Veggie straws are crunchy, colorful, and tasty. They’re my favorite night snack, especially when I want to see a movie. I have an uncontrollable love for veggie straws because I’m more attracted to salty, sour snacks or fruits. The 8th wonder of the world is how I can refuse to give in to my ragdoll, and she’s giving me those kitten eyes because I keep wondering whether veggie straws are safe for cats.
Can cats eat veggie straws? No, cats should not eat veggie straws. The snacks are loaded with salt and many ingredients cats shouldn’t be eating; they are also deep fried and provide no nutritional value to your cats. While it was manufactured for health-conscious people, there is not much difference between veggie straws and potato chips, and other snacks of the like.
Table of Contents
- What are Veggie straws
- Can Cats Eat Veggie Straws?
- Is Veggie Straws Safe For Cats?
- What will happen if my cat eats veggie straws?
- What should I Do If My Cat Eats Veggie Straws
- Veggie Straw Alternative For Cats
- Do Veggie straws provide any nutritional benefit for your Cat?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can cats have veggie straws?
What are Veggie straws
Veggie straws are made from processed potatoes. These snacks are deep-fried and made available in flavors such as plain cheesy, spicy, and sweet.
Veggie straws are made with potato starch and flour, oil, tomato paste, spinach powder, cornstarch, artificial Colours, and a high amount of salts and seasonings.
While the exact mode of production is a secret kept by the manufacturers, veggie straws are made by crushing potatoes into powder and mixing it with food color and starches.
The final mixture is pressed through an extruder; this creates tubes, thin hollows, or straws, which are then cut to the size we know it to be in and deep-fried while each batch is seasoned with a particular flavor before being packaged.
Can Cats Eat Veggie Straws?
Cats can’t eat veggie straws because they are deep-fried and contain high salt and fat. Most ingredients used in making veggie straws are potato starch which provides no nutritional benefit for your cat. The unnecessary high fat salt and starch content and the possible seasoning used in the particular veggie straw can cause many health issues for your cat.
Actually, your kitty may be able to eat a few veggie straws, but it may not cause harm or issues instantly; letting your cat continually keep on eating registrars would cause problems in the long run or even the short run if you give them much at once.
Sometimes it could get tough to brush a cat’s teeth or make it exercise. So, why would you give your cat something that would give it 60 calories of fat per serving when you may not be able to get your car to exercise— leading to unnecessary weight gains?
Is Veggie Straws Safe For Cats?
No, While veggie straws may not cost your cat’s life instantly, the ingredients used in making it could be bad for your cat’s health, and the seasonings used in veggie straws could be safe for us humans but not safe for your kitty. Below, we are exploring the ingredients used and how they could impact your cat.
Cornstarch
Corn is a less common allergen source in cats; the starch is less allergenic than flour. Usually, it is recommended that you use cat food containing cornstarch as a carbohydrate source for cats suffering from corn allergies. While cornstarch is nontoxic to cats, it could still cause upset stomachs in some or trigger allergic reactions in others.
Processed potato starch and flour
Peeled roasted or cooked potatoes without salt or added spice are traditionally safe for your cat, but recently it has been discovered that potato causes feline heart diseases. This feline heart disease is called dilated cardiomyopathy, which leads to heart enlargement and can be lethal to your cat.
While it is less likely for a single veggie straw to cause such a situation, you should be aware that if your cat consumes too many potatoes or potato snacks, you are at a higher risk of developing this disease.
If your cat consumes lots of starch foods, it’ll lead to:
- Kidney issues
- Excessive weight gain
- Slow metabolism
- Digestion issues
- Dental problems
Oil
High-temperature hydrogenated oil is used in deep frying veggie straws, which increases their fat content. Your cat is not supposed to be eating fried foods except once-in-a-while treats. If you feed your oily cat snacks and fried foods regularly, you should be expecting the following diseases:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Cardiac disorders
- Pancreatitis
- Lethargy
- Intestinal problems
Like veggie straws, funyuns are deep fried in hydrogenated oil, a known wrong type of oil for cats.
Tomato paste
Tomato is a cat-friendly ingredient in its raw form. On the other hand, tomato paste, depending on how it is prepared, contains salt, sugar, and preservatives that are of no benefit to your cat.
I am no fan of tomatoes in cat foods or snacks. Although tomato contains Vitamin C fiber and potassium, they are pretty acidic and are used as fillers instead of the primary nutrients. Felines’ nutritional requirements are different from way humans; tomatoes are not as healthy as it is a human for a cat. My advice is to stick to high-quality cat food and avoid snacks containing tomatoes as fillers.
Onion and Garlic
Garlic and onion have N-propyl breaks down red blood cells in felines; this adverse effect on cats is called Hemolytic Anemia. You should avoid a situation where your cat will have to consume onion. Powdered onions are used in veggies straw—powdered onions are more toxic than the raw form because they are concentrated. If your cat ingests onions, the following may occur.
- Anemia
- Lethargy
- Weakness
Spinach Powder
Spinach for cats is safe, except when the cat is suffering from kidney problems. If a cat hears too much spinach, it could be harmful, as it harbors high amounts of oxalic acid. The amount of spinach powder used in veggie straws will not cause issues.
Salt
What attracts me to veggie straws is the alluring salt taste, but the salt in veggie straws is considered too much for cats and even humans. Cats, unlike humans, have a much lesser salt threshold. Average cats need about 21 milligrams of salt per day.
Veggie straws contain about 220mg of sodium; now, you can see how harmful it can be to your cat. Too much sodium can cause the following:
- Dehydration
- Sodium poisoning
- Muscle spasm
- Hypertension
- Cardiac disorder
- Kidney disease
What will happen if my cat eats veggie straws?
