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Can Cats Eat Cream Cheese? All You Need To Know

We know for a fact that Jerry loves cheese and would do pretty much anything for it. But does Tom like it? Can cats Eat Cream Cheese? Is cheese safe for Tom, the cat, or is he allowed to simply trap Jerry with a chunk of cheese?

Well, as far as cream cheese goes, cats can enjoy it in tiny quantities. You see, there’s nothing harmful about eating cheese per see for your pet cat. However, making it a regular inclusion in your cat’s diet can cause severe long-term problems!

We will be discussing various questions about whether cats can eat cream cheese and other related topics in this article. Keep reading before you let your pet cat sneak a lick from the tub of cream cheese!

Can Cats Eat Cream Cheese?

Now, the answer to whether cats can eat cream cheese is not a straightforward one. The short of it is that while you can feed some cream cheese to your pet cat, you should restrict it to very small amounts or preferably avoid it together.

The long of it is that cats are carnivorous animals. Therefore, most felines’ digestive systems have evolved to efficiently digest meat and animal sources of protein.

Therefore, their bodies lack the lactase enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose products, in this instance, cream cheese. This results in difficulty digesting dairy products like cream cheese.

can cats eat cream cheese

But, the silver lining lies in the fact that this is not a blanket rule. Some cats may be able to enjoy dairy products like cream cheese, milk, and others, while some may experience digestive issues on eating dairy. 

Therefore, cream cheese can be a delectable snack for your pet cat but, you must feed it in very small amounts, and that too, sparingly.

Cream Cheese Nutritional Facts

Cream cheese is created by blending cream and cheese together, quite literally. Sometimes, it can be made with milk instead of cream. Most commercially available cream cheese products also contain added chemicals such as binding compounds, preservatives, etc.

Refrigerator, Fridge, Cold Storage

There are some benefits of cream cheese like its protein content, a generous percentage of vitamin A, healthy fats (healthy for cats only when consumed in small amounts), and the presence of riboflavin.

Further, cream cheese has proven to offer probiotic support to your pet cat’s digestive system, along with a healthy dose of antioxidants that help keep your cat’s body young and healthy!

Health Benefits Of Cream Cheese For Cats

Cat, Kitten, Pet, Lick, Tongue

While only a few in number, eating cream cheese can still have benefits for your pet cat. Here is a short list about the benefits your cat can gain by eating cream cheese –

  • Protein, calcium, phosphorus, casein, and other vital nutrients can all be sourced by your cat in a small serving of cream cheese. 
  • Cream cheese is also rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an anti-carcinogenic that can help humans prevent tumor formation. This is only indicative of a benefit as far as cats are concerned, but a promising one nonetheless.
  • Without sunlight, cats are unable to generate vitamin D. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption, and the fact that dairy products are loaded with calcium simply tells us that eating some amounts of cream cheese can be helpful in maintaining your pet cat’s bone health!
  • Cream cheese is also heavy in fat, which cats require to maintain their health.
  • Healthy fats can improve mood and decrease anxiety by increasing dopamine production. Omega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial to cats’ brain and cardiovascular health.

Risks of Eating Cream Cheese for Cats

Lucky Cat, Fat, Lazy, Lying

The risks of eating cream cheese for cats are abundant. And that is why we can’t stress enough how crucial it is only to feed cream cheese to your cat in tiny quantities. Keep reading to understand how eating too much cream cheese can be of severe harm to your cat.

Risk of your cat becoming obese

Because both cheese and cream are calorie-dense foods, eating too much of it can quickly cause your cat to put on unhealthy amounts of weight. Obesity in cats can cause long-term health problems and can be quite difficult to treat or get rid of.

Risk of your pet cat consuming too much salt

Salt is one ingredient that can cause extreme health issues in cats. Cream cheese that you buy in most commercial markets often contains large amounts of salt to improve the flavor for human consumption.

However, eating this cream cheese can cause issues like kidney damage, hypertension, or even heart disease in your pet cat!

Lactose intolerance in cats

As we mentioned earlier, cats have evolved to be carnivores and this, can’t produce the lactase enzyme in their bodies. This means that eating dairy products such as cream cheese can cause indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea in your pet cat.

Unhealthy ingredients that are often included in cream cheese

Commercially available cream cheese is created by adding ingredients such as binding compounds and preservatives, along with spices, flavoring, and so on. All of these ingredients are harmful to your pet cat.

