Sometimes, it needs just one item to change the overall flavor of your dish, and make it something magical. Mayonnaise is one such ingredient, which we will see more about in this article today. Do you want to add some interesting dash of flavor and freshness to your sandwich? Do you want to add richness to your breakfast salads? Add a dash of mint mayonnaise in them, and see how the flavors transform instantly.
Your cat has been watching you keenly, waiting for a lick of mayonnaise from your plate. You are tempted to give your feline some mayonnaise, but you are also not too sure if you can. Have you been in this position many times? If yes, you have come to the right place. Here, we will tell you everything about feeding mayonnaise to cats, and if felines actually benefit from this ingredient or not.
Here is how we would like to address this topic in simple words – Cats can eat mayonnaise occasionally, but ideally they shouldn’t. There is nothing in mayonnaise that would benefit cats. Mayonnaise, irrespective of the egg or eggless version, is equally bad for the health of cats. So, we would suggest that it is best to keep mayonnaise as far as possible from cats.
Is mayonnaise okay for cats?
Mayonnaise contains fats and oils, both of which are not good for cats. As you all might know by now, cats are obligate carnivores. So, they can digest only animal meats. Naturally, mayonnaise is not something that your cat’s digestive system would take lightly.
Also, mayonnaise contains fat, which, in the long run, can lead to a problem called feline obesity. So, you should never include mayonnaise regularly in your cat’s diet. Obesity, when not treated in the early stages, can lead to severe problems like failure of internal organs. So, it is not worth taking this risk at all.
If your cat licks a small quantity of mayonnaise at times, you don’t have to be alarmed at all. However, never allow it to eat this frequently. You might have been wondering why we keep talking about mayonnaise only when the topic is about mayonnaise with tuna. We will come to that just in a while!
Cats can eat tuna, but only in very small quantities. There are far healthier fishes than tuna that can be given to cats. Eating too much tuna can lead to mercury poisoning in cats. Sometimes, when making tuna salad, you might add a spoon or two of mayonnaise in it, to spice up the flavors a bit. Salads or sandwiches are some of the few combinations, in which tuna and mayonnaise usually meet. However, in such cases, we suggest you divert your cat’s attention so that it is no more curious to enjoy the dish that has a combination of tuna and mayonnaise.
Why is mayonnaise bad for cats?
We hate to tell you this, but we have to. Mayonnaise, even when prepared at home is bad for cats. Sometimes, cat parents are under the misconception that eggless mayonnaise may be okay for felines. Not at all! Here are some of the common ingredients used in mayonnaise, and why these are not good for cats.
Eggs
Eggs are the main ingredient used in mayonnaise. Whether you use egg whites, yolks, or both, mayonnaise is still bad for cats. This is because you usually use raw eggs for making mayonnaise. Raw eggs contain some toxic ingredients, that may pose a risk to a cat’s health.
Oil
People use all types of oil in mayonnaise. While olive oil is considered one of the healthy choices, other oils only contain a lot of fats. Overconsumption of oil-rich foods can lead to weight gain in cats.
Mustard
One of the other popular ingredients used in making mayonnaise is mustard seeds. While these are commonly used in our kitchens, they can be quite toxic for felines. These seeds contain toxic ingredients, which can cause instant allergic reactions in cats, at times. Symptoms of allergic reactions include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.
Acidic component – lemon or vinegar
Some use a few drops of lemon juice or a few drops of diluted vinegar in mayonnaise. Both are bad for cats. Cats get repelled easily by the smell of lemons. Even if diluted well, Vinegar can be quite harmful to cats, thanks to its toxic ingredients.
As you can see none of the ingredients used in mayonnaise are good for a cat’s health. So, we would definitely recommend giving cats other healthy treats in the form of fruits & vegetables, instead of toxic foods like mayonnaise. Store-bought mayonnaise bottles, especially, are rich in fats, which can lead to feline obesity.
Another problem with mayonnaise is that store-bought mayonnaise brands use processed dairy products, which can harm a cat’s health. Almost all adult cats (the ones aged 2 months and older) are lactose-intolerant. This means, their digestive system cannot handle the lactose component in dairy products. When cats eat a lot of mayonnaise with dairy, it can lead to severe digestive issues.
Is the combination of mayo and tuna safe for cats?
Definitely not! Tuna and mayo are usually found in salads and sandwiches. Unfortunately, these items also contain other toxic ingredients like onion, garlic, herbs, spices, salt, and other seasonings. Onion and garlic, especially, may seem to be common kitchen ingredients for humans; however, they are extremely toxic for cats. So, it would help if you never gave cats anything that contains these additional flavors and spices.
Tuna, especially canned ones, can lead to mercury poisoning in cats when consumed in large quantities. The salt and other preservatives found in store-bought mayo and canned tuna can lead to sodium poisoning and feline obesity – two of the most common but serious ailments in domestic cats today.
Final Word
It is definitely not safe to give cats a combination of mayonnaise with tuna. The fats, oils, and other toxic ingredients in mayo, combined with the mercury and flavors of tuna can cause severe gastrointestinal issues in cats. While your cat can have a few licks of mayo occasionally, ensure that you don’t include this in its regular diet.