It is our best guess that you are reading this article while munching on a bag of crisps. Your cat is purring around you in the hope that you might toss a few chips on its way. And you are not entirely sure whether it is something a good pet parent would do. You need not dwell on it any further; you have come to the right place! Cats can be tricky when it comes to food. They enjoy getting the taste of food as much as the next cat does. However, an animal whose decision-making authority is its stomach may not be judges’ fairest about their daily bread. This is the part where you come in. You have been given higher authority over the cuisine department. With great power comes great responsibility. You have to be assured that your cat is getting its nourishment and a savory meal simultaneously.
Don’t feel guilty or put yourself down for providing relaxation to your feline friend at certain times. We all have days when we barely have time to catch our breaths. In the hurry of the circumstance, we tend to grab our nearest food time and allow our cats to dive into them. In the majority of cases, it is junk food or fast food that is readily available. But can cats even eat junk food?
Can cats eat junk food?
Without beating around the bush any further. Yes! Your cat can eat junk food as long as it does not become a staple part of its diet. Junk food is no poison ivy that needs to be kept away from the reach of Tom’s paw. In a moment of bonding, you may let it munch on junk food along with you. They only have one life after all…or nine? However, there is a catch to it. Having an intake of all sorts of junk food over a stretched time might cause health problems in your cat in the long run.
What can be put under the category of junk food?
By definition, it is food with unhealthy amounts of calories from fats or sugars. When we think of junk food, our brain automatically paints us a visual picture of, say, potato chips, fizzy drinks, and possibly pizza. But is it the same for pet animals? Low-quality cat food can also be put under the vast category of “junk” food. Tinned, processed foods are just as harmful to your cat as any other ‘human’ junk food. They are heated to the point of the supplements and vitamins in it being wholly diminished. Resultantly, you are physically feeding your cat three times a day. Whereas the nutritional benefits it is receiving are barely that of one complete nourishing meal.
In today’s busy lifestyle, it is conventionally seen that pet owners prefer to feed their pet’s tinned food. This saves them time along with the hassle of having to prepare home-cooked meals. However, what doesn’t meet the eye is the effect these mass-produced cat foods have on your furry champ. Hypothetically, a full-grown cat’s bodily requirement includes meat, vegetables, rice, or any other alternative. This isn’t all; an ideal meal should also contain 50 or more nutrients. Are these preconditions of your cat being met?
Do cats like junk food?
Animals, especially cats, can become obsessed with junk food as quickly as humans. Owing to the reason that, cats have an odd fondness for foods that have a salty taste and high levels of carbohydrates. Namely, the kibble diet is an example of such food. You may use it in times of an emergency or unavailability, whereas your cat might be having differing intentions.
Furthermore, cats are attracted to foods’ textures and shapes, which drives them even more towards junk food. To illustrate this better, a cat may equate associate the crunchiness of crisps or bagged potato chips with that of bones. In this provided scenario, it can be expected that the cat will develop a liking for potato chips. It might even resist having other foods that fail to meet the royal criteria of potato chips in the cat’s mind…or stomach.
In what ways is junk food unfavorable to my cat?
If your cat is smitten with junk food, several destructive consequences are racing to it. We strongly suggest you act briskly! The after-effects of junk food have always remained hidden, yet we tend to pay no heed to them. In like manner is the case of pet animals when it comes to junk food. The outturn is either long-term or may result in immediate sickness of your pet.
Conventionally, such foods contain a negligible amount of dietary fiber in their ingredients. Due to this, your cat may suffer from digestive issues and other correlating symptoms like diarrhea. It should be borne in mind; dairy products may also lead to the same results either often because of lactose intolerance. They are easy to digest if given in nickels and dimes. Otherwise, there is a significant risk of bloating in your pet. Obesity is one of the most significant issues that pet owners have come across. In cases of severity, it can reduce an animal’s longevity far more than one could imagine. The reasons to avoid nutritiously unhealthy foods are innumerable. One needs not be aware of each of them to consider an enriching diet over an inadequate diet. We are sure you love your feline friend far, much more than to let it walk the path racked with agony.
How to get my cat back on track to a healthy lifestyle?
As a cat parent, you would know much better the amount of patience one needs to pet a kitty. It would come as no surprise to you that redefining a cat’s eating habits is a synonym for signing up for a patience test. You may want to mentally prepare yourself for a lot of resilience and vexed meows from your cat before you set on this journey. If your cat has an unfamiliar attachment to junk food, it will turn its nose to meals that you spent hours preparing. It is indeed tremendously hard to be a parent. In such times, a flashback to happier times will be like a remedy to your wounds. Trust us on this one!
We will let you in on a secret of the feline trouble-making creatures. The likelihood of your cat making a fuss for breakfast is minimal. They wake up eagerly, looking forward to breakfast after sleeping on their stomach for 8 hours or more. That is your time to shine! Quickly pour a bowl of organic food and present it to your highness. If you can manage to feed your cat one healthy meal throughout the day, you are at the winning end. You can thank us later!
Furthermore, cats prefer their meals at room temperature. You can use this likeliness to your advantage, and it will take you even closer to your aim. Your cat will never suspect you. No four-legged feline fellow can resist a tinned can of fresh food. Keeping that in mind, there is no possibility of fighting a can of fresh tinned food at room temperature.
Lastly, we often forget that habits are one of the most challenging things to let go of. That is especially the case with animals. They are unable to comprehend your concern of wellbeing for them. Like how they do not understand why a treat so flawlessly textured and tasting of heaven is being pulled back from them. The transition from junk food to a beneficial diet mustn’t be excessively speedy or immediate.
What are some healthy food options for a cat?
Nutritionists and vets globally advise you to provide your cat with meat. Cooked or raw is dependable on the likelihood of your cat. A cat will receive most proteins and nutrients from meat due to its carnivorous nature. You may be able to find meat at your local grocery or pet shop. Additionally, cats are known to be a fan of tinned fish or sardines. One of the countless advantages of seafood is that if your cat enjoys salty foods, sardines being ocean fish will replace junk food like no other. Grains and seeds like oats are welcomed with open arms by cats as well. They are a rich source of supplements for the kitty and are exactly what you need to keep your cat from turning obese.
Conclusion
To put it unambiguously, junk food is not your cat’s best friend or even close. Indeed, it will not immediately choke your cat. Owing to this, it can be fed infrequently. However, if there is the availability of other healthier alternatives, they should be given preference. Junk food is not worth the negative outcomes it brings along with itself.