Can Cats Eat Pizza? 5 Safe Alternatives
Updated on
Maybe your cat got into some pizza when you weren’t looking, or perhaps you can’t help yourself with those pleading eyes. Either way, you need to know if your cat can eat pizza, and if so, how much?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, we wanted to give you a quick answer upfront. In short, while your cat should be fine if they got into a slice of pizza, it’s full of so many harmful ingredients that you don’t want to give it to them regularly.
Fortunately, there are plenty of treats you can give your cat instead to avoid feeling guilty when you look at those pleading eyes!
Can Cats Eat Pizza?
While it’s technically safe for cats to eat pizza, that doesn’t mean you should make it a dietary staple. Pizza isn’t all that good for humans, either, and all the same ingredients that make it unhealthy for humans make it unhealthy for cats, too.
Pizza is high in sodium, sugar, preservatives, and food coloring. Not only that, but it’s high in saturated fats, which is detrimental to their health. Therefore, you don’t want to give your cat much pizza at all. While your much larger body can handle a slice or two with ease, those same quantities can be dangerous for your cat.
Can Cats Eat Cheese?
Most cats can eat small quantities of cheese, but it’s generally a food you want to avoid entirely. That’s because adult cats can’t break down the lactose in cheese, and even small amounts can lead to disruptions to their digestive health.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need to eat meat to survive. And while cheese has many of the same nutrients as meat, they simply can’t digest it properly!
Can Cats Eat Pizza Sauce?
Ripe tomatoes contain solanine, which is toxic to cats in high doses. Although cooking tomatoes may reduce the toxicity, pizza sauce is another one of those things that a cat technically can eat, but it’s not a good idea. Pizza sauce is what’s typically high in both sodium and sugar, and as such it can lead to various digestive problems for your cat.
If your cat gets into a little but, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if they keep eating it routinely, it will lead to medical issues cropping up.
Can Cats Eat Toppings?
The short answer is probably not. Onions and garlic—two common pizza toppings—are toxic to cats. Pepperoni and sausage are loaded with salt and preservatives. Of course, with so many pizza toppings to choose from, you should always double-check that each topping is safe for your cat before giving them any. It’s generally a good idea to avoid them altogether!
The 5 Safe Alternatives to Feed Your Cat
We know it can be hard to resist your cat when they start begging for food. But just because they can’t have pizza doesn’t mean they can’t eat anything when you order a pie. Below are five safe treats you can give your cat that they’ll love.
1. Fish
Cat and fish go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it’s no surprise that you can give them some fresh fish as a treat. However, when you’re preparing the fish, you want to avoid all seasonings and oils. Because while the fish is safe for your cat, the toppings aren’t.
Always ensure you properly prepare the fish before feeding it to your cat, otherwise you might end up passing on illnesses without even realizing it. Be especially careful to remove all bones!
2. Meat
Cats are obligate carnivores, and as such the best treat options you can provide for them is meat. Beef, chicken, and turkey all make great choices, but when it comes to meat, cats aren’t all that picky. Just like with fish you need to avoid all seasonings and other additives on the meat, instead simply cook it bland. Raw chicken bones can be given to cats—but not cooked bones, which can splinter and create a choking hazard.
3. Bananas
While bananas might not be the first thing that comes to mind as a treat for your cat, the truth is most cats love the flavor. Simply slice up the banana and try giving it to your cat, but don’t overdo it since bananas are high in sugar, too.
4. Carrots
Not every cat likes carrots, but if you can get your cat to eat some veggies, that’s never a bad thing. You can try giving your cat raw carrots, or you can try steaming them. Avoid any extra toppings like honey or sugar. If your cat does like carrots, you can make them a regular treat.
5. Melon
If your cat won’t touch carrots or bananas, there’s a chance they’ll devour some melons. Melons are extremely sweet, but cats can’t taste sweetness. If your cat is interested in melon, it might be for the water content. Still, melons have a tons of sugar, and you shouldn’t let your cat have too much.
Conclusion
While your cat can’t have any pizza, that doesn’t mean you can’t give them other delicious treats to chow down on! But while you shouldn’t feed pizza to your cat, there’s no reason to panic if they eat some.
Keep an eye on them and take them to a vet if they start showing any severe symptoms like nausea or lethargy. And in the meantime, find a way to keep them out of your pizza next time!
Featured Image Credit: ponce_photography, Pixabay
