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Can Cats Eat Slim Jims? Nutrition Facts & Safety Guide

Elizabeth Gray

By Elizabeth Gray

Can Cat Eat slim jims

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Dr. Lorna Whittemore Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Lorna Whittemore

MRCVS (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Everyone has their favorite junk food. They’re not good for you, but they sure taste delicious! Slim Jims, a meat jerky mash-up, is one of the guilty pleasure foods for many people. Given that Slim Jims are made of meat, your carnivorous cat may decide to steal your snack if given the chance. If so, should you let them? Can cats eat Slim Jims?

Slim Jims aren’t automatically toxic to cats, but they aren’t very good for them either and could cause an upset stomach. Keep reading to learn why Slim Jims aren’t the best choice for your cat and which people foods make healthier treat options.

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Why Slim Jims Are Unhealthy For Cats

Slim Jims are made of beef, pork, and chicken, which are perfectly fine foods for cats, often serving as protein sources in commercial diets. However, Slim Jims also contain problematic ingredients like corn syrup, spices, and preservatives. They are high in salt and fat and contain soy and wheat.

Too much salt can be toxic to cats, and consuming even one Slim Jim adds an extra 210 milligrams of sodium to your cat’s daily diet. The spices in Slim Jims could upset your cat’s stomach, causing vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, eating too many fatty foods may cause your cat to develop a condition called pancreatitis, which can be painful and hard to treat.

Wheat, soy, and corn may not be well-tolerated by cats with food sensitivities. Two of the ingredients in Slim Jims—beef and chicken—are among the culprits that most commonly cause food allergies in cats.

Because treats should only make up a small portion of your cat’s daily diet, you want to ensure the treats they get are not only tasty but unlikely to make your cat sick. With those factors in mind, Slim Jims don’t make the cut.

woman hang giving treat to a cat
Photo Credit: StockSnap, Pixabay

Choosing Better Treats For Your Cat

To keep your cat healthy and in a good weight range, the treats you feed should make up a maximum of 10-15% of their total daily calories, but 5% would be better. Those total recommended calories vary by age and weight, but a good rule of thumb is to feed your cat 24-35 calories per pound of body weight each day.

By those calculations, a 10-pound cat would eat 240-350 calories per day, and only about 30 of those calories should come from treats. One Slim Jim contains 60 calories, which is twice the recommended amount for a 10-pound cat.

If your cat seems to enjoy the jerky stick shape and texture of Slim Jims, consider offering a cat treat in a similar style but with far fewer calories. You could also serve other people food that’s much healthier for them than a Slim Jim. Some possibilities include:

  • Cooked, lean meats
  • Cooked grains like oats or polenta
  • Cooked fish
  • Cooked eggs

You may notice a similar theme to all those suggestions: cooked. Feeding your cat raw meat, fish, or eggs should be avoided because they can contain dangerous bacteria that could make you or your cat sick. Other foods you should avoid feeding your cat include:

  • Chocolate
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Milk and other dairy products
  • Onions
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Bones

Choosing The Right Diet For Your Cat

Much like the calorie recommendations, the ideal diet for your cat will vary based on their age, weight, and overall health. In general, a healthy adult cat should eat a diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein, with a moderate amount of fat. They also require high levels of certain essential amino acids.

The simplest way to ensure your cat gets all the nutrition required is to feed balanced commercial cat food, canned or dry, that meets the AAFCO standards. The ingredients of the various brands vary, but all must meet basic minimum nutritional standards.

Comparing cat food can get overwhelming with so many choices available and confusion over whether it’s healthier for your cat to eat grain-free food or real meat versus meat by-products. Your vet can help you interpret cat food labels and answer any questions about which brands to consider.

Some medical conditions, like food allergies or diabetes, require adjustments to a cat’s diet. In those situations, your cat may need a special prescription food or a calculated homemade diet to stay healthy. Veterinary guidance is especially vital as you navigate these unique circumstances.

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.

Hepper 360 Cat Feeder, Stainless Steel, Anti-Chew...
  • NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
  • WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...

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Conclusion

Slim Jims may not be the healthiest snack for people, but we are all free to make our own food choices. On the other hand, our cats rely on us to pick the right food for them. Although they’re not hazardous for cats, Slim Jims are packed with sodium, fat, corn syrup, and spices your cat doesn’t need in their diet. The occasional nibble on a Slim Jim probably won’t hurt your cat, but in the long term, you should reach for a healthier snack option.

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Featured Image Credit: Krzycho, Shutterstock

Elizabeth Gray

Authored by

Elizabeth Gray is a lifelong lover of all creatures great and small. She got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. Elizabeth spent more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse before stepping away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her hard-earned knowledge (literally–she has scars) with our readers. Elizabeth lives in Iowa ...Read more

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