Food safety
Can Cats Eat Ham? Best Not — Too Salty for Cats
No, ham is not a good food for cats. A tiny taste is not poisonous, but ham is cured with a lot of salt, often glazed with sugar or spice, and fattier than lean meats, and a large amount can make a cat seriously ill from the salt. If your cat ate a lot of ham, drippings or glaze, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why ham is a poor choice for cats
Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat itself is the right kind of food for them, as Cornell's Feline Health Center explains. The trouble with ham is how it is made. Curing uses salt and sodium-based preservatives, and holiday hams are often finished with honey, brown sugar, cloves or mustard glazes.
Ham is also fattier than lean meats such as chicken or turkey breast. VCA warns that fatty foods can lead to inflammation of the pancreas in pets, and rich holiday leftovers are a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in cats.
Warning: salt, glazes and bones
The ASPCA lists salty foods among those pets should not eat, because too much salt causes extreme thirst and urination and can upset the balance of electrolytes in the blood. Signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors and, in severe cases, seizures. A cat weighs a fraction of what a person does, so a few slices or a lick of salty drippings is a meaningful amount.
Glazes and rubs may contain onion or garlic powder, which are more dangerous to cats than to dogs. Cooked ham bones can splinter and injure the mouth or gut. Keep the platter, roasting pan and bone covered and out of reach.
If you share a safe morsel, offering it from a shallow cat bowl or hiding it in a puzzle feeder keeps the amount small.
What to do if your cat ate ham
If your cat licked a plate or took a fingernail-sized piece, they will most likely be fine. Make sure fresh water is available and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling or unusual thirst over the next day.
If they ate several slices, a large chunk, drippings, glaze or a bone, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 straight away; a consultation fee may apply. Have your cat's weight and an estimate of the amount ready, and do not try to make your cat vomit.
Is any amount of ham okay for a cat?
There is no amount worth recommending. A single shred of plain, unglazed ham is unlikely to harm a healthy adult cat, but Cornell suggests treats stay under 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories, and ham is a salty way to spend that allowance.
Cats with kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure or a prescription diet should not have ham at all. Older cats often have reduced kidney function without obvious signs, so ask your vet before sharing salty foods.
Can kittens eat ham?
No. Kittens are small, so the salt in even a small piece is a larger dose for their weight, and their stomachs upset easily. A growing kitten needs the balanced nutrition of a complete kitten food, not cured meats.
If your kitten ate ham, offer water and watch closely. Call your vet if they vomit more than once, have diarrhea, seem weak or very thirsty, or if they ate a large piece or any bone.
Signs ham disagreed with your cat, and when to call the vet
Stomach upset from rich food usually shows within a few hours to a day: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling or a reduced appetite. Cats often hide when they feel unwell, so a cat that stays under the bed after a holiday meal is worth watching closely.
See your vet the same day for repeated vomiting, diarrhea that will not settle, or a cat that refuses food. Tremors, wobbliness, seizures or extreme thirst after eating salty food are an emergency. A cat that has not eaten for a day or more should always be seen.
Keeping cats safe around the holiday ham
Cats jump onto counters and tables, so carve and rest the ham somewhere they cannot reach, and cover it while it cools. Put the bone, rind and string straight into a lidded trash can, and soak or wash the roasting pan promptly.
Ask guests not to slip scraps under the table. If you want your cat to share the occasion, set aside a few shreds of plain cooked turkey breast with no skin or seasoning, or offer their favorite cat treat.
Better treats than ham
Small pieces of plain cooked chicken or turkey, with no skin, bones or seasoning, give a cat real meat without the salt. A teaspoon of fully cooked plain egg, or a commercial cat treat, are other good options.
Avoid other cured and processed meats too, including bacon, sausage, salami and deli slices, which share the same salt and seasoning problems.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can cats eat deli ham?
It is best not to give it. Deli ham is cured and high in sodium, and may contain seasonings such as garlic or onion powder. Plain cooked chicken or turkey you cook yourself is a better choice.
Can cats eat ham bones?
No. Cooked ham bones can splinter and injure a cat's mouth, throat or gut. If your cat chewed or swallowed part of a bone, call your vet for advice.
Can cats eat honey glazed ham?
No. The glaze adds sugar to an already salty, fatty meat, and some glazes include spices or onion and garlic. Keep glazed ham and drippings away from cats.
Is ham toxic to cats?
Ham is not toxic in a tiny taste, but its high salt content can make a cat seriously ill in larger amounts, and fatty meat can upset the stomach. That is why it is not recommended.
Can cats eat ham every day?
No. Daily ham would give a cat far more salt and fat than is healthy. Stick to a complete cat food, with plain cooked lean meat as an occasional treat.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
