Can cats eat salt? Salt is one of the primary ingredients of our daily food items. It is beneficial for our health and taste, and it is common in our households.
Usually, cats also love food, and you are always searching for a better food item for your cat that fulfils its nutritional needs. But when you try to feed salt to your cat, the question arises, can cats eat salt?
Interestingly, all commercially available cat foods have a limited amount of salt added to form a properly balanced diet.
Sometimes, when your cat does not like any food put in front of it, you might be tempted to add salt to it to increase its taste. So, is salt safe for your cat?
Can cats eat salt? No, cats cannot eat salt. The salt your cat gets in a balanced diet is not harmful, but giving it as an additional food source is potentially dangerous for your cat.
It will make your cat thirsty and uncomfortably dehydrated. This article will discover further harmful effects of salt on your feline friend.
Can cats eat salt?
No, cats should not eat salt because it can prove lethal for your cat, as discussed above. A tiny amount of salt, if consumed, may not be toxic immediately, but larger quantities can be dangerous.
As cats are obligate carnivores, most of their diet consists of animal protein. They do not possess the enzyme to break the plant material, so they have different nutritional needs than people.
Another thing that is not suitable for your feline buddy is sodium. Salt provides sodium to the body, which is harmful to your cat.
Excessive sodium in the diet can lead to hypernatremia due to the imbalance of electrolytes in your cat’s body.
If it goes untreated, the body cells cease to function and the liver results in kidney and liver failure. So, salt feeding should be avoided to keep your cat safe from health-related issues.
Does salt make cats sick?
Yes. Salts make cats sick. As mentioned above, the salt present typically in your cat’s food is not harmful to your cat. It is added to cat food using a measured approach for making a balanced diet so that the food remains healthy for your kitty.
However, additional provision of salt in seasoning or saltwater can cause several problems and may prove fatal to your cat.
Is salt bad for cats?
Can cats eat salt? Is it bad for cats? Generally, excessive salt is unhealthy for your cat and can cause various problems such as dehydration and excessive thirst. A large quantity of salt, if ingested by your cat, can cause salt poisoning, which may prove fatal.
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 Roses?
Salt poisoning in cats causes diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and abnormal fluid accumulation. As sodium level increases inside your cat’s bloodstream, it leads to excessive urination and electrolyte imbalance. In severe cases, cats suffer from tremors and seizures, and eventually, death occurs.
Salt poisoning should be treated at the earliest through IV fluids. They will dilute the sodium inside your cat’s body, restoring sodium-water balance.
Is salt safe for cats?
Can cats eat salt? No, salt is not safe for your cat to eat as it contains sodium which is harmful to your cat if given in excess. It leads to gastrointestinal problems and severe dehydration.
The cats require salt in their diet, but it should be provided in a measured amount to avoid any adverse effects. A cat can consume a maximum of 41mg of salt daily.
This amount is usually maintained in their food bought commercially. If you exceed this limit and feed more salt to your cat, it will be harmful to your kitty.
What to do if a cat consumes saltwater?
If your cat drinks saltwater, provide fresh water to your kitty as much as you can to balance the effect of excessive salt in its body.
Keep an eye on your cat for the next few hours to check whether your feline friend develops any symptoms of salt poisoning.
If you see your cat drinking saltwater, stop it immediately. Also, if your cat is suffering from any disease, do not take your cat to the seaside, where your kitty may drink salty water.
Conclusion – Can cats eat salt?
So, can cats eat salt? The answer is No, as it can cause salt poisoning in your cat if taken in excess. Moreover, it contains sodium, whose excess leads to hypernatremia and disturbs the balance of electrolytes in your cat’s blood. In severe cases, the kidney and liver are also damaged.
