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Can Cats Eat Salt?

Can Cats Eat Salt?

The short answer: No.

The long answer: Salt is a mineral that is commonly used for cooking and adding flavour to dishes. Just a small amount (4 grams of salt per 2 pounds of your cat’s weight) can cause harm to your kitten friend. Eating salt may lead to her manifesting any or all of these symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, incoordination, and excessive thirst or urination. In extreme cases, your cat may even have tremors, seizures, or fall into a coma.  

Aside from food seasoned with salt, the mineral may also be found in other items such as homemade play/salt dough, rock salt, paintballs, enema solutions, and salt lamps. To prevent accidents, keep these and table salt safely stored from your wandering cat at all times. 

What to do if your cat accidentally eats salt: Do not try to force your cat to vomit, nor should you try to treat the cat by yourself. Call your veterinarian immediately. Try to determine how much salt she consumed, and inform her doctor about it. The vet clinic may administer fluids intravenously or by mouth, as well as monitor your cat’s sodium levels closely over the next few days. 

In summary: Salt should never be kept lying around the kitchen and dining area, especially if you own cats (and even dogs!). This mineral is highly poisonous for them, and can lead to severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, stomach inflammation, and death. Prevention is better than a visit to the vet. 

Discover which human food cats can safely consume in our “can cats eat” category.

References:

Salt

Salt Toxicity

Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat

What Should I Feed My Cat?

Poisoning in Cats



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