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When your little kitty begs you for some crackers, the first thing that comes to mind is, can cats eat crackers? Are crackers safe for cats?
According to experts, crackers are not toxic for cats, but they do not infer any health benefits due to their high salt content, so it is better to avoid feeding them.
Whenever you are confused about feeding human food like crackers to your cat, it is better to research before or take experts’ advice. This article has covered everything that you need to know about cats and crackers.
What are the ingredients of the crackers?
If you are thinking, can cats eat crackers? What are they made of? Then you need to know that crackers are primarily made of baking flour, and yeast is also utilized during the making, which is why you should avoid feeding crackers to cats.
Moreover, crackers also contain a high amount of salt, a few herbs, and additive ingredients to give the cheese a scent.
The high carbs and sodium in the crackers can bring several health issues for cats, such as stomach cramps and intestinal infections. Some crackers might contain onion or garlic powder which is super toxic for cats.
What happens if cats eat crackers?
You kitty devoured some crackers, and now you are thinking, can cats eat crackers? What happens to them if they eat crackers? Well, cats are not sensible for food, so you have to keep them away from harmful things.
Eating a plain cracker does not pose a big problem. The major concern here is the refined flour in crackers which does not do any good to cats.
What are the health risks of crackers for cats?
Before you decide to feed crackers to cats, consider the following health risks.
Intestinal distress
Felines being obligate carnivores, face difficulty in digesting anything other than meat. Therefore consuming refined starches in crackers can cause vomiting, nausea, and stomach discomfort.
On the contrary, some cats seem to do well after eating a handful of crackers, while others suffer from intestinal distress, so it depends on the cat’s health.
Gluten intolerance
Like humans, cats can be gluten intolerant as well. If they eat gluten-containing food like crackers, it causes several issues, like skin problems, digestive issues, and weight fluctuations.
Dehydration
Can cats eat crackers? Are they harmful to cats? Crackers have a generous amount of salt in them. However, a small amount of salt is okay for cats to have. But, things can go wrong when cats consume excessive salt, leading to dehydration.
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 Cheetos?
This is because cats do not generally drink much water as they obtain water from their diet. Dropped fluid levels can cause short-term health problems like lethargy and long-term consequences like urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Anemia
Flavored crackers are essentially bad for cats. The crackers having onion flavor with chives is most harmful to cats.
The reason is that the chemical compounds in the allium family of plants like garlic, chives, leeks, and onion are toxic for cats. These constituents can have serious health effects such as anemia that can be fatal occasionally.
What are the benefits of crackers for cats?
Can cats eat crackers? Are they healthy for cats? Crackers are quite beneficial for humans as they are a rich source of protein that assists in tissue development and weight loss.
Similarly, some attributes of crackers are also beneficial for cats when given in a small amount. Otherwise, cats can gain weight because of the generous amount of starch and oil in crackers.
Dietary fibers
Though cats are carnivores, they need a little fiber for healthy digestion. As crackers are made of wheat or other grains, they make a good source of fiber.
Vitamins
Crackers also have vitamins depending upon the type of grain they are made of. These vitamins include; A, E, K, and B complex. These vitamins help metabolism, support cell growth, and protect cells from damage.
What are alternatives to crackers for cats?
If your kitty insists on eating crackers, you can distract her with some other snack that adds some health value.
We recommend you feed your cat fruits and veggies. However, keep the number of fruits moderate because of the high sugar content.
Bottom line – Can cats eat crackers?
Can cats eat crackers? Well, crackers are not toxic for cats, but they are not beneficial. If your cat has eaten some, it’s fine.
But don’t give them too many crackers to eat. High carbs, starch, and salt in crackers cause health issues like weight fluctuation, dehydration, and stomach disruption.
