In this post we are going to answer the question of can cats have cooked sausage? It’s a great idea as a cat owner to know what your cat can or can’t eat. There are plenty of human foods that cats can eat, but can cats eat sausage?
Can Cats Eat Sausage?
The answer is no, it’s not really recommended that you give sausage to your cat. Although cat’s are obligate carnivores and love all kinds of meat, processed meat such as sausage or bacon is not safe for cats. The reason for this is they contain salt, sulfites, and nitrate which are hard for a cat to digest. They are also high in calories and could cause inflammation.
It’s okay to give on the odd occasion as a treat, but your cats diet should contain proteins, amino acids, and vitamins. Veg and meat-based cat foods in both wet and dry form will provide all these essentials that your cat needs.
Why Your Cat Shouldn’t Eat Sausages?
So we have answered the question of can cats have cooked sausage? so let’s take a look in more depth your cat shouldn’t eat sausage. We all know how great sausage tastes which is why your cat is always after a piece every time you cook it. The reason it tastes this way is because they have been processed.
The way red meat is salted, smoked, preserved, and packaged means all of it’s essential nutrients are lost. These essential nutrients are replaced instead by sodium (salt), nitrates, and trans fats. If a cat consumes too much salt it can cause diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration.
It can also cause salt poisoning which is a serious condition for both dogs and cats. Other processed meats such as ham and bacon are also high in sodium and sulfite and shouldn’t be given to your cat. You can find healthier brands of sausage which contain no onion or garlic powder and are low in salt.
It is best to give you cat a piece or two of this kind of sausage and stay away from the commercial brands which are high in sodium and sulfites.
Can Cats Eat Uncooked Sausage
We have looked at why you shouldn’t give cat sausage, and although the odd piece or two is not too bad, it’s probably best to not give them any at all. When it comes to asking the question of “can cats eat uncooked sausage?” the answer is a definite no!
Giving a cat raw sausage poses the risk of Salmonella poisoning. Salmonella does effect humans more severely than cats, but the bacteria can still cause the following symptoms:
- high fever
- lack of appetite
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- dehydration
There are cases where the infection may spread to different organs which can cause meningitis and pneumonia. Although this is very rare, it’s best to just totally avoid giving your cat raw sausage to be on the safe side.
Should Kittens Eat Sausage?
Kittens should never be given sausage, even a small amount as a treat. Kittens are tiny creatures with a fragile immune system as they are not yet fully developed. This makes them more susceptible to getting sick than adult cats. The toxins found in processed meat such as sausage can be dangerous for your kitten. It’s always best to stick to a regular cat diet.
Healthy Alternatives to Sausage
There are other great alternatives you can give your cat instead of sausage. Here are some of the alternatives:
- Skinless Chicken
- Lean Beef
- Liver
- Lamb
- Lean Deli Meats
- Cooked Eggs
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Watermelon/Cantaloupe/Honeydew (No seeds!)
- Peeled Apples
Other Foods You Shouldn’t Feed Your Cat
Here is a list of other foods you shouldn’t be feeding your cat:
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Tea, coffee and energy drinks
- Cheese and milk
- Fat trimmings
- Raw eggs, raw meat and raw fish
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions and garlic
#Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed this post and that your question of can cats have cooked sausage? has now been answered. If you want to give your cat a treat, give them something from the list of safe alternatives above. Other than that just stick to a regular cat diet of wet and dry food.
