Can Cats Eat Spam? - LEARN MORE

​Many household families eat Spam for various meals throughout the day. So if you happen to fry or cook this Spam, seeing your cat begging at your feet may not surprise you. However, with all the additives in food nowadays, it can be overwhelming on what food is safe for your cat. This article provides a comprehensive view of whether or not cats can eat Spam.

Can Cats Eat Spam?

​If you're asking the question, can cats eat Spam; the short answer is yes, but it's not beneficial as a primary food source for a cat's daily nutritional needs. Also, keep a close eye on the ingredients of Spam, as it comes in different flavors (garlic) that can be harmful to your cat.  

​Is Spam good for cats?

​Spam is not toxic to cats, but this processed meat is high in sodium and fat. It would benefit if you also were mindful of other ingredients such as garlic that can harm your cat. Let's see what the nutritional importance is in a can of Spam and what that means for our feline friend.  

Sodium:
A single can of Spam contains 430 milligrams of sodium, and your cat can easily consume 1/2 a can in one sitting, taking in around 215 milligrams of sodium. Even 1/4 of the can contains 107 milligrams of sodium, over double the upper limits of your cat's required nutritional needs in a single day.  

Anything over 43 milligrams for an average adult cat can substantially impact their health and can be toxic. 

Here are a few common signs to look out for:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy
• Incoordination
• Excessive thirst or urination
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Coma

Obesity:
Spam is a dense food and high in fat content. A can of Spam has 180 calories, 6 grams of saturated fat, and 16 grams of total fat. A domestic cat's average daily energy needs are around 240-280 calories (Kilocalories) and 5.5 grams of total fat. 

House cats are more prone to obesity. Obesity can lead to other diseases and shorten a cat's life expectancy.  

Obese increases the risk for:

• Several types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension
• Osteoarthritis
• Urinary bladder stones

Onion and garlic poisoning:
There are different flavors of Spam, and some ingredients like garlic or onions can be harmful to your cat. For example, eating onions or garlic will destroy your cat's blood cells. This can lead to symptoms like:
​

• Anemia
• Lethargy 
• Weakness 
• Collapse 
• Exercise intolerance

​How much Spam can I feed my cat?

With the amount of sodium and fat content, you should not feed it to your cat as a meal replacement but rather as a tiny treat. 

While there is no official rule on how much of any given treat your cat should have, there are general guidelines you can follow. You should not provide treats that are more than 10% of your cat's daily calorie (kilocalorie)intake. Keep in mind treats are not a complete and balanced nutritional diet. ​

​Bottom Line

​While plan Spam is a non-toxic food for cats, it's not the healthiest snack you could provide for your feline friend. If you are determined to give your cat Spam, make sure to make it a small quantity, only try to feed it to them once a month.