Can Cats Have Mayo – Is It Safe To Eat?

When you’re making a sandwich or a hamburger, mayonnaise may be one of the non-negotiable toppings. Your cat is probably never far off while you’re making yourself a meal, and you may be tempted to give your cat a lick off the butter knife when you’re done. Before you do so, stop and ask yourself, can cats have mayo?

Cats should not have mayo. May contains oil, egg, and vinegar which contribute no nutritional value to your cat’s diet.

Mayo is going to be a weird grey area for cat owners because mayo is neither good nor bad for your cat, so the decision is up to you about whether or not your cat eats mayo. Before you make a decision, read through this article to learn more about mayo and its effects on your cat. 

What Is Mayo Made Of

Before we talk about whether mayo is suitable for cats, let’s learn more about mayo. 

Mayo is made out of a few key ingredients:

• Oil
• Egg
• Vinegar or lemon juice

These ingredients are mixed together to make a thick white or pale yellow mixture. 

You can also buy specialized flavored mayo. You might be able to find spicy lime, wasabi, citrus, BBQ, or honey mayo. All of these different flavors have different ingredients that can be better or worse for your cat (and you!).

Mayo can be used for a variety of things, but it is usually a sauce or dressing. You can put it on sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, and even French fries. Some people use it in tartar sauce or use it as an alternative in baking. 

Since veganism is so popular these days, mayo can also be made without egg, but we won’t be thinking about that kind of mayo in this article. 

Of those ingredients, cats have to be careful about the oil and vinegar component. Olive oil is less acidic and won’t upset your cat’s stomach too much. However, if its a high-fat oil, your cat may have issues.

When it comes to the vinegar or lemon juice ingredients, stay far away. Vinegar is actually a deterrent for most cats and something that doesn’t work well with a cat’s stomach. Certain citrus is mildly toxic to cats as well.

Is Mayo Bad For Cats

Yes, mayo is bad for cats.

Mayo is one of those foods that is neither good nor bad for cats.

What I mean by this is that mayonnaise isn’t toxic or poisonous to cats. You don’t have to worry that your cat will immediately die after eating mayo.

If your cat sneaks a lick of mayo off the butter knife you use, you won’t have to worry about that. 

Still, mayo isn’t good for cats. None of the ingredients in mayo are things that your cat should be eating regularly.

Eating mayo is just adding additional unnecessary calories to your cat’s diet. This can lead to a host of issues, like weight gain and even heart disease. 

Can Cats Have Mayo With Tuna

You might think that mayo will be better if you serve it to your cat with tuna, but that isn’t the case.

Now, I know I said that mayo has no nutritional value for your cat. If you add tuna to the mayo, then it’s good for your cat, right?

Wrong.

The tuna isn’t enough to counteract the mayo, so tuna doesn’t magically make mayo any healthier for your cat. 

If you plan on giving your cat tuna as a treat or a part of his meal, skip the mayo. Your cat doesn’t need it to have a healthy meal. It’s only making it worse for your cat! 

Can Cats Eat Mayo And Mustard

No, cats cannot eat mayo and mustard.

Now, mixing mayo and mustard may seem like a strange combination that you may not want to try. 

We’re not only talking about mixing these two condiments.

Some brands of mayo have the addition of mustard. Mustard gives mayo a certain kind of flavor to an otherwise bland condiment. 

Mustard makes mayo even tastier for you, but it certainly doesn’t make mayo any better for your cat to be eating.

Mustard is generally as harmless to cats as mayo is, but it could still hurt your cat’s stomach or make them sick they eat too much. 

Can Cats Have Miracle Whip

Miracle Whip has fewer calories and less fat than regular mayo, but it doesn’t mean it is any better for your cat.

Sure, Miracle Whip is a healthier choice for a human who is looking to cut down calories when making a sandwich.

Miracle Whip still isn’t the best option for your cat

Although Miracle Whip is the healthier option compared to mayo, there still isn’t anything in Miracle Whip that makes it healthy for your cat to eat. 

There’s nothing that your cat is eating that should require the addition of mayo. 

Your cat’s food may seem bland without the addition of mayo or Miracle Whip in this case, but that’s just the life your cat needs to live. 

Will Miracle Whip Hurt Cats 

Miracle Whip will not hurt your cat.

We’ve already covered why you should skip mayo or Miracle Whip. Your cat won’t die if they eat it, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t affect your cat in other ways.

Here are some of the things you might have to expect if your cat eats Miracle Whip:

• Vomiting, especially soon after eating Miracle Whip
• Diarrhea, though this will come later 
• More begging for Miracle Whip, even if it made your cat sick 

As I’ve already said, you won’t have to go rushing to the vet after your cat eats Miracle Whip or mayo, but that doesn’t mean your cat will feel like himself. 

Other Considerations

Feeding a cat mayo is definitely not recommended, but not just for its ingredients. Thicker type of mayo may be hard for your cat to consume, and in some cases can lead to blockages. Other types of mayo are rich in ingredients that may overwhelm your cat, causing them to quickly not feel well.

In any case, cats may still accidentally get a hold of some mayo after sneaking away a bite of bread from you. Don’t panic. Cats that eat mayo can quickly recover if given proper treatment.