Can Cats Have Salt?

Sodium is an essential nutrient, which is why salt is part of a complete and balanced cat food. But can cats have salt outside of their regular food?  

Cats don’t need extra salt, and too much can be dangerous. While an occasional salty snack may not cause harm, household items containing large amounts of salt can cause life-threatening poisoning.  

Can Cats Have Salt?

Salty snacks shouldn’t be part of your cat’s diet, but if your little Houdini swipes a potato chip, don’t panic.  

“One chip or one cracker a few times a week in a healthy cat should not be a concern from the sodium,” says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director at Pet Poison Helpline and Safety Call International.   

Cats can taste salt, but Dr. Schmid suspects smell is what draws them to your snacks. That said, salty snacks offer no nutritional benefit, and flavored chips may contain onion or garlic, which cats should avoid.  

Too many salty snacks, a household item that contains salt, or an underlying medical condition can make extra salt in a cat’s diet dangerous, even deadly. 

Is Salt Good for Cats?

Cats need sodium, but they get the amount they need from complete and balanced cat food. 

Sodium is an essential nutrient that helps cats maintain fluid balance and supports their nerves and muscles. In the wild, cats get sodium from their prey. In commercial cat food, a small amount of salt is added to meet their nutritional needs. 

“Most commercial cat foods contain 0.2%–0.5% sodium on a dry matter basis, although amounts can vary with different formulas,” says Maggie Placer, DVM, a veterinarian and veterinary sciences program manager at EveryCat Health Foundation. That works out to less than a pinch of salt in a 4-ounce can of wet food. 

Is Salt Bad for Cats?

Too much salt can be dangerous for cats, especially if they have certain health conditions.  

Potential risks include: 

• Unnecessary calories and harmful ingredients: Salty snacks offer little nutritional value and may contribute to weight gain. Flavored chips may also contain onion or garlic, which are toxic to cats.  
• Electrolyte imbalances: Regularly eating excess salt can disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance, Dr. Schmid says.  
• Salt toxicity: Salt pulls water out of cells, including brain cells. Without treatment, it can be fatal.  

Even the small amount of salt in commercial cat food can be too much salt for some cats. “Even the sodium content of some regular cat foods can be a concern for cats with certain medical conditions,” Dr. Placer says.   

Your vet may recommend a low-sodium diet if your cat has:  

• Congestive heart failure  
• Heart disease 
• High blood pressure  
• Kidney disease 

Common Sources of Salt Toxicity in Cats

Household items containing concentrated amounts of salt can be especially dangerous for cats. Potential sources include: 

• Homemade play dough 
• Salt dough ornaments 
• Ice melt and rock salt, which cats can ingest by licking shoes or their paws 
• Table salt 
• Salt lamps 

Ingesting any of these items is a medical emergency that requires immediate care at an emergency clinic.   

Signs of Salt Toxicity in Cats

According to Dr. Schmid, as little as about 1 teaspoon of salt can put an 8-pound cat at risk of salt poisoning.  

Signs of salt toxicity include: 

• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Excessive thirst and urination 
• Lethargy 
• Loss of coordination or difficulty walking 
• Tremors 
• Seizures 

Signs can appear in less than an hour or take several hours to develop, depending on how much salt your cat ate, Dr. Schmid says.  

What To Do if Your Cat Eats Salt

If your cat eats something very salty, take these steps: 

1. Remove the salty item. 
2. Offer fresh water, but don’t force your cat to drink. 
3. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661; a fee applies) immediately, even if your cat seems fine. 

How Vets Treat Salt Toxicity in Cats

If your cat does develop salt poisoning, urgent treatment is a must. Your veterinarian will assess what your cat ingested, how much they ate, and whether they’re showing symptoms. 

Diagnosis and treatment may include: 

• Physical exam to check for signs like vomiting, tremors, or trouble walking. 
• Blood tests to measure your cat’s sodium and other electrolyte levels. High blood sodium is called hypernatremia. 
• IV fluids to gradually bring sodium levels back to normal. Lowering sodium too quickly can be dangerous, so vets carefully control how fast the fluids work, Dr. Placer says. 
• Treatment for symptoms, such as medication to control seizures, along with close monitoring and supportive care. 

If possible, bring the packaging or sample of what your cat ingested to help your veterinarian determine the appropriate treatment.  

With prompt care, cats with mild salt poisoning often make a full recovery. Severe cases involving seizures or brain injury can be fatal or cause lasting neurological damage.