Yes, cats can eat pretzels. Pretzels are made from wheat dough and, since they are baked, they pose little threat to cats. Pretzels are safe for cats to eat because they are very low in calories, and they also have minuscule amounts of salt which is deemed dangerous for cats to have on a regular basis.
Cats are genetically inclined to be carnivores, but over time, they have taken to the human diet, even though not entirely. For this reason, they enjoy a wide range of human foods, even those that cats in the wild such as lions, tigers, leopards, and others would not touch. Cat owners all over the world have shared strange teats that their cats enjoy, so it is no wonder that they can have pretzels.
As mentioned, pretzels are made from wheat dough, and even though cats should essentially not eat grains, pretzels are deemed okay for them in small amounts. The fact that they are baked makes it easier for the cats to eat and digest.
Are pretzels safe for cats?
Having established that cats can actually eat pretzels, you may be wondering whether it is safe for cats to eat them over long periods of time. Grains and grainy foods have always been considered dangerous and unfit for cat consumption. This is largely because most plant-based foods have certain compounds such as cellulose which is indigestible to cats. For this reason, allowing your cat to have too much of the snack may pose digestive problems that may end up getting serious.
Seeing, however, as pretzels are baked, their level of indigestibility is reduced to manageable levels. The gluten and cellulose are broken down to a certain degree so that they do not pose as big a threat as they would in raw wheat. Your cat can consume controlled amounts of pretzels, but the intervals should be few and far between if possible.
Do pretzels have any nutritional benefits for cats?
Even though pretzels in regulated amounts are safe for cats to eat, they do not add any commendable or noticeable nutritional value to your feline friends. Pretzels are made primarily from wheat which does not carry much nutritional benefit for cats. They also have very few calories so you cannot feed them to cats that need to pump up on weight and achieve any results.
Because of their digestive mechanisms, cats cannot achieve any real nutrition from pretzels or any other grain foods. This is largely why they should not have pretzels on a regular basis. If you have to feed pretzels to cats, make sure you only feed them to adult cats and not to kittens since their stomachs are a lot more sensitive and they may experience bad digestive problems as a result.
Can cats have salted pretzels?
No, cats should never have salted pretzels. Salt is one of the most toxic substances to cats because it contains sodium. High levels of sodium are poisonous to cats, and consuming foods that are high in the same (pretzels in this case) could cause sodium poisoning.
Here are a few symptoms of sodium poisoning;
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Frequent urination or excess thirst
- Seizures or tremors
- Poor coordination
- Being unresponsive (comatose)
In case you notice any or several of these symptoms in your cat after feeding them salted pretzels, you need to rush to the vet for quick intervention.
Seeing as there are many variations of pretzels out there, we have broken down a list of those you should not feed your cat.
- Chocolate Pretzels
Like sodium, chocolate is toxic to cats. When consumed, it may cause multiple effects that can cause your cat a lot of distress and even death. If consumed in significant amounts, chocolate pretzels may cause digestive issues, tremors, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmia.
- Garlic and Onion Pretzels
All foods in the onion family are deemed poisonous to cats. They contain high amounts of disulfides and thiosulphates which cats are allergic to. Consuming high amounts can cause red blood cells to swell up and eventually burst. This can make your cats anemic, cause organ failure, and even death.
- Sweetened Pretzels
Most sweetened pretzels contain a sweetener called Xylitol which is harmful to cats. When consumed, it causes a sudden release of high amounts of insulin in the body which then causes extremely low blood sugar. This may lead to certain complications and death if your cat consumes large amounts.
- Cheese Pretzels
Cats are lactose intolerant, meaning that they do not have proper mechanisms to digest cow milk. While cheesy pretzels may not present a major threat, having too much of the same can have an effect on your cat. A cat that is highly sensitive to dairy products may exhibit abdominal bloating, poor appetite, vomiting, weight loss, gas, abdominal pain, and itchy skin. Have your feline looked at by a vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
Here is a summary of how different pretzel ingredients may affect your felines.
Ingredient |
Possible effects |
Salt (sodium) |
Diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy, coma |
Chocolate |
Tremors, seizures, cardiac arrhythmia |
Garlic ad onions |
Anemia, organ failure, death |
Xylitol |
Very low blood sugar |
Cheese |
Gas, itchy skin, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal pain |
Feeding your cats pretzels; A few pointers
Here are a few things you should have in mind when feeding your cat pretzels.
- Cats love pretzels
Most domesticated cats love pretzels, and this can make it easy to overindulge them. Make sure you exercise control when allowing the felines to have the treat.
- Always check the ingredients
If you have not bought plain old pretzels, make sure you go through the list of ingredients before offering your cat a few. Be sure that they do not contain any toxic compounds in the ingredients list.
- Be aware of choking hazards
Be careful when feeding your cats hard pretzels as these may present a serious choking hazard.
Conclusion
When you have cats at home, it feels very natural to want to feed them what we are eating, but sometimes it is not always wise. If you want to share your pretzels with your cat, be sure that they do not contain any harmful ingredients before offering the m.
FAQs
Can my cat have its food and pretzels together?
Yes, you can do a mix-up, but do not do it too frequently.
Can I use pretzels as cat treats?
No, this is not recommended. Get your cats treats that are approved and whose ingredients have a positive impact on their health.