What Can Cats Eat: Can Cats Eat Ham?

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by Dr. Linda Simon

Dr. Linda Simon is a veterinary surgeon working with seven years of experience. She is a fellow of the British Veterinary Association and specializing in animal medicine. Also, she has been the Woman magazine resident vet for the past two years and writes a regular column for them, focusing on pets and their health.

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Updated on: 05/13/2022

Can you feed a cat ham? Generally speaking, ham can be safely fed in moderation. However, it is impossible to answer unambiguously as it all depends on the quality of the meat, the salt content, and the amount you are giving. Ham, of course, is of great nutritional value – it has a lot of protein. But it is better not to give factory-made ham to a pet. And, if you have natural, freshly prepared farmer’s pork on your table, then you can treat your pet.

Photo by @master1305 from Freepik

By itself, this meat is not a toxic product for pets. Only some food additives used by manufacturers, as well as high salt content, are potentially dangerous. Salt (sodium chloride, as you and I remember from school chemistry lessons) is, again, not poisonous, but be warned of the danger of overeating.

Excess salt in the body leads to a medical condition called hypernatremia. As a result, there may be interruptions in heart function and high blood pressure.

If you continue to persistently feed a pet this meat (especially low-grade), the animal may begin to have problems with the digestive system and could develop signs of gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Are there any health benefits to feeding your cat ham?

Ham, a product made from pork, can be good for your pet (if you take every precaution to eliminate the possibility of food poisoning and overconsumption).

Cats are carnivores by nature. Ham can provide your pet with many different beneficial elements its body needs. The product is rich in taurine, amino acid and other proteins, and these ingredients are essential for the normal development of the heart and digestive system. Pork also contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals. Vitamins B6, B12 and thiamine (B1) help strengthen and maintain your cat’s nervous and cardiovascular systems. Phosphorus, which is found in all meat, promotes the healthy growth of bones and teeth and supports the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system.

Why Do Cats Like Ham?

The predatory instinct in your cat’s nature are geared towards ensuring that its body receives good nutrition, and some types of meat are more tasty and healthy for your pet than others. Your cat is hard-wired to seek out and ingest protein sources, and they’ll nearly always choose ham over kibble, veggies or fruits.

Check with your veterinarian if it is safe for your pet to eat this meat. Some pets may develop health complications – chronic conditions that make them sensitive to the sodium in ham. Those with heart disease and chronic kidney disease, for example, must avoid eating ham and other foods with high sodium content.

Can Cats Eat Raw Ham?

It is not recommended to feed your cat raw meat. Raw ham exposes a cat to bacteria such as salmonella, which is often found in raw meat. Cats can also become infected with E. coli, a bacterium that causes food poisoning and can even be fatal.

Do not offer raw meat to your pet (even if it is fresh); it’s best to cook it until its internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Photo by Akhirul Fajar on Unsplash

READ MORE: Is Watermelon Safe for Cats?

How to Feed Your Cat Ham?

Cats can eat this meat as long as it is lean, well cooked, served in moderation and unseasoned. But not all ham is good for a pet, so you need to be selective and extremely careful before feeding your pet this delicious treat.

Cats should only eat meat when it is low in salt and fat. Store-bought, cheaper varieties of ham usually contain a lot of salt and fat. Shop at a trusted farmer’s market or butcher shop for the leanest cut.

Can Human Food Harm Cats?

Ham should be given to pets in limited quantities. Feeding cats too much of this meat can be very dangerous to their health because cats have sensitive digestive systems.

A 2008 study by M.L. Chandler, titled “Food Safety for Pets: Sodium in Pet Foods,” published in Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, states, “Healthy dogs and cats appear to be able to accommodate varying amounts of sodium in their balanced diet through renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanisms. There is no conclusive evidence that increasing dietary sodium increases the risk of hypertension in pets.”

“However,” the report continues, “caution should be exercised when increasing sodium intake in pets with kidney disease, as increased dietary sodium may have a negative effect on the kidneys, independent of any effect on blood pressure.” ^[1]

Therefore, even if you feed your pet a small amount of this meat, it is very important to watch for symptoms of poisoning or indigestion – especially if you have never fed your cat ham before or if it managed to grab a bite while you were distracted. If your cat develops problems after eating this meat, you may notice the following symptoms:

Diarrhea;
Vomiting;
Lethargy;
Loss of appetite;
Weakness.

All of these symptoms may be due to the seasonings added to the ham or the high fat and sodium content of the ingredients. If you notice any of these bodily reactions, immediately take your pet to the veterinarian.

It is also possible that a cat has a pork sensitivity or allergy. If you find your cat always reacts to ham, even if mildly, it should be kept out of their diet.

If you’re used to feeding your pet this meat and you know it won’t cause any problems, you don’t need to monitor closely after each feeding. Just hide the ham out of the pet’s reach so it doesn’t eat it without your permission. Remember, even those who tolerate ham should only have it in moderation.

Also, your pet should drink plenty of water to counter the dehydration that could arise from eating all the salt in this meat.

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Last Words: Can Cats Eat Ham?

Cats can eat ham as long as it is well cooked, unseasoned, low in fat and served in limited quantities. But not all ham can be good for your cat’s body, so you must be very careful before feeding your pet this treat.

Ham can be good for your pet if you take all the necessary precautions against food poisoning and overconsumption. The treat is rich in amino acid, taurine and other essential elements for the healthy development of your cat’s muscular development and digestion.