When you turned around to make those pillows more comfortable, your feline stuck her head into the bowl full of your favorite snacks. Hmm, can cats eat Cheez-Its?
You were getting ready to watch your favorite show on Netflix. Naturally, you grabbed a pack of Cheez-Its from your cupboard so you could chew something while watching. And what’s better than crispy baked crackers with cheese?
Once you got to the couch, with a bowl full of Cheez-Its in one hand and a big mug of tonic water in the other, your furry friend decided to make you company in case you’ll, as tradition tells us, shed a couple of tears.
You were trying to create a cozy atmosphere in your living room, so you brought your colorful weighted blanket from your room. You lit a candle or two and when you turned around to adjust the pillows, a little ball of fur used the opportunity to steal some Cheez-Its.
You’ve probably immediately googled “can cats eat Cheez-Its?” and here we are. I’ll remind you later to go back to that TV show you were supposed to watch, don’t worry.
So we both know that Cheez-its are super crunchy and delicious and you’d probably like to hear your furbaby chewing them right now. Imagine how cute would it be to see your cat turning that little head of hers to bite on it properly.
Can you see her little paws struggling to keep the cracker in one place? Adorable, isn’t it?
But, being a responsible pet owner requires you to be more cautious about your kitty’s diet, so a couple of questions arise. Are these munchies dangerous for your pet? Is eating them going to lead her on a stairway to heaven?
To bring you a bit of relief before we dig deeper into the topic – you can share one or two cheese cushions with your cat, it’s not going to be that bad for her health.
However, these crunchy crackers don’t have significant nutritional value for us either. So, why would you give something like that to your favorite carnivore?
They definitely won’t be poisonous to your cat, but let’s go into some details to properly answer this question.
Can cats eat Cheez-Its?
Honestly, I can’t give you a simple yes or no answer to this question. It actually completely depends on your cat. When it comes to the basic ingredients Cheez-Its are made of, there’s nothing harmful to your pet there.
However, cats do have specific nutritional needs that need to be fulfilled if you want to keep them healthy. They require different nutrition as they are growing up, but everything comes down to the one thing – cats need meat.
As you already know, cats can be really picky about the food you give them. Giving them human food may make them crave food that is not safe. They need a lot of moisturized food, preferably canned, that contains a lot of water to support their hydration.
A healthy cat diet requires a lot of good fats and animal-based protein. They need little or no carbohydrates at all, and Cheez-Its have a lot of those.
Cheez-Its, on the other hand, have some B vitamins that could be beneficial for your feline. But, if your cat is frequently eating a lot of these, she can gain weight significantly. This can even lead to obesity, which causes more health issues in the long run.
If you decide to feed your cat some crispy crackers, break them into smaller pieces and give her a tiny portion of Cheez-Its. It’s going to be easier for her to clear her bowl and you’ll know exactly how much she ate.
So, we’ve covered the situation where you want to share your favorite snack with your cat. Now it’s time to figure out what happens if your furbaby takes some while you weren’t looking. Should you be worried? Let’s go.
What do I have to pay attention to if my cat eats this snack?
If your lovely pet somehow manages to eat this snack, you don’t have to panic. In reality, there can be some problems with cats who are lactose intolerant or have some food allergies.
Cheez-Its are generally made of wheat flour, cheese, salt, and additional flavoring. So, the only thing you can be worried about is those small amounts of dairy products.
Also, as I’ve mentioned earlier, food allergies to some of the additives can make this snack a dangerous choice for your feline. Be cautious and always read the ‘ingredients’ part on the package.
This human treat contains real cheese, not extracts or flavor additives. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or other stomach problems if your cat is lactose intolerant. Eating even a single Cheez-It can cause her to feel weak and result in discomfort, almost like for us.
Cheez-Its also have way more fat and sodium than cats should consume. The accent here is mostly on sodium. The human body cannot survive without it, so we need to intake it in certain doses through our nutrition.
For cats, it’s a completely different story. It may sound strange to you, but cats are subjected to salt poisoning. If they ingest more than the recommended dose of salt, they can start feeling sick. A higher dose can also lead to vomiting, diarrhea, enduring immense thirst, and laziness.
In some extreme cases this poisoning, like any other, can lead to serious health consequences. As soon as you notice that your cat is behaving oddly, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for advice.
No two cases are the same. So you’ll just have to learn more about your pet and what works for her. For example, if your cat’s digestive system is highly sensitive to lactose, it doesn’t have to be the same case with my feline. Both of them will react in a certain way, depending on various factors.
The main variables, that have an effect on how felines endure food intolerance, are their weight, age, and overall health. It also greatly depends on their diet and the food they regularly eat.
So, if your furbaby starts feeling sick, or you notice that something is wrong, don’t try to give her Cheez-Its again. Even if she doesn’t show any alarming reaction after eating it, try to avoid giving her more than two of those crackers per week.
In the end, all we can conclude is that these cheesy crackers are not toxic or something that your cat should never eat. Next time someone asks you can cats eat Cheez-Its, make sure you have your answer prepared.
Oh, before I forget. Go back to watching that TV show on Netflix you were getting ready to watch before you stumbled onto this article.
