Cats are obligate carnivores and due to this fact predominantly advanced to eat meat of their eating regimen. Many homeowners are inclined to favor feeding high-quality cat meals—solely to see them snatch not-so-fresh meat out of the rubbish. However can cats eat spoiled meat?
No, cats mustn’t eat spoiled meat. They will get sick and are additionally capable of contract severe sickness, together with meals poisoning.
Right here, we focus on in additional element why cats can’t eat rotten meat and the indicators that you need to look ahead to in the event that they do.
What Can Occur If a Cat Eats Spoiled Meat?
There are various levels of spoilage that may result in various levels of sickness. Meat turns into rotten on account of publicity to temperature change and air, which allows bacterial development. It usually turns into slimy, modifications colour, and emits a foul odor. It’s harmful to eat as soon as it reaches this stage due to the dangerous micro organism. (Nevertheless, any quantity of bacterial contamination previous to this stage can be harmful!)
That is what results in meals poisoning, which might happen after consuming spoiled meat however can be potential with uncooked meat.
1. Meals Poisoning
Meals poisoning could be fairly severe and might make your cat very sick. Meals that has gone unhealthy or hasn’t been cooked correctly and has come into contact with feces can have organisms equivalent to Salmonella.
Indicators of meals poisoning can embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (is perhaps bloody)
- Drooling
- Fever
- Lack of urge for food
- Lack of power
- Stomach ache
You need to take your cat to your veterinarian or closest emergency clinic if they begin displaying any of those indicators otherwise you suspect they might have meals poisoning.
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2. E. coli
A severe well being threat from consuming spoiled meat is the potential of contracting E. coli. Whereas E. coli extra generally impacts kittens, grownup cats can nonetheless grow to be contaminated.
Indicators of an infection can embody:
- Watery diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Lack of urge for food
- Dehydration
3. Botulism
Whereas botulism is uncommon, it will probably consequence from consuming spoiled meat contaminated with Clostridium botulinum sort C carried out neurotoxin.
Most cats don’t have a tendency to come back down with the extra extreme results of botulism and might get well with supportive therapy. Nevertheless, botulism can result in issue respiratory, weak point, and dying in extreme cases.
4. Parasites
Unsurprisingly, rotten meat could be stuffed with inner parasites like roundworms and toxoplasma. Cats can expertise vomiting, diarrhea, and weight reduction and pose a threat to different pets and people.
5. Mildew
If the spoiled meat has had time to grow to be moldy and if the cat ingests it, it will probably result in mould poisoning. This could result in digestive upset, together with vomiting, stool modifications, and a scarcity of urge for food.
The best way to Stop Your Cat From Consuming Spoiled Meat
In case your cat is liable to sneaking into the rubbish (or nonetheless else they’re discovering the spoiled meat), you need to take steps to safe your trash. Even when this implies buying a brand new rubbish can with a lock that makes it “childproof,” it’s price it in your cat’s security.
Guarantee that you’re safely storing and disposing of meals gadgets, particularly meats, and work out how your cat may discover entry to rotten meals so you may take preventative steps.
When Ought to You See Your Veterinarian?
Since there are various totally different potential outcomes from varied sources and among the causes can have extreme repercussions, it’s all the time greatest to talk to your vet the second that you simply understand that your cat has eaten rotten meat. It would require an instantaneous go to, or they could instruct you in your subsequent steps, which is able to possible embody maintaining a tally of your cat for the following 48 hours.
Since consuming spoiled meat can result in vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration generally is a severe concern, and your cat might have rehydration by way of IV fluids. Your vet may additionally need to run blood and different diagnostic assessments for circumstances which may have resulted from consuming the contaminated meat. Catching any severe issues early will give your cat a greater prognosis. Additional, treating your cat is vital as many of those foodborne diseases may also make people sick.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Will Cats Eat Spoiled Meat?
Most cats aren’t more likely to eat spoiled meat. They’re liable to being choosy about what they eat typically, and cats even have a superb sense of scent. Mix these two traits, and you’ve got an animal that typically gained’t be occupied with consuming spoiled meat.
That mentioned, some cats may wolf it down, notably if they’re very hungry. It’s greatest to maintain it out of their means and never threat it.
Is It Okay to Feed Meat to Your Cat Only a Few Days After the Expiration Date?
Typically, no. For those who wouldn’t eat it, neither ought to your cat.
Additional, many human meals comprise components which are poisonous to cats, equivalent to garlic, onions, and anything within the onion household like chives and shallots. It’s greatest to stay with cat meals—the more energizing, the higher.
Can Moist Cat Meals Spoil?
Completely! Moist meals ought to include an expiration date on the container, so examine earlier than feeding.
When Does Moist Cat Meals Go Unhealthy?
If the meals is sitting out in your cat’s bowl otherwise you’ve left it on the counter, it must be eliminated after a few hours. Clear the meals bowl with cleaning soap and sizzling water earlier than filling it once more.
You’ll have to refrigerate any opened moist meals, and you may heat it up within the microwave earlier than feeding it to your cat once more. Opened moist meals must be refrigerated for not more than a day or two, after which it must be tossed.
Conclusion
Cats mustn’t eat carrion. Rotten meat is simply as harmful to our cats as it’s to us. A superb rule of thumb is to not give it to our pets if we wouldn’t eat it ourselves.
Spoiled meat can be extra harmful for kittens and senior cats. In case your cat already has a well being situation, that may make them extra susceptible to well being issues stemming from the unhealthy meat.
Converse to your vet if you happen to’re in any respect involved about your cat’s well being, and keep in mind that desk scraps and any meat previous its prime shouldn’t be given to cats.
Featured Picture Credit score: Montholz, Shutterstock