If your cat has a craving for a bite of your lasagna dinner, then you might have thought about whether or not it can safely eat it. You might have also had some questions about the famous cat named Garfield, who is a comic-strip character. So, can cats eat lasagna?
There is no conclusive explanation for the question of whether cats can eat lasagna. However, the most important thing is that the ingredients used in the dish are the ones that your cat has eyes for. Although it is technically not toxic to cats, many of the ingredients used in a lasagna can pose a risk to their health. Aside from being a carbohydrate-based food, lasagna also has a nutritional issue since it is mainly made from protein.
Before you can feed your cat human food, make sure that you ask your veterinarian first. Here is a guide that will introduce you to the ins and outs of feeding your feline friend lasagna.
Is Lasagna Harmful To Cats?
Although it is not considered poisonous to cats, lasagna can still be toxic if it has added ingredients. The main cause of cat food intolerance is garlic. Although it can be safely used in small amounts, it can still be detrimental to a pet’s health. Other common food additives such as spices and sodium in the sauce can also contribute to the issue.
Although there are various ingredients that go into making a good lasagna, the main staple is usually the meat. It would not upset your cat’s stomach, but let’s consider the cheese. Although your cat likes cheese, it should not eat dairy products. This is because it can not digest lactose, which is a type of dairy product. Also, people usually think of a cat eating milk, but this is not the case.
Even though it is not considered deadly for cats, a bite of lasagna can be very salty, and it can also lead to a cat getting sick. Also, cats do not require much salt to eat. Human food can also get salty, and all of the ingredients in a lasagna can be a recipe for disaster.
What Are The Side Effects If The Cats Eat Lasagna?
If you were a kid who was exposed to cartoons or television shows such as “Garfield” or “The New Adventures of Superman,” then you might have mistakenly thought that cats hate Mondays and love lasagna. It is hard to tell if either of these is true, as it is possible that some cats actually hate Mondays.
It is not precisely clear if cats should eat lasagna, but it is a good idea to think about its side effects of it if your pet likes it. The safety of cats depends on the ingredients of the dish.
It can cause food poisoning due to garlic.
Lasagna contains a different kind of ingredient that might cause your cat food poisoning, so If you are planning on giving your cat lasagna, make sure that it is not in large quantities. It can be detrimental to your cat’s health. Most of the time, it takes a single clove of garlic to cause poisoning.Â
The chemicals in garlic can also damage red blood cells in your cat’s bloodstream. This process leads to the body’s destruction of these cells at a faster rate than they can be made. Although a cat may not show immediate signs of poisoning after eating lasagna garlic, it can take up to four days for its symptoms to appear. Some of the most common symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and a change in respiratory and heart rate.
Breakdown of your cat’s red blood cells caused by onions.
Aside from being beneficial to humans, onions are also commonly used in Italian dishes such as lasagna. However, are they healthy for cats? Regardless of the form of onion, raw, cooked, or powdered, they are toxic to cats. If more than one gram of food has been eaten in a five-pound of a cat’s body weight, it can cause harmful effects.
The consumption of onions can cause your cat’s red blood cells to break down. This process will result in fewer red blood cells being able to carry oxygen throughout the body, which will cause your cat to become weak and panting.
Onion poisoning can also cause weakness, fatigue, and gastrointestinal upset. Some of the other symptoms that can be seen include lethargy, weakness, and blood in the urine.
It can cause allergic reactions.
While your cat may adore the taste of cheese in the lasagna, it is not ideal for them. This is because milk products are known to be unhealthy for cats. Contrary to popular belief, cats are not able to digest milk. They are, in fact, allergic to dairy products and can be intolerant to lactose. This is why it is essential to educate yourself about giving your cat lasagna.
Cats that eat too much cheese will often develop gastrointestinal upset. This can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
What Should I Do If My Cat Eats lasagna?
If your cat likes to eat some lasagna, you probably do not have to worry, but you can still call your veterinarian if you want to be safe. If the ingredients used in your lasagna were purchased at a store, then there could be some reason for concern.
Although a tiny amount of food can make your cat sick, it would not cause them to suffer from severe health issues. You have to face the truth; unless you live in an area with a lot of cat food, chances are that your cat would not eat all of the pans of lasagna that you prepared. They might even bite into some of the sauce or leave a few pieces on the pan.
If your cat did not eat enough lasagna, then you probably do not have to worry about them getting sick. However, keep an eye on your cat as they might have an upset stomach.
If you are worried about your cat, you can also call the vet. However, they might also suggest that you keep an eye on your pet for a couple of hours.
Read also: Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?
How Do You Make Lasagna Cat Friendly?
In your pan, cook the ground turkey and sausage until done. Set aside. In a separate pan, mix the cottage cheese and egg. In a loaf pan, put the sauce and cover the noodles. For the sauce, put 1 cup sauce, 1 cup cheese, and 1 cup egg.
For the meat, put 1 cup meat, 1 cup spinach, and 1.5 noodles. For the cheese, put 1 cup cottage cheese and 1 cup egg. However, If your lasagna has a lot of meat, make sure that the seasonings and sauce are not harmful to your cat. Also, make sure that the garlic is not too much and that other spices in it are not toxic.
Depending on the variety of meat you are using, you can provide your cat with some of the protein it needs. But, it is still important to serve your cat food in moderation. Also, do not feed your cat human meals as the main part of its diet.
How Do You know If Lasagna Is Bad For Your Cat?
Although the main ingredients of lasagna are usually safe for cats, there are other ingredients that could be toxic to them, and they should avoid consuming them if possible. Although garlic is an important ingredient, it should never be fed to cats. Even if you can safely remove the toxic parts of a lasagna, cats still require protein to maintain their weight.
Having too many carbohydrates in your cat’s diet can lead to a variety of health issues. This can also cause the animal to become too fat.
Even though you might not have to worry about your cat eating a tiny portion of lasagna, it is important to note that this dish is not a food that you should regularly feed to your feline companion. Making a large batch of this dish can be very time-consuming and challenging, especially if you are planning on making it for multiple people.
Read also: Can Cats Eat Zucchini?
Wrapping Up
Although it is unlikely that your cat will get hurt after eating a stolen bite of lasagna, it is not a good idea to give the dish to your pet. Not only could it cause an upset stomach, but it could also lead to various health issues, such as garlic poisoning. Instead, give your pet a diet of cat-friendly food.
