Can a cat eat french fries? French fries are one of the most popular foods in America today. They are a delicious side dish that can be served with almost any meal. However, some people may wonder if French fries are healthy for cats. The short answer is yes and no, but it depends on the ingredients in the French fries themselves.
Are French Fries Bad for Cats?
Usually, cats don’t eat french fries but every now and then your feline friend is curious to try out what you are eating. So, the real question is whether you can give a few of it as a treat?
It is not recommended to feed them as potatoes cannot be easily digested by your cat. While not dangerous, fries include an excessive amount of sodium, carbohydrate, and fat in your cat’s stomach. Similarly, different types of potatoes have preparation limitations, making the potato a tricky human food to feed to a cat.
However, if you are still tempted to feed them then the type of french fries and other addons added to them should be checked.
First and foremost, never feed your cat raw potatoes. They contain alkaloids (the green part of potatoes) which can be poisonous to cats. Green potatoes are harmful to cats, according to both the Pet Poison Helpline and the APSCA. If you notice your cat eating green sprouts or green skin, get them checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Can Cats Eat Cooked French Fries?
The good thing is that once cooked, potatoes are no longer harmful to cats. Because of the high heat of the oil, frying is one of the cooking methods that decrease the solanine (alkaloid) content of potatoes the most. So, if your cat is going to eat cooked potato, a French fry is a better option than mashed or boiled potatoes. A plain French fry could be a better option for your cats overall.
However, Fries are only to be kept in strict moderation. They cannot be fit in a cat’s diet because not only do they lack the nutritional supplements but they also come with harmful effects if eaten too much.
Read what other processed food your cat can eat: Can a Cat Eat Doritos? Moderatiohttps://cat-litter-boxes-site.com/can-a-cat-eat-doritos/n & Precaution or click on the image below:
Can Cats Eat French Fries With Ketchup?
Ketchup, like fries, is not the healthiest thing to give your cat. It has high salt levels, which are harmful to cats. Aside from that, most ketchup contains onion powder, which is poisonous to cats. Furthermore, ketchup is quite acidic for cats. That implies that even if your ketchup did not contain onion powder, it could still cause gastrointestinal problems in your pet.
What About Extra Flavourings?
Most sauces are highly acidic, which can upset your cat’s digestive tract. They might even puke if they try a little sauce. Some flavorings may also include substances that are poisonous to cats. Onion powder, like garlic in aioli, is a good example. Garlic and onions are both toxic to pets, according to the Pet Poison Helpline website. It’s important to remember that garlic is roughly five times more poisonous than onions.
While a very tiny amount of some of these components will have no effect on some cats, others may be more sensitive and have a more severe reaction.
Why Cats Shouldn’t Eat French Fries?
The deep-fried outside of the french fry, which is high in sodium, can be tough for your cat’s body to digest and can potentially cause a choking threat. Even plain potatoes are harmful to cats. French fries and potato chips are delicious, but they are also among the most unhealthy potato products. Cats require protein to grow, and while certain carbohydrates are OK in your cat’s diet, the amount should be limited.
Heres are other reasons why you should avoid feeding fries to your cat:
Saturated Fats
Even though essential fats like Omega-3 and Omega-6 are healthy for cats. Fries are loaded with saturated fats which are unhealthy even for us, human beings. Saturated fats do not benefit your cat’s health; rather, they contribute to heart disease, weight gain, and other disorders.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are not needed in your cat’s diet.
Cats’ diets only allow for a small number of carbs. Excess carbohydrate consumption can be hazardous to your pet, and because french fries are pure starch, they are especially dangerous.
Salt
A (very) little amount of salt is required in your cat’s food to maintain proper development and growth, but too much salt is extremely harmful and can poison and kill your cat.
Cat Owners should be warned that french fries contain a lot of salt. For an average 4kg cat, 42.4 mg of salt per day is enough in its diet.
Salt toxicity can result in:
- Vomiting
- Appetite reduction
- Excessive drowsiness
- Poor coordination
- Extreme thirst / dehydration
- Seizure, coma, and death if excessive salt is consumed
Can Cats Eat McDonald’s French Fries?
The smallest serving of McDonald’s french fries (71 g) includes around 150mg of salt. The 71-gram serving comprises approximately 50 fries, so if your cat ate 13 McDonald’s fries, they would exceed their daily sodium intake without having eaten any of their own food.
Based on this, you should limit your cat’s intake of fries to three or four per day as a one-time treat.
Related: Most of the cat owners argue when it comes to the covered and uncovered litter boxes. Some love to have the covered while some love to have uncovered litter boxes. But have you ever thought, what’s your cat preference?
Here in the article, “Covered Cat litter box vs Uncovered litter box“, we will try to figure out what the cats want. Or click in the image below:
Onions
Fried onions are usually offered with french fries as an aside. Onions are toxic to cats. Onions, whether raw, cooked, or dried, can be fatal to your cat. Hence, Ketchup should also be avoided since it contains onion powder.
Coming to a Conclusion: Are French Fries Ok For Cats?
French fries typically contain salt which is harmful to cats. While it may seem harmless to offer your cat a few french fries, the high salt content can actually be harmful. It is important for cat owners to only offer french fries as a treat since they are high in fat and sodium. French Fries should not be given to cats with diseases.
In conclusion, whether safe or not, you should only give them a modest treat on occasion. And Contact your vet if your cat behaves unusually after eating them.
