Why cats should not have it
Sausages are a processed meat product. They are high in salt and fat, and the spice mix can contain garlic or onion powder, which is particularly harmful to cats because it damages red blood cells. Preservatives and other additives a cat has no need for are added too.
Salt and fat can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and thirst, and sausages given regularly add to weight gain. One stolen bite is not an emergency, but if your cat ate more, or the sausage contained garlic or onion, talk to a vet.
What to watch out for
- Salt can cause thirst, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Fat can upset the stomach or cause an inflamed pancreas.
- Garlic and onion in the seasoning damage a cat's red blood cells.
- Sausages given regularly add to weight gain.
- If your cat vomits, has diarrhoea, turns lethargic or has pale gums, contact a vet.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning is one of the best treats you can give a cat. Safe
- Beef Yes, well-cooked lean beef without seasoning is a good treat for a cat; just trim off the fat and take out any bones. Safe
- Eggs Yes, a well-cooked egg, boiled or cooked without fat, is fine for a cat, but it is better not to give a raw egg. Safe