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The quick answer: Yes, cats can eat bacon sparingly, but it is not recommended to feed bacon to your cat regularly.
We all can agree that bacon is delicious, salty, crunchy, and one of the best parts about Sunday brunch. As obligate carnivores, cats, too, love meat and may be tempted to try a bite of your crispy breakfast side. The good news is that a little bite of bacon is safe to share with your cat, but we don’t recommend feeding bacon to your cat on a regular basis.
Hazards of bacon for cats
It’s no secret that bacon isn’t particularly healthy. It’s quite salty, fatty, and full of calories.
There is a real concern for salt poisoning with pets because too much sodium can have very harmful effects. Cats get all the sodium they need from a balanced cat food, so adding bacon to their diet means they are consuming far too much sodium. Too much salt can cause dehydration, high blood pressure, and even life-threatening seizures.
Because of the high fat content in bacon, even a small piece can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other tummy troubles. Plus, the extra calories can lead to obesity.
Though your kitty’s ancestors subsisted on raw meat, it’s best to avoid sharing raw bacon with your cat because it could contain harmful bacteria. Cooked meats are always the safer option.
Don’t be fooled: even though turkey bacon is a “healthier” alternative to pork bacon, it still contains high levels of sodium, and it certainly isn’t fat-free.
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