Popular and functional cured meat product known as salami is typically made from beef or pork. It works well as a pleasant snack, a pizza topper, or even a sandwich filler!
You might be asking, “Can my cat eat salami?” when you nibble on some salami or slice some into a sandwich. There is no clear-cut answer, however salami can be safely given to cats as an occasional treat in tiny doses.
Salami is a delicious and adaptable meat product that your cat will definitely adore. However, although having a high protein level, it also contains a lot of salt and saturated fat. Therefore, while a small amount of salami here and there is okay for cats, too much can result in weight gain and dehydration
Salami is not hugely nutritionally beneficial to cats, but any cat owner will know how much cats love the taste of human food! However, salami can have some dangers. So, let’s take a closer look at whether you can share some salami with your feline friend!
Nutritional Facts About Salami
Although salami is a processed food, it is a great source of protein, which is essential for the growth and repair of muscle and other tissues in the body. Because salami is a fermented meat, it may contain some probiotics, which may have benefits for gut health and digestion.
Salami is also packed full of other important vitamins and minerals including several B vitamins which are important for energy, metabolism, brain function, and DNA synthesis.
Salami Benefits For Cats
Though salami is not toxic to cats, it’s not the healthiest treat since it is processed and has high salt content.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat to stay healthy, and they get most of their nutrition from meat. Salami is a meat product and is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
A small amount of salami can be a tasty treat and is certainly not strictly bad for cats. However, as it is processed and has high salt content, it might not have quite the same nutritional value as it does for us humans and there may be other, healthier treats to offer to your cat.
How Much Salami Can A Cat Eat?
Cats can have a little salami, and most will go crazy to get their paws on the delicious smelling meat. However, as with all human food, it should be kept as an occasional treat only, as too much could cause weight gain.
Also, because salami is not cooked, it can carry other health risks for your cat. A couple of slices every so often is safe, but no more than this.
How Frequently Can A Cat Eat Salami?
Salami should not be a regular feature in your cat’s diet. A piece of salami or two as an occasional treat is ok, but not be more than once every few weeks.
What Are The Risks Of Eating Salami For Cats?
Cats are sensitive to fats and salt, and salami contains high amounts of both.
Salami is a processed meat, so despite its benefits, it does also have some downsides. Processed meat is high in saturated fats, which cause weight gain. Cats are more sensitive to this than we humans, and too much salami could contribute to obesity and increase the risk of developing diabetes.
Salami also has high salt content, and cats cannot tolerate too much salt so too much salami could cause dehydration. Some salami, including pepperoni from your pizza, might also contain preservatives, garlic, or seasoning which can be toxic or cause upset tummies in cats.
Hard salami or salami jerky might be hard for cats to chew.
Another risk with salami is bacterial contamination because it is not cooked. Although rare, bacteria like Salmonella can contaminate fermented meat products. Salmonella poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.
For this reason, you should never feed salami to pregnant cats, or to kittens whose immune systems are not fully developed.
What Happens If Your Cat Eats Salami?
Most cats are fine after eating salami, but if they have eaten a lot of it or have contracted a bacterial infection, they might have quite an upset tummy. Most upset tummies get better with supportive treatment, which usually consists of some bland food such as plain chicken or white fish and plain cooked white rice.
The vet might be able to give your cat an injection to stop them from being sick, and some probiotics or kaolin to stop diarrhea. In more severe cases, cats might need to stay at the vet’s for IV fluids and receive antibiotics.
Do Cats Enjoy The Taste Of Salami?
Processed meats have an improved texture and taste compared to fresh meat, and salami is no exception. Cats love the taste of salami, and most will do anything to get their paws on a slice!
Bottom Lines
Salami is a great tasting and versatile meat product, that your cat will probably love the taste of. But even though it has a great protein content, it is also high in salt and saturated fat. So even though a little salami here and there is safe for cats, too much can cause weight gain and dehydration.
In some rare cases, salami can be contaminated with bacteria as it is not cooked, so you should never feed it to pregnant cats or kittens. A few slices of salami here and there won’t cause your cat any harm, but it should not feature too regularly in their diet!