Cats are obligate carnivores and get all the nutrition they need from eating other animals. In the wild, you won’t find cats eating fruits or vegetables. This might leave you wondering why you don’t see many cat foods listing pork as the main ingredient. Is it safe for cats to eat?
Yes, pork is safe for your cat to eat. Feeding a little pork to your feline occasionally won’t cause any health problems. However, it’s not the best choice, and it can cause some problems if you feed it too often. If you plan to feed pork to your cat, read on to learn about the precautions you need to take and the alternatives that might suit your pet better.
Precautions to Take When Feeding Pork to Your Cat
Before you toss that cut of pork over to your cat, there are a few precautions you need to take. Without the correct preparation, pork can harm your kitty.
Remove All Bones
Dogs may love to chew on a good bone, but for cats, bones are a choking hazard. That’s why you’ll need to make sure that you carefully remove all the bones from any cut of pork you give your cat.
Cook Thoroughly
If you’re going to feed your cat any meat, it must be fully cooked before you give it to them. This is especially true with pork. Pork could be full of parasites or bacteria that die off during cooking. If you don’t thoroughly cook the ham, your cat could get sick.
Feed in Moderation
Since cats need lots of protein and they eat a diet comprised mainly of meat sources, it seems counterintuitive that you would limit the amount of pork you offer your cat. The same rule doesn’t apply to chicken or turkey, so what’s different about pork?
Why Your Cat Should Only Eat Pork Occasionally
Pork isn’t the same as chicken or turkey, and there’s a good reason why you don’t see it being used as the primary protein source for many cat foods. Chicken and fish seem to be used in most commercial cat foods today, but why not pork?
There are two main problems with pork that make it a less viable option for cats. For these reasons, pork is best served as an occasional treat rather than a dietary staple.
High in Fat
Pork is much fattier than other types of meat. Chicken is remarkably lean, which is why it’s used as the primary protein source for so many commercial cat foods. But pork often has large globules of fat. Not only can these contribute to weight gain causing your cat to become overweight and possibly obese, but they can also block your cat’s arteries if consumed too often.
The other problem with pork is that there’s less protein in the same size serving than in other meats. That protein is replaced with fat, which is less beneficial to your cat and more likely to contribute to weight gain.
Indoor cats aren’t getting much exercise. Most of them lead pampered lives indoors, where they rarely expend more energy than chasing around a laser pointer for a few minutes. If they consume too many calories from fat, it will take a long time for them to work it off with the minimal amount of physical activity they get.
High Sodium Content
Never feed processed pork to your cat. One of the biggest problems with processed ham and other pork products is their high sodium content. If cats consume too much sodium, they can develop hypernatremia, also known as sodium poisoning. This can be a severe condition requiring professional medical attention. Fluid therapy is often needed to correct the imbalance caused by excessive sodium intake.
Benefits of Feeding Pork to Your Cat
So far, we’ve mainly discussed the dangers and downsides of feeding pork to your cat. However, it’s safe to feed a feline in moderation and even has some benefits for them to gain from it.
High Protein Content
As obligate carnivores, cats need to eat a lot of protein. It’s an essential part of all the systems within their bodies. Pork, like all meats, is comprised substantially of protein. However, as mentioned, there are leaner alternatives with higher protein and less fat content per gram, and they should be fed more often than pork.
Loaded with B Vitamins
Pork contains many minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamins B6 and B12. B12 is an important vitamin for cats. It’s essential for the proper function of their nervous systems, immune systems, and digestive tracts.
While sharing human food with your cat is not always safe, we have a solution that will keep you both smiling. We've currently got a 40% discount to share on the HUMAN-GRADE premium cat food that ranked number #1 in our reviews! CLICK HERE & use code EXCITEDCATS2023 to SAVE 40% on Smalls cat food!
What Pork to Feed Your Cat
If you’ve decided to feed your cat a bit of pork, you must know which cuts to choose. All cuts of pork are not created equally, and the one you pick will make a difference for your cat. You generally want to pick the leanest cuts and avoid the fattier ones, like bacon.
- Loin Chops
- Loin Roast
- Pork Tenderloin
- Bacon
- Pork belly
- Pork shoulder chops
Healthier Alternatives to Pork
As we’ve mentioned, there are several healthier alternatives for your cat. They contain less fat and sodium, have a higher protein content, and may even contain beneficial nutrients not found in pork.
Fish
Fish is loaded with protein and often contains far less sodium than you’ll find in pork products. Even better, you can catch fish fresh, so you know that nothing was ever added to the meat. Moreover, fish contains loads of omega fatty acids, which provide benefits for your cat, including:
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Reduces shedding
- Promotes undercoat growth
- Prevents autoimmune disorders
- Shrinks some tumors
- Treats some types of epilepsy
Chicken
Chicken is cheap, lean, tasty, and packed with protein. That’s why it’s the primary protein source in so many cat foods. But it can still make an excellent treat when served cooked chicken to your cat. Just make sure it’s fully cooked and has no skin or seasonings.
Learning about what your cat can and cannot eat is a crucial part of keeping them happy and healthy! Choosing a bowl to serve cat-friendly foods in is another important decision pet owners face. Satisfy the specific needs of your cat with the innovative design of the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl. Learn why it’s our (and our cats!) favorite food and water dish here. At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
Pork, like any other meat, is packed with protein that can be beneficial for your cat. However, compared to other meats, pork is fattier, which is why it’s not the best treat for your cat. Still, a little bit isn’t going to hurt and might make a tasty treat, as long as you cook it very well. Do not add salt or condiments, and only serve it occasionally.
See also:
