French fries are often consumed on a pretty regular basis for some people. I mean, can you think of a fast food joint that doesn’t offer them? But, what about cats and french fries? Can cats eat french fries?
This is a very good question and we will discuss the reasons why your cat is better off without this tasty treat.
Are French Fries Bad for Cats?
First off, I’m going to say that french fries in themselves are in no way toxic to cats. But, are they good for them? The answer is going to be no.
Just like for us humans, too much of anything is not good for us and the same goes for our feline companions.
If you cat comes by your plate and steals a french fry or two away from you, it won’t hurt them, but it’s not something that they need on a daily basis in large quantities.
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What is a Cat’s Diet supposed to Consist of?
Cats are obligate carnivores by nature, so they get all their dietary needs from mostly animal protein along with some essential vitamins and minerals. Most commercial cat food supplies them with all the necessary nutrients that they need to stay in good health.
An occasional french fry every now and then really won’t hurt your cat in any way, but too much of it can lead to health problems in your cat.
Since cats eat mostly animal-based proteins for the majority of their diets, french fries really offer them little to no nutritional benefits as their bodies are not made to process and break them down properly.
Some of the animal based proteins that cat’s eat and are found in cat food can include
- Salmon – This is found in lots of different commercial cat foods and provides a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. It is best to feed your cat only cooked salmon.
- Chicken – Is yet another great source of protein for your cat. It is best as a lean protein as long as you remove the skin and make sure that it is fully cooked.
- Turkey – As long as fully cooked, turkey is another great lean protein source for cats.
Here are a few other human foods that cats may enjoy as treats
- Peas – Are often found in commercial cat foods. They are safe to be fed to your cat both raw or cooked. They contain vitamin C, vitamin A and are high in fiber.
- Spinach – Packed full of different vitamins and minerals. Some of the different vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C. It also is full of iron and calcium. Spinach is a super healthy treat for your cat, however, if your cat has a history of calcium oxalate bladder stones, it will be best for your cat’s overall health to avoid feeding them spinach.
- Eggs – As long as eggs are always fully cooked they are a safe food for your cat that provides them with protein and B vitamins.
Any treats that are given to cats should never add up to more than 10% of their regular diet. An occasional treat here and there is OK for your cat, but too much and it can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
Why french fries are bad for cats?
We know that french fries aren’t toxic for cats, but why exactly are they bad for them? Let’s take a closer look at this human food for the answer.
#1 – French Fries are High in Fat
Because of being deep fried, french fries have a high fat content. Typically, a cat’s diet needs somewhere between 20% and 40% fat and anything more than that can lead to weight gain or even other health problems.
#2 – French Fries Could Possibly Cause Gastrointestinal Upset in Your Cat
Since french fries are something that your cat is actually not meant to eat, their bodies sometimes can’t process them correctly because they lack the enzymes to break them down. This can then cause an upset to your cat’s digestive system and include symptoms such as
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
A cat’s stomach is simply not meant to digest grease, oils or plants.
#3 – French Fries are Full of Carbohydrates
Potatoes are full of carbs. In a cat’s natural diet, they don’t eat many carbs at all, mainly proteins. So, an overabundance of carbs and unhealthy fats can have a bad effect on them and cause digestive issues.
Like mentioned before, a couple small pieces of french fries shouldn’t cause your cat any problems, but large amounts of them could cause some health issues for your furry friend.
#4 – French Fries Could Possibly Contain Dangerous Seasonings
Aside from just being sprinkled with salt and possibly pepper, some special types of french fries can be seasoned with certain types of seasoning like onion powder or garlic powder which can be toxic to cats.
Any type of seasoning or sauce that contains either of them can be bad for your cat.
Even too great of an amount of salt can be harmful for your cat. So, those super salty Mcdonald’s french fries are definitely not the best choice of food for your cat’s overall health.
Overall, french fries provide very little nutritional value to your feline friend so they are better off without them.
Dangers of Cats Eating Raw Potatoes
We know that a cooked potato, a french fry, is not toxic to cats, but what about raw potatoes? A raw potato can actually be quite dangerous to your feline friend.
The reason being is that the green parts of the potato peels contain an element called solanine. This component is toxic to cats. When ingested, it can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
If your feline companion ever eats raw potatoes, it is always best to contact your vet and consult with them.
Most often, problems only occur when your cat eats green potatoes (the green part of the peel) or the stem of leaves of the potato plant, but it’s always good to be prepared.
Just your cat eating a raw french fry shouldn’t pose major concern, but you will still want to keep an eye on them.
Cats and French Fries Q & A
Are french fries toxic to cats?
French fries in themselves are not toxic to cats. While they are not something that they should eat very much of as they have very little nutrition for your cat and also contain too much salt, just your cat eating a fry or two won’t hurt them.
Can cats eat potato chips?
Again, these are not necessarily toxic to your cat in small portions, but they are not a healthy food that you cat needs to consume. They contain too much salt and unhealthy fats, so it’s a good idea to keep them out of reach of your feline friend.
What happens if my cat eats a french fry?
Your cat eating just one french fry is not a major concern that you will have to worry about. As long as your cats behavior seems normal, there is nothing to worry about.
What happens if my cat eats potatoes?
If your cat digests raw or green potatoes, there is a chance that your cat could experience some type of poisoning. If they eat a cooked potato, they should be fine. But if they eat a raw potato (or raw french fries) and your cat is showing symptoms, you will want to contact your vet as soon as possible.
Can cats eat Mcdonald’s french fries?
I think it comes down to the question of can I or should I? While technically, yes, a small amount of Mcdonald’s french fries won’t kill your cat, they just aren’t good for your cat’s health (as they probably aren’t for us humans either.). But, we must always remember that cat’s have a totally different makeup and system than we humans have so their bodies can’t digest certain things like ours can. So it is best for our feline friends to stick to their cat food.
As always when introducing any new foods into your cat’s diet, it is always best to contact a vet and discuss it in detail with them. Always offer your cat small amounts of any new food to see how they react and to make sure that they don’t have any allergic reactions from them.
I hope that you found this post helpful and that your question of ‘Can cats eat french fries?’ was answered efficiently.
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