Cats, unlike dogs, are finicky eaters, and they most often steer away from things that could harm them, but they will sometimes eat some unhealthy foods and treats if you make them available to them.
Human-grade foods and treats like conchas may sometimes contain lots of ingredients that may be unhealthy or toxic to our cats, which is why we have provided you with all the details you need on serving conchas for cats.
What are Conchas?
Conchas means shell, a reference to the outer part of the pastry. It is also referred to as pan dulce, or sweet bread. They are delicious and made from eggs, sugar, flour, and butter, with optional ingredients like fruits, nuts, and chocolate.
Like lumpia, a common street food in the Philippines, so are conchas, a street staple in Latin America, with each chef dishing out their own unique touch and recipe. This has led to the innovation of various types of conchas, including healthy ones.
Can Cats Eat Conchas?
Conchas or pan dulce that is free from nuts and chocolate is safe for cats in moderation and occasionally. Some conchas variants, like Polvorones de Chocolate y Nuez, and dark chocolate conchas are packed with nuts and chocolate that could cause allergic reactions and possible theobromine poisoning.
Conchas are made with butter, which may not be suitable for cats in large amounts. Cats don’t have issues eating butter and can handle its little lactose content. However, butter contains so much fat, and fatty foods or treats could be an invitation for pancreatitis in your cat.
The sugar in conchas is usually processed white sugar, which can be problematic for cats. Sugar is not toxic to cats, but when your cat is exposed to significant amounts, they may be at risk of developing diabetes, obesity, or dental diseases. The best sources of sugar for cats are natural sources like fruits or vegetables.
The flour used in making conchas is pretty safe for cats. Cats can have flour provided it is not in dough form, which could cause bloating and general stomach upset.
Lastly, there is added milk in conchas, and this may not trouble your cat if you only hand out a little. Conchas are one of those treats that are not poisonous to cats but could be problematic if fed constantly to cats. Moderation is the key to treating your cat to human snacks like conchas.
Is the Chocolate in Pan Dulce Bad for Cats?
In calculating the possible negative effect chocolate could have on cats, we have to take into consideration the size and age of your cat.
As little as 20 mg of theobromine (the toxic compound in chocolate) can trigger minor symptoms of chocolate poisoning, but at 100–200 mg, organ failure and possible death could occur.
It is unlikely that your cat could have the amount of chocolate that could cause toxicity from consuming conchas alone, but this highlights further that you need to avoid giving your cat conchas coated or baked with chocolate.
My Cat ate Conchas, What Will happen?
If your cat ate conchas, they would go about their daily activities like nothing had happened. Conchas free from chocolate and nuts will hardly cause cats trouble, even if they eat a whole piece. However, cats with sensitive stomachs will react to the ingredients used in the conchas.
If your cat is sensitive to gluten or has pancreatitis or a non-gluten stomach sensitivity, you need to avoid feeding treats like conchas to them, as you may further worsen their case.
While cats can have a full conchas pastry, I don’t recommend it. To feed conchas to your cat, you should only offer a small amount; I keep it at 1/6 of a piece of conchas.
Final Thoughts
Cats can have conchas or pan dulce but in small quantities. When it comes to feeding your cat human-grade treats, it is good to do it occasionally, as most of them have no nutritional benefit for your pet and would just stand as an empty-calorie diet.
