Bologna (sometimes referred to as baloney) is known to have an irresistible aroma and delicious taste, which cats can quickly notice because they are susceptible to smells. That’s why when you’re sitting somewhere enjoying a mouth-watering Bologna sandwich, your furry friend is likely to offer to taste the sandwich. However, more knowledge needs to be shared on this topic, can cats eat bologna? or should we say can cats eat baloney
Before giving your cat a piece of Bologna, you may want to know if it is safe for your cat to eat Bologna. This is a crucial question that requires consideration, as you don’t want to harm your cat.
Please read on to find out if Bologna is safe for your cat.
Can cats eat Bologna? – The ingredients
Bologna is a relatively heavily processed food that contains different meat products. Usually, Bologna includes cuts of meat that cannot be used. These unusable parts can be the fatty part of the cut or any other meat part that cannot be commonly used for any other purpose, for example, cooking.
Bologna contains a large amount of salt, which improves its flavor and alters its taste. Most importantly, it has a variety of seasonings and spices that are not suitable for cats. Bologna seasonings include paprika, cilantro, mustard, cornstarch, sugar, and black pepper.
A typical Bologna is high in nitrates and contains MSG (monosodium glutamate) to enhance its fresh flavor.
Regardless of the spices and meats used in Bolognese, the ingredient for its unique flavor is myrtle berry. Bologna contains only a tiny amount of myrtle berries, but unfortunately, this ingredient is quite toxic to cats. So, regardless of the quantity, any piece of Bologna you feed your cat could be potentially harmful to him.
In some bologna recipes, regular sugar is replaced by cornstarch. Corn starch is not easily digestible, even after processing. Therefore, if your cat eats Bologna stuffed with corn starch, he will have some digestive problems.
Can cats eat Bologna? – The Benefits?
Generally speaking, Bologna should not be eaten by cats, especially in large quantities. If you must give your cat some Bologna, it must be in small amounts. Large amounts of Bologna should not be part of a cat’s diet. Most importantly, a cat should not consume a lot of Bologna at one time. Large amounts of Bologna can put undue stress on a cat’s liver, kidneys, and other vital organs.
It’s noteworthy to mention that there is no harm if you occasionally give him small amounts of Bologna treats. The problem arises if you make Bologna a part of his main diet. Cats know which foods are part of their main diet.
If you start feeding your cat bologna regularly, he will think Bologna is his food and start craving it. The cat will begin to sneak around and nibble on your Bologna. Eventually, he will start to steal and eat the whole Bologna.
The critical issue here is not to get your cat used to eating Bologna. It will help if you stop feeding him in Bologna.
Specific problems with Bologna
Bologna itself will not cause any problems for your feline friend, provided the cat has a balanced diet and only eats small amounts of Bologna. One of the reasons Bologna may cause problems for your cat is that cats have difficulty digesting processed or human foods. Bologna is a processed food with too much salt, dangerous for cats because it can cause salt poisoning.
The spices commonly found in Bologna are also harmful to cats, especially myrtle berries, toxic to cats. Bologna also contains high levels of fatty deposits, which are bad for your cat and bad for you. The fat in Bologna can increase your cat’s cholesterol levels, which in turn can lead to heart diseases, high blood pressure, and various levels of cardiovascular complications.
Can Cats Eat Beef Bologna?
Beef Bologna is often considered a healthier alternative to Bologna for people, so it’s reasonable to wonder if it’s also a better choice for your cat.
To understand if beef Bologna is a better alternative for cats than the regular Bologna, we first need to consider why people recommended it as the better alternative.
Beef Bologna is often considered better for people because it is less likely to be made from meat by-products and more processed meats. Single meat products have long been considered healthier than multiple meat products (chicken, beef, and pork products are the main ingredients of Bologna).
The reasons for this vary but usually dates back to religious dietary requirements that do not allow pork products or do not allow mixed meat ingredients at that time.
Whole-beef Bologna products are usually better for consumption than the other Bologna. However, this is primarily because whole-beef Bologna producers typically use higher quality cuts of meat than is inherent in their recipes.
So, when we consider feeding beef bologna to cats, there are some pros and cons. On the one hand, it is made from better quality meat, which can be a good thing. On the other hand, beef has a stronger flavor than many traditional Bologna, which means that whole-beef Bologna has more salt and seasoning.
It’s also important to note that beef tends to be high in fat and is very high-caloric meat.
Ultimately, all-beef Bologna will not be healthier than regular Bologna and maybe worse, depending on the cat’s dietary needs.
Can cats eat turkey Bologna?
Turkey Bologna is a slightly different story. Just like beef bologna, it is made entirely of one type of meat. However, turkey bologna is usually leaner and lighter in calories than the regular version, which may mean it is better.
Turkey also has a naturally milder flavor, which means that some recipes require fewer seasonings, including salt than regular Bologna. This still doesn’t mean that the herb and seasoning are safe for your cat, but it is less likely to cause problems than traditional seasoning.
Turkey Bologna can even contain ingredients that are good for your cat, such as turkey giblets. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a good source of these foods. If you want to feed your cat a healthy turkey snack, consider feeding them unseasoned and fully cooked turkey meat that you prepare at home.
If you must feed Bologna to your cat, this is probably the best option. However, for reasons we will discuss in the Bologna ingredients section, it is still not part of the vast array of delicious foods.
How much is Bologna good for my cat?
As mentioned earlier, Bologna contains myrtle berries, which makes it toxic to cats. If you must feed your cat in Bologna, you must be very careful about the quality of what you feed him. Please give him a small piece of Bologna once in a while.
Make the pieces as small as possible. Bologna, the size of your fingertip is more than enough for your cat. You can give him Bologna as big as a regular snack or even smaller. Remember, even a quarter of the size of a traditional Bologna can be toxic to your cat.
When giving your cat a piece of Bologna as a treat, don’t let him take more than two bites – one bite is ideal. What if your cat steals a part of Bologna? You don’t have to worry excessively, as long as he doesn’t overeat Bologna.
One or two bites won’t hurt him as long as he is healthy, well-hydrated, and eating a balanced diet. If your cat shows any unusual signs, you’d better take him to the vet for a medical examination and treatment.
If you find that your cat likes Bologna, it is best to start keeping them away from them.
Can cats eat Bologna? – The Conclusion
Can cats eat Bologna? The short answer is “yes.” However, remember that human food is not suitable for cats. You should train your cat to prefer cat food to human food. It is good to give your cat some small pieces of Bologna once in a while. What you shouldn’t do is make bologna part of your cat’s main diet. Don’t get your cat used to eating Bologna.
If you have some extra bologna in your home, it’ll be wise to keep it away from your cat. It’s possible that your cat may form the habit of snatching and eating Bologna now and then. If he does this, he will eventually develop an insatiable appetite and may begin to eat more than his body can handle. This can lead to medical complications. If your cat shows any signs of abnormality after eating Bologna, take him to the vet.
