Chocolate ice creams are made from cocoa and milk which is a good source of calcium and proteins. Cocoa powder is also a very healthy ingredient on its own. The addition of cocoa powder makes the ice cream look brown. Although it is considered healthy it shouldn’t be consumed in large amounts. Consuming any healthy food in large amounts will make it unhealthy. This applies to human beings but what about animals. Can animals like cats consume chocolate ice cream? Let us find out.
Is it okay for cats to eat chocolate?
Human beings love to enjoy different varieties of food. These foods might be delicious and filling for human beings. However, these foods might be poisonous and not very adequate for cats. Most dogs suffer from the toxicity of food and its effects. The number of cats who undergo food poisoning is also increasing every year.
Consuming chocolates can be toxic for cats. It is not necessary to happen to all the cats though. Caffeine and theobromine are present in chocolates which are harmful to cats. If the cats end up consuming many chocolates, it can increase the level of toxicity and kill the cat. Dark chocolates particularly are very toxic and harmful to cats. When the level of cocoa increases the level of toxicity increases. The toxic compounds are higher in dark chocolates with a higher level of cocoa.
Can cats eat chocolate ice cream?
Chocolate ice creams couldn’t possibly kill your cat. It could still make the cat feel ill or sick. Chocolate or chocolate ice creams aren’t good for cats. It could leave them sick for a few hours. The toxic ingredients in cocoa or chocolates aren’t the only harmful ingredients. Sugar and lactose are also not too good for them. Even though young cats can tolerate milk and lactose to an extent. Studies have shown that cats as they grow older into adults can become intolerant to lactose similar to human beings.
They don’t throw up all the time when they feel that their stomach is upset. They may display other symptoms too. These other symptoms include.
- Behaving strangely
- Being lethargic
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Lack of appetite
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Panting
- Coma
- Seizures
- Increased heart rate
Most cats recover after a couple of hours if the chocolate ice cream has affected them. But in some cases, some cats tend to have a more severe reaction and face this issue for longer hours or even days. It is preferable to contact a vet if your cat hasn’t recovered within a day.
Are cats allergic to all ice cream flavors?
Cats are likely to express some uncomfortable behavior over chocolate ice creams. This is mostly due to the chocolate which is toxic to the cats. Even if your cat ends up licking an empty bowl that had school ice cream before it can prove toxic for the animal. The content called theobromine is absorbed differently in humans and animals. The cat’s body cannot absorb and process the content in chocolate which leads to harmful effects. It also affects the health of the pet.
The vanilla flavoring is perfectly safe and also used in some cat treats. However vanilla ice creams are said to be safe for cats. But other flavorings of ice cream should be researched regarding the toxicity and ingredients before giving it to the cats.
If your cat has eaten chocolate or chocolate ice creams. You will find that your cat is extremely restless, their heart rate increases at this time making them restless. Other flavors like caramel or other fruit flavors in ice cream should also be avoided.
Can cats digest artificial sweeteners?
It is always preferable not to give all the food that you eat to your pets. Sugar particularly is not good for cats. Their body is designed in such a way that they cannot process sugar-dense food. They are a type of carnivores called obligate carnivores. This means that they need to get the required amount of nutrition from meat and other non-vegetarian food.
Cat food provides this required amount of grains, meat, and vegetables, and fruits. The essential nutrients for a cat are provided in these cat foods, so it is preferable not to give them human food. Sugar is a burdening content for a cat and it affects the digestive system.
Like human beings, cats can also undergo conditions like obesity, diabetes, lactose intolerance, etc. Some cats might be obese and also be suffering from diabetes already. Cats cannot feel the taste of sugar so they might consume a considerable amount. It doesn’t provide nutrition but rather makes the cat feel sick.
Cats can digest natural sugars up to an extent. Processing and digesting artificial sweeteners may not be that easy though. Artificial sweeteners are so toxic to cats that a lick or two itself might prove to be harmful. Ice creams mostly contain artificial sweeteners although some ice creams might contain natural sugars. If you see or if your cat shows uneasiness and symptoms of having eaten ice creams containing artificial sweeteners it is best to call a vet.
Alternatives for cats
We know that ice creams made for humans particularly those containing artificial sweeteners are toxic and harmful for cats. There are alternatives if you feel like your cat is bored and tired with the basic cat food and want to treat your cat. You cannot feed your chocolate ice cream to your cat. Frozen treats and cat ice cream made with ingredients that are cat friendly are increasing at a tremendous rate. Since the vanilla flavor is cat-friendly most of these treats are made from that. These treats also make sure to provide and meet the nutritional requirements of the cat. Frozen treats and cat ice creams could also be flavored like chicken, fish, and cats consume other foods.
Giving these frozen treats could be a nice way of making your cat feel different and good. Cats can also experience brain freeze as humans do. They go through discomfort that they definitely cannot verbally express as we do. So it is nice to serve them such treats but you have to make sure to serve them in small quantities. The frozen treats don’t need to be frozen and straight out of the refrigerator. It is okay for it to be at room temperature when you serve them these treats as you don’t want to end up causing discomfort to your cat by giving them a brain freeze.