Can cats eat baloney?
Baloney, also referred to as Bologna, is a smoked sausage of beef, turkey, and veal, and is a type of lunch meat prominent in human food. This article will cover the concern “Can cats eat baloney?”, what ingredients baloney contains, whether it’s safe for your cat or not, etc.
Can cats eat baloney?
No, cats cannot eat baloney. Feeding a small amount of baloney won’t harm the cat, but if you feed it often, it can have harmful effects on your cat. Because the ingredients in baloney are not feline-friendly and can upset a cat’s health.
Since baloney is a sausage made of meat, it can cause pancreatitis in cats if consumed in larger amounts. The salt content in baloney can cause salt poisoning in cats, so it’s better to avoid giving baloney to your cat.
Why is baloney not healthy for cats?
The following mentioned ingredients and flavorings in baloney are not healthy for your cat’s health:
- Black pepper
- Nutmeg
- Celery seed
- Corn starch
- Nitrate
- Garlic
- MSG
- Fats
- Salts
- Coriander
- Myrtle
- Paprika
- Preservatives
All these ingredients have harmful effects on your cat and therefore, baloney should be avoided in your cat’s diet. Myrtle contains vinca alkaloids and toxic effects in most pets. The fat content in them is also a great threat to your cat’s health due to complications like obesity and diabetes.
Is baloney poisonous for your cat?
Baloney isn’t directly poisonous to your cat but the following are the points due to which it’s considered bad for your cat:
Spices
The biggest concern associated with baloney is the spices and seasoning contents in it. Spices like paprika, mustard, peppercorns, and coriander are not good for your cat’s health.
Nitrates
High nitrates in baloney are also a serious health hazard and affect cat’s health by damaging the red blood cells leading to anemia with chronic poisoning (nitrate poisoning).
Fat
Baloney has a high-fat content which leads to obesity, and sometimes failure of vital organs, can also cause an increase in cholesterol levels, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases in cats.
Human food
Baloney is a meat type, processed for the human diet. The digestive system of humans can cope with complex toxic contents in baloney while pets don’t have a such developed mechanism and can have serious health issues.
Salt content
The high salt content in baloney leads to salt poisoning in cats. Salt poisoning in turn can cause severe dehydration, seizures, and digestive problems. Sodium can cause kidney problems, hypertension, and heart diseases in cats.
Myrtle berry
Myrtle berry in baloney is also responsible for toxicity in cats. Symptoms of this poisoning include low blood pressure, drooling, vomiting, coma, seizures, and sometimes loss of coordination.
Corn starch
Ordinary sugar is replaced by corn starch in baloney and for cats, it’s not easy to digest it. If baloney filled with corn starch is eaten by your cat, it can cause serious digestive issues.
Garlic
Garlic in any of its forms is toxic for cats. Baloney has garlic which contains oxidant n-propyl disulfide causing oxidative damage to red blood cells. Anemia, blood in urine, and gastrointestinal problems can also be seen in the case of garlic poisoning.
Less fiber
Lack of fiber in baloney can upset the gut health of cats. Digestive efficiency also requires fiber and since baloney is deficient in fiber, this can lead to digestive problems like diarrhea or constipation.
How much baloney can a cat eat?
Cats can have a very small amount of baloney once in a while just as treats. A piece of baloney not larger than the top of your thumb and very rarely once in a month or less is recommended for cats. But if you can avoid giving baloney to your cat, it’s the safest option.
There are certain reasons, other than the ingredients of baloney, you can’t feed baloney in excess amounts to your cat, and are listed below:
- Too much baloney is toxic for your cat’s health.
- Feeding cats human food will make them think that’s normal and they won’t eat their regular cat food.
- Larger amounts of baloney and other types of treats will make your cat demanding and it leads to a poorly behaved pet.
What are the meat alternatives your cat can eat?
Baloney is not safe for your cat’s health, but some meat alternatives are beneficial for your cat. Cooked lean meats such as beef, turkey, liver, chicken, and lamb are good options but should be offered to your cat in moderation.
Make sure the meat being fed to your cat is thoroughly cooked and free from harmful preservatives, seasonings, spices, and growth hormones. Fat and skin from meat should be removed before giving it to your cat.
Conclusion
Today, we covered the article “Can cats eat baloney?”, what ingredients baloney contains, whether it’s safe for your cat or not, etc. From the above discussion we concluded that it’s best advised to not give baloney to your cat, however, it can be given in very small amounts as treats once in a while.
