Can Cats Eat Sour Cream? Nutrition Facts & Safety Guide
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Sour cream is a delicious topping on various foods, but is it safe for our feline friends? Though it’s not recommended, plain sour cream has no specific properties that are toxic to cats. In fact, sour cream has a small amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Humans mainly eat sour cream as a topping on other foods, but if your cat eats sour cream, it should be fed on its own and only a very small amount.
In this article, we’ll look at whether sour cream is safe for cats to eat and the potential disadvantages of feeding sour cream to your feline companion.
Is Sour Cream Safe for Cats To Eat?
Is Sour Cream Safe for Cats To Eat?While not recommended, sour cream is generally safe for cats to eat. If you are considering feeding your cat sour cream, make sure you only serve a small amount as a treat in moderation alongside their primary diet.
Feeding your cat sour cream may have some advantages, as it’s rich in Vitamin K and A (in its most bioavailable form, retinol), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), calcium, and phosphorus. It is important to check the ingredients on the tub of sour cream first to ensure that it does not contain chemicals, preservatives, and other harmful ingredients such as xylitol.
What Is Sour Cream? Ingredients & Additives
Sour cream is a pure, cultured cream that contains the caseins and whey found in most dairy. Sour cream is made from lactic acid-producing bacteria that are added to dairy cream, resulting in a thick substance with a slightly sour and acidic taste.
- Guar gum
- Sodium phosphate
- Sodium citrate
- Carrageenan
- Calcium sulfate
- Potassium sorbate
- Locust bean gum
- Sweeteners such as xylitol
These ingredients may not look like something you would want to feed your cat, but you may be surprised to know that several of the ingredients are in cat food.
However, even in small amounts, xylitol is toxic to cats and should be avoided.
When Is Sour Cream Not Safe for Cats To Eat?
Any flavored sour cream that contains added spices (chives, pepper, garlic, onion, chili), or artificial sweeteners like xylitol are not safe for cats to ingest. Most flavorings and spices added to sour cream can cause digestive problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Spices can upset the lining of your cat’s stomach, and cats cannot properly metabolize these spices as humans do.
Most containers of sour cream have spices and flavors to appeal to humans, so you’ll want to look for plain sour cream only. Avoid feeding your cat sour cream used as a dip for chips because it commonly has additives that are not safe for cats.
Since cats are obligate carnivores (meaning that their diet should primarily consist of meat-based proteins), sour cream and other human foods should only be fed as a rare treat. The amount of protein in sour cream is insufficient for their nutritional needs.
- Sour cream is high in fat, and you should avoid feeding your cat sour cream often and in large amounts as this puts your cat at risk of obesity.
- Most cats are lactose intolerant after they have been weaned from their mother’s milk, so feeding them dairy-based foods will only cause them digestive problems.
- While sour cream is not toxic or poisonous to cats, there’s no real nutritional benefit to feeding it to them, especially since they are likely lactose intolerant.
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.
Final Thoughts
Sour cream is non-toxic to cats, and you can feed plain sour cream to your cat occasionally as a treat, but moderation is key. Cats have no nutritional need for dairy in their diet, and since it may cause them digestive issues, it’s best to leave sour cream off the menu. High-quality cat food and the occasional treat are all your feline needs to stay healthy.
See Also:
- How to Manage Pancreatitis in Cats at Home: 5 Vet Approved Steps
- Can Cats Eat Cheesecake? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts & Potential Risks
Featured Image Credit: Pikist
