With cats, you can never be sure of their diet. A slight change and introduction of new foods, and you could be in trouble that you never thought was coming! While you might know that cats are obligate carnivores, you might be surprised to know that all kinds of meat may not be suitable for felines. One such example is pork rinds. One of the most common sights you may encounter when you have a cat at home is your cat watching you with cute eyes and a watering mouth while you relish pork rinds. Are you tempted to give pork rinds to your cats? Please read through this, before you arrive at any conclusion.
Being a cat owner, you should be very careful about what you feed them. They are light-bodied animals, and cannot digest many foods. They have a very sensitive digestive tract. Your cat can be allergic to so many things and can be immune to so many. When it comes to pork rinds, there shouldn’t be any ambiguity, right?
Since pork rinds are made from pork (meat of pigs), your cats should handle them well, as their digestive system is equipped for it. However, is it healthy for felines, and can pork rinds form a regular part of your feline’s diet? To give you a quick answer to that one – yes, you can feed pork rinds to your cat. They are extremely nutritious for your cat and will make your cat a healthy one.
What makes pork rinds so likable?
The fact, that it is meat. Yes, only that. Cats welcome any kind of meat. Meat, like pork rinds, is one of their favorites, too. This is because a cat may pass any food but it will never bypass meat. Pork is one of the most loved meats by cats. It is also great meat for cats, as it provides a lot of nutritional benefits and many vitamins to cats.
However, do not add salt, or smoke the pork, when feeding it to cats. A diet that may contain sodium and preservatives is a strict no-no for cats. Overconsumption of foods containing sodium may lead to a condition known as sodium poisoning or salt toxicity in cats. The more sodium they eat, the more sick cats begin to feel. In the long run, sodium can impact vital internal organs, like kidneys, too. So, your vet would never allow you to feed anything too salty to your cats at regular intervals.
Can cats eat a lot of pork rinds?
Pork rinds are very tasty, and your cats look all excited when they see this meat on their plate. However, do not serve large amounts of raw pork to your cat. It may turn out to be dangerous. Eating raw pork can lead to itching and obesity. Having small amounts of raw pork is always a better option than serving a whole bowl of it. Moderation is the key when you are giving raw pork to cats. Excessive of anything can prove to be harmful or fatal. So, take care of your cats’ sodium intake at all times. Even if you are serving them raw pork, make sure you exclude extra sodium.
Pork rinds are wonderful foods for adult cats. However, kittens may not find it easy to chew and swallow the slightly hard rinds. Kittens are supposed to be given soft and small chunks of food so that it is easy on their digestive system. Due to their texture and size, pork rinks can cause choking for kittens. Also, pork rinds work so much better as treats. You do not have to look at other options when you want occasional treats for your cats when you have pork rinds lying around in your home.
Are pork rinds safe for cats?
To sum it up, pork rinds are safe for cats, provided you remember the rule of moderation. The consumption of pork can be beneficial for cats in many ways. Some of the benefits that cats can enjoy when they eat pork in the right quantity are:
- Decreases stool odor
- Less shedding
- Healthy coat
- Fewer hairballs
- Boost in energy
- Easy digestion
- Weight loss
You can feed your cat pork partly on some days of the week, or even for a few days when you desire to give your cat some good meat. Like it is said, too much of anything is good for nothing. Though pork has some benefits, it can cause lead to some health risks, if you don’t follow moderation. Some of the health risks that cats can be prone to when they over-consume pork are:
- Muscle weakness
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Extreme fatigue
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
All of these are some things that either overconsumption or allergy may cause. Your cat may also just not be immune to eating pork, leading to some side effects that may subside in the long run. It will help if you get your cat checked if it shows any signs of discomfort after eating pork or pork rinds. How do you know if your cat is uncomfortable after eating pork? Watch out for these symptoms:
- Dull coat
- Hair loss
- Loose stool
- Itching
- Depression
- Flatulence
It is better to observe your cat regularly so that you can watch out for these symptoms in the early stages itself. If left undiagnosed for a long time, even a simple allergic reaction may assume alarming proportions, leading to a lot of suffering for your pets.
Final Word
Yes, cats can eat pork rinds in moderation. Please remember that these should be used as occasional treats only. Pork rinds are healthy snacks, which cats usually love and relish. Please ensure you do not feed them more pork than necessary because it increases their sodium intake.
Another important point is that pork rinks can be given as occasional treats to adult cats only. Please do not feed pork rinds to your kitten, as it can prove to be dangerous for them. Kittens can choke over pork rinds, so you should refrain from doing so.