Cheetos might be your favorite snack, and your kitty often lingers around you while you are eating so that it can have a bite, but Can cats eat Cheetos?
The answer is not a simple yes or no! Because Cheetos aren’t exactly harmful to cats, but they are not even beneficial. Moreover, they are full of fats and preservatives, so we recommend you avoid feeding Cheetos to your cats.
You might have seen the Cheetos commercial featuring a jaguar cartoon, technically a cat. So the question arises can cats eat Cheetos?
Not just cats but humans should also avoid Cheetos as snacks and resort to healthier alternatives. Want to know more about the health effects of Cheetos on cats? Then keep reading till the end.
Why should cats not eat Cheetos?
You are enjoying your bag of Cheetos; that’s suddenly your cat comes up and devours some Cheetos. The first thing you will think is, can cats eat Cheetos?
Let us tell you that eating Cheetos will not hurt your pet, but it is not a nutritionally sound diet item. Cheetos are full of synthetic ingredients which can cause digestive complications.
Do cats like to eat Cheetos?
Cats can be pretty picky about their choice of food. If your cat is picky regarding food, you shouldn’t be surprised if it is attracted to certain food items like Cheetos.
There is no science behind this liking since cats don’t care much about the texture. The only thing that can be tempting for them is the cheese powder.
Some cats generally like to try everything, and you should let them. In the case of Cheetos, do not exceed more than 1 to 2 snacks; otherwise, the consequences will be bad.
What is the nutritional profile of Cheetos?
1-ounce bag of crunchy Cheetos with 21 pieces has the following ingredients.
- 160 calories
- 13 g carbs
- 10 g fats
- 2 g proteins
- 250 mg sodium
- 8% thiamin
- 2% iron
- 6% vitamin B6
- 4% niacin
- 4% riboflavin
Is Cheetos beneficial for cats?
Let us answer the most asked question: Can cats eat Cheetos? Are they beneficial for cats? The truth is Cheetos have no health benefits for cats. Are you surprised to hear that?
Cheetos aren’t the perfect snack for humans, then why would they benefit your cats. Moreover, Cheetos have a high amount of salt, which is not good for your little fellow.
Food for Cats: Did You Know?
Felines are not actually picky eaters as one might think. Therefore, we have looked at several different foods and tell you if it’s safe for your cat to eat or not. Like this one: Can Cats Eat Cheerios?
Can eating hot Cheetos kill a cat?
Cat owners often think that can cats eat Cheetos? Can it kill them? Well, let us tell you, eating hot Cheetos will not make your cat immediately sick, but it will have potential negative impacts that can affect your cat in the long run, which you don’t want to happen.
Cheetos are rich in calories and fat content that can cause problems like weight gain, heart diseases, arthritis, and diabetes.
The worst thing about Cheetos is that they are extremely rich in salts which can increase the blood pressure of cats, thus increasing the risk of stroke.
Can Cheetos cause Salt poisoning?
Cheetos have a high quantity of salt. A cat’s balanced diet should have at least 0.3 to 0.2% sodium.
In contrast, a one-ounce bag of Cheetos has around 250 mg of sodium, making 11% salt content. This quantity is extremely high and thus very dangerous for cats.
Cats being much smaller in size than humans are highly susceptible to salt poisoning, also called hypernatremia. This condition is caused by excess sodium in the diet of cats. Following are the major symptoms.
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Extreme thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Loss of balance
- Tremors
- Swelling
If hypernatremia is left untreated, it can lead to worse situations like irreversible kidney damage, coma, or death. If you spot any such symptom, immediately take your cat to the vet.
What is the alternative to Cheetos?
If your cat is dying to have a bite of Cheetos and you can’t help but surrender. In this case, we recommend feeding your cat some other tempting options that your cat will definitely like.
- Fish
- Chicken without skin
- Cooked eggs
- Hamburger
- Cream or yogurt, but to give the cat a taste (remember, cats are lactose intolerant)
Conclusion – Can cats eat cheetos?
Can cats eat Cheetos? Cats can technically nibble on Cheetos as they are not toxic, but it is not a good idea. Cheetos are rich in calories, fats, salts, and everything unnatural, which do not add any health value to your cat’s body.
Fortunately, most cats don’t care about your snack and prefer their treats. But if yours is stubborn and wants to have a taste, then you can distract it with some other healthier options mentioned above.