Your cat is likely to have no symptoms after consuming son veggie straws. However, you have to observe the cat for any signs of abnormality.
Avoid any unnatural diet and only give your kitty safe, high-quality cat-oriented foods. If your cat has loose stools or throws up multiple times, keep it hydrated and watch for more aggressive symptoms.
Symptoms likely to be shown
How severe the symptom may depend on how many veggie straws you let your kitty consume. Your feline friend will likely suffer from sodium poisoning if it munches lots of veggie straws.
Onion and garlic poisoning could occur if your cat consumes much of the ranch or spicy flavored veggie straws. In cases like this, reach out to your vet as soon as possible.
Common symptoms noticed after you cat chomps on so veggie straws
- Loose stools
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
Sodium poisoning signs include
- Fever
- Weakness
- Convulsion
- Excessive urination
- Dizziness
- Muscle spasm
Garlic and onion powder poisoning symptoms include:
- Weakness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Difficulty in breathing.
What should I Do If My Cat Eats Veggie Straws
Once you notice signs of onion or sodium poisoning, get help immediately. Go along with the wrapper of the particular flavor; this will help the vets determine the best emergency option.
Make sure you don’t panic
This is the very first and essential step; your cat is going to get more nervous if it notices you’re uneasy, and this may make its condition more severe. Try and hide all your emotions of pain, and pet the cat till you get where you’re going. Your cat is likely to poop on the way to the vet; make sure to include his carrier.
Involve Your Vet
Not all cases of reactions require a visit to the vet. Explain precisely what is wrong with your kitty; the vet will determine if you need to bring it to the hospital or not.
Observe your cat for symptoms
Cats are professional disguisers; they can hide any signs of pain or discomfort. You have to be very observant and check if there is any irregularity in its behavior or if it’s vomiting or having diarrhea.l lethargy or difficulty in breathing. Call your vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
Be proactive
Mistakenly or purposely, your cat is likely to munch on a toxic or poisonous substance—no matter how careful you are. This is why you should prepare for emergencies by having your vet’s number readily available at all times and the knowledge of the nearest 24-hour hospital for pets.
Follow up
After a case of emergency has been resolved, it’s best to keep an eye on your cat to see if you’ll notice any strange behaviors. Also, follow any medications accordingly, and ask the vet what you should do for the next week or two.
Prevention
The best way to prevent this is to keep snacks and things that are toxic or poisonous to your cat. This included not feeding your cat veggie straws. Instead, you can try out the following cat snacks:
Veggie Straw Alternative For Cats
Cooked chicken
My cat always seems to run towards the kitchen each time I am boiling chicken; he finds the aroma irresistible. As a rule, cats should not consume treats beyond 20% of their daily diet. Hence, I could give him some chicken since it’s a bland food and helps with gastrointestinal problems. Chicken is best boiled or baked(ensure to remove the bones.
Tuna
In giving your cat or kitten tuna, you should ensure to provide fresh tuna, but if you give them canned tuna, ensure it’s the one packed in water and not in salt and oil. This is an occasional treat since it contains so much mercury, but it’s a good source of protein and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Turkey
Turkey is a safe treat for cats. You can prepare it cooked or baked with no spice or salt. The necks are also used to keep a cat’s breath fresh. Also, the dark part of a turkey’s meat(heart, liver, and any organ that works constantly) contains taurine—making turkey a perfect cat treat.
Eggs
Booker, scrambled or any method except fried eggs are great for your cat. The egg is rich in amino acids, which are protein building blocks. They are easily digestible.
Cooked Fish
Baked, boiled, or grilled fish is excellent for cats. Most fish are packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making them a good treat for your cats.
Dry kelp
Kelp is high in fiber; your cat will find it easy to digest. It could help the general function of your kitty’s digestive system.
Watermelon
Watermelons are great occasional treats for cats; take out the seeds, cut in bits, and serve. You can equally mix this non-toxic fruit in your cat’s meal.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a yummy treat for both you and your cat. It is rich in fiber; constantly used by vets to ease constipation in cats. You can roast dome of this natural perfection for your cat.
Guava
This is one of my cat’s favorite desires. The great thing about this fruit is that your kitty could eat every part of it(rind and flesh)without fear of toxicity.
Bananas
Another fantastic once-in-a-while treat is banana; your cats could safely eat some bananas with no issue; you should ensure to give them little bits, 1inch at a time.
Do Veggie straws provide any nutritional benefit for your Cat?
No, veggie straws are void of any nutritional benefits for your cat. The quantity of iron, potassium, and calcium in veggie straws is too little to provide your cat with any benefit. The major constituents are cholesterol, fats, sodium, and carbs in high levels that are beyond what your cat needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats eat veggie chips?
No, don’t give your cat veggie chips. While it contains vegetables safe for cats, veggie chips are full of fat, sodium, carbs, and seasoning, which can be toxic. Observe the ingredient before giving your kitty some.
Is ranch Veggie straws bad for cats?
Ranch veggie straws are unsafe for cats because of the infringement that cats shouldn’t be consuming; onion and garlic powder. Your cat could become ill if they consume much.
Can Cats Eat Garden Veggie Straws?
No, cats shouldn’t eat Garden Veggie straws. This snack has 0 nutritional benefits for your cat. If you want to get artificial flavors, sodium, and fats into your cat’s body—give it some.
Can cats have veggie straws?
No, your cats should not have veggie straws; it provides no health benefits for your pet; it only exposes them to health issues.
There are other fun things you could feed your pet instead of veggie straws, such as pumpkin, guava, watermelon, chicken, fish, turkey, carrots, and peas.
