I received a mail earlier today asking: “Are buffalo wings bad for cats?” There are some things you can’t feed your cat as they can hurt your cat.
Our cats are obligatory carnivores, which means they need meats to be included in their diets, as this is their systems are configured to function better. Healthy cat food is meant to include enough protein and fats, this is why a chicken wing may seem like a great protein treat.
Can cats eat buffalo wings? No, never let your cat eat Buffalo wing. Buffalo wings are made with hot sauce(which contains cayenne pepper that is bad for cats–some buffalo wings are made with garlic which is another recipe a cat shouldn’t eat.
Buffalo wings are chicken wings, but they are prepared differently. Chicken wings are dipped into barbecue sauce while buffalo wings are dipped into buffalo sauce whose main ingredient is butter, Cayenne pepper, hot sauce, and vinegar.
In this article, we will explore if buffalo wings are safe for cats, and other things which you serve to your cats that may do them harm.
Table of Contents
- Are Buffalo Wings Bad For Cats?
- can cats eat buffalo chicken?
- What will happen if my cat eats buffalo wings?
- Can cats eat raw chicken bones
- Final thoughts
Are Buffalo Wings Bad For Cats?
Yes, buffalo wings are bad for cats, they contain Cayenne pepper–whose main ingredient is Capsaicin which has a terrible effect on cats if eaten in large quantities. Also, a buffalo wing is steamed and deep-fried, which will make the bones splinter easily, to bits.
The splinter of cooked meat can do some damage to your cat’s mouth, injuring your cat in the process. Also, there is a possibility of the inclusion of garlic in the buffalo wings which is poisonous to cats in a certain quantity.
If you’re looking to feed your cat a part of chicken they will enjoy feasting on, that would give them no issues, you can give them the chicken’s thigh, or neck. Not only are these a great way of providing protein for your cat, but it’s also a way of cleaning the teeth of a cat that hates to be brushed.
can cats eat buffalo chicken?
No, Buffalo wings could lead to a whole lot of issues from intestinal bleeding to intestinal blockage which may need surgery to resolve. Most of the ingredients used in preparing buffalo wings are on the cat’s food red list.
You also have the danger of the bongs splintering easily and possibly wrecking the cat’s gum. In small amounts, the buffalo wings may not cause and big issues, but you can’t be so sure the day it may result to a greater issue, so it’s best to keep away buffalo wings from the reach of your cat .
Ingredients in Buffalo wings that could be harmful to your cat
It’s good to care for your cat to the extent of wanting to give her some of your foods or things you never knew would pose any risk to your cat’s health. Unfortunately, you might just be giving your cat what could cause an upset to the balance of their system.
Here are the things you shouldn’t feed your cat:
Onions and garlic
are known for their anemia-causing properties if consumed in large quantities by the cat. You should avoid giving your cat any food that has a concentrated amount of onions or garlic, like garlic powder or onion soup. Buffalo wings made with garlic can also be terrible for your cat.
Cayenne pepper
As we stated in the introduction of this article, the cayenne pepper which contains capsaicin can be terrible for your cat. Cats may tolerate a little amount of this pepper, but that shouldn’t be a reason to give them food with this pepper. See the case study below.
The first day my cat consumed a leftover of some of my buffalo wings remnant I left in the bin, she gave a loud noise and went straight to her litter box and puked, since they don’t taste spice that much, but only perceive it as much as possible, I think it hurt her system.
Hot sauce
As a good pet owner, it is paramount to know what your cat needs to eat and what it shouldn’t. In a case where you see your cat attracted to anything with hot sauce, they are not necessarily attracted to the hot sauce, but what is wrapped in the hot sauce.
Is hot sauce safe for your cats? No, it’s not safe for your cat, but in small quantities, they may pose no issues to your cat since they just have a few hundred taste buds, if the taste of hot pepper doesn’t deter the cat, the hot sauce can still cause upset in your cat’s stomach since it contains capsaicin.
Asides from capsaicin, some hot sauces are flavored with garlic and onions which we have discussed above, it’s a threat to a your cat’s body system.
Symptoms your cat may exhibit after ingesting hot sauce may include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and stomach upset. Usually, these resolves on their own, should in case it doesn’t,see the vet.
Other things you shouldn’t feed your cat includes:
Chocolate:
Chocolates are bad for so many pets, when I first had a dog, I let him share snickers with me, and the effect was off the chart. Cats also don’t need chocolates, since they contain Methylxanthines which are known to cause muscle tremors, high temperature, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased thirst. Caffeinated beverages that contain Methylxanthines should never be given to your cat.
Dog foods
Dog foods are not necessarily a threat to your cat, but they don’t contain enough vitamin A, taurine, and arachidonic acid which are a must in a cat’s diet. A cat without taurine and arachidonic acid in its diet are likely to develop a dental disease or heart disease.
Grapes and resin
Grapes and resin are just about the easiest way of making your cat fall ill. Cats usually begin to show symptoms 5 – 12 hours after consuming grapes and resin. These symptoms include decreased urination, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Grapes and resin could cause kidney failure in cats.
Milk and dairy products
Although some cats may show tolerance to milk, and most cats love milk, milk can be bad for your cat. Some kittens are only fed for a few weeks, which means their system wouldn’t have gotten used to the lactose in their mum’s milk, leading to issues if you introduce milk to them later on.
The main reason why milk is not good for your kitten is lactose, some cats may not tolerate lactose, since their systems won’t be able to digest it properly.
What will happen if my cat eats buffalo wings?
Since studies have shown that a high intake of sodium in cats will not necessarily affect their kidneys and hearts. Other constituents of buffalo wings, such as the hot sauce(have capsaicin) and the chicken wings that were steamed and drip-fried can cause your cat to choke or cause a bone to be lodged in your cat’s intestines.
Asides from that, your cat may also vomit or have diarrhea if he Ingests much of the hot pepper. Usually, a cat will use his litter box a few minutes after consuming the buffalo wings. Most times, you’ll only notice these symptoms if they consume a substantial amount.
What to do if my cat eats buffalo wings?
The first aid treatment you should give your cat if she ingests cooked chicken bones or buffalo wings is to observe her for a few days, if she shows any of the following intestinal blockage symptoms, get her to see a vet real soon.
The systems of laceration of the intestine include the following.
- Abdominal blockage
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sudden loss of appetite
Can cats eat raw chicken bones
Yes! Raw chicken bones are the best type of bones you can feed to your cats. They don’t splinter into bits like the cooked chicken bones, which can pose a threat to the cat’s intestinal tracts by lodging somewhere, or possibly choking the cat.
Raw bones possess more nutrients and are better served in little bits to avoid your cat getting into any trouble from trying to chew or ingest the bones.
Benefits of feeding raw chicken bones to your cat
Raw chicken bones contain numerous nutrients and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Calcium plays a vital role in maintaining the health of your chicken’s teeth and bones.
Since that is susceptible to gingivitis, plus over 70% of cats owners don’t brush their cat’s teeth as a result of the fierce refusal that may ensue, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus will help their teeth and jaw bone fight diseases while also ensuring proper functioning of the nerves.
Here is a video on how to feed your cat bones:
Final thoughts
Buffalo wings in small amounts may not kill your cat, but they could cause some issues for them. Every day for the cat, one day is usually for the bone, we never want such a day to come.
Always visit the vet if the symptoms become terrible, usually, they resolve on their own but you need to be on the lookout for what your cat is eating, this means keeping the bin out of reach, if possible keeping away the cooked bone till it’s time to throw the main garbage away.
One Comment