Can cats eat sour cream?

Cats can eat sour cream. It does, in fact, include a small quantity of protein, which may provide some health benefits to your cat’s diet.

A Siamese cat in a woman's arms is eating sour cream from a spoon.

If you’re thinking about giving your cat sour cream as a treat, start with a tiny amount and only do so after consulting with your veterinarian.

Also, you must read the label on the sour cream bottle to make sure it doesn’t include any preservatives or chemicals that could cause your cat to become ill.

Can cats eat feta cheese?

Yes, cats can eat feta cheese. Feta cheese is a better alternative to cream cheese since it contains lower amounts of lactose in it, making it easier for your pet cat to digest.

However, feta cheese is still dense in fats. Therefore, you must exercise moderation when feeding it to your pet cat.

Can cats eat American cheese?

While the basic guidelines for feeding American cheese to your pet cat remain the same, American cheese can prove to be helpful in feeding unsavory medicines to your pet cat because of its taste.

american cheese

However, you should feed American cheese to your pet cat in moderation only.

Can cats eat cream cheese frosting?

cheese frosting

Cats should not eat cream cheese frosting since it is created with ingredients that are terrible for cats’ health. Sugar, salt, preservatives are some of these ingredients.

Can Baby Cats Eat Cream Cheese?

No, you should not feed cream cheese to baby cats or kittens. While it may not necessarily cause issues for your kitten, it’s safer to avoid the perils of lactose intolerance, especially in the formative years of your pet cat.

When you start including cream cheese in your kitten’s diet, you should start with extremely small quantities and gradually increase it to a comparatively larger amount.

Is Cream Cheese Safe For Cats?

In very small quantities, cream cheese is safe for cats. However, if you feed large quantities to your pet cat, it is bound to suffer from the effects of lactose intolerance, like diarrhea, nausea, and digestive issues.

Feeding commercially available cream cheese products is a big no when it comes to including them in your pet cat’s diet because they contain harmful additives and flavoring substances.

Do Cats Like Cream Cheese?

Some cats enjoy cream cheese while other cats do not. There is no blanket rule that cats enjoy or dislike cream cheese since it will vary in individual cats, based on their taste preferences.

How Much Cream Cheese Can A Cats Eat?

Cats should have extremely small amounts of cream cheese. Half a teaspoon every other week is a safe way to include cream cheese in your cat’s diet. Exceeding this amount increases the chances of your pet cat facing digestive issues and long-term health problems substantially.

Can you feed your pet cat vegan or non-dairy versions of cream cheese?

On the surface of it, vegan versions of cream cheese that are free of dairy products seem like a great and healthy alternative for your pet cat. But, this could not be further from the truth.

The fact is that vegan versions of cream cheese still contain large amounts of flavoring substances and chemicals to make them more delicious to human consumers of it.

All of these substances can cause serious harm to your cat’s body. Therefore, it would be best to shy away from such options simply.

Final Thoughts

Ideally, we would advise you to keep your cat away from cream cheese altogether. But, we certainly understand how tough it can be to say no to your beloved feline.

Therefore, we’ll simply tell you this: the less cream cheese you feed your pet cat, the healthier and happier it will be. If you must, you can include extremely small amounts of cream cheese in your pet cat’s diet, but be mindful about not overfeeding it to your pet cat.

Before you do actually take out the cream cheese container, you should also consult your vet regarding how safe it is to feed your cat cream cheese, keeping in mind your specific cat’s body and preferences.

FAQs

Can cats eat Philadelphia cream cheese?

No, cats can’t eat Philadelphia cream cheese because of the presence of flavoring substances and other harmful chemicals that your cat could be sensitive to.

Can chinchillas eat cheese?

No, chinchillas can’t eat cheese.

Can cats eat kale?

No, cats can’t eat kale. Kale has been known to cause conditions like anemia in cats, and therefore, you must avoid including kale in your pet cat’s diet.

Can cats eat beef jerky?

Yes, cats can eat beef jerky, but only if the beef jerky is free of flavoring substances and oil!

About the author

I'm Gulshan, a passionate pet enthusiast. Dive into my world where I share tips, stories, and snapshots of my animal adventures. Here, pets are more than just animals; they're heartbeats that enrich our lives. Join our journey!