In this cat blog, we will entertain our important question, “Can cats eat mac and cheese?” we will also discuss the major unhealthy ingredients in Mac and cheese, what you can do if your cat ate Mac and cheese, and how you can protect your cat from eating Mac and cheese.
Can cats eat mac and cheese?
No, cats cannot eat Mac and cheese. It is not safe and healthy for your cat to consume Mac and cheese because of unhealthy ingredients such as garlic, onion, salt, black pepper, and milk products. You should prevent your cat from eating Mac and cheese and Mac and cheese should be locked up in the fridge where your cat cannot reach.
What are the major unhealthy ingredients in Mac and cheese?
Following are the major unhealthy ingredients of Mac and cheese for your cat:
Garlic and onion
The unhealthy ingredients include garlic and onion and they cause red blood cell lysis in your cat. The type of anemia they cause is hemolytic anemia in your cat. Hemolytic anemia is capable of causing hypoxia in the body which limits the oxygen supply or the vital organs of the body.
If this condition continues the body will soon be out of oxygen and it will lead to the death of your cat.
Following are the major clinical signs of tissue hypoxia in your cat:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased breathing rate
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Pale mucous membrane
Black pepper
The next thing is the black pepper in Mac and cheese. The black pepper can cause irritation in the stomach of your cat which can ultimately lead to diarrhea and vomiting in your cat.
Following are the major clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
The black pepper can also cause swelling in the mucosa of the nose because the cats have the habit of sniffing the black pepper which can cause swelling of the nasal mucosa and difficulty in respiration of the cat.
Milk and butter
The next thing is the milk and the butter which can cause lactose intolerance in your cat. Lactose intolerance means the cat will not be able to digest the lactose sugar in the body because the adult cat has low levels of lactase enzyme which is required to digest lactose in the body.
Following are the major clinical signs of lactose intolerance in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Gas production
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Cheese sauce
The next thing is the cheese sauce which is also not healthy for your cat. The cheese sauce has high salt content which is also not healthy for your cat.
The high salt content can damage the kidneys because the kidneys are not able to hold the immense pressure of the salt on the body.
The high salt content also causes dehydration in the body which can lead to hypovolemia and if it is not treated in time, it can lead to hypovolemic shock and the death of your cat.
The high salt content can also cause salt poisoning in your cat. The major sign of salt poisoning is the nervous signs such as confusion, tremors, and imbalance in your cat.
What can you do if your cat ate a lot of Mac and cheese?
If your cat happens to consume a lot of Mac and cheese, you should give enough water to the cat so that the body is able to filter the excess salt from the body.
After that, you need to monitor your cat for 24 hours to look for clinical signs. If your cat shows clinical signs then take your cat to the vet hospital.
Your vet will perform a clinical exam and some tests to check the status of your cat and after that, your vet will treat your cat.
How can you protect your cat from eating Mac and cheese?
Cats love to consume human food but we know that human food is not safe for your cat to eat. You need to lock up the unhealthy food in the cupboard where your cat cannot reach it.
The next thing you can do is to provide your cat with healthy and tasty cat food. This will divert the attention of the cat so your cat will not consume any Mac and cheese.
The last thing is not to eat in front of your cat otherwise your cat will also want food.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Can cats eat mac and cheese?” we also discussed the major unhealthy ingredients in Mac and cheese, what you can do if your cat ate Mac and cheese, and how you can protect your cat from eating Mac and cheese.
References
https://www.veterinaryhandbook.com.au/Diseases.aspx?diseasenameid=248
