Can cats eat chocolate ice cream?
While having ice cream, your cat looks at you so it too can have some of it but “Can cats eat chocolate ice cream?”. In this article, we will tell you about what are the side effects of eating chocolate ice cream in cats, what you can give your cat instead of chocolate ice cream and
Can cats eat chocolate ice cream?
No, cats cannot have chocolate ice cream as it is poisonous. Cats are undoubtedly attracted to dairy products and like to have them as they have drunk milk from their early stages of life. Cats are curious creatures and want to explore every taste. That, too, is the reason why they are attracted to many human foods.
Chocolate ice cream has a unique and appealing odor as a dairy product, and that’s why cats like to taste it. They don’t know what’s beneficial for them and what’s not. As a cat parent, you have to take care of these things.
What are the side effects of eating chocolate ice cream on cats?
The following are the side effects of feeding chocolate ice cream to cats:
Chocolate poisoning:
Chocolate ice cream has cocoa powder as a part of the chocolate that contains caffeine and thrombin. Both of these ingredients are hazards to the health of your cat.
Lactose intolerance:
Though cats drink milk when they are kittens, at that stage, they have an enzyme called lactase, but as they become adults, the enzyme will start to decrease and ends eventually. Cats become lactose intolerant when they become adults, so eating any dairy product can cause diarrhea and other gut disturbances.
Some cats only have diarrhea once, but some of them suffer from frequent diarrhea where they have to go to the litter box several times. This happens when a cat gets an allergic reaction to ice cream.
Flavors:
Some flavors are safe for cats, like vanilla, but most are harmful to cats, like chocolate. If your cat only licks the bowl of chocolate ice cream, it can lead to the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in them. Large amounts of chocolate can even lead to death in cats.
Besides the chocolate, you should also avoid caramel flavors to feed your cat an ice cream.
Artificial sweeteners:
Almost every ice cream has artificial flavors and sweeteners in them. A very commonly used artificial sweetener is xylitol. Thus sweetener is lethal for cats. A cat’s stomach can’t process sweaters as they are carnivores and digest meat.
If your cat had a few licks of an ice cream containing xylitol, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.
Brain freeze:
Eating ice cream can cause brain freeze in cats as it is cold. It is not comfortable for them and causes stress in cats.
What can you give your cat instead of chocolate ice cream?
Here are some of the alternatives to chocolate ice cream that you can serve your cat:
Cat-friendly ice creams:
There are many ice cream flavors for your cat, like chicken, fish, and some with a slight taste of vanilla. These ice creams are specifically designed for cats and hence can’t cause any harm to them.
Ice cubes:
Cats love to lick plain ice cubes. It is healthy for them as it promotes hydration. Other than that, cats like to play with them. It’s a better alternative than chocolate ice cream.
Chilled wet food:
You can freeze the wet food can for your cat, and after slight defrosting, you can serve it to your cat. It will satisfy your cat’s craving for cold ice cream.
What are the signs of chocolate poisoning in cats?
Chocolate is poisonous to almost all pets. It contains thrombin and caffeine in it. Though cats can not identify if the product they are going to eat can harm them, especially if it’s a dairy one. But chocolate causes severe poisoning in cats.
Following are the signs of chocolate poisoning in cats:
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Increased heartbeat (Tachycardia)
- Liver failure
- Death (in severe cases when left untreated)
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fever
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lung diseases
All these signs show that chocolate poisoning can do no good to your cat. So, it is better to avoid feeding them for their own good.
Can cats eat other flavored ice creams?
Yes, cats can have other ice creams. Though chocolate ice creams are a terrible choice for felines, vanilla is a good choice of flavor for your cat. But even when feeding vanilla-flavored ice cream, you should look for any signs of gastrointestinal distress like vomiting or diarrhea in your cat.
If you have observed these signs, take your cat to the vet and never feed them ice cream again. It is better for their excellent.
Conclusion:
This article covered “Can cats eat chocolate ice cream?”. In this article, we also told you about what are the side effects of eating chocolate ice cream in cats, what you can give your cat instead of chocolate ice cream, and what are the signs of chocolate poisoning in cats.
References:
https://askmycats.com/chocolate-ice-cream-and-cats/
