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As obligate carnivores, cats are supposed to eat a diet comprising of meat.
This leaves us with the question as to whether cats should eat pork or not.
Pork is not only delicious meat, but it’s also versatile.
That’s probably why it has a widespread presence in our diets.
Cats are meat enthusiasts and will be up and running any time there is pork insight.
But is pork bad for cats?
As a pet owner, you should know what’s safe for your kitty to eat and what’s not.
And we are certainly here to help you find out.
Can cats safely eat pork?
Cats get the nutrition that they need to thrive from the meat of other animals.
In that sense, yes, pork is actually safe for cats to eat.
A little pork once in a while on special occasions will not cause any health issues for your pet.
When consumed in small quantities at a time, pork is absolutely not harmful to your fur baby.
The reason why it’s considered relatively suitable for cats is due to the high protein content.
This means that it’s also rich in taurine.
Taurine is among the few essential amino acids cats need to remain healthy.
For this reason, pork is thought to be healthy meat for feline pets.
However, don’t feed the older cats too much pork.
As they age, cats become especially vulnerable and actually don’t need that much protein.
Moreover, pork can hardly be described as healthy for cats.
It may have a couple of nutritional benefits, but there are also a few health risks to think about.
As a matter of fact, just because it’s meat should not be enough reason to make it part of your cat’s daily diet or a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet.
At best, pork should remain an excellent choice for an occasional treat.
Why pork is good in only small amounts
Many of the pork products contain high levels of sodium.
Too much sodium will not only contribute to health problems for the cat in the long run but is also a major cause of dehydration.
Aside from that, pork is fatty meat.
The household cats spend most of their time in one place and don’t move a lot.
Their sedentary lifestyle means these cats don’t exert that much energy.
For that reason, they need a healthy and balanced diet to counter the lack of movement.
Pork might be non-toxic, but it’s fatty and contains large amounts of salt, making it unsuitable for their overall health.
For a cat that spends little time exercising or moving around, there will be fewer opportunities to burn the pork’s excess fat.
In addition to the fat, this meat has lots of preservatives, which are not basically healthy for your beloved kitty.
These are the reasons why pork and its products are only recommended as occasional treats for cats.
A healthy cat will not suffer any complications when fed pork in small amounts and irregularly.
If you intend to give raw meat, first of all, consult with your vet for further guidance.
However, pork is best served cooked to avoid any parasites that might end up in your pet’s system.
Is there better pork?
The best advice you will get when it comes to meats like pork is that they should be fresh cuts bought from a reputable farmer’s market.
Avoid unprocessed pork that’s already filled with salts and preservatives.
Also, the cat should not eat pork from your plate.
There is a high chance during cooking; there were ingredients added such as onions, cooking oil, or garlic, most of which are harmful to pets.
Are cats allergic to pork?
Yes, some cats can be allergic to pork.
When feeding pork for the first time, start with minute amounts and look out for any allergic reactions that might occur.
Cats tend to be allergic, and hence you should be extra careful when introducing new foods.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to food may include;
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing and sneezing
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Scratching
- Gas and flatulence
If you notice your cat seems to struggle to digest pork, stop feeding it.
But mostly, it’s the older cats that might have trouble with tolerating pork.
The protein in pork is nearly too much for an older cat.
Precautions to take when feeding pork to your kitty
It would help if you always take precautions before feeding pork to your cat.
Otherwise, you might put your furry friend at risk.
Ensure you remove all bones
Cats are different from dogs, and that means they can’t chew bones.
Bones are a choking hazard for cats.
That’s why you will need to take the time and remove all bones from the pork you intend to feed your cat.
Cook the pork thoroughly.
This actually goes without saying.
Raw pork tends to contain bacteria and viruses and, most notably, a parasite called toxoplasma.
When a cat becomes infested with this parasite, it causes diarrhea and colds.
It can also be transferred to humans.
Cooking kills off the parasites.
Skip the fatty cuts
Not all cuts of pork are created equally.
Basically, some are fattier than others.
If you have decided to give your cat some pork, choose the leanest cuts.
Lean cuts include the loin chops, pork tenderloin, and the loin roast.
Avoid bacon and pork belly due to the high fat.
Conclusion
We have agreed that cats can eat pork but in moderate amounts and as an occasional special treat.
However, pork should not be a regular dietary staple for a cat.
It consists of excess fat that is not healthy for an indoor cat.
This excess fat contributes to the weight-related conditions in cats like obesity, and worse, it can clog the arteries.
Furthermore, it’s loaded with sodium, which is not good either.
All in all, a little bit of pork will not hurt.
