Can Cats Eat Curry?

As a cat owner, you must know how cats are always curious about the food you are eating and may even try to taste it. You may wonder if the food you are eating is okay for your cat. The digestive system of cats and humans is very different from each other. Food that is good for your health, taste, and pleasure may be harmful to your cat and cause some digestive problems. Curry is one of the most popular dishes loved by most people around the world. Imagine you have cooked a spicy curry with rice and, being curious about it because of its aroma, take a bite of it. The first thing that comes to your mind is ‘Can cat eat curry?’ In this article, we will discuss if cats can eat curry and what consequences or benefits it may have on your cat.

What Is Curry?

Curry is a part of South Asian cuisine that consists of a seasoned sauce with lots of spices, meat, tofu, or vegetables. It is mainly eaten with rice or sometimes bread/roti. This dish is just empty carbs. It is one of the most popular dishes worldwide as it is easy to make, store and it is perfect for eating 24/7. The spices that curry includes are turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, onions, chili pepper, and some other traditional spices. The main curry ingredient might be coconut milk, cream, or spices paste. There are many different varieties of curry eaten all over the world.

Is Curry Safe for Cats? Can Cats Eat Curry?

Curry is not recommended for feline consumption. They have such ingredients as spices that are toxic for your cat’s health. If you want to give your cat some vegetables or healthy and lean proteins, you can give them to it separately. Add healthy ingredients to your cat’s diet and even if you want to give a taste of curry to your cat, make sure the ingredients involved are cat-friendly. If your cat has tasted the curry a little, don’t freak out. Just make sure the intake amount is not high, and they don’t get used to the dish and consider it a part of their normal diet. Cats can quickly get used to different foods, and it might become a case for you too with the curry.

Benefits and Consequences of Curry for Cats

A cat is attracted to the amazing aroma of curry is quite natural, so don’t be surprised if the cat wants to take a bite. You should only worry about controlling the amount of intake and maintaining a healthy diet, as curry can be extremely harmful to the cat’s health. Curry has its benefits and consequences when it comes to cats.

There are no benefits of a prepared spicy curry that you eat, but some of the ingredients involved in the making of it can be very healthy. Lean proteins like chicken can provide proteins and nutrition to the cat if provided individually. The vegetables in a vegetable curry like carrots, bell papers, spinach, and kale are also good for cats. There is not much research about spices, cats, and how they react to each other but turmeric is said to prevent some symptoms of chronic illness. However, these vegetables and spices provide us more benefits than cats. These vegetables can be given to cats as medicines because their diet doesn’t need greens like us. They are obligate carnivores and prefer to get their nutrition from meat. That’s why all the ingredients might not be more beneficial for cats than us. Cats produce their Vitamin C and only need Vitamin A, which they can get from eating fish and other meat.

The most common ingredients that a curry consists of are onions and garlic. Both of them are extremely toxic for them, and if your curry has it, even a taste of it can be very bad for their health. They are dangerous for cats as they can damage red blood cells and cause Heinz body anemia. The symptoms of this disorder are weakness, poor appetite, fever, discolored urine, and pale lips. If you witness these symptoms, then immediately take your cat to a vet. The other spices are also unhealthy for the cats, and a big amount can cause several digestive problems.

Why Are Cats Attracted to Curry?

Cats, in general, are attracted to food the humans are eating around them. They also have high sensitivity to smells, so any appealing aroma will get them attracted to the food. If you witness your cat being curious about a dish, specifically curry, then don’t worry much. Curry has a strong aroma because of all the ingredients like meat, vegetables, and spices for taste and flavor. Since those ingredients are harmful to the cat, just keep the cats away from it if you can. And even if they have taken a bite, keep them hydrated and properly give them a regular healthy diet. A small amount will not cause adverse effects or kill them.

Some cats are not attracted to such aromas and will turn their noses to them. It doesn’t apply to all the cats. Curry’s strong smell from all the spices involved in it might also annoy them, so it just depends on how your cat moves. Spicy foods, in general, are not a good idea for cats because their digestive system and nutritional needs are completely different from us. You can give your cat some meat and vegetables separately from their regular cat food if you want to give them some healthy food. But the best thing for your cat is that they should stick to their normal diet and stay hydrated. If they have eaten something bad that is not good for them or curry and you see symptoms like diarrhea or extreme scratching, see the vet immediately! This way, both you and your cat will stay safe.