Cats love their food and are always begging their owners each time they sit down to have a meal. If you love a good curry or anything spicy, you may be wondering, can cats eat spicy food?, Can cats taste spicy food?, and is it safe for them.
This guide is going to cover everything you need to know regarding cats and spicy food including why cats like spicy food, the dangers, what to do if your cat has eaten spicy food, and a whole list of specific spicy foods and answering if cats can eat it or not.
Can Cats Taste Spicy Food?
Believe it or not, no, cats cannot taste spicy food. Cats are also one of several mammals who do not have the taste receptors for sweetness.
Although cats cannot actually taste the spiciness in foods, the one thing that would give them a burning sensation comes from the capsaicin of peppers/chilis. The reason for this lack of taste is the fact that cats only have around 470 taste buds.
To put this into perspective, humans have around 9,000 taste buds. The reason they get drawn to spicy foods is due to the other ingredients that usually come with spicy foods such as meats.
Cats can also taste fats, as well as the ability to recognize bitter and sour tastes. This is crucial because theses are usually associated with substances that can be harmful to your cat.
Why Do Cats Like Spicy Food?
If cats cannot taste spicy food, then you may be wondering what attracts them to it in the first place. Here are some of the reasons why.
#1 Sense Of Smell
When it comes to sense of smell, cats win over humans hands down. Humans have around 5 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses, but cats have 9-16 times more than humans at around 45-200 million odor-sensitive cells.
Cats taste meals using their sense of smell and even have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called vomeronasal (or Jacobson’s) organ. So the next time you sit down with a spicy meal, it’s usually just the smell that attracts your cat.
#2 Appealing Temperature
As carnivores, cats actually prefer warm food as this is what they would eat out in the wild in the form of freshly-caught prey. This is even a good trick to use if your cat is not eating their own food, just simply warm it up a little.
As most spicy foods such as curries are piping hot, this is the reason why your cat is drawn it.
#3 Texture And Ingredients
A lot of spicy foods such as Indian takeout and chili con carne contain lamb, chicken, beef, and other kinds of meats that are very appealing to cats. These are meats that are generally found in cat food, and the reason why your cat is so attracted to spicy food.
Can A Cat Eat Spicy Food?
In this section are going to go through a number of different spicy foods and meals, giving you all of the information on if your cat can eat it or if it is dangerous.
Can Cats Eat Curry?
The problem with curry is that it is usually prepared and mixed with other ingredients such as garlic, onions, and other ingredients that can be very harmful to your cat, even in small amounts. It is recommended not to give curry to your cat at all.
Can Cats Eat Pumpkin Spice?
Although pumpkin spice is not toxic for cats, consuming too much can lead to various health conditions. Just like curry, it is the other ingredients found in pumpkin spice that are dangerous such as cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
These ingredients can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and more serious conditions such as causing the heart rate to drop and causing liver defect.
Can Cats Eat Pepperoni?
You may think pepperoni is okay to give to a cat because it is meat based. The problem is, pepperoni is very high in salt. The spice of pepperoni will also not agree with cats stomach, and may cause digestive issues.
Can Cats Eat Jalapenos?
Jalapenos contain too much capsaicin that can even cause an upset stomach in humans, let alone a cat. A cat consuming even a small amount can cause diarrhea and vomiting, and should be avoided at all costs.
Can Cats Eat Spicy Doritos?
Although a cat can technically have a lick or even consume a small amount without causing any harm, you should still not give your cat Doritos. Doritos are high in salt and flavorings that can make your cat sick.
Can Cats Eat Spicy Chicken?
Feeding your cat a small amount of spicy chicken is more than likely not going to cause any damage, but it could potentially cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. It also depends what seasoning and spices are actually used on the chicken.
Certain spices are toxic for your cat which can be very dangerous. Like with many of the other foods on the list, it is just not worth the risk of making your cat sick.
Can Cats Eat Spicy Chips?
The problem with spicy chips is the ingredients used to add the spice such as garlic powder, onion powder, and capsaicin. These can be dangerous and make your cat very sick. Cats do to require spicy chips and should be completely avoided.
Can Cats Eat Chili Con Carne
Chili con carne isn’t toxic, but it will upset your cats stomach if too much is consumed. It’s best just to completely avoid giving your cat this altogether.
Can Cats Eat Cinnamon
A quick lick isn’t going to cause any damage as it is non-toxic, but consuming too much cinnamon can become toxic and be detrimental to your cats health. This is due to a cat lacking some of the liver enzymes that break down cinnamon compounds.
The other main problem is that cinnamon contains a compound called coumarin that is usually found in rat poison. Consuming too much of this can cause:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Coughing
- Panting
- Slow heart rate
- Liver failure
If you feel your cat has accidentally consumed too much cinnamon, seek the advice of a veterinarian immediately.
Can Cats Eat Nutmeg
Nutmeg should be avoided and never given to your cat as it contains myristicin , and can cause the following issues:
- Severe abdominal cramps
- Hallucinations
- Elevated heart rate
Is Hot Sauce Bad for Cats?
Hot sauce is non-toxic and a quick lick may not cause any damage, but it should never be given to a cat as the burning sensation can cause them to feel nauseous. Consuming too much can upset their stomach and lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
The Dangers Of A Cat Eating Spicy Food?
A lot of the dangers of a cat eating spicy food were covered in the previous section, but let’s just have a quick recap. Spicy foods and especially capsaicin can cause the following issues if consumed by a cat:
- Effect digestive tract
- Irritate their throat
- Irritate the lining of the stomach
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Runny eyes and nose
What To Do If Your Cat Eats Spicy Food
If your cat has consumed spicy food, then it’s important to keep a close eye on them and look out for any of the symptoms that we described in the previous section. As always, if you have any concerns, just contact your local veterinarian.
Can Cats Be Allergic to Spices?
All cats are very unique and some will react different to others, but it is possible that some cats will have an allergic reaction if them consume spicy foods. The main symptoms will be itchiness in the skin, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that although not all spicy foods are toxic for your cat, it’s the addition ingredients found in these meals that can be dangerous and seriously effect your cats health.
There are far too many risks with even giving your cat a lick of spice, so it’s best to be on the safe side completely avoid giving your cat spicy food.
