”Are you munching on something, mom? Let me see… Oh, yes you are! Are you trying to hide from me? No, you have to share it with me right meow!” Does that sound like your precious purrincess? You can’t escape the wrath of those goo-goo eyes. So, can cats eat tortilla chips?
Let’s be honest, cats are incredibly curious creatures! They can’t help but plead and beg whenever they see you enjoying a delicious snack. All they can think about is how much they would love to give it a taste (if only you would allow them).
You shouldn’t be surprised to find out that your four-legged friend loves different textures and flavors just as much as you do! She might not possess the sweet and spicy taste receptors, but she can appreciate the delicious combination of guacamole and tortilla chips!
So, can cats eat these crunchy snacks? At least one fluffy friend is going to be incredibly happy to find out that cats can eat tortilla chips! While most tortilla chips aren’t harmful to cats, there are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t include them in your cat’s regular diet. Buckle up!
What are tortilla chips?
Tortilla chips are triangle-shaped delicious crunchy snacks made from corn tortillas. They’re typically fried or baked. While some tortilla chips do contain different herbs, seasonings, and additives that might be harmful to your cat, most of them are only lightly salted.
Processed food normally contains a bunch of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. While tortilla chips do fall into that category, they’re pretty safe in comparison to other commercially available snacks. Does that make them a good choice for your cat? No, but…
It’s important to mention that corn tortillas aren’t toxic to cats! Most humans make them with only a handful of ingredients. Corn flour, vegetable oil, salt, and water – that’s all you need if you’re planning on making this versatile unleavened flatbread from scratch.
But, who’s got the time for that!?
Can cats eat tortilla chips?
While cats can technically eat tortilla chips, it’s best to avoid giving them as a regular treat. The high salt and fat content can lead to digestive issues and obesity, while some chips may also contain harmful seasonings like onion or garlic powder. Stick to safe and healthy treats like cooked meat or fish.
Let’s put it this way… If your feline friend happens to munch on a couple of lightly salted tortilla chips every now and then, chances are she’s going to be completely fine. Tortilla chips aren’t toxic to cats, but they’re simply not the healthiest choice!
On one hand, too much seasoning might harm your cat in the long run. Your cat’s digestive system is bound to face difficulty when trying to break down these ingredients. On the other, an occasional tortilla treat shouldn’t make much of a difference in your cat’s regular diet.
1. Potential risks of feeding tortilla chips to your cat
Here’s the thing. Cats are carnivores which means they require heaps of meat and animal protein to survive. They don’t need fruit, veggies, or grains in their regular diet because they get most of their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from animal sources.
Too many tortilla chips might lead your furry friend to serious digestive issues. Oil, salt, and other seasonings aren’t a natural part of her regular diet. While they shouldn’t lead to adverse reactions when consumed in smaller doses, you can never be too careful.
One serving size of tortilla chips contains around 126 milligrams of salt. Your cat shouldn’t consume more than 40 milligrams a day! Salt poisoning is an incredibly serious problem in the feline world, and you can recognize it through symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, excessive thirst, or urination.
Vegetable oil isn’t toxic to cats, but it can lead to various health issues if consumed consistently over a longer period of time. The most common symptom of vegetable oil overdose is diarrhea, but abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting are all possible.
Onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and powdered mustard are among the most common seasonings used on tortilla chips. Believe it or not, all of them are incredibly harmful to cats and might lead to lethargy, drooling, rapid breathing, and coughing (in mild cases)!
2. Potential benefits of feeding tortilla chips to your cat
Chances are you googled ”Can cats eat tortilla chips?” hoping to get a positive answer. Luckily for you, the situation isn’t all that bad. While tortilla chips do contain a couple of ingredients that might harm your precious pet, an occasional treat shouldn’t be an issue.
As mentioned before, tortilla chips are made out of corn flour. Not only is this type of flour completely safe for feline consumption, but it’s also one of the most common filler ingredients in commercial cat food. On top of that, corn and cornmeal offer heaps of benefits to your feline friend!
Corn is a rich source of fatty acids. These are responsible for your cat’s immune system, central nervous system and her skin and coat.
While carbohydrates aren’t the best choice of nutrients for your cat, the ones found in corn are an important source of energy for your cat. Be mindful of the number of tortilla chips your cat consumes because of other risks (oil, salt, and seating), but you don’t have to worry about corn.
Lastly, if your cat happens to be a huge fan of these crunchy snacks you might want to look into making them from scratch. You will need some plain corn tortillas, parchment paper, and infinite love for your curious creature!
Cut your corn tortillas into triangles (or other fun shapes), place them carefully on the parchment paper, and bake in the oven until they’re nice and crispy.
Don’t add any oil, salt, or other seasonings as they might harm your cat. Feel free to add some cat-friendly herbs like dill or cilantro for that extra kick!
Can cats eat tortilla chips with guacamole?
”How much do I love guacamole? Avoca-don’t get me started!”
With that horrifically bad joke out of the way, let’s talk about the love your four-legged friend feels for this delicious dip. She’s seen you devour an entire bowl of tortilla chips and guacamole in one sitting… You can’t even blame her for being interested in giving it a taste!
While plain tortilla chips are safe for feline consumption, there are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t feed guacamole to your cat. Two of the most important ingredients of this mouth-watering dip, avocado and lime, happen to be incredibly harmful to cats.
Not only that, but two of the most important seasonings of guacamole, onion, and garlic, contain n-propyl disulfide. This oxidant is toxic to cats – your cat should steer clear of anything that contains these two ingredients!
So, if your cat accidentally (or purposefully) consumes too much guacamole she might experience some of the most common symptoms of food poisoning. You should keep an eye out for signs of excessive salivation, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting, twitching or seizures, and breathing difficulties.
If you notice any of these symptoms you should contact your vet immediately or take your cat to emergency animal care. It’s also important to mention that you shouldn’t make any significant changes to your cat’s diet without your vet’s approval.
If you’re still wondering ”Can cats eat tortilla chips?” the answer is yes! These crunchy snacks are safe for feline consumption, as long as you avoid too much oil, salt, or other seasonings. Tortilla chips are great as an occasional treat, but you can never be too careful!
