As any cat owner knows, our furry friends can get into places and things they shouldn’t. One common scenario is when a curious cat gets ahold of leftover bacon grease. While delicious to humans, bacon grease can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting in cats. If your cat ate bacon grease, don’t panic. Here are 14 tips to keep your cat safe and help them recover if they ingest bacon fat.
1. Evaluate the Amount Consumed
First, try to determine how much bacon grease your cat ate A small taste or lick likely won’t cause an issue. However, a tablespoon or more can lead to digestive problems. If you find an overturned container or missing grease, assume they ate a substantial amount.
2. Monitor for Symptoms
Watch your cat closely over the next 24-48 hours for symptoms like vomiting diarrhea, loss of appetite or lethargy. If you notice any of these call your vet, as treatment may be needed. Lethargy along with vomiting or diarrhea can signal dehydration.
3. Avoid Food for a Few Hours
If your cat ate more than just a taste withhold food for 2-4 hours to give their stomach time to settle. Avoid giving fatty foods which could worsen GI upset. Stick to their regular diet once symptoms improve.
4. Provide Plenty of Fresh Water
Ensure your cat has unlimited access to fresh, clean drinking water to prevent dehydration from fluid loss. Use a fountain if your cat prefers flowing water.
5. Offer a Bland Diet
Feed small, frequent meals of bland food like boiled chicken and white rice once hunger returns. This gentle food helps calm the GI tract. Mix in some canned pumpkin for fiber.
6. Limit Physical Activity
Restrict activity for 24 hours to give your cat’s belly time to recover. Cats may seem subdued after an upset stomach too. Keep them calm and comfortable.
7. Watch for Dehydration
Contact your vet if symptoms worsen or if you notice signs of dehydration like lethargy, dry gums, weakness, or sunken eyes. Dehydration needs prompt veterinary treatment.
8. Administer Medications Per Vet
If prescribed by your vet, give any medications as directed, like GI protectants, anti-nausea meds, probiotics, or subcutaneous fluids. These provide relief and help recovery.
9. Keep the Cat Confined
Until back to normal, confine your cat to one room with food, water, litterbox and bedding to limit activity and observe them. Make sure children leave the cat alone.
10. Clean Up Accidents Properly
Be prepared for vomiting or diarrhea outside the litterbox. Disinfect soiled areas thoroughly. If needed, temporarily switch to easy-to-clean floors like tile.
11. Discourage Repeated Behavior
Once recovered, prevent repeat incidents by keeping bacon grease in the refrigerator in tightly sealed containers out of paw’s reach. Never leave grease unattended.
12. Remove All Temptations
Put other tempting human foods like butter, meat, and oil away too. Place trash cans up high or use pet-proof lids. Veggie oil can also cause stomach issues.
13. Invest in Interactive Puzzles
Provide mental stimulation with food puzzles instead of unhealthy human food. Work their brain at mealtimes to prevent boredom eating.
14. Contact an Emergency Vet If Concerned
If symptoms seem severe or persist more than 24-48 hours, don’t hesitate to visit an emergency vet clinic, especially if your cat seems in distress.
While bacon grease may smell tempting to our cats, it’s simply too rich for their digestive systems. Stay vigilant after potential exposure, and take action to help your cat recover quickly while preventing repeat episodes. With preparation and care, your cat can happily and safely return to their normal routine.
Is it bad if my cat eats bacon grease?
FAQ
What happens if cats eat bacon grease?
What to do if your cat eats grease?
What should I do if my cat eats bacon?
Is grease toxic to cats?
Is bacon grease bad for cats?
Bacon grease is really bad for your cat. Large amounts of fat and grease were never intended to be part of their diet. If they happen to get a large helping of bacon or bacon grease, it is very likely that it will cause an upset stomach for your cat. If that happens there is a good chance you’ll be finding diarrhea and vomit all over the place.
Can cats eat bacon?
Aside from the immediate issues of an upset stomach and possible vomiting, copious amounts of fat are very bad for your cat’s health. Not only that, but bacon is packed with an unhealthy amount of salt. While the fat content of bacon is not good, the sodium content is what really makes bacon not a great choice of food for cats.
What can you do with bacon grease?
In addition, bacon grease is an integral part of cuisine in various parts of the world. The versatility of bacon grease allows for it to be used to make a lot of things. From frying food in it to making sauces, there is a lot that you can do with a little jar of bacon grease.
What happens if a cat eats a hunk of bacon?
If you caught your curious cat gobbling down a hunk of bacon off the counter or out of the trash, call your vet for an immediate exam. They’ll need to monitor vitals such as blood pressure, hydration, and signs of sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of this condition often include:
