Why
Ham is meat, and cats are obligate carnivores. PetMD's veterinary guide on ham describes it as a lean source of protein and says ham cooked at home without seasoning can be good for cats as an occasional treat. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that cats need some animal-based protein in their diet, because plant proteins contain none of the taurine cats require.
Most ham sold in shops is a different story. PetMD's guide warns that deli hams often contain added sodium and may contain garlic or onion, which are toxic to cats, and that even low-sodium hams still contain salt. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, and cats on sodium-restricted diets, such as cats with kidney or heart disease, may not be able to have even small amounts.
Ham also cannot stand in for cat food. PetMD's guide points out that muscle meat such as ham is high in phosphorus but low in calcium, so ham should stay a small treat beside a complete and balanced cat food.
Risks to watch for
- Deli ham and other ready-to-eat ham, which often has added sodium and may be seasoned
- Ham seasoned or glazed with garlic, onion or spice rubs. Onion and garlic are toxic to cats
- Ham bones, which can block or puncture the intestines and can break teeth
- Raw or undercooked ham, which can carry E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria
- Cats with kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure, or on a sodium-restricted diet
- Increased thirst and urination, vomiting or diarrhea after eating salty food
- Kittens, which need a careful balance of calcium and phosphorus for growing bones
How to share safely
- If you want to share ham, buy uncooked ham and cook it yourself rather than offering deli or pre-cooked ham.
- Cook it all the way through with no seasoning. If the rest of the family wants it seasoned, set your cat's portion aside first.
- Remove every bone.
- Cut a 1-inch cube into smaller bites so your cat does not choke.
- Give ham no more than two or three times a week, and ask your vet first if your cat has a health condition or eats a prescription diet.
How much?
PetMD's veterinary guide suggests a 1-inch cube of plain, home-cooked ham, cut into smaller bites, no more than two or three times a week. Skip deli ham entirely, and give no ham at all to a cat on a sodium-restricted diet unless your vet says otherwise.
Deli ham, lunch meat and other processed meats
Deli ham is the form of ham cats are most likely to be offered, and it is the least suitable. PetMD's veterinary guide says deli-processed ham is much less likely to be nutritious than ham cooked at home, because it often contains added sodium and sometimes garlic or onion. PetMD's guide to turkey gives the same advice about turkey lunch meat, noting that processed meats like it are usually high in sodium and may contain preservatives or nitrates.
Salt adds up quickly in a small animal. The ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause increased thirst and urination, and that signs of salt poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and even death. Keep sandwiches, charcuterie boards and leftovers out of your cat's reach.
Why ham bones are off-limits
Ham bones are not safe for cats in any form. PetMD's veterinary guide explains that bone fragments can lodge in the intestines and cause a blockage, or puncture the stomach or intestines, and that a cat can break a tooth biting on bone. The ASPCA notes that bones can injure or block the digestive tract and that such injuries may need surgery.
If your cat has eaten a piece of ham bone, call your vet, even if it seems fine, and do not try to make your cat vomit at home. Go to a vet right away if you see any of these signs:
- Gagging, retching or pawing at the mouth
- Repeated vomiting or refusing food
- Lethargy or hiding
- A painful or tense belly
- Straining in the litter box or passing no stool
Can kittens eat ham?
Kittens should not have ham as a regular snack. PetMD's veterinary guide explains that muscle meat such as ham is high in phosphorus but low in calcium, and too much of it could upset the calcium balance a kitten needs for bone growth. The Merck Veterinary Manual links calcium deficiency from mostly-meat diets to a bone disorder in dogs and cats called secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism.
A small bite of ham that falls on the floor will not harm a kitten, according to PetMD's guide. Kittens are also more prone to vomiting and diarrhea, so it is best to wait until your kitten reaches full adult size before ham becomes an occasional treat.
Common questions
Is ham good for cats?
Only in limited ways. Ham is meat, and cats are obligate carnivores. PetMD's veterinary guide on ham describes it as a lean source of protein and says ham cooked at home without seasoning can be good for cats as an occasional treat.
Is ham bad for cats?
It can be. Risks to watch for: deli ham and other ready-to-eat ham, which often has added sodium and may be seasoned; ham bones, which can block or puncture the intestines and can break teeth.
Are cats allowed to have ham?
Only in small amounts and the right form. If you want to share ham, buy uncooked ham and cook it yourself rather than offering deli or pre-cooked ham.
Is ham better or worse than chicken or turkey for cats?
Plain cooked chicken or turkey is a better choice than ham. PetMD's veterinary guide lists chicken, turkey, beef, fish and lamb as alternatives, all fully cooked, unseasoned and with bones and skin removed. Ham is more likely to be salty or seasoned.
My cat stole some ham. What should I do?
Ham is not toxic to cats, so the main questions are how much your cat ate and what was on it. Make sure fresh water is available and watch for vomiting, diarrhea or unusual thirst. Call your vet if the ham was seasoned with garlic or onion, if your cat ate a bone or a large amount, or if your cat has kidney or heart disease.
Sources
- PetMD. Can Cats Eat Ham? (Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP)
- PetMD. Can Cats Eat Turkey? (Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP)
- ASPCA. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.