People who do not like to eat chocolate ice cream are very rare. Ice cream is a food that almost everyone loves to eat and is one of the human foods that cats love. Can cats eat chocolate ice cream? Absolutely no.
They should not eat chocolate ice cream. Veterinarians generally recommend not to feed them dairy foods, which are a major ingredient in ice cream. Besides, chocolate also carries some deadly substances like caffeine and theobromine which are very harmful to the health of cats. Eating chocolate ice cream can make them sick for a long time.
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Why Shouldn’t Cats Eat Chocolate?
Although chocolate is delicious to eat, the ingredients in it are very dangerous to cats. Caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine are some of the harmful ingredients in chocolate. However, the most deadly ingredient is theobromine. Theobromine is an organic compound that is metabolized in the human body, but not in cats. It causes indigestion in their body. This compound is so toxic that it can cause death. Some side effects of ingesting chocolate are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Seizures
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased heart rate
- Lack of appetite
- Tremors
- Coma
Always try to keep your feline friend away from chocolate or foods made with chocolate. If she eats it by mistake, contact your vet immediately.
Why Shouldn’t Cats Eat Chocolate Ice cream?
We already know how deadly chocolate is for cats and a high amount of it is mixed into chocolate ice cream. So, cats should not eat chocolate ice cream. In addition to chocolate, it contains other ingredients such as milk, sugar, etc. that they should not eat. Dairy products(milk) are not good for the health of cats, which is why veterinarians recommend not to feed them these foods. On the other hand, sugar is also very harmful to their health. Although cats do not have the ability to taste sugar, if it enters their body they may suffer from various diseases.
Why Sugar isn’t Good for Cats?
Ice cream contains a high amount of sugar and it will be good to know that sugar is very bad for cats’ health. Sugar is high in calories and cats usually do not taste any sweet foods, which means they get nothing from sugar. So, it’s better not to give them any food mixed with sugar. These are the diseases that they can suffer from as a result of consuming much sugar:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Poor dental health
- Vomiting
- Discomfort
Dairy and Cats:
In addition to chocolate and sugar, ice cream is rich in dairy lactose. Cats usually like to eat milk or creamy foods and are attracted to them. Butter, milk, whipped cream, cheeses, etc. are tempting foods for them, but these foods are not good for their health. These dairy products contain a type of sugar called lactose and cats are lactose intolerant. Their digestive system is not able to digest lactose which is why they show some abnormal symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, farting, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. within 15-20 minutes of taking it. This can make them seriously ill. So, if you want to keep your cat healthy, keep her away from dairy products.
Cat-Friendly Alternatives to Ice Cream:
Since cats are attracted to ice cream, owners may occasionally want to give it to them. However, considering the risk, maybe many people can’t give even if they want to. This time you can use some ice cream alternatives which will not have any bad effect on your kitty’s body and she also gets the satisfaction of eating ice cream. Below are some cat-friendly alternatives to ice cream that you can feed your cat instead of ice cream:
Cool Claws Ice Cream:
Animal nutritionists make cool claws an alternative to ice cream and it is similar to vanilla ice cream. It is made up of vitamins and minerals and can be digested by cats. Cool claws are packed in small cups and have been labeled as healthy frozen for them.
Feed Them Ice Cubes:
Most cats are fascinated by ice cubes and they feel comfortable licking these. No flavor is required to absorb the ice. Liking ice cubes is safe for them and these stimulate them in the summer. They are also able to keep themselves hydrated by licking it. You can give your cat this treat every day in the summer season and she will enjoy it very much. Mix a few pieces of ice in her water dish sometimes.
Frozen or Chilled Wet Food:
Using cats’ regular wet food is another way to give them a cool and stimulating treat. Wet foods are beneficial for them, especially cats at risk for urinary tract infections or constipation. Wet food contains 70-80% water and by eating it, your kitty’s water needs will be met which will provide her with much of the hydration she requires.
FAQs:
Can cats have chocolate ice cream?
Absolutely not. Chocolate ice cream contains a high amount of chocolate which is very deadly for them because chocolates have a harmful ingredient called theobromine. This chemical ruins their health and they suffer from various diseases.
On the other hand, ice cream also contains lots of sugar and dairy products. These ingredients are also very fatal for them. So, it will be better not to give cats chocolate ice cream.
How much chocolate ice cream will hurt a cat?
It has already been mentioned that even a small amount of chocolate is harmful to the body of cats. However, a certain amount of it can hurt or kill a cat. It really depends on how many chocolate ice creams she eats and how many theobromines enter her body. About 20mg of theobromine per pound weight of a cat is very poisonous and this is equal to about 15 grams.
What happens if a cat licks chocolate ice cream?
Chocolate, sugar, dairy products, all these things are very bad for cats, and chocolate ice cream carries these ingredients. So, if a cat licks it, some symptoms will be shown in her such as:
stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, seizures, discomfort, etc.
Can a lick of chocolate ice cream kill a cat?
No, a lick of chocolate ice cream can not kill a cat. We know that chocolate ice cream is very unhealthy for cats because it contains harmful ingredients and hasn’t any nutrients. But if a cat licks it by mistake, that means a lick or two does not harm her. If she licks so much ice cream, then it will have a bad effect on her, even killing her.
How quickly does chocolate affect cats?
As chocolate has deadly chemicals, it can affect cats very quickly. Symptoms may appear within 2-4 hours of eating chocolate. However, it takes a maximum of 24 hours to be fully manifest. The first sign of chocolate poisoning is diarrhea.
Is it OK for a cat to eat ice cream?
Not at all, it is not ok for a cat to eat ice cream. Ice cream has lots of dairy products that carry a type of sugar called lactose. As cats are lactose intolerant, within 15-20 minutes of taking it, some signs are observed in them like bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, farting, diarrhea, and vomiting, etc. Besides, by eating sugar, they may suffer from obesity and diabetes.
Why do cats freak out over ice cream?
Cats freak out over ice cream because when they eat ice cream, the blood vessels in their mouth and throat cool down quickly. As a result, the blood vessels dilate which is perceived as pain.
Is theobromine toxic to cats?
Yes, theobromine is toxic to cats. Theobromine is an organic compound that is found in large quantities in chocolate and it cannot be easily metabolized in cats’ bodies. Too much of it could push them to the brink of death.
Does chocolate ice cream have theobromine?
Chocolate ice cream contains lots of chocolate and chocolate contains theobromine. So, it can be said that chocolate ice cream has theobromine and it is very poisonous for them. This compound is so toxic that only a small amount of it can make them sick.
Pro Tips: Follow these best and effective ways to turn your fearful cat into a confident kitty.
