It is better if cats do not eat pepperoni. Not like your cat will die right after eating a bite of pepperoni. But the ingredients that make pepperoni will definitely cause harm to your cat’s digestive system.
The name pepperoni comes from the Italian “peperone,” which means “bell pepper.” However, it is popularly served as a dried salami usually made with pork or beef. It usually contains ingredients like sodium, nitrate, and spices like red pepper flakes, black pepper, and garlic. Most of these can cause severe harm to your cat. For example – (1)
Sodium – The salt content in pepperoni is way higher than your cat’s daily sodium needs. A slice of around 2 grams of it contains around 31.6 mg of sodium. Your cat only needs 10mg of sodium per day per kg of their body. Excess salt can be poisonous to cats if consumed without enough fresh water to flush it out. Your cat can end up getting salt poisoning. The signs for it include –
Lack of appetite
Lethargy
Vomiting and diarrhea
Excessive thirst and urination
Tremors or seizures
Lack of coordination
Extreme cases may even cause death. If you’re yet not convinced that pepperoni can be very risky for your cat, here are more reasons.
Nitrates – It is a type of preservative that is often used to stop bacteria growth in pepperoni and thus increase its shelf life. Nitrates if consumed in excess can also be very poisonous for cats.
Spices and flavors – The strong flavors that give pepperoni its spicy kick are not good for your cat as well. Most common of them include red pepper flakes, black pepper, and garlic. While others may not be toxic to cats, garlic has the potential to cause serious harm to your cat’s body. It can cause anemia and gastrointestinal issues. If your cat ingests garlic by mistake, you may see the following signs –
Vomiting and diarrhea
Pale gums
Lethargy or collapse
Increased heart rate
Abdominal pain (not letting you hold)
If these reasons are also not enough, pepperoni contains large amounts of fats and calories that can contribute to your cat’s weight gain. They can also cause other gastrointestinal issues.
Now even after this if you feel like feeding pepperoni to your cat, you either have a crush on the vet or just don’t love your cat enough.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Pepperoni?
Pepperoni, in any form, cooked or raw, is not good for your cat. Even when cooked, the ingredients do not change. The high fat, sodium and nitrate content is not going anywhere. Pepperoni can even lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in cats which is a severe condition. (1)
Is It OK for My Cat to Eat Pizza?
Pepperoni is just a topping on pizza which can cause enough harm to your cat. You’re thinking of feeding an entire pizza to your cat? Even if you’re planning to give just some leftovers to your cat, it is a very bad idea.
First of all, cats are lactose intolerant. There goes cheese and bread out of the option directly. Secondly, the toppings usually include garlic, onions, and tomatoes. All of these can be harmful to cats. And no, do not think that adding vegetables to the pizza makes it healthy for cats (or even for you for that matter). (2)
It is estimated that 50% of all pizzas ordered include pepperoni. (1) Well, if that’s the case, there is just no reason left for you to safely feed pizza to your cat.
However, if you’re really feeling bad about enjoying pizza with your friends with your cat staring at you from the corner, you can use cooked, unseasoned lean meats like chicken or turkey, skip the tomato sauce and then feed a bite to your cat.
If you want to read everything about ‘Can cats eat pizza?’, we have an entire article about it. Check it out!
Can Cats Eat Turkey Pepperoni?
Let’s just say no type of pepperoni is safe for cats. The reasons here are the same – all the sodium, nitrate, fat, calories and seasonings. You can feed your cat all-natural turkey or chicken without added nitrates. Avoid anything with seasonings though.
More About Spot Pet Insurance
You may think that pepperoni is a form of meat and cats being carnivorous should be able to eat it without any difficulty. But that’s not true. Pepperoni is processed meat with several added ingredients that are harmful and even toxic for cats.
Just like this, there can be several food items that you may think are safe for cats but will end up causing stomach problems in your cat. In case you’re wondering what are those foods that can be a potential harm to your cat, here are some – (3)
Chocolate
Onions
Garlic
Grapes
Raisins
Tomatoes
Cherries
Raw fish, meat or eggs
Citrus fruits
(this is not an exhaustive list)
Some cases may get serious, and your cat may even need surgery. For those times and for all others when you have to take your cat to the vet, you can save up to 90% of the costs with pet health insurance.
Cat Insurance helps to provide pet parents with additional financial support and peace of mind when it comes to the health and wellness of their pets. With a Spot plan, pet parents can receive up to 90% cash back on eligible vet bills. This way pet parents can focus on caring for and supporting their pets. Spot's also offers preventive care add-ons, which can help cover the eligible costs of spaying and neutering, dental cleaning, vaccinations, and other routine care services.
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