Salami tastes amazing and it makes a great snack, but you may be asking yourself, can cats have salami? This is not a straight forward yes or no answer.
Yes cats can technically eat salami but this depends upon what ingredients are in it. Some salami contains garlic or onion. If this is the case the answer is a definite no as garlic and onion are toxic for cats.
As there is is a lot of uncertainty, let’s take a look at the question of can cats have salami in more detail. In this article we will cover salami nutrition facts, dangers of feeding a cat salami, when is salami okay for cats to eat, plus much more.
What Is Salami And What Is Inside Of It
What Is Salami Made Of?
Salami is generally made of pork or beef (sometimes specifically veal). Other meats can also be used to make salami such as turkey or goose. As well as the meat, here are some additional ingredients that are typically included:
- Garlic
- Minced fat
- Salt
- Spices, usually white pepper
- Various herbs
- Vinegar
- Wine
Salami Nutrition Facts
Salami Nutrition Facts | |||
Nutrition | 28g | 47g | 100g |
Calories: | 119 | 200 | 425 |
Sodium: | 529.2mg | 889.4mg | 1890mg |
Carbohydrate: | 0.3g | 0.6g | 1.2 |
Total Fat: | 10.4g | 17.4g | 37g |
Protein: | 6.1g | 10.2g | 21.7 |
Dangers of Feeding Cats Salami
Although feeding your cat the odd piece here and there generally should be fine, there are a number of dangers that you should be aware of.
Salmonella poisoning
As salami is is not actually cooked meat, it poses a risk of Salmonella poisoning or other issues such as Trichinellosis which is a parasite disease. Salmonella doesn’t really effect cats in the same way as it does with humans, but they can still experience the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- High fever
- Dehydration
Weight-related issues
If you feed a cat too much Salami then it could cause weight-related issues such as obesity due to it’s high sodium and saturated fat content. For an average-sized cat, the daily recommended sodium intake is about 42mg.
With one small piece of Salami containing around 35mg of sodium, you can see why feeding your cat too much will become an issue.
Some research has suggested that cats can tolerate a bit more sodium, but when it’s well-known that too much salt can cause kidney disease or hypertension in humans, it’s just not worth the risk of feeding your cat Salami.
This is especially true if your cat is already suffering from renal or kidney disease. Feeding them Salami or anything similar can have very serious consequences.
Never feed salami to a pregnant cat
Uncooked food such as Salami should never be given to a pregnant cat. The reason for this is because it could potentially cause life-threatening conditions such as septicaemia and endotoxemia which can spread to a cats organs and cause meningitis and pneumonia. This will cause a cat to miscarriage.
Other health issues
As well as the meat, Salami can contain additional ingredients such as paprika and peppers that can cause an upset stomach and indigestion. Salami may also contain garlic which is on the ASPCA’s list of toxic foods for cats and can have serious consequences if consumed by your kitty.
Is Salami Okay For Cats To Eat?
can cats have salami? So after looking at all of the facts and dangers, the only way you could feed your cat Salami is if it was low in sodium and contains no additional ingredients or spices. Even then, you should only feed your cat a very small piece on the odd occasion.
With cats being obligate carnivores, most commercial brands of Salami are not going to provide any nutritional value. It’s best to just stick with regular wet and dry cat food that contains all of the nutritional elements that a cat needs to be healthy.
Can Kittens Have Salami?
When you look at all of the facts and research, it’s especially important not to give Salami to a kitten. The reason for this is that they are a lot more delicate than an adult cat and their immune systems aren’t fully developed.
This means that feeding them Salami is going to make them sick a lot easier. It’s best to stick with regular formulated kitten food.
Safe Alternatives Human Foods
If you do want to mix things up with your cats diet to provide a bit of variety, here are some human foods that are safe for cats to eat:
Vegetables
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Green Bean
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
Fruits
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
Can Cats Eat Salami Conclusion
As a cat owner, I know how tempting it would be to give your cat a piece of Salami when they are begging but it’s just not worth making them sick. Have you ever gave your cat a bite of Salami and how did they react to it? Let us know your thoughts.
