Can Cats Eat Ham?

A glazed, baked ham sitting on the table as your family gathers for the holidays or family meal is a beautiful sight to see. Ham is the meat that comes from the hind leg of a hog. When you buy it at the store, it’s usually pre-cooked by being smoked, cured, or baked. Whether it’s a slow-roasted bone-in ham, or on a Hawaiian pizza, you may wonder if you can share a little morsel with your furry feline.

So, can cats eat ham? The answer is yes, but sparingly. Cats are carnivores, and ham is non-toxic for them. But because of how it’s preserved, ham can have a lot of sodium (salt) that could be dangerous for your cat in high amounts.

Let's take a look at how to safely feed your cat ham.

As a general rule, most cats would give a resounding, “Yes!" They like ham, paw-ssibly a little too much. Since cats are carnivores, they crave high protein foods like ham. It could provide many of the nutrients that your carnivorous kitty needs. 

A cat’s sense of smell is about 14 times better than that of humans! This explains why your cat comes bolting into the room when you open up some fresh deli meat or a can of tuna. Their sense of taste, on the other hand, is much weaker than humans. They could react strongly, and even beg, for a slice of ham because their most powerful response to food is through smell, not taste. This makes ham a great vehicle for hiding medication.  

If your cat turns their little nose up at ham, don’t fret, as it does not need to form part of their diet. Cats are actually nutritionally better off with their regular cat food. 

Although ham isn’t dangerous for cats in small amounts, it’s not recommended to add it as a regular part of their diet. The negative health effects from the excessive amounts of sodium and fat can outweigh the health benefits. However, ham is not all bad, and if you’re giving it as a treat only, it offers a few great nutrients for your cat. 

Provides essential taurine

Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, so they require a relatively large amount. They can produce a small amount on their own, but they also need it in their diet. Taurine helps cats to have normal vision, digestion, and heart muscle function, and maintain normal pregnancy, fetal development, and a healthy immune system. 

Good source of protein 

Cats need to eat at least two grams of protein per pound of healthy body weight each day. This is actually a higher ratio than dogs! They need it to fuel their bodies and their unique nervous systems. There are about 5 grams of protein in a slice of deli ham, making it an excellent source of protein. 

Bursting with healthy minerals  

Ham has plenty of other vitamins and minerals that could benefit your cat. Zinc helps keep their fur nice and shiny, selenium is good for their heart, and potassium supports their kidneys. Just 2 ounces (57 grams), approximately 2-3 slices, of ham provides:

• Selenium: 42–76% of the DV
  
• Phosphorus: 11% of the DV
• Zinc: 9% of the DV
• Potassium: 6% of the DV
• Iron: 3% of the DV
• Copper: 3% of the DV
• Magnesium: 3% of the DV

Ham should really only be given as a special treat, as in a small piece and not every day. The high amount of sodium can be an issue for felines. Cats don’t have a strong urge to drink water like other animals do, and can be prone to dehydration. They usually get most of their hydration from the food they eat which is why wet food is often recommended. Cats are only supposed to have 42 mg of sodium per day, and a slice of deli ham can have upwards of 360 mg! Too much salt could even lead to salt poisoning. Only feed your cat a couple bites per day, and always make sure the ham is plain without any extra seasonings. 

Ham is also high in fat. Regularly eating ham can lead to high blood pressure, diarrhea, and obesity. A great way to calculate the right amount of treats your cat should be getting is using the 90/10 rule: 90% (or more) of their calories should come from cat food and 10% (or less) from treats. The Pet Nutrition Alliance offers a handy online form that helps determine your cat’s caloric requirements. There are about 34 calories in a slice of deli ham. 

After staring at your honey-baked ham cooling on the counter or at the dinner table, your cat may be meowing for a taste. But can they eat this holiday staple? The same rules apply for this kind of ham- a few bites of plain ham per day, no more. Just be sure to give them their bites from the inside of a slice rather than the crusted honey bits on the edges which can contain more sugar than cats should have. 

Kittens have delicate digestive systems that aren’t fully developed. Why take unnecessary risks with their little tummies? It’s recommended to just stick with their complete kitten food. This will give them a balanced diet, and all the nutrients they need to grow up strong and healthy. 

Overall, a few small pieces of ham once in a while can be a delicious treat for your furry feline. It's a great way to hide medication or coax them into eating their food. While there are some nutritional benefits, it should be fed sparingly due to its high amount of sodium and fat which your litter tiger just doesn't need. A ham treat is sure to get them purring!