You probably watched Bugs Bunny while eating cake many times. This made you wonder if your cats can eat carrot cake. Maybe you never thought about it before, but this cartoon character made you give it a second thought. Also, what cat doesn’t like human food?
Carrots are healthy for humans and the same goes for cats. However, this veggie isn’t the only ingredient found in this delicacy. We all know how many ingredients and how much love goes into making a cake, all for that mouth-watering result.
Cats are known for putting their noses in our business, literally! They will push their way through the ingredients on our countertops just to dip their paws in whatever we’re making. I guess, after all, the resemblance of the words “whiskers” and “whisking” isn’t coincidental.
Can cats eat carrot cake, is it safe?
When your cat decides to become a chef, there’s no stopping her. Cats are pretty stubborn, so she will do whatever it takes to pursue her intentions. The best thing you can do is look up the ingredients and their potential harm.
Some of the ingredients found in a carrot cake will probably have your cat scrunching her nose. This delicacy is a real test to see whether your pet can get through a day of being a chef. Jokes aside, carrot cake isn’t entirely safe for feline consumption. The health concerns hide in some of the ingredients.
Can cats eat carrots?
Much to your cat’s delight, cats can eat carrots. This is one of the foods you can safely share with your pet without worrying. Moreover, carrots are a great source of vitamins and minerals. This vegetable’s color is acquired due to the presence of antioxidants.
Carrots are known for improving eyesight and one vitamin, in particular, gets all the credit. Vitamin A, which comes from beta-carotene, is responsible for preventing vision impairment. If your cat needs some help with eyesight problems, carrots are a great way to dodge vision loss.
Cooked carrots can be added to a cat’s meal, but some prefer them raw. It’s probably because of the crunchy sound they make or their overall texture. However, feeding raw carrots is a choking hazard and it’s best to stick with cooked, unseasoned ones.
What about flour?
Cats can digest flour but it isn’t something I would encourage. Felines have a hard time breaking down plant matter, including grains. These can be found in cat foods serving the purpose of fillers.
While flour isn’t poisonous to cats, it doesn’t provide any benefits. So, it’s not something to worry about if your cat licked some of it, but don’t intentionally feed her flour, as it provides minimal nutrition.
Can cats eat carrot cake because of dairy?
It’s almost impossible to make baked goods without dairy products. Whether it be milk, butter, or cream cheese. Cats shouldn’t eat or drink these because of the lactose content. Felines are lactose intolerant and can experience issues when digesting dairy.
Carrot cake is made with butter and cream cheese. These ingredients are less than ideal for your cat’s stomach. Lactose can cause gastrointestinal upset, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting.
Salt and sugar content
Cats require a small daily amount of sodium in their diet, but any excess amounts can be harmful. Large salt quantities can lead to salt poisoning in felines. These often include symptoms of an upset stomach, excessive thirst, and urination.
When it comes to sugar, this sweetener can be detrimental to your feline. Although it’s non-toxic, sugar will cause serious health issues such as teeth rot, diabetes, and weight gain. These are just some of the most common medical issues related to sugar consumption in cats.
Carrot cake contains vanilla extract and applesauce
Vanilla extract is a reason for concern as it’s highly toxic to cats. It contains ethyl alcohol which, if ingested, can lead to alcohol poisoning in felines. Because it has such a high concentration of this alcohol, vanilla extract can be dangerous in the smallest of amounts.
Apples are harmless to cats and an amazing idea for a healthy snack. On the other hand, store-bought applesauce is packed with preservatives and other artificial compounds. This combination makes it a poor choice for your pet. A few licks are harmless, but regular exposure to these ingredients can cause harm.
In conclusion
If your cat flicked her tongue a couple of times, you shouldn’t be worried. However, you should note that carrot cake contains some ingredients that are harmful to your feline’s health, especially vanilla extract that is poisonous to cats.
Although it may seem like a healthier option to chocolate or vanilla cake, carrot cake should probably be left to Bugs Bunny. Don’t let this discourage you from feeding your pet carrots, though, as they are highly nutritional and can help improve vision.
