Can Cats Eat Mac And Cheese? The Surprising Facts!

It’s an all-time favorite comfort meal, but can cats eat mac and cheese? After reading this, you’ll never have to wonder again!

I like sharing leftovers with my cats. They usually beg for a bite during mealtime, and when I give them what’s left, nothing gets wasted. Mac and cheese always trigger their smell, and they come running even before I’ve plated up.

In this article, I share whether it’s safe to feed your cats some mac and cheese and how it can affect them.

Can Cats Eat Mac And Cheese?

Giving your cat a serving of mac and cheese won’t harm them, but there are some things you need to know before you do so.

Mac and cheese isn’t something cats can find in the wild, and their bodies aren’t made to naturally digest its ingredients. 

You should only feed it to them as an occasional treat and keep an eye out for any signs that your cat is struggling to digest it after serving it for the first time. 

The Benefits Of Mac And Cheese For Cats

Mac and cheese contain a lot of carbs and fiber. It’s low in sodium and has healthy fats that cats can use for energy.

Macaroni

Carbohydrates

Macaroni is basically carbs in a cute shape. If your cat eats a lot, you can add mac to their diet to keep them full for longer. This is especially helpful for cats that are overweight or on the verge of becoming.

Fiber

Mac contains a good amount of fiber. This can help your kitty maintain a healthy digestive system to digest other foods more easily. 

Fat And Sodium

Macaroni doesn’t have a lot of fat or sodium. This is good because both are unhealthy if your cat eats too much of them. 

Because many foods contain sodium, cats can easily overeat it. When they do, they may suffer from salt poisoning.

Cheese

Vitamins

Cheese contains vitamin A. A cat’s coat, skin, muscles, and nervous system all benefit from it.

Calcium

Cheese is high in calcium which helps build healthy bones and promote muscle growth. 

Fats

If the cheese in your mac and cheese is made from cow’s milk, it’s high in saturated and total fat.

Cats use fat for energy, so they can gain some stamina from eating mac and cheese.

Dangers For Cats When Eating Mac And Cheese

High In Sodium

Unfortunately, cheese is high in sodium. You shouldn’t let your cat eat too much of it. 

Lactose Intolerance

Cats don’t have the specific enzyme required to properly digest cheese. The lack of this makes most of the lactose intolerant, so if they eat cheese, they’ll likely vomit it out or get diarrhea. 

Healthy Mac And Cheese For Cats

If you want to create a healthier version of mac and cheese for your cat, you’ll be happy to know that it’s easy to do!

Here’s how:

• Swop the white macaroni for brown
• Use goats cheese – it’s the easiest for cats to digest
• Don’t use salt

Just keep this in mind and make the mac and cheese as usual! It’ll be healthier for you too!

Learn more about Is Blue Cheese Bad For Cats?

Fun Ways To Serve Mac And Cheese To Cats

I like to get creative with food, and making my cat’s meals are no exception! Mac and cheese taste great either way, but you can serve it to your cats like this so they can eat it easier:

Mac And Cheese Sticks

My mac and cheese sticks are easy to make, and my cats really like eating them! 

Start by cooking your macaroni without any salt. Once it’s al dente, melt the cheese. Take a marinade injector and inject the cheese into the macaroni. Your cats will love the surprise cheese inside!

You can make these mac and cheese sticks ahead and freeze them. I usually serve them as a midweek snack.

Mac And Cheese Balls

Mac and cheese balls are another favorite! There are many recipes online that you can follow. Remember to omit the salt, cow’s milk cheese, and any other spices that aren’t safe for cats.

You can freeze these as well, so pre-make a whole batch and serve them whenever you’re in the mood to spoil your cats with a fun meal that they can play with!

Read more about Is Cream Cheese Bad For Cats?

In Conclusion

Mac and cheese can be good for cats, but only if healthy ingredients are used. You should use goat’s cheese instead of cow’s milk cheese and omit harmful ingredients like salt. If you’d like to spice it up, you can use some catnip.

Remember to only feed it to your cats as an occasional treat. Their bodies aren’t made to eat carbs every day, and feeding them too much can cause gastrointestinal issues and obesity.

I hope this article was helpful in making your decision. If you decide to give your cats some mac and cheese, share how it went in the comments! You can also ask any question you might have that I haven’t discussed.