Can Cats Eat Pasta?

The short answer: Yes and no.

The long answer: Pasta is commonly made of flour, water, and eggs. These three ingredients are safe for your pet cat to eat. However, how you cook the pasta and what you mix with it will determine if it is safe for your cat to consume.

Pasta is traditionally boiled with salt, which is lethal for cats. Just a small amount can cause diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, incoordination, and excessive thirst or urination. In extreme cases, your cat may even end up with tremors, seizures, or fall into a coma.

Uncooked pasta should not be served to your cat because it is difficult to eat and digest in its raw form. Aside from this, think twice before feeding your cat pasta mixed with tomato, cream, or wine-based sauces. Garlic, onion, cheese, lemon, butter, wine, and certain types of milk cannot be fed to your cat because these may cause adverse effects.

How to feed pasta to your cat: Check the nutritional facts label to make sure all the ingredients are safe for your cat. Boil the pasta in water until it becomes soft and easy to chew. Serve a few pieces of the pasta and do not add any sauce, seasoning, or flavouring.

Here are three ideas for pasta treats your cat will love:

Whip up this chicken and pasta stew for kitty.
Give a piece of cooked pasta as a reward after grooming or bathing.
Macaroni and chicken fillets are all you need for this tasty treat.

In summary: Packed with protein, fiber, fats, and minerals, cooked plain pasta can be given to your cat as an occasional treat. Because of its high carbohydrate content, too much pasta may lead to gastrointestinal complications and cause weight gain or obesity. Raw pasta or those served with sauces are not safe for your cat to consume.

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