There aren’t many words in the English language that stir so many emotions at the same time as the word bacon. Fine, perhaps I went a little too far, but fans of this universally adored food item know precisely what I’m talking about. Once you start frying it, the sizzling sound and uniquely seductive and magnetic aroma will make you cancel all your other plans.
Unfortunately for all the devoted gourmands out there, however, tasty rarely equals healthy in the food department. Hardly will you hear a nutritionist recommend bacon for a balanced and quality diet, and if you do, you should probably check their working license. This is because bacon is packed with salt and fat, which can be highly problematic for the body if you overdo it. And since now we’re discussing our furry little friends, is bacon actually safe for them?
While cats won’t say “no” to bacon on any given day, it can easily damage their health if you’re not careful. They obviously find it delicious, but safety always comes first, so let’s find out the best way to grease up our kitties’ whiskers without getting them into trouble.
What Is It Made Of?
Bacon is simply pork that usually comes from a pig’s belly, or sometimes back (the less fatty parts). Once it’s cut off, first it’s cured and then smoked. We call the whole piece slab bacon, which is then sliced into regular, thin, or thick strips, and the rest is ends and smaller pieces. Those who want to get more lean meat cut their bacon from the loin area; an example would be the Canadian variety.
The process that makes bacon what it is is called curing, a form of long-term food preservation using salt. This was more than necessary before modern refrigeration came about, otherwise the meat would quickly spoil. Thanks to fridges, curing is no longer mandatory for preservation, but it’s still the preferred method for producing bacon because of the unique salty and smoky flavor it provides. Indeed, it’s nearly impossible to mix up the smell of bacon with any other meat.
As a result of curing, bacon is high in salt, or sodium nitrite, giving it its highly appetizing taste that makes your thirst nearly unquenchable. Besides salt, bacon is full of fat and low in protein (on average, it has less than 10%). Not exactly the most nutritious food in the world, this is why bacon is often criticized and recommended only in small portions.
Is It Safe for Cats?
Judging by their carnivore diet, bacon sounds perfectly safe for cats. At the end of the day, it’s meat, right? It’s the core of their nutrition and they find it irresistible. But as we discovered in the last paragraph, it’s not really a healthy option for felines and can cause health issues if consumed in large quantities.
Back in 2015, the World Health Organization classified bacon as a Group 1 carcinogen, along with salami, ham, and other processed meats. This means that eating too much salt-cured meat increases the chances of getting cancer, and this is even more pronounced in cats. Of course, it doesn’t mean you need to eliminate bacon from your diet, it’s just a clear warning to eat it only occasionally and in moderation. The best meat for cats is always lean and cooked, like turkey, chicken, lamb, or beef.
The thing about cat owners is their weakness when it comes to their furballs. Meaning, that if your cat lifts its gaze lovingly when you’re cooking bacon, you’d be hard-pressed not to offer a slice. Put simply, we just love tending to them and keeping them happy. But in the case of bacon, the health risks far out the nutritive qualities. They can get much more protein from other meats, and the excessive salt and fat won’t do them much good.
So, to answer our question: is it safe for them? Yes, only if given in very small portions as an occasional treat. Your kitty will almost certainly try to grab more, but you should curb their craving and offer another meat instead.
Possible Health Problems
The least serious issue that can result from too much bacon is dehydration. Rich in salt, it can quickly leave your four-legged buddy in a serious need of water. If you see it moving around all sluggish and lethargic, this might be the cause. Also, eating bacon may cause sickness in cats with existing health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, etc.
Pancreatitis is a disease that is often a result of eating fatty foods, and bacon is at the very top of the list. This condition is quite painful for them, manifesting through vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachache. This is why we need to regularly monitor our felines’ diet and see if the intake of salt and fats is normal. If not, the vet will help you revise the diet plan, or maybe choose more suitable cat food.
While videos of heavy, bulky cats can be funny and cute, what about their health? We don’t think about this issue nearly enough. Obesity is an extremely serious problem for cats, usually caused by too much fat and a low-quality diet. They’re known for piling up the pounds quickly, and bacon does this faster than anything else. If you make it a regular thing, not only will they get fatter, but you also increase the chances of disease. All these are reasons to keep the servings to a minimum, no matter how pleading their little faces are when you’re cooking bacon.
Turkey Bacon
If there is one healthier option among the different types, it’s turkey bacon. They make it from dark and light turkey meat, which is lower in fat than other meats. Even so, turkey bacon is cured like any other, so the sodium level is still very high.
