Have you ever caught your curious kitty trying to snack on your smartfood popcorn? As you quickly moved the bag out of reach, you likely wondered – Can Cats Eat Smartfood Popcorn? Or are those enticing cheese-flavored kernels actually dangerous for feline health?
This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about cats and smartfood popcorn. We’ll explore the ingredients in smartfood popcorn, look at the potential risks of feeding it to cats, and suggest some healthier popcorn alternatives you can feel good about sharing.
Table of Contents
What Exactly is Smartfood Popcorn?
Before we dive into whether cats can eat it, let’s start with a quick primer on what exactly smartfood popcorn is.
Smartfood popcorn is a popular pre-packaged snack made by Frito-Lay. It features light, air-popped popcorn coated in a powdered cheese flavoring.
Some key facts about smartfood popcorn:
- Low calorie: A standard 1 ounce serving contains about 120 calories
- Whole grain: Popcorn is a whole grain food, providing fiber
- No actual cheese: The cheese flavoring contains no real cheese ingredients
- Lots of sodium: Approximately 290mg sodium per serving
The cheese powder coating on smartfood popcorn typically contains ingredients like maltodextrin, citric acid, disodium phosphate, and artificial flavors.
So while smartfood popcorn starts as a healthy whole grain popcorn kernel, the flavoring and sodium make it less than ideal for cats.
Can Cats Eat Smartfood Popcorn Safely?
Now onto the main question—is smartfood popcorn safe for cats to eat?
The short answer is no, vets do not recommend feeding smartfood popcorn to cats. Here’s why:
Too Much Sodium
One of the biggest concerns with smartfood popcorn is the very high sodium content.
There are approximately 290mg of sodium in a standard 1 ounce serving. That’s a significant amount of salt for a cat’s small body to process.
Eating too much sodium can lead to issues like:
- Dehydration: High salt intake causes cats to get thirsty and urinate more to flush out excess sodium. This can lead to dehydration if they don’t replenish fluids.
- Kidney problems: Cats’ kidneys can get overworked trying to filter out all the extra sodium. Excessive sodium intake is linked to kidney disease in cats over time.
- Elevated blood pressure: Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure in cats, just as it does in humans. This puts extra strain on organs like the heart.
For optimal feline health, look for cat food with no more than around 100mg sodium per serving. The 290mg in a tiny serving of smartfood popcorn is clearly too much.
Artificial Flavors and Preservatives
The artificial cheese flavoring and other additives in smartfood popcorn are also problematic. Ingredients like maltodextrin and citric acid are not toxic, but can cause tummy upset if cats eat them.
Cats’ digestive systems are specially adapted to process the nutrients in raw meat. They are not designed to handle man-made food additives.
Eating smartfood popcorn may give your cat an upset stomach, gas, or diarrhea. At best it will just provide empty calories without any real nutrition.
Choking Hazard
Popcorn and other crunchy snack foods pose a choking risk for curious cats who try to grab a bite.
Un popped kernels are especially dangerous, as they can fully obstruct airways if lodged in the throat. Make sure to keep all popcorn safely out of paws’ reach.
Lack of Nutrition
Lastly, smartfood popcorn simply lacks balanced nutritional value appropriate for cats.
It is mostly carbohydrates, with only a small amount of protein from the popcorn itself. Cats thrive on a meat-based diet high in protein.
While an occasional small bite of plain popcorn won’t harm an otherwise healthy cat, smartfood popcorn should not be a regular part of your cat’s diet.
Healthier Popcorn Snacks for Cats
Does this mean cats can never have any popcorn? Not necessarily!
Here are some tips for healthier popcorn snacking that your cat can enjoy:
Plain Air-Popped Popcorn
Plain popcorn popped at home with no butter, oil or other flavorings is the safest option. An occasional plain piece of air-popped popcorn is fine for cats as an occasional treat.
Just be sure to remove any unpopped kernels to avoid a choking risk. It’s also easy to crush up plain popcorn into bite-sized pieces appropriate for your cat.
Homemade Cat-Safe Seasonings
If you want to jazz it up, you can top your plain popcorn with cat-safe seasonings like nutritional yeast, brewer’s yeast, catnip, or dried bonito flakes.
Use common sense – garlic, onion, pepper and other strong spices are not appropriate for cats. Stick to subtle cat-friendly flavors.
Added to Food
Another option is to sprinkle a small amount of crushed popcorn onto your cat’s regular food. The crunchy texture adds variation that fussy eaters may enjoy.
Just don’t replace actual cat food with popcorn. It should only be an occasional garnish, not the main meal.
When in doubt, consult your veterinarian about the best way to incorporate treats like popcorn into your cat’s diet.
Other Human Foods Cats Can’t Eat
While we’re on the topic of “people food” that cats should avoid, here is a quick list of other common human foods dangerous for cats:
Chocolate: Contains toxic theobromine; this is well known as highly poisonous to cats and dogs.
Onions: Contains compounds that can damage red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Garlic: Like onions, garlic contains compounds that are toxic to cats when ingested.
Xylitol: This sugar alcohol sweetener found in some candies and gum is toxic to cats.
Grapes/Raisins: Can cause sudden kidney failure; the exact mechanism is unknown.
Alcohol: Cats lack the enzymes needed to metabolize it; alcohol is toxic when ingested.
Coffee and Tea: Contain dangerous compounds like caffeine; these should not be given to cats.
This is just a partial list -* many human foods are unsafe for cats*. When in doubt, say no to sharing any people food or drink with your kitty.
The Bottom Line: Skip the Smartfood Popcorn
So in summary, vets recommend against feeding smartfood popcorn to cats. The sodium, artificial flavors, and other additives make smartfood popcorn a poor choice to share with fussy felines.
If you want to share some cat-safe popcorn with your cat, stick to plain air-popped or lightly seasoned homemade varieties. And be sure to keep all popcorn safely sealed away so your determined kitty can’t break into the bag!
With some common sense precautions (and by pre-popping any kernels), popcorn can be an occasional snack your cat enjoys. Just don’t make the mistake of assuming all people food is safe for cats – smartfood popcorn and many other “treats” we like to eat can be dangerous for our furry friends.
References:
- https://pets.webmd.com/cats/ss/slideshow-foods-your-cat-should-never-eat
- https://www.preventivevet.com/pet-suffocation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much popcorn can cats eat?
Cats should only have occasional, small bites of popcorn as a treat. It should never make up a large part of their diet. Around 1-2 plain pieces 1-2 times per week is a reasonable amount.
Is popcorn good for cats?
Plain popped popcorn without flavoring is fine in moderation. It can provide fiber and mental stimulation. But the calories are empty without much nutrition, so it shouldn’t replace actual cat food.
Is cheese popcorn bad for cats?
Yes, cheese or other flavored popcorn should be avoided. The cheese powder contains too much salt and artificial ingredients. Stick to plain air-popped popcorn.
Can cats choke on popcorn?
Yes, choking is a risk if cats eat whole popcorn kernels. Always fully pop kernels before giving any to cats. Breaking into small pieces also minimizes choking hazard.
What if my cat eats unpopped popcorn?
Contact your vet immediately if your cat eats unpopped kernels, which pose a major choking risk. Induce vomiting if instructed by your vet. Watch closely for signs of choking or intestinal blockage.
Is buttered popcorn bad for cats?
Butter and oil contain too much fat and salt for cats. Avoid buttered popcorn or just pick off the butter before sharing a small piece.
Can kittens eat popcorn?
Kittens under 1 year old should not eat popcorn. Their digestive systems are more sensitive. Wait until your kitten is fully grown before introducing popcorn in very small amounts.
