Do you ever just feel the need to share your food with your cat, but do not do so because you think your cat cannot eat your desired food? Do you ever feel like feeding your cat beef? Not the ‘beef’ as in gossip – we are sure you give your cat all the beef about your life! However, puns aside, we mean actual beef here, as in cow meat. Your cats look at you with puppy eyes and plain excitement whenever you eat a sandwich or just grilled meat. You fall for their charms and don’t want to hurt your cats like that. You care too much about your feline and give it a bite of your beef sandwich.
Now, the question is if it is safe for your cats to consume beef. To answer that, we think it depends on what kind of beef you are feeding your cat. We expect you to either do your research or consider talking to your vet about the same. There cannot be a simple “yes” or “no” answer to this question.
If your cat is not allergic to beef, you can feed them beef, without any worries. However, keep in mind that moderation is the key. Even if beef is safe for cats, they shouldn’t be given a large quantity of this meat, as it can cause them digestive issues.
Is beef safe for cats?
Cats are meat-eaters. To answer this, cats will consume any kind of meat. By nature, cats are hunters. They like it when their food is full of juices and tastes. So, they love beef, because it is one of the juicy meats you can find today. Cats do not have a complex digestive system like humans. They have a very simple, but sensitive digestive system. This is why you should be careful about charting out a diet plan for them.
Always practice moderation, when giving them beef or any other food. Anything that you provide to your cat in excess will harm them in one way or another. Also, before planning your cat’s diet plan, please check with the vet for allergies, if any. Though they are obligate carnivores, some cats are allergic to certain kinds of animal meat. What if your cat is allergic to beef and you never knew about it? So, please check for allergies, and feed your felines beef, only if you have got the go-ahead from the vet.
Beef, apart from being tasty, can also be contaminated or rotten, if care is not given at the time of sourcing. If you provide your cat with packed or canned beef, they can harm your cat in many ways. Cats have an extremely sensitive liver. So, cats should be provided with the best and natural quality of beef only.
Whenever you feel like introducing new food to your cat’s diet, please give it to them only in small amounts, so it does not harm your cat. Although cats are picky- eaters, they would mostly not refrain from eating meat. So, as you would have guessed, cats can eat beef, but only in small amounts provided you give them cooked and fresh meat to eat.
Do cats like beef?
As we already mentioned, cats are obligate carnivores, and meat is their main diet. Cats will not refrain from eating meat and that is how the ecosystem has built them. Beef consists of many proteins and nutrients for cats. The bonus is that beef comes with a juicy texture as well. All of these make cats love beef a lot. Beef, when cooked, has many benefits for humans. However, the same cannot be said about humans.
Sometimes, cooked beef contains high sodium and other preservatives, which can be toxic for cats. So, it is necessary to run a routine check on your cats’ diet and include bland foods that don’t contain any additional flavors, seasonings, herbs, or preservatives. Also, never feed contaminated or rotten beef to cats.
When it comes to feeding beef to cats, ensure that you don’t give them raw beef. You should feed them cooked beef only. Cooked meat can be harmful too at times, but not as harmful as raw meat. Raw meat can cause many unnecessary problems to your cats’ intestines. The key to having a healthy feline is to give them all foods in moderation only. When you take some responsibility for that, your cat can enjoy a longer lifespan.
Even humans can be impacted when they consume beef in large quantities. Since cats have very light bodies and highly sensitive digestive systems, it is only natural that they fall sick when eating a lot of beef. Beef also has a lot of sodium content, which makes it quite dangerous for cats to eat. Overconsumption of sodium can lead to salt toxicity in cats. This is a condition, in which cats experience the following:
- Dehydration
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Accumulation of fluid in the legs
- Obesity
- Imbalance of movements
- Kidney damage
Though beef has healthy proteins and vitamins for cats, your felines can benefit from it, only if this meat is fed to them in moderation. Always include beef in a cat’s diet in the form of occasional, healthy treats only.
Bottom line
You can feed them with deli meat, beef, or sometimes turkey and chicken as treats, but you should be very sure of what your cat consumes. We prefer you only feed your cat a minimal of such meats. You can use them as mini treats, and occasional special treats to reward your felines for their good behavior. When you cook beef for cats, ensure that you don’t add any salt, spices, or flavorings.
Though the beef may look like it is tasteless and bland for you, it is the right and safe way to cook the meat for your cats. When your felines ingest a little bit of salt from beef occasionally, it shouldn’t be a cause of concern, though. Please remember to feed them natural and fresh beef only, to avoid all health issues in the long run.