Donuts are sweet treats that we love to consume for breakfast. They are soft, yummy, and filled with interesting flavors that we relish. You will find it hard to meet someone who doesn’t like the taste of donuts. When humans cannot resist these yummy treats, can cats be left far behind?
When you have a cat at home, you might have noticed him watching you with curious eyes as you bite into the bursting flavors of a donut. No, cats are definitely not attracted to anything sweet. However, a donut looks new to him, and he is curious to know how it tastes. Like all other sweet dishes, cats might want to have a nibble at the donuts because of the fats & calories in them, and not because of the sugar content.
If you have been wondering if you can give donuts to cats, you have come to the right place. To give a short answer to this question, you cannot give donuts to cats. They are not beneficial to the health of felines in any way. Also, they are high in sugar, fats, carbohydrates, artificial colors and preservatives. All of these can cause severe problems in the digestive system of cats. Cats have a very sensitive stomach; therefore, overconsumption of donuts can cause toxic reactions in them.
So, cats shouldn’t be given donuts even in small quantities. There are better and more nutritious treats available for cats, which you can choose. So what are the health risks associated with feeding donuts to cats? Keep reading to know more about the same.
Is it safe to give donuts to cats?
According to veterinarians, you shouldn’t give any donuts to cats. By nature, cats are carnivorous creatures. Therefore, their digestive system is equipped to deal with a protein-rich diet. Cats derive their proteins from meat and seafood that they enjoy from their foods and treats. Donuts, on the other hand, are rich in carbohydrates and fats.
So, it is unsafe for cats to consume donuts. The high content of carbs and fat can impact the sensitive stomach of felines. When cats regularly consume carb-rich foods, they show symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, lethargy, reduced appetite, imbalance in movement, etc. The additional flavors in donuts may cause choking issues in cats if they eat big pieces of donuts.
Health risks associated with feeding donuts to cats
Donuts are full of ingredients that are unhealthy for the functioning of felines. Let us see the top unsafe ingredients in donuts, and why you shouldn’t give them to cats in the following sections:
High in carbohydrates
It has been proved that eating too many carbohydrates can lead to severe health issues in cats, such as feline obesity and diabetes mellitus. Not many parents take care of the diet of their felines, which is why many cats suffer from digestive issues and other ailments. In a surprising and worrying study conducted recently, close to 59% of the cats were known to be suffering from feline obesity.
When cats become obese, it can lead to very severe health issues, such as damage of internal organs (kidney, liver, etc.), imbalance of movement, reduction in appetite, an overall reduction in reflexes, etc. When a cat is at least 20% more than its normal body weight, it is considered obese. When feline obesity is not treated soon, it can even lead to death.
Fats and calories
Donuts are rich in sugars. Though cats don’t realize the sweetness in these dishes, they love to nibble at the donuts for the fats and calories. When consumed in large quantities, Sugar-rich foods can result in many issues in felines, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. The internal system of cats cannot handle the excess fats and sugars in donuts. Therefore, in the long run, it can also cause ruptures in the intestines of cats.
Toxic chocolate0-flavored donuts and glazed donuts
If the donuts have the slightest bit of chocolate in them, you should never feed them to your cats. Chocolates are one of the most toxic foods in the world. It contains a compound called theobromine. According to experts, chocolates can be lethal to cats. Even a small piece of chocolate can lead to serious health hazards, like abnormal heartbeats, seizures, tremors, and even death, in severe cases.
Are all forms of donuts bad for cats?
Yes, all forms of donuts are bad for cats. Even the plain ones contain a lot of carbohydrates, fats, and sugars, which do no good to the health of cats. Some people may wonder if they can give powdered donuts to cats. Some people think that powdered donuts may be easy on the feline’s tummy. If you thought the same, you are mistaken.
You may be surprised to know that powdered donuts are even more dangerous to cats when compared to normal donuts. This is because cats cannot handle powdered sugar, and they can easily choke on it. Another danger with powdered donuts is that felines can easily ingest powdered sugar. If this happens, they start to wheeze uncontrollably. Though the issue may subside after a while, it can be quite traumatic to watch your cats choke or wheeze after ingesting powdered sugar in the donuts.
What should you do when your cat eats a donut?
If your cat has nibbled on a small piece of donut, you can relax, as your cats won’t suffer from poisoning after eating a negligible quantity of donuts. Your cat may not need a visit to the vet as soon as he has consumed donuts. He may experience sluggishness, vomiting, diarrhea, and overall lethargy. You can wait for a few hours, for your cat to come back to normalcy. The real issue crops up when your cat has consumed large quantities of donuts for a long time.
Final Word
Your cats definitely don’t need donuts as part of their diet, because donuts are rich in carbs, sugar, and fats. All three of these ingredients are quite toxic and lethal to cats if consumed in large quantities. Therefore, you need to keep donut boxes as far as possible from felines, so that they don’t nibble on them accidentally. Keep your cats healthy and free from obesity, by not giving them donuts.