Sauces are a pantry staple in every household. Did you know the global sauces and condiments market is worth 173 billion dollars? [Source: Yahoo Finance]
Not a shocker because in the US alone, this market is valued at 30 billion dollars. Every US household has condiments from homemade to store-bought and savory tomato and ranch to sweet apple and caramel. This leads us to a concern many pet owners have:
Can Cats Eat Sauces?
Well, there is no simple, yes or no answer to this question. This is because some sauces are safe for cats, while others can be very harmful.
So, how do you know what sauces can cats eat?
You need to be aware of the ingredients. Store-bought sauces usually contain certain ingredients that can be toxic to cats; these may include chives, onions, garlic, sugar, salt, additives, preservatives, and many more. So, always check the label for toxic and harmful ingredients that could harm your cat.
Let’s be honest; no matter how much you love your cat, nobody has the time and energy to check every sauce bottle before feeding it to their cat. You are bound to forget or get lazy at least a few times. So, let’s make this easy for you.
We have listed below 11 of the most common sauces present in our homes to tell you whether they are safe for your kitty to consume.
1. Can Cats Have Tomato Sauce? No, But Why?
Ketchup, salsa, or marina, keep them all away from your cat. Cats shouldn’t have any tomato-based sauce because tomatoes contain solanine. According to ASPCA, solanine can be toxic to cats. Feeding tomatoes to cats can cause a risk of many digestive issues and other side effects. Plus, many tomato sauces contain herbs and spices like oregano, parsley, salt, and sugar, which impact cats’ health.
2. Can Cats Have Soy Sauce? Yes, But They Shouldn’t.
Cats can have soy sauce in small quantities. But, it is best to avoid feeding soy sauce to cats because it is high in sodium. Even a teaspoon of salt can cause sodium poisoning in cats. Sodium toxicity leads to dehydration. High sodium consumption can even cause seizures and coma. So, try not to give soy sauce to cats. Other sauces containing soy sauce, like sweet and sour sauce, should also be avoided.
3. Can Cats Eat Hot Sauce? No, But Why?
There are many different hot sauces available in the market. Be it tabasco or hot chili, none are safe for your kitty. This is because hot sauces contain a lot of spices and red chili or red peppers. Peppers contain capsaicin which causes an upset stomach in cats. Moreover, a cat’s stomach is too sensitive and can’t digest both spices and capsaicin, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive issues.
4. Can Cats Eat Spaghetti Sauce? No, Here’s Why?
Spaghetti sauce contains Onion, Garlic, and Salt. As per ASPCA, Salt, Onion, and Garlic are toxic for cats. If your cat eats canned spaghetti sauce, it will cause them thirst, urination, and gastrointestinal irritation. To feed your kitty, you can prepare pet-friendly homemade spaghetti sauce without onions, garlic and Salt. However, since the homemade sauce cats will also have tomatoes, it is best to feed your cat in small quantities as a Treat to avoid any adverse effects on your cat’s health.
5. Can Cats Eat BBQ Sauce? Yes.
Barbecue sauces don’t usually contain any toxic or harmful ingredients for cats. This is why cats can safely eat BBQ sauce. However, many BBQ sauces contain a significant amount of salt and sugar, which can upset your cat’s tummy. Plus, BBQ sauce does not offer any nutritional value to cats. So, only feed a small amount as an occasional treat, and always consult a vet if you notice any allergic reactions or side effects.
6. Can Cats Eat Applesauce? Yes and No, Let’s Discover!
Homemade applesauce is more or less safe for cats. Keep the sugar content under control. So, it is okay if your cat licks some homemade applesauce. In fact, homemade applesauce or puree is actually good for cats because it is nutritious and has a lot of fiber. On the other hand, pre-packaged applesauce is not good for cats because they contain chemicals, preservatives, and a lot of carbs. Regularly or frequently feeding your cat store-bought apple sauce can lead to many serious health risks like diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, and upset stomach.
7. Can Cats Eat Fish Sauce? Not But Why?
Cats love fish and anything that smells like fish, including fish sauce. So, don’t be surprised if you find your feline friend sniffing and licking fish sauce. However, fish sauce for cats can be highly toxic. The fish sauce contains ingredients that can cause many severe side effects in cats. Moreover, fish sauce is also high in salt, which can elevate sodium in cats, causing dehydration and many other problems. So, keep fish sauce away from your cat, no matter how much your kitty may like it.
