Food And Diet | Bite Munch

Once in the mooring I was eating kielbasa and share few with my cat without knowing it is good or bad for them, which leads to the question, can cats eat kielbasa or is it safe for them. So I took a few minutes to research on this topic, hope it will help someone who finds themselves in the same situation as mine. Can cats eat kielbasa or sausage? Can cat eat kielbasa? Yes, cats can eat kielbasa or sausage in a small amount. Some ingredients of Kielbasa are harmful to cats, and it is not suggested for cats to eat a large amount. A hefty amount of Kielbasa or any other processed meat can become poisonous to your cat. Well, cats are curious by nature, and they love to try every food in their sight. As a result, they might end up eating things that are normal for humans but can be poisonous to them. Cats are carnivorous by nature, they will eat anything that contains meat. But processed meat like kielbasa could be harmful for them. Why is boil meat good for cats but not kielbasa? Well, boil meat does not contain many elements that processed meat like kielbasa contains. Kielbasa contains added ingredients like pepper, garlic, salt etc. are considered harmful for cats. So let's dive deep to understand why it is harmful! Kielbasa is a famous polish sausage that is made from pork or beef. To add a different taste, garlic, pepper and salt are used in it. Kielbasa also contains different kinds of added chemicals for preservation. Following are the ingredients of kielbasa that are harmful to cats: 1. Garlic & Pepper in Kielbasa If you own a cat for long, you know how dangerous garlic is to cats. Because garlic is a bulbous herb containing organic sulphur compounds. Organic sulphur is not as harmful as raw sulphur. But a minimal amount of sulphur can cause oxidative damage to your cat's red blood cells, which causes haemolytic anaemia, a disorder where the red blood cells of an animal are destroyed faster than its production. As a result, cats get sick or even die! Moreover, garlic can also cause pale gums, vomiting, decrease heart rate, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, increased respiratory rate, loss of appetite and more on. Peppers are not harmful. But it completely depends on how sensitive your cat is. If you have a sensitive cat, then peppers can cause inflammation and sneezing. Kielbasa contains a large amount of added garlic powder and peppers. So, it can become deadly to your cat. 2. Added Chemicals in kielbasa. Kielbasa is one kind of processed meat. So it contains a lot of added chemicals like nitrates for preservation. According to the research of The Guardian, these added chemicals can cause cancer and decrease the longevity of human and animals! As we already know, cats have a weaker digestive system and body structure than us. So you can guess how harmful these processed meats can become for your cat. Consuming a large amount of processed meat might easily cause cancer to your cat. However, nitrates are also not suitable for cats digestion system. A little amount of nitrate can cause inflammation to your pet. A large amount of nitrate consumption might also cause vomiting to your cat. So, if you don't want this trouble, ignore Kielbasa from your cat's diet. 3. Salt in kielbasa Yes, you have seen it right. Salts can also become dangerous to your paw friend. According to nationalacademies.org, an adult nine-pound cat should not consume more than 42mg of salt. But a normal kielbasa can contain a minimum of 86 mg of salt! Consuming a large amount of salt can cause heart diseases in humans! Imagine how harmful it can get to your cat! Moreover, high salt consumption in cats can also cause vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Well, it does not end there. Because like other pets, a cat can have salt poisoning too. Salt Poisoning is a serious condition. It can lead to walking drunk, abnormal behavior, injury to the kidneys, tremors, seizures and even death if untreated. So, foods like kielbasa would do more harm to your cat than good. Also read my another articles: can cat eat salt or sea water. 4. Fats in kielbasa Yes, fats are not only harmful to humans but also for cats. An obese cat may look cute. But that cuteness can be the reason for its death. Like any other animal, extra fat consumption is dangerous for cats too. An obese cat can suffer from type 2 diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, urinary problems, lameness, pancreatitis, and many more serious diseases. It will decrease the cat's life span. An obese cat also has a higher chance of getting cancer. Hight fat consumption might also cause GI diseases and skin problems. As a processed meat, Kielbasa contains a lot of fat. These fats can easily make your cat obese as well as increase the chance of getting diabetes. Red Meat Cats are carnivorous animals. So, a healthy amount of meat is good for their growth. But red meat can become dangerous too because it contains a pigment called Haems. It breaks down into smaller compounds when it's mixed with stomach acid. These little compounds cause inflammation to both humans and cats. An excessive amount of red meat can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea to cats. Kielbasas are entirely made of the red meat of both pork and beef. As a result, it contains a high number of Haems in it. So kielbasa can also cause your cat diarrhoea. Final Thoughts These are the main reasons why cats can't eat Kielbasa. But it's completely ok if you treat your cat with a little amount of kielbasa. Other than that it is not suggested to give your pet processed meat at all. But there are many healthy alternatives like home-cooked or boiled meat, eggs, fish, cat food and many more. There is also kielbasa specially made for pets. They are available at many pet stores and online stores also. But be cautious, and please check the ingredients of any packaged food before giving it to your fur buddy. Because their safety completely depends on you. Happy petting!