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Can Cats Eat Tacos? What You Need to Know

Rachel Giordano

By Rachel Giordano

Can Cat Eat taco

Vet approved

Dr. Paola Cuevas Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

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

Learn more »

Who doesn’t love tacos? Many people enjoy Mexican food, and there’s even a day dedicated to this tasty cuisine (Taco Tuesdays). If you’re a cat owner, odds are your four-legged furbaby watches you devour them with envy. You may even have a cat that looks on with a strong desire to taste the delightful-smelling item in your hand. But is it safe to let your cat try it? The short answer is that it depends on what’s in the tacos you want to feed your cat.

There’s really no yes or no answer to this question because many factors come into play. If you’d like to know if your cat can eat tacos, read on to learn if and when they can eat this tasty Mexican staple.

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Can Cats Eat Tacos?

Tacos have been filling the stomachs of Americans since 1905. It’s cheap and yummy, and you can make them however you want. With that said, your cat can only eat tacos if there are no harmful ingredients present. To get more insight into whether your cat can eat tacos, we’ll need to break down certain spices that are off-limits for cats.

tacos on plate with paper
Image By: RobynsWorld, Pixabay

Toxic Spices for Cats

First and foremost, let's look at spices you should avoid giving your cat.
  • Garlic/Garlic Powder
  • Onions/Onion Powder
  • Salt
  • Shallots
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Chives
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Chamomile
  • Cannabis
  • Oregano
  • Mint

As you can see, there are many spices listed that more than likely go into tacos. Most people don’t like bland tacos; tacos are meant to have a little spice. If you were to give your cat any spicy substance, it would cause gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Cats cannot taste sweet or spicy, which makes anything spicy more dangerous because your cat can eat a lot of it without realizing the heat the spice contains. Cats’ taste buds are different from ours. To put this into perspective, cats have 470 taste buds on their tongue, whereas humans have 9,000. Do you know how a cat’s tongue feels like sandpaper? The rough sandpaper feel is called filiform papillae, which are small, backward-facing barbs that act like a comb for cats when they groom themselves. These barbs also help a cat scrape animal meat from bones. Unfortunately, these barbs don’t help cats detect spice.

Can Cats Eat Taco Meat?

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat in their diets to be healthy. If you wanted to give your feline companion taco meat, it would need to be bland and have no toxic spices. You could prepare a small side of taco meat just for your kitty before adding spices for yourself. If the meat has no harmful spices, then you’re good to go. You can give a tablespoon or so and add it to your cat’s food for a special, tasty treat. Kind in mind, though, that meat should never replace your cat’s everyday food.

tacos on white plate
Image By: lypticlayouts, Pixabay

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What Human Foods Can Cats Eat?

First of all, cats need a complete and balanced, high-quality cat food for their overall health, but are there certain human foods cats can enjoy? As we’ve mentioned, cats are carnivores and don’t need human foods, such as vegetables, in their diet.

However, certain human food can be given on occasion for a tasty treat, such as the foods listed below:

The foods listed above are a starting point for you to go by. If you’re ever in doubt about what foods are safe for your kitty to consume, always check with your veterinarian beforehand. Remember that human foods should never replace your cat’s normal diet.

Can Cats Eat Taco Shells or Tortillas?

No, you should not give your cat taco shells, or any other kind of bread. Taco shells, tortillas, and other similar foods have a high amount of carbohydrates that are unsafe for your cat. They also contain salt and starch, which is not good for your kitty. If your kitty wants to share your taco, remember it’s ok to give a little taco meat but with no toxic spices.

British shorthair cat eating
Image By: Chendongshan, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

As cat parents, we all want what’s best for our feline furbabies. After all, they look to us humans to keep them safe, and that includes feeding them safe and healthy diets. Sure, your cat may want a special treat from time to time, and that’s ok, as long as it’s safe. If you’re ever in doubt about what’s safe, always consult your veterinarian.

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: aldaptation, Pixabay

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