The bonds that humans form with animals are probably reflective of the purest form of love. It is a relationship where both parties are unequivocal in their expression of love and affection. It is selfless. The love between the owner and the pet knows no bounds, so much so that they cannot imagine their lives without each other. Having to separate for even a small time is equally painful for both of them.
For people with cats as their pet, their pet is not just a pet but much more than that. It is an integral part of their family. It becomes their child and they become parents. Just like every other parent, they become concerned about everything concerning their child or in this case their pet – cat. They look into everything from what food to give to, to how frequently they need to be fed, the frequency of walks, and the precautions to be kept in mind.
Sometimes, however, some cat parents want to give their cat just what they eat and wonder if they are doing the right thing.
Food like noodles is what keeps cat owners wondering. Noodles are something everyone loves. We can eat it in any weather in so many different ways. Almost everybody sneaks food to their pets below the table, but should we be this carefree when it comes to noodles?
Well, you do not need to wonder anymore, just read the following points to know if you want to know if you can give your cat noodles and similar stuff like that.
CAN BE A TREAT NOT A STAPLE
The answer to this question is not really exact. It will depend on the particular feline. Yes, you can give your cat some of your pasta noodles as a treat, but regularly giving a feed consisting of noodles can be harmful. Including it in large portions can be even more harmful. Our feline pets are different as compared to us. While noodles might be our go-to carbohydrate, they might not be the best choice for our feline friends.
While the right diet for us requires the presence of complex carbohydrates like noodles; but for a feline, diets rich in protein and low in carbohydrates are the best choice. It is just enough for their energy requirements. Carbohydrates are not easily broken down by a feline’s digestive system which leads to them struggling with the absorption of these.
Thus, noodles can be a once-in-a-blue-moon treat for your feline family member, but not a staple.
CATS ARE SPECIAL CARNIVORES
Cats are obligate carnivores. They like their evolutionary ancestors have been feeding on animals like mice and squirrels. All they consume essentially is meat and animal protein. Dependence on animal protein will thus make it difficult for them to adapt quickly to a diet with a high presence of carbohydrates like noodles. They do eat varied food materials ranging from mice to squirrels to tuna, but essentially all of this is animal protein.
Thus, their bodies have developed a sort of aversion to carbohydrates and an affinity for meat. Only evolution could lead to characteristics different from what we have known in cats.
Thus, avoiding noodles might be the best option for your cat.
NUTRIENT CONTENT
Whenever we feed our pets something new, we check the nutrient content of these items. Noodles in this instance, have no nutrients that are of value to cats. The only thing that they can give cats is calories. This can be particularly harmful to cats. It can increase susceptibility to diseases like thyroid, digestive problems, obesity, weight problems, etc. Obese or overweight cats or cats who have insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes have difficulty doing everyday tasks, are more susceptible to falling ill, and have a lower life expectancy.
Further, our calorie requirements are far more than a cat’s. Thus, noodles might be very good to meet our calorie requirements, but not for your feline’s who require a lot less. The starch that makes up noodles is not easily digestible by a cat’s bowel system and thus, creates problems. It cannot be broken down easily into enzymes.
ONLY PLAIN NOODLES
If you still want to serve your cat noodles, then you must serve them plain! Any topping might not be as healthy of an option as you might think. It might be very palatable. Your cat might love it, but you must know everything tasty is not good for your cat’s health. You need to be a responsible cat parent in this case.
It can adversely affect your cat’s health and drive it to obesity or being overweight.
In some cases, it can worsen your cat’s illnesses, even more, making veterinary trips more and more frequent. So, if you want happy cats prancing around like the proud creatures that they are, then you must avoid serving flavored noodles or noodles topped with sauces and spices.
Further, avoid serving them instant noodles as they are high in sodium content; they will be extremely harmful to the smooth functioning of your cat’s metabolic processes.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, on the whole, serving your cat noodles is a personal choice. But do weigh in the health considerations. Your feline friend might have different nutrient needs than you. Noodles don’t have any nutritional benefits for cats so you can avoid them. If you still want to serve your cat noodles, make sure that the portion size is limited. Avoid making it a regular dish in the cat’s diet. If you do serve it, serve it as rarely as possible. Make particular care to serve plain noodles and avoid any sauces. Your cat friend deserves all the love in the world and its health has to be your priority. Pets form an indelible part of our lives and thus, deserve all the care in the world. So, nurture them and take care of them; because these friends are here to stay in your hearts for longer than you would imagine.