Can Cats Eat Whipped Cream?

Whipped cream is significantly more dangerous to felines in the long term than milk, kefir, and other dairy types. The reason for this is high sugar and fat content.

Furthermore, whipped cream manufacturers add plenty of chemicals to achieve a thick texture, which can also harm feline health.

Your cat won’t have severe adverse effects if it sneaks to the kitchen and eats a bit of cream, but it isn’t the best choice of treat.

Whipped Cream Contains Lactose

Whipped cream isn’t toxic to cats, but it can cause adverse effects regardless because it contains lactose. Many adult cats are lactose intolerant because their bodies stop producing the enzyme lactase necessary for breaking down lactose.

In the same way, some people experience gastroenteric upset if they drink milk in adulthood despite having no adverse effects from dairy in childhood. Cats, too, can experience flatulence, stomach cramps, and vomiting.

These symptoms occur because undigested lactose causes fermentation and gas production in the cat’s intestines. It also draws water to the gastroenteric tract, which results in diarrhea.

It’s important to note that not all adult cats are lactose intolerant. Studies show the part of lactose intolerant cats is around 50%, so your cat might not have any adverse effects from whipped cream.

Furthermore, the age felines stop producing lactase varies – some stop producing the enzyme at five months old, whereas others only after one-year-old.

Another point to note is that whipped cream isn’t as high in lactose as milk – a cup of whole milk contains nine to 14 grams of lactose, whereas a tablespoon of whipped cream only contains roughly 0.5 grams of lactose.

So, even if your cat is lactose intolerant and experiences gastroenteric upset from whipped cream, the symptoms likely won’t be as prominent. There’s also lactose-free whipped cream made from plant milk.

Whipped Cream Is High in Sugar

Even if your cat isn’t lactose intolerant or you buy lactose-free whipped cream, the product isn’t risk-free for your pet because it’s high in sugar.

Sugar isn’t poisonous for felines, but it isn’t a natural part of their diet and can have adverse effects if consumed in high amounts. The feline diet consists primarily of proteins because cats are obligate carnivores.

Firstly, too many carbohydrates consumed regularly can lead to obesity and related health issues, including cardiovascular conditions and diabetes.

Secondly, even one serving can negatively affect your cat’s health if it’s too large, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, and increased thirst.

Plus, cats can’t even sense sweetness. They have fewer taste buds than humans and cannot detect sugars, so your kitty won’t enjoy whipped cream as you do.

Naturally, a small serving of whipped cream won’t have lasting effects on your pet’s health, but whipped cream shouldn’t be a frequent treat.

Whipped Cream Is High in Fat

Fat is an integral part of the feline diet. At least 9% of a cat’s daily calorie intake should come from fat, and some cat food manufacturers add as much as 50% of fat to their products.

One would think fatty foods like whipped cream won’t hurt a cat, but it’s a misconception. Your cat is already getting enough fats from kibble or canned food, so fats from whipped cream are excessive.

If a cat consumes too much fat, it will gain weight and might develop medical conditions associated with obesity, including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Additionally, sugar increases the risk of dental problems.

Of course, a cat won’t become obese if it eats whipped cream occasionally and in moderation, but frequent consumption of the product can have lasting effects.

Whipped Cream Contains Carrageenan

Fat, sugar, and lactose are apparent offenders in whipped cream, but not many owners know about other risks of whipped cream for cats. The product also contains carrageenan, an element that helps whipped cream keep its texture.

Carrageenan isn’t poisonous to felines and can even be found in cat foods as an emulsifier and thickener. However, numerous studies associate it with increased cancer risk.

Carrageenan comes in two forms, un-degraded and degraded. Scientists routinely use the latter to induce inflammation in laboratory animals when testing pharmaceuticals. Research shows degraded carrageenan causes ulcers, tumors, and gut cancer.

The FDA prohibits degraded carrageenan from being used in human and animal foods. However, studies show that the body can degrade carrageenan, turning a harmless ingredient into a dangerous one.

