Why four chips sit differently in a 10-lb cat
At this body weight, four standard chips deliver roughly 120-150 mg of sodium—about 10% of her daily limit spread across two hours. Unlike dogs, cats lack salt cravings, so she likely ingested this accidentally while investigating crumbs. The salt load isn't immediately dangerous but may cause what vets call 'saline diuresis'—increased urination to balance electrolytes.
Watch the litter box for unusually large clumps over the next 12 hours. More concerning would be straining without production, which could indicate bladder irritation from concentrated urine. Normal water intake for her size is 5-7 oz daily—if she's lapped up double that since the chips, don't restrict access.
The subtle signs of salt overload
Between the 2-6 hour mark post-ingestion, some cats develop a characteristic head tremor when lowering to drink—this mild neurological sign resolves on its own but looks alarming. You might also notice her walking with slightly stiff hind legs as sodium affects nerve conduction temporarily.
These symptoms don't require intervention unless they persist beyond eight hours. What would? Twitching that progresses to full-body tremors, or if she starts circling compulsively. At this chip quantity, that's improbable unless she has pre-existing kidney issues you haven't mentioned.
Assessing stomach upset after delayed symptoms
Because it's been two hours without vomiting, the likelihood of significant gastric irritation is dropping by the minute. Cats typically purge irritating foods within 90 minutes—the salt now acts mainly as a systemic electrolyte disruptor rather than a local stomach irritant.
If she does vomit at this stage, it'll likely be small amounts of foamy bile rather than food. This reflects stomach emptiness more than toxicity. Offer a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) to soothe the lining if she seems uncomfortable.
Longer-term monitoring for small cats
Over the next 48 hours, observe her litter habits closely. The salt could cause transient constipation (hard, dry stools) followed by mild diarrhea as her body corrects the sodium balance. Neither requires treatment unless it continues beyond three bowel movements.
Her appetite should return to normal within 24 hours. If she's still turning up her nose at food after that mark, try warming some plain chicken broth (no onions or garlic) to stimulate eating. But given the elapsed time and your cat's size, she's probably already forgotten those salty bites.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Chips / crisps food facts page.