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If you love eating Pop-Tarts, you might wonder if cats can eat them. But the truth is, humans shouldn’t even eat Pop-Tarts. They are full of sugar, artificial dyes, and empty calories. When it comes to your cat, they should not be fed Pop-Tarts. Traditional recipes aren’t toxic to cats, but chocolate-flavored recipes are. Chocolate Pop-Tarts contain cocoa, which can make your cat (and dog) very sick. If your cat has eaten any chocolate-flavored Pop-Tarts, you must contact your vet immediately.
If your cat has tried other recipes, you don’t need to worry as much. Cats are obligate carnivores who can’t taste sweet flavors, so they are not a good use of empty calories to satisfy your feline.
Cats Shouldn’t Eat Pop-Tarts
Cats do not benefit from a single ingredient in Pop-Tarts, and if you let your cat eat the sugary treats often, they can adversely impact their health. Granted, you’re probably looking up this article because they licked your Pop-Tart, and you’re worried about possible toxicity.
Unless it is a chocolate-flavor Pop-Tart, you don’t need to worry. But if, for some reason, you have a cat that has a craving for Pop-Tarts, here’s why you should deny the request.
Artificial Ingredients
The ingredients list for Pop-Tarts is extensive, and most components are unsuitable for your cat. The fruit base, for instance, contains real apples, strawberries, and pears. However, the number of dyes, flour, and starches is unhealthy.
No Nutritional Value
Several vitamins are listed in Pop-Tarts, which can be deceiving. But when you consider how many calories and carbs are stuffed into them, the nutrients are canceled out. The most important macronutrient for cats is protein of animal origin. This product contains none.
Sugar Overload
There are 12 grams of sugar and 205 calories in just one Pop-Tart. Not only does your cat lack any benefit of sugar in their diet, but they also can’t taste it.
As we said before, for the above mentioned reasons you should avoid giving pop-tarts to your cat and if they happen to eat some, you should contact your vet and ask for help.
Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness
You might look at your lazy cat lounging in their window hammock and wonder how a species could come so far from their wild ancestors. Even as spoiled as domesticated cats, their dietary needs haven’t changed.
In the wild, cats eat other animals. They never snack on plants unless they consume the occasional grass. Since our kitties are obligate carnivores, they have no evolutionary reason to taste certain flavors.
Do Cats Like Foods Like Pop-Tarts?
Most cats would take one curious sniff of a Pop-Tart and walk away with a brief inspection. It’s not something most cats want to eat. However, all cats are different, and you might have a cat who likes the texture or wants to gnaw on something, but it’s not probable that they will show interest.
Pop-Tarts aren’t fragrant enough to entice a cat’s appetite. So, whether or not your cat takes a shine to these breakfast treats is an unlikely gamble. If you plan to give your cat a “people snack,” consider boiled meats or broths with no additional ingredients.
A Cat’s Ideal Diet
Pop-Tarts provide no nutritional value, and the chocolate-flavored recipes contain cocoa, which is highly toxic to cats. It’s best to always stay within the realm of recommended nutrition to keep your cat feeling their best.
Knowing exactly what your feline companion can and cannot eat will help you become the best pet parent. Recognizing that not all cat bowls are equal is also key! The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl sets itself apart from traditional options by catering to the specific needs of cats. The innovative design offers whisker relief via shallow dishes and promotes digestion with a slight bowl elevation. Find out if the Hepper NomNom is right for your cat by clicking here. At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Final Thoughts
You probably already figured that cats shouldn’t eat Pop-Tarts. However, the good news is that Pop-Tarts are non-toxic, so even if your feline takes a nibble, they will be fine. Since your cat can’t taste sweetness, it’s much more likely that they won’t bother with a Pop-Tart. But if they enjoy this preservative-filled pastry for some strange reason, it’s best to give them healthier cat treats instead.
You may also want to read:
- Can Cats Eat Prosciutto? Is It Healthy for Them?
- Can Cats Eat Cornbread? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
- Can Cats Eat Yams? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
Featured Image Credit: Brent Hofacker, Shutterstock
