When we adopt a cat, we assume a great responsibility, since its he alth and well-being depend exclusively on us. Whether it is a puppy or an adult cat, we must properly inform ourselves The veterinarian will explain what objects he needs to scratch, the most common diseases, how often it should be renewed the water and the litter box or some details about the food.
Precisely this last point generates many doubts and confusion, given that there are many options on the market: dry food, wet food, barf diet, homemade recipes, leftovers… Which choice is the right one? In this article on our site we will try to shed some light on some points, but we will focus on answering the question; can cats eat pasta? Find out below:
Optimal feeding of the feline
Currently we can consider various options when determining a cat's diet and this opens the door to different debates about the nutrition. We can find different types of food, such as dry feed, wet food or a variety of homemade diets. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages that the tutor must assess.
When we are faced with dry food or wet food, be it pâté type or meat in sauce, we have in front of us a food specifically designed for felines, which contains all the nutrients necessary for optimal development. In addition, we have categories to adapt it to the feline, either by stages or specific needs. For example, there are feeds studied for the development of kittens or feed for cats with kidney failure, among others.
In the event of the appearance of nutritional deficiencies in the feline, the composition of the food that we are offering to the cat must be analyzed to determine if it is successful, as well as consult with our veterinarian to rule out any pathology.
We must not forget that the cat is a carnivorous animal, therefore, provide a diet that does not include the necessary amount of protein or Taurine, among others, can cause malnutrition or he alth problems, such as the appearance of anemia Even when the feline is fed homemade diets rich in meat and offal, we can create nutritional deficiencies if we do not know how to adequately supplement the calcium intake.
In the case of offering leftovers to our cat, we must remember that not all food for human consumption is suitable for the cat, since there are prohibited foods for cats, such as onions. It should not be forgotten that the nutritional needs of cats and people are different, therefore, the diet should also be different. So can cats eat pasta or not? We explain it to you below!
Is pasta bad for cats?
Pasta, as well as other foods, such as bread or rice, are made up of carbohydrates and therefore contain substances such as starch or gluten. When we consider offering pasta or any other food of this style to our felines, we must assess what the real nutritional needs of our pet are and carbohydrates are not part of them.
The Nutritional Requirements of Cats [1] is based mainly on the consumption of protein and fat, followed by fatty acids, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Therefore, a cat should not be fed pasta or, at least, it should not be considered an essential food in its diet or that it represents a high percentage of it.
In addition, gluten can cause allergic reactions and intolerance in cats, causing episodes of diarrhea or vomiting. Likewise, a high percentage of carbohydrates can be dangerous, since once metabolized they are transformed into sugars, which the cat is unable to eliminate adequately. The direct consequences can be overweight and obesity
Furthermore, if you make bread at home, you should be careful with your feline, especially if it shows interest in bread, pasta and the like: eating raw dough can be dangerous, since the fermentation process would have place in the cat's stomach. If you finally want to offer your cat bread, it is preferable to wait for the stale bread to cool down.
As we mentioned before, the cat is essentially a carnivorous animal, although this does not mean that it cannot eat different foods, such as vegetables. Of course, they should be administered in small quantities. To finish, we can say that the cat does not require foods that contain carbohydrates, which are unnecessary substances for the diet of a feline. However, you can offer sporadically foods such as pasta, bread or rice to your cat if you wish.
Can cats eat pasta with tomato?
Although cats can occasionally eat pasta or rice, we must take even more precautions when it comes to pasta with condiments. S alt is especially harmful to the cat's kidneys and tomatoes are not considered a food especially indicated for the he alth of our feline. The ideal would be to offer the cat a small portion of pasta accompanied by a greater quantity of fish or lightly cooked meat In turn, without s alt or onion.
On the other hand, mixing pasta or rice with industrial foods, such as canned wet food, is totally inadvisable, since the foods have different digestion times. It is better to opt for diets prepared by professionals or for commercial foods already prepared that guarantee adequate nutrition.
Other foods
Below we will show you a list of foods that usually cause doubts among owners:
- Can cats eat cheese? Cheese is not a food especially recommended for cats, since most contain a high amount of s alt, however, if we opt for soft lactose-free cheeses we can offer it in a timely manner.
- Can cats eat squid? Squid is a food that we can offer our feline, always lightly cooked, without s alt or other harmful foods.
- Can cats eat corn? Corn is a component found in various commercial pet foods, however, it is not considered an ideal component in your diet. If you have noticed that your feed contains corn, you may need to look for a he althier alternative.
- Can cats eat sunflower seeds? Some nuts are especially harmful to cats, although sunflower seeds are not. As long as we remove the shell, we can offer pipes to our feline.
- Can cats eat York ham? Ham can be an excellent food for our feline if we want to use it as a prize or as a wrapper to camouflage pills. However, we must look for those foods that do not contain s alt.
- Can cats eat eggs? The egg is an excellent food for the feline as it is rich in essential proteins and fats in the cat's diet. If you make homemade diets it can be a very interesting option.
- Can cats eat rice? As we have discussed in this article, rice is not a recommended food for cats and should be offered in very specific cases.
- Can cats eat lentils? While it is true that lentils contain protein and a small percentage of fat, the truth is that contain a very high volume of carbohydrates, therefore, it is not a recommended food.
Tips
- To prepare homemade diets, remember to ask your veterinarian for advice.
- If you notice symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting after offering your cat pasta, go to the emergency vet.
