Let’s face it—cats are weird creatures. They surprise us with all sorts of quirky behaviors every single day. Your cat might turn up their nose to a delicious meaty dish of wet cat food, but you’ll find their head stuck in a bag of chips later.
So, if your cat has recently shown an interest in a delicious caramel snack, you might wonder if cats can eat caramel at all? Well, caramel is non-toxic to cats, but it can be a choking risk, and it’s very unhealthy for them. Plus, cats can’t even taste sweetness, so why would they be attracted to caramel in the first place? Find out more below.
Caramel is Non-Toxic to Cats
If your cat just ate caramel, rest easy knowing that it is non-toxic to cats. However, there’s absolutely nothing in caramel that would benefit your cat’s digestive system.
If anything, eating sweet treats like caramel will only affect your cat as get older. You should really avoid all human food completely unless it is species-appropiate, unseasoned, and free of any additives.
Health Risks Associated with Caramel
There are some significant downfalls of cats eating caramel. It can cause weight gain and a myriad of related diseases, including diabetes, arthritis, higher susceptibility to developing cancers and urinary issues, and compromised mobility. Besides, caramel represents a very dangerous choking hazard.
Also, it greatly depends on the type of caramel snack your cat ate. If the snack contains any other additives, it can be hazardous and potentially toxic.
Effects of Sugar
Sugar has no good effect on your cat. Sugar can cause an entire series of digestion problems, as your cat isn’t made to eat it in the first place. Besides, it is loaded with empty calories, and regular sugar consumption causes the cat to gain extra weight, leading to obesity. Cats are obligate carnivores. They only benefit from eating mostly meat-based products; animal proteins and fats are the basis of their nutrition.
You can give your cat lots of designed-for-felines, species-appropriate snacks, but any human food that is packed with sugar is entirely without benefit.
Intestinal Issues
If your cat eats big pieces of caramel, the excessive sugars will disrupt the cat’s intestinal microbiome, leading to issues such as diarrhea, bloating, and discomfort.
Cats Taste Palate
You might be surprised to know that cats cannot even taste sweetness. We might indulge in all kinds of delicious desserts, but feline tastebuds are entirely different from ours. They have no sweet receptors.
Since they are carnivores, their palate is only developed to delight in meat. That is why your cat salivates every time you pop open a can of wet food. he aroma of animal-based proteins stimulates their senses.
Other Ingredients
If your cat got into caramel, you have to ask yourself what else was in this food product. Certain ingredients can be totally fine, while others are very dangerous.
Cats should always steer clear of the following toxic foods:
- Chocolate—just like dogs, chocolate is poisonous to cats. They shouldn’t even taste small amounts.
- Xylitol—this artificial sweetener is found in many candies and sweet treats. Your cat should never ingest this toxic chemical compound.
If you have some caramel ice cream or dairy products, this is also a no-no. Even though cats might beg from milk-based products, their bodies are not designed to digest dairy foods.
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Final Thoughts
So now we learned that the short answer to cats eating caramel is no. There are absolutely no nutritional benefits, and it could cause more significant issues. They might like to lick the occasional caramel off a random snack, but you should never offer it up willingly.
Always make sure to keep potentially dangerous snacks away from your kitties. There are plenty of cat-safe snacks on the market for your furry buddy to enjoy instead. Plus, they can’t even indulge and enjoy the sweetness that caramel offers.
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Featured Image: Zozz_, Pixabay
