be offered as a treat. Make sure that the pasta is well cooked and don’t let your cat over-indulge.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
