Since cheese is one of the common parts of the human diet nowadays, it is natural for
you to start thinking about feeding it to your pets. After all, if your cat does not have a problem when eating it, there must be nothing wrong about.
You might also easily notice how your pet actually enjoys delightfully munching on that piece of cheese. If your pet is happy, then you are happy.
However, it is best to do a bit of research to understand how good or bad a food item can be. You can also check with your vet to get advice that would be more specifically suited to your feline at home. Before doing that though, read on to have some
idea about the impact of cheese on your cat.
Table of Contents
Can Cats Eat Cheese
Looking back at the evolutionary past of felines, their life in the wild involves feeding on other animals. They are carnivorous, and their diets require mostly protein. Cheese contains protein to a certain level. So, does that make it good for them?
Why Cats Eat Cheese
Before answering the million-dollar question in this topic, let us understand first why cats like to get their paws on those cheesy treats. They are not part of felines’ natural diet in the first place.
Due To Curiosity About What Their Humans Eat
Cheese does not exist in the paradigms of cats. It does not exist in their evolutionary past nor is it imprinted in their biological requirements like all other dairy products. Food in the eyes of cats comes in the form of smaller animals, especially
mammals.
After becoming domesticated though, they have gained exposure to other things that are edible. There is a specific focus on the food items that are commonly laid out in a spread before their human masters. One of which is cheese.
A huge amount of cats’ seemingly organic desire for this creamy delight stems from their inherent desire to be a part of their humans’ lives. They want to have to feel what their humans are getting from lying down on that bed or lounging on the sofa.
They want to have a taste at what their owners are having on their dining table. It is the felines’ curiosity that brought them up close and personal with this dairy treat.
Cheese Has A Nice Taste
After the stage of discovery, they reach a level of realization that cheese tastes nice. Its creamy texture paired with salty flavor is an exciting flavor not only for humans but for felines as well. Cats like to eat cheese simply because it is
delicious.
Why Cheese Is Not Good For Cats
Lactose Intolerance
A good part of the domesticated feline population actually does not have the best ability to digest lactose. This is a sugar that is derived from milk and other dairy products. Different cats have different levels of tolerance to this sugar. When
the tolerance level is reached, symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas and even nausea.
Being lactose intolerant is not inherent among felines. In fact, lactase, which is the enzymes that work on breaking down milk sugars, is present among kittens. This gives the younger ones the ability to consume milk and the sugar that comes with.
After getting weaned though, the production of lactase ceases naturally in the cat’s body. This takes place when they turn 4 weeks old. While there are a few who retain their ability to digest dairy safely, this is a very rare occurrence. Most
felines simply lose it. Since cheese is made up of mainly milk, it is not one of the best foods for your cat at all.
High Fat And Salt Content
Another negative point for cheese is due to its high fat content. While that might simply drive certain cats into becoming more active, it is not always the case. In more cases, it supports your felines’ journey towards unhealthy weight gain, which
results in inactivity until the optimal negative endpoint that is obesity. This is not being too negative but simply realistically facing the possibilities.
Hand in hand with fat is the amount of salt it contains. Sodium chloride, which is present in salt, can bring about certain ailments such as hypertension and issues with the kidney.
Cheese Is For Cat What Red Velvet Cake Is For You
Generally, cheese is not such a bad thing for cats. It is definitely more like cake for most humans, which is delicious and enjoyable to consume but not really very healthy. The same thing goes for cheese. It does not have much nutritional value for
your kitties. While its ill-effects are not life-threatening, its benefits are not in significant amounts.
When To Feed And What Cheese To Feed Your Cats
Cheese is not an enemy. It is not completely harmful. If it keeps your pet happy, you can add it as a semi-regular treat. However, you should always go back to the fact that it is not required at all for your feline’s health and well-being.
In certain cases where it can be helpful, then there is no harm in feeding cheese to your cat once a month or a few times in a year. A good time to do so is when he gets sick and is not very comfortable to take his medications. You can employ some
smart moves by mixing his medicines with some cheese to get your pet to consume them without any hassle.
When it comes to the variety of cheese that you can allow your pet to eat, you should stick with the plain and hard ones. This goes back to the lactose issue. Soft cheeses contain more lactose and will therefore cause more discomfort.
Feeding your pet with cheese is not entirely a bad thing. However, it should be very minimal to the point of only using it on an extreme need basis. This is because it does not really benefit your pet much despite how much he loves it.
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