Have you ever sat eating your tea on the sofa, only to have your kitty pop up their head or paw and try and take a swipe of whatever’s on your plate?
I know when my cat does this, it always makes me wonder what they can and can’t actually eat from my plate. Sometimes it’s nice to treat your kitty to some human food!
However, if you’re going to do this you always need to check whether it’s safe to feed them whatever it is you’re eating.
Cats love the creamy texture and great taste of mayo but it isn’t really a great option to let them have regularly.
Don’t worry if you do feed your cat mayo on occasion, it’s not toxic and so won’t cause any major issues to your cat if they have it sparsely.
Long-term though, you don’t really want to keep this in your cats’ diet as it can cause some health issues.
Can Cats Tolerate Mayo?
If your cat eats a small amount of mayonnaise, they’re likely going to be absolutely fine. However cats are lactose-intolerant so if they lap it up too much, they’re going to end up with poorly tummies.
Cats have fairly sensitive stomachs and the ingredients in mayo (oil, eggs, vinegar, and lemon) will sit heavy in their digestive systems and will give them diarrhea.
It won’t kill your cat if they eat a small amount – so you don’t need to stress too much.
Dangers Of Cats Eating Mayo
Any cat lover knows how complex and particular a feline friend can be. This is no exception when it comes to a cat’s stomach. Cat’s tummies are really sensitive so you have to be really careful with what you let them eat.
Fat Content
One big issue with mayonnaise is its fat content. This can be really high, so much so that even we humans are told to eat it in moderation.
If you think that our bodies aren’t meant to process high quantities of the stuff, then your kitten’s stomach never stands a chance.
High quantities of mayo can cause your fur-babies intestines to get blocked and it can cause both diarrhea and dehydration.
Obviously, we want neither of those things for our beloved pets and so it’s best to keep portion sizes low.
Vomiting
Too much mayo can cause your cat to vomit which is harmful to your pet and a hassle for you to clean. With vomiting, there is always a choking hazard too.
Lactose Intolerant
Cats are lactose intolerant and so letting them eat large portions of dairy really isn’t good for them.
They may love the taste but as paw-rents, it’s always important to make sure that their health is at the forefront of any situation. Give them a little bit of dairy here and there but do not let it be a staple part of their diet.
Benefits Of Mayo
While your cat should never eat mayo constantly there can be some benefits that cats can get from a small amount of mayonnaise being in their diet as long as it isn’t consistent. Mayo has a few benefits that I will list below:
- Mayo can help absorb different minerals and vitamins.
- It can calm their taste buds.
- The healthy fats in mayo can reduce cholesterol.
- It can help boost helpful bacteria which in turn helps create a healthy digestive system.
- Can be used to soothe taste buds with its creamy texture so can be used as a remedy if they have eaten something spicy.
- A tiny amount of mayonnaise can help with constipation.
If you are ever unsure, always speak to your veterinarian about what your cat can and cannot eat.
Kittens And Mayo
Mayo isn’t toxic to kittens so technically, yes they can eat it. There isn’t really any nutritional value in mayo for your kitten though, and nutrition is really important for any growing kitty.
While your kitty is growing, it’s better to keep them away from foods that aren’t really meant for them.
You want to encourage your kitten to eat the food that has all the nutrients that are going to make them big and strong.
The last thing you need is for them to get the taste of unhealthy foods that can damage their health in the long run.
Can Cats Be Allergic To Mayo?
The ingredients used to make mayo have ingredients in them that can cause some cats to have allergic reactions. Ingredients such as salt, raw egg yolk, sugar, lemon, and vinegar can all be triggers for allergies in some cats.
Allergic reactions may cause your kittens or cats to vomit or get constipation.
The sugar content in mayonnaise is quite high, so if your cat is diabetic you should avoid mayonnaise altogether.
Salt And Sugar Content
Salt
Cats just aren’t built to process the amount of salt and sugar that humans do. In fact, even humans struggle. So eating human foods like mayonnaise isn’t a good idea for cats.
Mayonnaise is really high in salt content and this can be quite harmful to your kitty. Too much salt can cause dehydration in cats which means they will need to drink lots of water.
Sugar
Sugar isn’t toxic to cats, but it’s not good for them either. Sugar can actually cause your cat to shed an excessive amount of hair. Mayo is really high in sugar so do not give this to diabetic cats.
Lemon And Vinegar
You need to remember that your kitty’s nose is a lot stronger than ours – in fact, their sense of smell is 14 times stronger.
So if we don’t like the smell of vinegar, chances are neither will your cat. While we might not think mayo smells of vinegar, your cat can still smell it and it can cause them to feel nauseous.
Lemon juice can also be poisonous to cats. The quantity of lemon juice in mayonnaise is quite low but you should still take this into consideration.
Lemon juice can also be the cause of low blood pressure, liver failure, and tremors, and in extreme cases it can even lead to death. So you should always avoid lemon juice.
Final Thoughts
While mayonnaise will not be harmful in a small quantity, I wouldn’t really advise it as a good option for your pet.
There are a few benefits to mayonnaise but I don’t think they really outweigh the risks. It also adds no nutritional value to your pet’s diet.