Sometimes the things you love the most hurt you. Ice cream, for example.
We can all relate to gleefully biting into our fave cold snacks but then instantly suffering brain freeze.
One cat who had the pleasure of trying ice cream for the first time soon regretted it.
In a TikTok video, a kitty was seen being fed a tiny dollop of the creamy goodness.
The cat didn’t seem to enjoy it for long as the brain freeze resulted in a dramatic reaction, causing the cat to grimace.
Sabrina Bernatchez, who lives in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, posted the now-viral video on TikTok. It has since been liked more than 300,000 times.
While most enjoyed the video, others were concerned about the cat.
One person wrote: ”Goodness, doesn’t look too keen on it, perhaps the cat has sensitive teeth.’
Others said it was ‘cruel’ to feed the cat such a cold item.
We spoke to Cats Protection to find out whether it’s a bad idea to feed cats ice cream.
A spokesperson tells Metro.co.uk: ‘While we cannot be certain that cats experience brain freeze, we do know that they respond in a negative way to an unpleasant sensation. Under no circumstances should cats ever be subjected to discomfort or pain for entertainment purposes.’
Brain freeze occurs when blood vessels in the mouth or throat get cooled rapidly by something in the mouth (e.g. ice cream). The blood vessels dilate, causing the unpleasant sensation of ‘brain freeze’.
The spokesperson continues: ‘Having brain freeze is an uncomfortable and somewhat painful feeling. Aside from the welfare issue, Cats Protection does not endorse feeding cats ice cream or other dairy products.
‘Not only are they high in calories, but as most cats are lactose-intolerant and can’t tolerate cow’s milk, feeding these products can lead to sickness.’
The cat charity recommends commercial meat derived diet – canned or dried – designed for cats.
The RSPCA concurs and adds that cats cannot taste sweetness, so ice cream isn’t the amazing treat you imagine for a kitty.
They tell Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s important to feed your cat a well balanced and nutritious diet and avoid too many treats and tidbits, including human food.
‘Feeding ice cream is unlikely to cause any serious issues, but as cats are lactose intolerant feeding them milk or ice cream could cause tummy upset and is not recommended.
‘These can contribute to cats becoming overweight which is an increasing problem with serious health implications. If you do give treats be sure that they are cat appropriate and their meal size is reduced accordingly.
‘They cannot taste sweetness, so many cats prefer meaty treats or the occasional piece of chicken or cooked fish instead. Giving some of their normal daily food amount as a treat is a good way to ensure your cat doesn’t pile on the pounds.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/10/cat-eats-ice-cream-first-time-suffers-major-brain-freeze-12831571/
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