Cats are natural rulers of the household.
They’re playful and adventurous and can get into all sorts of mischief. They’re also naturally curious.
When your favorite feline seems anxious or hungry, it’s your duty to feed him. So, can cats eat chorizo?
Chorizo is a spicy pork sausage that’s enjoyed around the world. It’s typically made from pork and a variety of spices.
Chorizo often contains paprika, garlic, and cayenne pepper—all of which are toxic to cats. Eating chorizo can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach in cats.
The severity of these symptoms depends on the amount and type of spices the cat has consumed and the extent of exposure. Symptoms typically appear within 24 hours of ingestion and can last for up to three days.
Can Cats Eat Chorizo?
Cats should not eat chorizo or sausage of any kind, for other spices and ingredients may be added to the meat or seasonings of chorizo that are harmful to cats.
Even though chorizo is a meat product, it’s loaded with spices and seasonings that contain ingredients that are harmful to cats, including garlic and paprika.
It includes salt, spices, and preservatives, which are all harmful to cats.
Chorizos are also high on the glycemic index, which spikes your cat’s blood sugar levels quickly after it is eaten resulting in an upset stomach.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Chorizo?
Cats should not eat chorizo or sausage of any kind, for other spices and ingredients may be added to the meat or seasonings of chorizo that are harmful to cats.
Mexican chorizos are seasoned with red pepper flakes and garlic powder and contain dry cured pork that is high in fat and salt that can both cause diarrhea in cats.
These spices are harmful to cats and can cause life-threatening gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea and vomiting.
It is advisable not to feed them chorizos at all.
If you want to give chorizo to your pet, it is advisable to buy boiled or grilled chorizos.
Why Can’t Cats Eat Chorizo?
Too Many Additives
The additions, whether garlic, spices, or preservatives in chorizo can cause digestive distress to the health of your cat.
The meat itself is good, but the seasonings are harmful and can lead to other health issues.
However, the recipe’s additions are a cause for worry when feeding these to cats.
For this reason alone, you are advised to never give them to your feline friend.
The recipe is not safe for a cat, and must never be given to your feline friend.
Too Spicy
Food that is overly spicy can upset the stomach of a cat very easily and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Chorizo is not eaten by cats as it is too spicy for them and can cause other side effects like loose bowels.
This may give taste to the food, but can cause other issues like irritation and burns inside the mouth.
Most cats in the wild avoid this spice at any cost and prefer food that is more natural and bland in general.
This will apply even more to cats that are prone to allergies and specific food intolerances.
The spices may enhance the flavor of the dish, but it can cause problems as the food is too spicy for your cat.
It’s important to consider this if you suffer from sensitive skin and are prone to burns from spicy foods.
Excessive Fat
Chorizos, especially Mexican chorizos, contain a high content of fat.
If a cat consumes too much fat in its diet it can become obese and develop other health issues.
All cats need some fat in their diet, but this should be kept at a safe amount by avoiding added fats and oils.
Vegetable oils, which are often used in cooking Chorizo, contain polyunsaturated fats and omega 6 fatty acids that are essential for a cat’s health.
Difficult To Digest
You must take the time and consideration to go over the ingredients of whatever treat your pet is consuming.
It will take a trial and error approach to find which one will be best for your pet.
This is risky since the cat will not have any control when he or she eats the food.
It is difficult for a cat to digest any of the spices that are included in the sausage and this can also cause stomach problems.
With cats, you need to be careful with what you offer to your pet since many of them can become allergic or intolerant to certain ingredients found within the food.
One of the most crucial things to remember with cats is do not feed them onions or chocolate.
However, it should not cause any problem as liver is a rich source of Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 and forms an important part of a balanced diet for cats.
Excessive Salt
Chorizo is heavy in salt which is harmful to the cat since it can upset its stomach and can lead to dehydration in cats.
This is hazardous for a kitty since it can result in vomiting, diarrhea or a blocked intestine which may need more invasive procedures to remove.
This is harmful to the cat’s digestive tract and can cause severe damage to the organs in the cat’s body.
You should opt for natural meats that are healthy and safe for your pets without all the artificial preservatives and additives in them.
This might be one of the reason why you can’t feed chorizo to your cat.
The meat in sausages is extremely salty and this can cause your cat to suffer from diarrhea and dehydration.
The additions, such as salt, can also have an adverse effect on the kidneys and other internal organs in the animal’s body.
The ordinary chorizo will be salty, but it will get even saltier if it has additional ingredients such as paprika, garlic or chilli powder.
This is why it should only ever be fed in moderation to any feline pet or occasional treats.
Cats and most other pets suffer from low sodium levels in the body.
You should take the time to ensure that your pet’s diet is balanced and contains no ingredients which are hazardous to its health.
Giving chorizo to a cat may seem to make sense since it is basically a sausage.
Also See: Can Cats Eat Garlic Bread?
Conclusion
While chorizo isn’t toxic to cats, it can cause severe gastrointestinal upset in cats. So don’t feed your feline friend chorizo. Instead, feed him some high-quality pet food from a trusted brand that you know is safe for cats to eat.
If your cat has eaten chorizo and has symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, take him to the vet immediately and get treatment.
However, if your cat consumes food that isn’t designed for them, it won’t harm them unless it is dangerous for their health.
If you’re uncertain about your cat’s nutrition, consult with your trusted veterinarian or a holistic veterinarian and ask them about foods that are safe for your feline pet to eat.
Some cats are so finicky that they may not eat chorizo, so you don’t need to deprive your feline friend from eating it since it won’t cause any harm to him, as long as it doesn’t get fed to him regularly.
