There is no better way to cool yourself on a hot summer day than with a creamy, delicious ice cream. But what about our animal companions?
Are cats able to consume ice cream?
One lick shouldn’t hurt anyone, right? The correct response is that cats shouldn’t consume ice cream. Ice cream isn’t a healthy choice for your cat regardless of taste, but some kinds, like chocolate, may be poisonous to them. Let’s investigate why.
Ice cream could seem alluring to give to your cat, especially on a hot day. However, there are many healthy snack options that offer the same nutrients.
Nutritional Facts About Ice Cream
The table below contains some examples of nutritional data for half a scoop (65 grams) of plain vanilla ice cream. Bear in mind that different flavors of ice cream will contain different amounts of certain nutrients, although all are high in fat and sugars.
Ice Cream Benefits For Cats
Despite its beneficial nutrients like minerals and vitamins, feeding your cat ice cream has no health benefits. In fact, feeding your cat ice cream could cause negative health issues. Even ice cream made for dogs is high in fat and calories, though it’s free from toxic ingredients.
How Much Ice Cream Can A Cat Eat?
Though your cat might want a lick of your ice cream, this sweet treat isn’t a healthy option.
It’s best to avoid ice cream altogether. This isn’t just because ice cream contains fat and sugar. Chocolate ice cream may be toxic, and peanut butter ice cream may contain the poisonous sweetener called xylitol.
If you’re sure that your ice cream is free from toxins and you’re determined to offer your kitty a taste, it should be a tiny amount.
Cats are lactose intolerant so ice cream may upset their stomach, and the high-fat content could cause pancreatitis. You shouldn’t offer more than a lick or two, and even that could cause a problem in a sensitive cat.
How Frequently Can A Cat Eat Ice Cream?
Cats don’t need ice cream. It might seem like a special, tasty treat, but it’s probably not worth the risk of causing your poor cat a bout of diarrhea.
However, if you’re sure you want to offer ice cream, only offer plain vanilla ice cream and make sure it’s free from dangerous artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Ideally, you wouldn’t offer it regularly, just once in a blue moon, or even less!
What Are The Risks Of Eating Ice Cream For Cats?
if you do decide to give your cat ice cream, make sure it’s plain vanilla and only let your cat have a few licks.
We all know that too much fat and too much sugar are bad for us, but what are the exact risks of eating ice cream for your cat?
Well, firstly, the high-fat content could cause your cat a painful bout of pancreatitis, which could require intensive treatment from your veterinarian.
And let’s not forget obesity. If your cat piles on the pounds, they’ll be more at risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as being more prone to painful arthritis when they’re older. The high sugar content is another risk factor for diabetes, so there is even more reason to avoid ice cream.
Feeding your cat anything new has the potential to upset their belly. However, something rich like ice cream, combined with the fact that cats are lactose intolerant, means that a bout of vomiting and diarrhea is far more likely.
In addition, ice cream might contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is toxic to cats, and chocolate ice cream is a no-no for the same reason.
You might think you’re pretty safe reaching for dog ice cream; after all, that won’t be toxic to cats, will it? Well, no, but while it won’t be toxic, it’s still high in calories, sugars, and fat, so it’s not a healthy option for your feline friend.
Do Cats Enjoy The Taste Of Ice Cream?
There’s no denying that cats enjoy the taste of ice cream. But shouldn’t they hate it because it’s bad for them?
This wouldn’t be the first example of cats enjoying the taste of things that aren’t good for them. Cats love the taste of milk, and it’s been a widespread view over the years that you should offer a stray or visiting cat a saucer of milk.
However, milk isn’t suitable for cats either since they can’t break down the sugar lactose. Just like milk, if you offer your cat ice cream, you could risk upsetting their stomach.
Final Thoughts
It might be tempting to feed your cat ice cream, especially on a hot day. However, plenty of healthier snack options are available that will provide the same nutrients.
If you’re looking to cool your cat down, it’s better to make sure they have plenty of cool water sources to drink from and a shady spot to rest.