This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat marshmallows?” we will also discuss the bad effects of marshmallows on your cat’s health, whether your cat can eat flavored marshmallows, and what you can do if your cat ate marshmallows.
Can cats eat marshmallows?
No, cats cannot eat marshmallows. it is not safe and healthy for your cat to eat marshmallows because it has high amounts of sugar and sodium which are not healthy for your cat. Moreover, it can also cause choking hazards in your cat. You need to make sure your cat doesn’t hold on to marshmallows.
What are the bad effects of marshmallows on your cat’s health?
Following are the bad effects of marshmallows on your cat’s health:
Obesity
Consuming too many marshmallows can cause obesity in your cat because marshmallows have high amounts of sugar. The sugar requirement of your cat is low. If your cat happens to consume more sugar it will be stored in the body of your cat as fat content.
The fat content is responsible for obesity in your cat. Obesity has several consequences such as chronic joint pain and heart problems.
Chronic joint pain is due to the increasing weight of the body that puts pressure on the joints.
The fat content in the body can block the major arteries of the heart. The heart has to pump forcefully to supply blood to other parts of the body. This leads to a heart attack in the worst-case scenario.
Obesity can also limit the movement of your cat as your cat feels lethargic all the time and lose interest in healthy activities during the daytime.
Diabetes
The next problem is diabetes which is due to consuming more and more sugar content. The sugar content can cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels which is the cause of diabetes. Diabetes can be of two types. In type I diabetes the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to control the blood sugar level in the body.
Type II diabetes is due to the body’s resistance to insulin in the body. It is the most dangerous form of diabetes.
High blood pressure and dehydration
The next thing is high blood pressure which is due to the high amount of sodium content in the blood cells. The sodium content in the blood cells can increase blood pressure. To cope with such a situation, we need to administer potassium into the body.
The next thing is dehydration which is due to the excess sodium content outside the cells. The high sodium content outside the cells can draw water outside which can lead to cellular dehydration in the body.
Cellular dehydration can lead to hypovolemic shock and the death of your beloved furry friend.
Kidney damage
The next problem is kidney damage. The high content of sodium is filtered by the kidney of the body. When there is too much sodium in the body it puts pressure on the kidneys and the kidneys fail to function properly.
If the kidneys are not performing their function properly, your cat will be shifted to dialysis. Which is quite costly for you.
Choking
The last thing is the choking of your cat. The shape of the marshmallow is the major reason for choking in your cat. Following are the main clinical signs of choking in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Unable to vomit
- Unable to cough properly
- Pawing at the head
- Extended neck
Can cats eat flavored marshmallows?
No, cats cannot eat flavored marshmallows. The chocolate-flavored marshmallow is toxic for your cat to consume because it has theobromine which is not easily cleared from the body of your cat.
Following are the major clinical signs of chocolate toxicity in your cat:
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
What can you do if your cat consumes too many marshmallows?
If your cat consumes too many marshmallows, you need to check whether the marshmallows are plain or flavored.
If the marshmallows are plain you just need to wait for the clinical signs to appear and then visit the vet if you see any abnormal signs in your cat.
If the marshmallows are flavored you need to hurry and reach the vet clinic. The sooner you get to the clinic the better it will be.
Your vet will take your cat’s history and after that, your vet will go for treatment of your cat. The treatment may include antibiotics and fluid therapy.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the main question, “Can cats eat marshmallows?” we also covered the bad effects of marshmallows on your cat’s health, whether your cat can eat flavored marshmallows, and what you can do if your cat ate marshmallows.
References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/cattime.com/cat-facts/health/40063-can-cats-eat-marshmallows%3famp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.petcarerx.com/article/3382/cats-and-marshmallows.html
https://www.hepper.com/can-cats-eat-marshmallows/
https://www.cancateat.com/can-cats-eat-marshmallows/
