Cats should not eat fries. French fries and potato fries are not safe or healthy for cats due to several reasons:
- Raw potatoes contain solanine, a toxic substance for cats. Though cooking reduces solanine levels, deep-frying only reduces it by about 40%, so fries still pose a toxicity risk.
- Fries are cooked in oil and often heavily salted, both of which are unhealthy and can harm cats.
- Fries have high fats, salt, and carbohydrates that cats can't easily digest, potentially causing upset stomach, salt poisoning, obesity, and other health issues.
- Seasonings like garlic or onion sometimes used on fries are toxic to cats.
While a few bites of plain fries might not cause immediate serious harm in a healthy cat, fries offer no nutritional benefits and pose slow health risks. It is best to avoid feeding fries to cats altogether and prioritize a balanced diet tailored to their needs. If a cat eats fries and shows symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, or tremors, veterinary attention is advised.
