The short answer is: No, cats cannot eat vanilla pudding. Vanilla pudding contains ingredients that are harmful to cats. Whole Milk or Cow’s Milk is the base of vanilla pudding, and cats can’t digest this milk. Your cat can taste from time to time, but regular and large consumption can be harmful to them.
Vanilla pudding is an easy recipe, and everyone can make it at home. For this reason, most pets can get some taste of this sweet treat.
Aside from milk, vanilla pudding contains other ingredients. Some of these things are also harmful to felines. According to a recipe, it also contains sugar, starch, egg yolks, vanilla, and butter.
Let’s try to tackle each of these ingredients and how they can affect our pets.
Contents
What is in the vanilla pudding? (Ingredients)
Whole Milk or Cow’s Milk
Whole Milk or Cow’s Milk is the base of vanilla pudding. As I said earlier, milk isn’t suitable for cats.
Whole milk or cow’s milk contains lactose, which felines will find hard to digest.
Newly born kittens won’t have a problem with milk, as they need it and get some from their mothers. However, as kitties grow old, they become lactose intolerant.
As they start being full-fledged carnivores, they also begin to lose milk tolerance.
They can have a taste, but large milk consumption can lead to diarrhea or other digestive issues.
Sugar
Can cats have sugar? Sugar can cause insulin, leading to liver failure. Thus, felines can not have sugar.
If you think of treating your pet with something sweet, there’s no point in it. The reason behind this is that taste doesn’t register sweetness in things.
They don’t taste sweetness because sweets and sugar don’t have value for them.
Since sugar is a primary ingredient in the vanilla pudding, they can’t eat it in large amounts.
Cornstarch
Is cornstarch safe for cats? Unlike the first two, cornstarch is safe. Cornstarch, together with other grains, can even be beneficial.
Although they are carnivores, they can take some grains from time to time. There’s no harm in giving your kitty some of these kinds from time to time.
Still, they need meat more than grains, and they can survive without such.
Egg Yolks
Egg Yolks can also be beneficial for cats. Egg yolks contain protein that they need.
However, it does not mean it makes a vanilla pudding safe.
You can feed your pet cooked egg yolks all the time, but it can be wrong if mixed with milk and sugar.
Butter
Can cats eat butter? No, they cannot eat butter. Butter is a dairy product, and it contains lactose. Felines can have an upset stomach by consuming butter.
Further, butter contains fat that’s not good for your feline pet. It can lead to obesity or other digestive issues.
As much as possible, don’t give your kitty some butter, both on its own and vanilla pudding.
Now, the last ingredient is the flavor, which is the vanilla. Since it’s the soul of the pudding, it’s best to give some emphasis to it.
Related – Can cats eat durian?
Can cats eat vanilla?
Vanilla isn’t on the list of toxic food for cats. However, the vanilla extract, which is the ingredient in the vanilla pudding, contains ethanol.
Since ethanol is a kind of alcohol, it will be best to prevent your pet from licking something with vanilla.
For domestic animals, including cats, all types of alcohol are toxic.
Thus, if you think of feeding your kitty with vanilla pudding, remember that it contains alcohol.
Further, the concentration of vanilla extract can hurt your pet’s sense of smell.
Since cats have a keen sense of smell, engaging with pure vanilla extract can harm them.
Now, what about other types of pudding? Can cats eat different types of pudding?
Related – Can cats eat popsicles?
Can cats eat pudding?
All kinds of pudding contain milk, sugar, and starch. Puddings only vary in flavor, but almost all are the same.
Thus, as long as it is food containing milk and sugar, kitties cannot eat it. A bit of a taste here and there won’t do any harm.
However, as much as you can, try to avoid giving it regularly. Further, avoid giving it in large quantities.
What about rice pudding? We have article only about rice pudding which you can read here.
Can cats eat vanilla yogurt?
If you’re wondering if cats can have vanilla yogurt, then that would depend on the yogurt.
There is lactose-free yogurt, which is suitable for people who are lactose intolerant. These kinds of yogurt are also safe.
However, if your yogurt is a regular one, it may contain lactose, leading to indigestion or an upset stomach.
Always make sure to know the contents of what you are about to feed your kitty and make sure it’s safe.
Do you want to know if cats eat pesto or cayenne pepper? Check it out!
In Summary
Vanilla pudding is a sweet treat that is easy to make. Thus, it’s no wonder why everyone loves it. It’s also no wonder why it’s tempting to share with our feline pets.
Still, what may be a treat for us can be harmful to cats.
As a general rule of thumb, always ensure that the ingredients of the food we’re sharing are safe for our pets.
In the end, the safety of our pet cats depends on how we care for them.
Resources
Study about the lactose intolerance of cats
Image credits – Photos by MIKHAIL VASILYEV and Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash
