Can cats eat ham?

Can you imagine eating a toast with ham and your cat sitting next to you looking at you until you give it a piece? Well that's what usually happens, and too often. What happens is that to make him happy we give it to him without thinking about the consequences that this gesture can have.

And now is when we wonder if cats can eat ham. If you have doubts, then I'll solve them for you.

Can I give my cat ham?

As we know, we have the Serrano and the York. The two are different: while the first is usually very salty and a bit difficult to cut with your hands (especially if it is a thick piece), the other is softer and easier to cut and chew, which is why it is often the chosen to give the cat.

Still, we have to know that the risk that you feel bad is something we should worry about:

Salted or Serrano ham

If we give them once from time to time nothing will happen (they may have gas or make the stools a bit soft, but except for that it is not something we have to worry about), but if we do it daily we will run the risk of developing kidney problems. The salty or serrano ham as it is also known, it is rich in salts, which can cause kidney or liver stones.

York ham

York ham or sweet is different, especially if it is low in salt. Cats also tend to like it a lot, so we will not have problems with them eating it. However, We have to give it to them as a reward, not as a main meal, since otherwise they would end up having problems due to the lack of nutrients and minerals that it provides, for example, a high quality dry feed or the Barf diet.

What foods can be given to cats?

If we would like you to eat more natural foods and not think so much, we can give you the following:

• Fruits: pears, watermelons, peaches, apples (as a reward) and strawberries.
• Vegetables: boiled carrots, boiled peas, boiled pumpkin, raw cucumber, raw lettuce, green beans and sweet potatoes.
• Carne: beef, chicken or turkey. Always boneless and somewhat boiled.
• Fish: any if it is fresh and boiled before serving.

What can NOT be given to a cat?

There are many foods that humans consume regularly but that the cat feels very bad. In fact, there are some that are very harmful to you and that, therefore, we must avoid at all costs:

• Avocado: Contains Persina, which is a fungicidal substance toxic to cats.
• Citrus: lemons, oranges, grapefruits, etc. cause diarrhea and stomach pain.
• Grapes and raisins: affect the kidneys, causing physical discomfort and diarrhea.
• Garlic, onion, chives and the like: in high doses they can cause anemia.
• Green potato leaves, stems and shoots: they contain solanine, which is also very harmful to humans. At the very least, it causes diarrhea and discomfort, but in high doses it can be fatal.
• Tomato: contains, in addition to solanine, tomatine, which can be lethal in high doses.
• Tea, coffee, chocolateThese three contain theobromine, which affects the nervous system thus causing seizures. In addition, you can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, ulcers and even death.
• Sal Island- Causes kidney problems and hypertension in high doses.
• Sugar: can cause vomiting, lethargy, and liver failure.
• Dog food: dog food contains less animal protein than cat food, since dogs do not need as much. Likewise, felines also need taurine for their visual health to be good, since their body does not produce it on its own. Therefore, if we give them dog food sooner rather than later we could see that cats lose weight and health.
• Alcohol, drugs, ... stimulants in general: if they can already be harmful to us, for the cat they are very dangerous and can cause death.
• Over-the-counter veterinary medications: Medicines are not food, but I wanted to take this opportunity to mention them. Cats should never be medicated without first consulting a professional. Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen… all of this is VERY toxic to cats.
  If your furry is sick, take him to the vet as soon as possible. Don't gamble with their health.

I hope this article has been useful to you 🙂. Keep in mind that if your cat already has a kidney problem or you suspect that it may have it, you should never give it food that has salt, not even York ham. His health comes first, so when he looks at you with that feline face asking for something, now you will know if you can give it to him or on the contrary it will be better than not.