Can Cats Eat Chips? Vet-Reviewed Facts & Safety Guide
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People love potato chips. They’re a common snack all over the world, with a wide variety of flavors available made largely from potatoes or corn. Does your cat show interest in eating potato chips? The good news is that your cat is not likely to get sick from eating a few potato chips; however, it is certainly not advisable to feed your cat chips, even occasionally.
Potato chips aren’t really a healthy choice for humans, although that doesn’t stop us from enjoying them. You may be wondering if it is okay to sneak just one or two to your feline friend?
Do Cats Like Chips?
Potato chips aren’t the sort of thing that most cats go for. If your cat is showing interest in chips, they may be craving salt. Cats, like all mammals, require a certain amount of salt in their diet to stay healthy. Most of the time, they aren’t as concerned with the chip as they are with the salt, and are more likely to lick the chip than actually eat it. However, chips are not a good source of dietary salt for cats, as they provide far too much sodium with zero nutritional benefits.
Can I Feed My Cat Potato Chips Occasionally as a Treat?
Occasionally, a bite of a potato chip won’t be fatal to your cat. However, we still do not recommend it. You can find a wide variety of healthy, delicious cat snacks on the market. To avoid problems, avoid giving potato chips as treats.
Can Eating Chips Make My Cat Sick?
Chips have far too much salt and additional oils for cats to tolerate. If your cat exhibits signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or a distended stomach, after consuming these foods, you should visit the vet. However, if your cat has eaten a potato chip or two or licked the crumbs on a chip bag, it is probably not a concern. Just make sure they have access to fresh drinking water.
Can Chips Kill My Cat?
If you catch your cat munching on your chips, should you rush them to the vet immediately? Most likely not, though it depends on how many chips your cat ate. Excessive oils and sodium are the primary concerns. Snacks like chips, pretzels, and popcorn are not adequate treats for a cat. While a cat would have to consume a great many to cause them to suffer from salt toxicity, this is definitely something that you should avoid.
Chips Contain Too Many Calories for Cats
The average cat needs to consume 20–30 calories per pound of body weight. One ounce of chips has around 154 calories, mainly from fats and carbohydrates. That is more than half of a 10-pound cat’s daily caloric allowance. Moreover, these are basically “empty calories” for the tiny carnivore, as chips do not provide the nutrition that they need.
What Should My Cat Eat?
As obligate carnivores, cats need daily meat to survive and thrive and very few carbs. Along with protein, cats require that their food contain certain micronutrients, such as taurine (an amino acid present in animal-based proteins), vitamin A, and vitamin D, all of which are naturally and abundantly sourced in meat.
Proteins derived from plants are not complete for cats because they do not contain the taurine that they require to survive. Therefore, a cat cannot be a vegetarian.
Now that you know what you can safely feed your cat, it’s just as important to find a bowl that supports their health and well-being. With whisker-friendly bowls and a wide tray to catch any spills, our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite option.
Conclusion
Humans love potato chips but cats shouldn’t eat them too often. Carnivores can’t thrive on high levels of carbohydrates, and since chips are high in carbs, salt, and fat, this is a compelling reason not to share your salty snacks with them. In addition, chips are a potentially dangerous choking hazard. You probably don’t need to worry too much if your cat chews around the edges of a single chip, though just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t suffer any ill effects.
Remember, always speak to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns regarding your feline’s wellbeing.
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