{"id":37986,"date":"2019-01-22T23:29:18","date_gmt":"2019-01-22T23:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/?p=37986"},"modified":"2023-03-17T16:29:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T16:29:16","slug":"can-cats-eat-pasta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/can-cats-eat-pasta\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cats Eat Pasta?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama Mia! Who doesn\u2019t like pasta? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve always wondered how the Mediterranean diet, with all that pasta and cheese, could be such a healthy diet for people. You might be wondering is pasta would be a healthy food for your cat to eat. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can cats even eat pasta? If so, how should you prepare pasta so your cat can eat it?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer is that cats can eat pasta, but it should be cooked first, and given only in moderation. Let\u2019s find out more about how pasta can be an okay treat for your cat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article we\u2019ll cover the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats and Pasta \u2013 What You Need to Know<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Cats Eat Pasta?<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Kittens Eat Pasta?<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits\/Negatives of Feeding Cats Pasta<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy Alternatives to Pasta for Cats<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);padding-top:15px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px;margin-bottom:40px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover{background:#ffffff;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container{max-width:101px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic{padding-bottom:100%;width:300px;height:0px;max-width:100%;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:#444444;background:#ffffff;border-color:#eeeeee;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:#444444;background:#ffffff;border-color:#eeeeee;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-infobox-textcontent h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-infobox-textcontent .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:#555555;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-color:#555555;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{color:#ffffff;background:#444444;border-color:#444444;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-intrisic kt-info-animate-none kb-info-box-image-ratio kb-info-box-image-ratio-square\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"kt-info-box-image wp-image-37684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883.png 300w, https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">This content has been reviewed and approved by our in-house Veterinarian for accuracy.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cats and Pasta \u2013 What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pasta is a traditional Italian food, usually made from unleavened wheat dough mixed with water or eggs. Formed into sheets or various shapes, pasta is cooked by boiling or baking, and the final dish often involves rich and tasty sauces.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are over 300 different pastas. Popular types include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/can-cats-eat-spaghetti\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spaghetti<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, fettuccine, linguine, rigatoni, and tortellini, to name just a few.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the form we know today, pasta was referred to as early as the 12<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century. However, similar foods, including <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lagana<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the predecessor of lasagna, was eaten all the way back in ancient Rome.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be aware of a famous cat known for his love of lasagna, who we can see politely eating some in the following video:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oh, wait\u2026 Did you think I was talking about Garfield? I guess Rusty does look a little bit like him.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyway, you should know that pasta has little in the way of nutrients, and primarily is composed of carbohydrates. Nowadays, the flour used to make pasta is often enriched so that it does have some vitamins and minerals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem is that if your cat fills up on carbohydrates, they\u2019ll be less interested in their commercial cat food which contains all the proteins vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. Be sure to feed your cat a high-quality food such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2RKf2gW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merrick Purrfect Bistro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is grain-free and lists meat as the first few ingredients.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Cats Eat Pasta?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, your cat can eat pasta! Pasta can be a tasty and fun treat for your cat, if your cat is interested in it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main thing to remember is that pasta needs to be cooked until it&#8217;s soft before giving it to your cat. Also, you need to limit the amount of pasta your cat eats because too much can cause digestive problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite their meat-eating tendencies, many cats do enjoy tasting something different now and then. While pasta has little nutritional benefit for cats, some sure seem to like it, as we can see in this video:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you start reenacting that scene from Lady and the Tramp with your cat, just keep in mind that, while a little bit for a treat is no big deal, you\u2019ll want to limit how much you give them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, save the sauce, because your cat doesn\u2019t need it and some ingredients might not be good for them. That being said, if your cat really seems to like plain pasta, you shouldn\u2019t have anything to worry about unless they\u2019re allergic to wheat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Kittens Eat Pasta?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kittens tend to be even more susceptible than adult cats to most things because they are tiny and have not yet fully developed. Pasta could be a source of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vet.cornell.edu\/departments-centers-and-institutes\/cornell-feline-health-center\/health-information\/feline-health-topics\/food-allergies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">food allergies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which are not uncommon in cats.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, kittens could be more sensitive to the laxative effects from the fiber in pasta, causing diarrhea, possibly leading to dehydration and a trip to the vet. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even more dangerous for kittens is raw pasta, which can be a choking hazard.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kittens do not have as much experience with different food items and may try to swallow raw pasta whole.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is simply too dangerous to give kittens raw pasta.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of pasta, give your kitten a healthy kitten food like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2DqhpNa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Wilderness kitten food<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This nutritionally balanced food has everything your kitten needs to grow up big and strong, and without anything that could cause harm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do really want to offer your kitten a little something extra as a treat, why not try lean, plain proteins such as small pieces of chicken breast or deboned and cooked fish. These are a much better option than carbohydrate-laden foods such as pasta.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also keep in mind that if your kitten becomes used to eating human food, they may become finicky eaters as adults and not be too interested in their <a href=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/best-food-for-cats-with-hyperthyroidism\/\">cat food<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits\/Negatives of Feeding Cats Pasta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While pasta is generally a safe snack for your cat, you should know they won\u2019t really benefit much nutritionally from eating it. This is because cats are <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/feline-nutrition.org\/answers\/answers-what-exactly-is-an-obligate-carnivore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obligate carnivores<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which means&nbsp;all they really need to eat is meat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, cats are actually&nbsp;pretty inefficient at deriving nutrition from plant-based foods. The main problem with pasta is that all those carbohydrates are just empty calories that can make your cat fat, like this guy in the next video:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, many types of pasta contain moderate amounts of fiber. Cats don\u2019t need fiber in their diet, and eating food containing fiber can have a laxative effect on cats resulting in runny stools and messy litter boxes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raw pasta can also pose a choking hazard for cats and can be problematic if swallowed. For this reason, it\u2019s important to only offer your cat plain cooked pasta.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Healthy Alternatives to Pasta for Cats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because pasta, without sauce, tastes pretty bland, there\u2019s a good chance your cat won\u2019t even like it. If they do, it\u2019s probably because of pasta\u2019s soft, chewy texture. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that\u2019s the case, there are commercial cat treats that have a similar consistency and may satisfy their chewy-carb-cravings, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2DtO7NP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MeowMix Irresistibles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking for some human food that you can share with your cat, you\u2019re better off giving them a tiny bit of chicken, turkey, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/can-cats-eat-tuna\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tuna<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, all of which have at least some nutritional value.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>So, Can Cats Eat Pasta?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless your cat has a wheat allergy, plain, cooked, pasta in small amounts is fine for your cat to have on occasion. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it\u2019s important to remember that pasta has very little in the way of nutritional benefits for cats. If you\u2019re looking for a tasty treat to offer your cat, you are better off skipping the pasta and giving them commercial cat treats, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2UdDxAd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MeowMix Irresistibles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">f you have any questions or would like to share a story about your cat and a healthy snack they really enjoy, please tell us in the comments below! We\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mama Mia! Who doesn\u2019t like pasta? I\u2019ve always wondered how the Mediterranean diet, with all that pasta and cheese, could be such a healthy diet for people. You might be&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":37996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":5,"label":"Nutrition"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Can-Cats-Eat-Pasta.png",800,578,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Phil Ruth","author_link":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/author\/ruth_phil\/"},"comment_info":1,"category_info":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Nutrition","slug":"nutrition","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":108,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5,"category_count":108,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nutrition","category_nicename":"nutrition","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37986"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37986"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55023,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37986\/revisions\/55023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}