Can Cats Eat Nutella?

Nutella is a branch of cocoa spread made of sweet hazelnuts, skim milk, and chocolate. It was first manufactured by Italians in World War II and was first introduced in 1964. This article covers the concern “Can cat eat Nutella?”, what happens if a cat eats Nutella, its possible side effects, etc.

No, cats cannot eat Nutella, as it contains chocolate and high sugar, which is toxic for your feline friend. Nutella is made from hazelnuts, cat-friendly food, but nuts are far from an ideal treat for your cat. Hazelnuts have high fat and calorie content, and nuts don’t play that much role in a cat’s diet.

Cats are obligate carnivores that depend on lean animal protein for their diet. Their digestive system doesn’t have enzymes to digest many carbohydrates in plant-based proteins like those found in hazelnuts.

Why can’t cats have Nutella?

Cats can’t have Nutella because of the ingredients it’s made from. Chocolate has two methylxanthines which are caffeine and theobromine. The darker the chocolate, the more methylxanthines are present in it. Chocolate is toxic to cats and can cause serious health problems in them.

Nutella is a hazelnut spread made up of chocolate and dairy products which are not safe for cats. Nutella contains a high fat and calorie content, which can make cats obese and even cause heart problems. Theobromine in Nutella is a significant threat to cats and causes vomiting, seizures, and even death.

What happens if your cat eats Nutella?

If your cat has eaten Nutella, the first thing to do is notice the symptoms shown by your pet and then send it to your veterinarian. You can wait a little longer for the next step if it’s showing mild symptoms. But if they’re showing severe signs, the only solution is to visit your vet.

If your cat has a heart condition, Nutella can prove deadly for it. So, if you find your cat in a Nutella jar, it’s well advised to contact animal poison control. But if your cat has just licked a small amount of Nutella from a butter knife, the chances of major complications are sporadic.

What are the side effects if your cat eats Nutella?

Vomiting: The most common symptom is if your cat has eaten Nutella. You see your cat is vomiting; the faster you find out the reason behind vomiting, the sooner you’ll be able to treat your cat.

Dehydration: Nutella con leads to dehydration, kidney damage, or even death.

Obesity: Due to its high fat and calorie content, Nutella consumption can cause obesity in your cat, leading to heart problems, diabetes, and joint issues.

Diarrhoea indicates something in Nutella that was unsuitable for your cat and disturbed your cat’s digestive system.

Liver damage: Theobromine in chocolate is a significant cause of liver damage. If you see your cat vomiting blood (liver damage), take it immediately to your veterinarian.

Hyperactivity: Nutella chocolate causes hyperactivity and seizures in cats.

Increased urination: Cats consuming Nutella urinate more due to a disturbed nervous system.

Incoordination: Caffeine present in Nutella is the cause of incoordination in cats, e.g. The heart can’t pump blood efficiently due to a high concentration of caffeine.

Irritability: Nutella causes irritability in cats due to increased neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

Seizures: Theobromine poisoning causes seizures in cats, and a cat showing attacks should be immediately taken to the vet.

Diabetes: High sugar content in Nutella causes obesity in cats which leads to diabetes.

What to do if your cat has consumed Nutella?

First, you’ve to wait for possible symptoms and complications and the severity of these symptoms. If your cat shows mild symptoms, you’ll be able to wait a bit longer for the next step. But if your cat shows severe symptoms, take it to the vet immediately.

In the case of severe symptoms, you should take your cat to the vet within 15 to 20 minutes. Otherwise, you can contact animal poison control and get knowledge about how to handle an emergency on hand.

It will help if you do not try home remedies to treat your pet. Consult it with your vet, and he’ll give you the proper medication keeping in mind the severity of side effects. Prescriptions can include simple oxygen therapy to anti-seizure medication.

What are the alternatives to Nutella for your cat?

If you want to give your cat a treat, here’s a list of a few goodies you can share instead of Nutella:

Cooked white fish

Cooked chicken

Cottage cheese

Low-fat yoghurt

Conclusion:

This article covered the concern “Can cats eat Nutella?”, what happens if your cat eats Nutella, its possible side effects, etc. When there is a thought of feeding Nutella to your cat, there is a big NO for it. Nutella isn’t safe for your cat, so it should not be included in your cat’s diet.

Ingredients of Nutella, like caffeine and theobromine, are hazardous to a cat’s health. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver damage in cats. That’s why if you have a Nutella jar in your house, it’s better to keep it out of your cat’s reach.

References:-

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.petconsider.com/can-cats-eat-nutella-safely/

https://www.hepper.com/can-cats-eat-nutella/

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