8. Can Cats Eat Garlic Sauce? Absolutely Not.
Feeding anything garlic related to your cat is a cordial sin. Garlic is highly toxic to cats because it contains disulfides and thiosulphates, which cause hemolytic anemia in pets. Feeding garlic to cats also results in vomiting, diarrhea, irregular breathing difficulties, pale gums, and lethargy. Besides garlic, garlic sauce also contains onions and other bad ingredients that can harm your cat. Note that brands have their own garlic sauce recipe, so the ingredients vary with each sauce. But, you should still not feed any garlic sauce to cats as it will contain garlic nonetheless.
9. Can Cats Eat Cheese Sauce? No, And Here’s Why?
Cats cannot have cheese sauce because it’s made of cheese (duh). Cheese is a dairy product, and since most cats are lactose intolerant, cheese sauces can be bad for your cat. Moreover, cheese sauce contains a high amount of fats which can lead to weight gain and, ultimately, obesity and diabetes. Moreover, cheese is not part of a cat’s natural diet, as cats are obligate carnivores. So, feeding cheese or cheese sauce to cats can cause several digestive disorders. A few symptoms include abdominal pain, upset stomach, vomiting, bloat, and diarrhea.
10. Can Cats Eat Cranberry Sauce? No, But Why?
Cranberries, as a fruit, are a healthy snack for cats because they are full of nutritional value and improve the cat’s urinary tract. Feeding cranberries to cats can actually prevent UTIs. Sadly, we can’t say the same for cranberry sauce. Both homemade and pre-packaged cranberry sauce is bad for cats because they contain a lot of sugar. Sugar causes dehydration and leads to weight gain. Thus, you should not feed cranberry sauce to cats at all. Instead, give you kitty-dried cranberries or fresh cranberry juice.
11. Can Cats Eat Alfredo Sauce? No, Here’s Why?
Alfredo, or bechamel, as the Italians call it, is a cream-based sauce made of everything dairy: milk, cream, butter, and lots of cheese. We already know that cats are generally lactose intolerant, so this makes alfredo sauce a big NO for kitties. Plus, it is high in fats, so it can lead to weight gain. Moreover, feeding alfredo sauce to cats can also result in digestive issues such as abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, etc. So, never share your alfredo sauce with your cat, whether homemade or premade.
How To Make Sauce For Cats? Safety Considerations!
There is no one sauce for cats. All cats are different and like different flavors and textures. Moreover, some are allergic to certain ingredients, and some are not. So, we can’t create a universal cat sauce that all cats can eat.
So, how do you make a sauce for cats?
There are many different kinds of sauces in the world, each with multiple versions and recipes. We can’t share cat-friendly recipes for those sauces here. So, here are a few tips to help you turn any sauce into cat safe and cat-friendly version:
- If you are preparing a sauce at home, avoid any and all ingredients that are toxic and harmful to cats. Always avoid onions, chives, garlic, oregano, parsley, sugar, and salt.
- Turn and learn. This means that whenever you have to feed a sauce to a cat, always read the ingredient list on the bottle. If it contains any ingredient unsafe for cats, don’t feed it to your cat.
- Consult your vet before introducing or incorporating any food into your cat’s diet. Vets know best what is safe and healthy for cats to eat.
Note: Some cats have very sensitive stomachs, so it is hard for them to digest even cat-friendly human foods. Always watch out for any signs and symptoms of discomfort in your cat. Moreover, your cat can be allergic to different human foods. So, consult your vet if you notice any allergic reactions or side effects after feeding a certain food.
How To Make Sauce For Cat Food?
A cat’s diet consists of dry cat food (kibble) and wet cat food like canned tuna, morsel, gravy, etc. If your cat likes to have sauces, you can make cat-friendly sauces to add to your cat’s food.
There are many cat sauce recipes online. Pick one you think your cat would like. Just make sure to avoid tomatoes, cheese, garlic, milk, and other harmful bases for your sauce.
Instead of preparing a sauce for cat food yourself, you can also buy Superfood Sauce for cats. It is made for cats, so it is safe and healthy.
Conclusion
Like humans, cats also deserve a versatile diet. Apart from boring old kibble, try feeding your feline family member(s) different foods, such as homemade meals or store-bought wet cat foods. You can also feed cats a wide variety of human foods.
So, if you are searching for a healthy and delicious treat for your cat, you don’t have to look much further than your pantry. Not only are some human foods perfectly safe for cats, but many of your groceries could actually be healthy for them.
What about sauces? What sauces can cats eat? Cats can eat any sauce, homemade or store-bought, if:
● They are not allergic to it
● They can comfortably digest it
● The sauce is free from harmful ingredients
● The sauce does not contain excessive sugar and salt
To conclude, the best sauce for cats is one that is 100% safe for them. Keep the above-mentioned points in mind before feeding any sauce to your feline buddy.
