No, cats should not eat twiggy sticks because of its ingredients.
Twiggy sticks are meat sticks that have been seasoned, cooked, and dried. The sticks are tasty snacks that may be eaten any time of the day, or served at parties. Though they are safe for humans to eat, the same cannot be said for cats. Common ingredients found in twiggy sticks include pork, salt, curing premix, tapioca starch, dried vegetables (garlic and onion), and spices. It may even include artificial preservatives and flavourings.
Though cats can eat cooked and unflavoured pork, the other aforementioned ingredients can cause irreparable harm. Salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, incoordination, and excessive thirst or urination in cats. On the other hand, garlic and onion consumption can damage a cat’s red blood cells. It can lead to conditions such as Heinz body anemia, Hemolytic anemia, and methemoglobinemia.
What to do if your cat accidentally eats twiggy sticks: Review the nutrition facts label. Find out if there are potentially toxic ingredients for your cat. Take note of how much she has eaten. And more importantly, observe her for changes in her mood, behaviour, as well as eating and litter box habits. Consult with your veterinarian on the next steps to take.
Depending on the ingredients found in the twiggy sticks, your cat may display signs of poisoning. These may include: salivation, diarrhea, vomiting, twitching and fitting, difficulty in breathing, skin inflammation or swelling, shock or collapse, depression or coma, and changes in eating, drinking, and urinating.
In summary: Twiggy sticks are not suitable snacks for cats. If you are interested in giving your cat meat-based treats, it is advisable to speak with your veterinarian. Find out which types of meat she can safely eat. Moreover, find out how much and how often you can give it to her based on her age, weight, size, and physical activity.
Instead of twiggy sticks, find out which fruits and vegetables you can safely feed your cat. Check out our blog’s “can cats eat” category.
References:
Which supermarket meats can your cat eat?
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.