The difference between un-degraded and degraded carrageenan lies in acidity. When alkalic un-degraded carrageenan enters the stomach’s acidic environment, it becomes degraded and acts as a carcinogen.

A cat won’t develop cancer from eating whipped cream once, but prolonged product intake can have significantly worse consequences than extra weight or dental problems.

Although whipped cream can vary in fat and sugar content and even be lactose-free, all whipped cream contains carrageenan. For this reason, you should refrain from giving your cat the product frequently.

Whipped Cream Contains Nitrous Oxide

Another less obvious danger of whipped cream for cats is nitrous oxide, present in most varieties of the product, particularly canned whipped cream. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is often used by dentists for anesthesia.

In the case of whipped cream, nitrous oxide helps to remove the product from the can. It can make even humans dizzy, and since cats are much smaller than us, the effects can be significantly worse than light dizziness.

Cats are likely to experience bloating from eating nitrous oxide, causing them to lose their appetite and not consume their regular amount of food. If a cat eats whipped cream frequently, it can develop nutrient deficiency.

Furthermore, nitrous oxide can cause a cat to become disoriented, dizzy, and nauseous. The good news is that whipped cream doesn’t contain much nitrous oxide, so it is unlikely to have lasting consequences.

Should I Seek Veterinary Help if My Cat Ate Whipped Cream?

To conclude, your cat can have a little bit of whipped cream occasionally, provided it is healthy and doesn’t have lactose intolerance. Still, you should watch out for adverse effects and seek medical help if necessary.

Usually, moderate vomiting or diarrhea doesn’t require veterinary intervention. But if a gastroenteric upset is severe, your cat might lose much water and need intravenous fluid administration to make up for the loss.

Furthermore, cats can have unique food allergies. Even if your cat doesn’t have adverse effects from sugar or lactose, it can be allergic to other ingredients in whipped cream, so you should be mindful of allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of food allergy in cats are easy to confuse with gastroenteric upset. However, some cats might experience respiratory issues or rash. In that case, you should seek veterinary help as soon as possible.

How Much Whipped Cream Is Safe for a Cat?

As a rule of thumb, refrain from giving your cat whipped cream entirely. However, if your cat is very insistent, you can calculate the appropriate serving size based on your pet’s weight.

An adult cat should consume 24-35 calories per pound of body weight daily, so an average eight-pound cat should eat 192-280 calories daily. Treats should make up no more than 10% of the total daily calorie intake, or 19-28 calories.

One tablespoon of whipped cream contains roughly 55 calories, so an eight-pound cat can eat about half a tablespoon or one teaspoon of whipped cream. However, the treat shouldn’t be frequent.

If you’re planning on giving your cat whipped cream for the first time, remember to watch out for adverse effects, even if the serving was tiny. You should also remember that the above-mentioned serving size is for healthy cats.

If your cat is obese, diabetic, or suffers from other medical conditions, the serving should be smaller. Even better is to avoid this treat entirely because whipped cream’s health benefits for cats equal zero.

Why Does My Cat Love Whipped Cream?

If cats are lactose intolerant and obligate carnivores, why do cats like whipped cream? You might be asking yourself this question regularly if your cat goes crazy over whipped cream. The answer is simple – whipped cream is fat.

Cats love fatty foods because fat is a major part of their diet. Because felines have fewer taste buds than humans, they don’t care about sugars in whipped cream, but they find fats delicious.

Furthermore, cats can have unique food preferences. Some cats might just like the flavor, smell, or texture of whipped cream. Some kitties might even associate it with their mother’s milk and feel content when eating it.

But not everything your cat likes is healthy. Think of all the junk food people regularly eat – the fact that something is tasty doesn’t mean we should eat it frequently.

If your cat craves fatty foods, it might not be getting enough fats from kibble or canned food. However, consult a veterinarian who will evaluate all variables before altering your pet’s diet to avoid feeding it too much fat.

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