Can I Give My Cat Pork?

Can I give my cat pork?

Can I give my cat pork?Have you ever wondered why most cat food comes in a salmon or tuna flavor instead of pork flavors such as bacon or ham? There’s a misleading presumption that cats can eat just about anything, but that’s a just not right. Like us humans, cats must observe a balanced diet in order to stay healthy, so giving your cat some of the leftover pork chops from dinner last night might not be such a good idea.

Cats have greatly evolved from being untamed beasts preying in the jungles to your lazy couch potato companions shedding away on your expensive living room sofa. Although closely related to the large and unruly cats you find in the wilderness, domestic cats are surprisingly undemanding and don’t require much attention, not to mention they don’t eat like lions and tigers do.

A typical house cat basically sleeps throughout the day and only musters enough strength to get up when it’s time for them to be fed. Because of their idle lifestyle, it’s important for you as the owner to make sure your cat receives nutritional and well-proportioned meals. This includes avoiding a number of foods that are not necessarily healthy for your cat, a good example being pork.

Can My Cat Eat Pork? Answer: Yes, In Small Amounts

If it seems unclear as to whether or not you should be feeding your cat pork, you’re not alone. Most cat owners believe it’s alright to give their pet feline a strip of bacon or two because cats are dominantly considered as carnivores, but there are a lot of factors that modify these assumptions. Pork is not a toxic substance, therefore will not poison your cat if eaten, even in large amounts. Giving your cat pork products is fine as long as the meat is thoroughly cooked and is given only occasionally. What makes pork detrimental to the health of cats is its nutritional content. The meat of pigs is very high in sodium and fat which are two of the things cats don’t really need.

Why Can’t Cats Consume Fatty or High Sodium Food?
An active lifestyle requires a lot of food, and this is because energy is derived from what we eat. As mentioned earlier, cats are somewhat apathetic and are said to sleep anywhere from 16 hours to 20 hours in a day. If you provide a cat with fatty food, it isn’t likely they’ll burn away the excess. This is solely the reason why food such as pork isn’t recommended for cats.

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The fat globules found in pork products are much larger compared to other meats. If ingested by your cat on a regular basis, the fatty deposits can easily block the small arteries of your pet. Pork can also possess preservatives which aren’t really good for anybody. Another justification as to why cats shouldn’t be eating pork is the high risk of contracting unwanted parasites. If cats are somehow able to get their paws on a piece of pork that isn’t properly cooked, it’s a possibility they’ll be getting more than just dinner.

What Are the Healthy Alternatives to Pork?
Cats absolutely adore fish and probably won’t mind eating it every single day for the rest of their lives, but it would be nice to shake up their regular menu with healthy and nutritional alternatives. Pork is a good source of protein, therefore if you’re going to completely eliminate it from your cat’s diet you should have other protein options other than fish.

Lean white meat such as turkey and chicken are great substitutes for pork. They consist of less fat, but provide the same amount of protein. Just keep in mind, when you are feeding your cat chicken, the skin and bones must be completely removed. Skin of the chicken can be saturated in fat after being cooked and the bone, regardless of how small it may be, can be a choking hazard for your cat.

A protein source you might also consider is a favorite of cats: Milk.

Surprisingly however, a majority of cats are actually lactose intolerant and get upset stomachs after drinking milk. Fortunately, there is special lactose-free milk available in the market specifically for lactose intolerant animals. You may be able to find a couple of brands at your local pet store.

Add Your Own Answer to Can I Give My Cat Pork? Below

10 thoughts on “Can I Give My Cat Pork?”

    1. Pork tenderloin is the least fatty and the highest of protein out of old pork period. I give my cat’s a little treat once a month when I cook my tenderloins. I also feed the strays dry food, but use the drippings which is mostly water to saturate the dry food so they get a little protein every month too.

      You must use food-grade diatomaceous earth only. I take it myself 2 tablespoons a day mixed into my instant breakfast. For a 57 year old woman I look not only damn good would feel great with skin that’s healthy, hair healthy, low cholesterol, low blood pressure, no plaque on my arteries.

      Remember only to use food-grade and a half a teaspoon in a can of cat food and I split that between my for cats. Again once a month just to cleanse their entire digestive system it also removes parasites from animals as well. God bless

  1. Pork is fine for cats as a treat. I give our two small diced roast pork from the leanest and driest part of a roast pork joint. A bit of ham and bacon is fine too but, like all treats, only a little and not every day!

    The myth that pork is toxic to cats has to be challenged. In fact, with high levels of mercury in fish, I suspect fish may be far more of a risk. Chicken causes most food poisoning in humans. Always cook food well – more then cook books say, usually.

    Meat like lamb and duck has more fat than pork anyway! What cats need like us is a balanced diet. So long as their main protein is from carefully balanced wet and dry food. I am no fan of feeding cats raw meat only.

    In the wild they would not eat that, but rodents and birds, not red raw steak! That can’t be healthy or good for them.

    In short, balance is everything. But pork is fine as a treat. The reason it’s not in cat food is partly because under-cooked pork is notorious for tapeworms and food poisoning.

  2. What about the vitamins? Do they need other things also? My daughter is feeding her 3 month old kittens just pork raw.

    1. A balanced high-quality canned cat food is absolutely necessary for these kittens. Otherwise, all kinds of health problems will develop. If you love these kittens, please do this. And talk to your vet!

  3. White meat is OK for cats, but from what I’ve read, unless you supplement with taurine, they need red meat or the dark meat from chicken. Most pork today that is consumed in the home is quite lean. Sirloin chops, pork loin, etc. aren’t all that high in fat. Beef and dark fowl meat have lots of taurine, which they need. I don’t know if pork has much, but the pork my cats get, as a side dish is most certainly not high in fat.

  4. I have a 8 month old kitten and I must say that I have been reading quite a lot of articles about feeding. There are so many different opinions on this subject. I’m starting to realize that there has not been enough research. It has only been recently that that they are Starting to put more protein and healthy food in their products.

  5. Feeding your cat a raw meat diet is not only far more natural, but surprisingly easy. Unfortunately though, not as easy as opening that can of by-products or sachet of preservatives that is called cat food these days. Most of them are the equivalent of junk food.

    Raw food is great if well sourced and with plenty of variance. This is also substituted with a hypo allergenic biscuit which is available at all times along with plenty of fresh, preferably moving, water. A mix of raw meats from a good local butchers etc. can give any cat an excellent diet. Since starting mine on a raw diet they have thrived.

    I had no choice but to stop using commercial pet foods due to a severe allergy one of my cats has. It is so severe that it almost killed her as a kitten. So all four receive raw alongside the HA food which various from pork, beef and turkey to tuna steak, prawns, fish and chicken winglets, bones and all. The winglets are great for this due to their easily crunched bones which my Bengal loves. Only use winglets from a reputable source and not from factory farmed chickens who have most certainly been fed hormones to grow much larger than is natural.

    They have had their raw diet for so many years now that canned processed pet food gives them all a nasty reaction. Be aware that many vets have been brainwashed to believe that those pet foods are the best thing for them. I am thankful for my current vet who has learned otherwise. My Bengal kitty (now six) has the softest and most glorious coat due to her obsession with prawns which has led to her having three king prawns every day.

    Don’t forget to worm as needed and ensure your cats have access to plenty of exercise, preferably in the form of outside space with trees and plenty of hiding and climbing fun. The fitter they are with that great diet the better they will feel and the less likely they will have health problems.

  6. My cat ate some of the leftover pork ribs we had for lunch. He didn’t eat a lot- just licked the plate and maybe ate some. Is this okay for him?

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