Cats shouldn’t eat spicy chips at all. Extremely spicy food can be dangerous for your kitty, so it’s not recommended. Do you wonder why? The problem is usually garlic powder, onion powder, capsaicin in chili or pepper. It’s advisable to find some better cat-friendly snacks for your pet.
Although not all, most people want some kick of spice in their chips. Such spiciness not only adds intense flavor but also increases appetite.
Thus, spicy chips are sure treats, go side-by-side with other snacks, and even as a partner to liquors.
Even if you love the heat that spicy chips bring, it doesn’t mean you can give some to your cat.
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Can cats eat hot chips?
Your cat may get attracted to hot chips, but it doesn’t mean your feline pet can eat it.
Most cats have access to hot chips, especially if their owner loves spicy chips.
Trust me, I know. My cat’s been eyeing me, especially if I’m digging on a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
A reminder for you: Don’t feed your kitty some of your Hot Cheetos.
If you’re wondering if you can feed it some Takis, don’t even think about it.
Cats may get attracted to Hot Chips, especially since most spicy chips have a unique scent. Further, cats have a keen sense when it comes to detecting heat.
Seeing such food makes cat sense some heat, mostly if some people eat it.
While they may get attracted to it, it doesn’t mean you can let them have their way of munching it.
For you to understand, let’s get into spicy chips more!
Related – Can cats eat salt and vinegar chips?
What is in spicy chips and why it is a problem (ingredients)
When we speak of spicy chips, Hot Cheetos always come on the list. Thus, I prefer using it as our reference for ingredients as we tackle spicy chips’ ingredients. The list of ingredients are:
- Enriched Corn Meal – Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid
- Vegetable Oil – Corn, Canola, or Sunflower Oil
- Flamin’ Hot Seasoning – Maltodextrin [Made from Corn]
- Salt (Huge Red Flag)
- Sugar
- Monosodium Glutamate (The same toxicity as Salt)
- Yeast Extract
- Citric Acid (Toxic for cats)
- Artificial Color (Chemicals)
- Sunflower Oil
- Cheddar Cheese – Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes (Dairy products which are toxic for cats)
- Onion Powder (Also a big No)
- Whey & Whey Protein Concentrate
- Garlic Powder (A big NO for cats)
- Natural Flavor (Some studies say this ingredient pertains to the spice which is Capsaicin)
- Buttermilk (Toxic for cats)
- Sodium – Sodium Diacetate Disodium Inosinate & Guanylate (Toxic as well)
Without even emphasizing each ingredient, spicy chips are a big no for cats.
The salt, citric acid, dairy products, and the spices all contribute to its toxicity.
A few bites may not cause any problem, but going overboard with spicy chips may be harmful to cats.
What happens when a cat eats spicy chips?
Any cat that eats spicy food may suffer from digestive and gastrointestinal issues. These issues include an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Most spicy chips, such as the Hot Cheetos above, contains capsaicin. Such a component creates that kick and heat in spices such as cayenne pepper.
A cat’s tongue may not taste the sweetness in food, but it can still register heat and spice.
Thus, it’s essential to prevent your kitty from having access to spicy food such as spicy chips.
Will a cat cry from eating spicy food?
Watery eyes are the usual reaction of cats when a spicy food gets in their mouth.
The same with us, cats will seem to cry as it eats a chip or food that’s too spicy.
For this reason, if your feline pet accidentally ate spicy chips, its eyes may get watery, and his nose may get runny.
This symptom is their usual reaction to spices. Since they have an enhanced smell, just the capsaicin scent or the spice can get into their nose and eyes.
As a result, many people use spices such as cayenne pepper in the gardens to repel cats.
Can cats eat Pringles and tortilla chips? Check it out!
Can spicy foods kill cats?
A few bites may not harm your cat, but too much spicy food can be lethal and can put its life at risk.
A few bites of spicy food may make your pet’s eyes watery and nose runny. Feeding more than that could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and an upset stomach.
There is no reported incident about a feline dying due to spicy food. Despite that fact, extreme symptoms such as vomiting and other issues can lead to death.
As a general rule of thumb, avoid feeding your pet with spicy food, especially spicy chips.
Such prevention will ensure safety from the dangers of taking in spices.
Summary
Spicy chips may be a good match for us, but never for our cats. The heat we release when eating spicy chips like Hot Cheetos and Takis may attract our feline friends.
Still, while they may eat a few pieces now and then, it’s essential to prevent yourself from going further.
Give your pet something safe. Go for food treats without seasoning and spice, and leave the kick and heat with yourself. We also recommend you read “What Do Cats Like to Eat For Breakfast?”
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Image credits – Photos by Zoritsa Valova and Sean McClintock on Unsplash
