We know that dogs love peanut butter treats. This leaves many cat owners wondering whether or not their feline friends could also enjoy the delicious creamy treat. However, cats are not small dogs. So, before deciding that any treat is safe for your cat, it is important to remember that what’s considered safe for one animal may be quite harmful to another. It’s, therefore, safe to ask; can cats really eat peanut butter?
Yes. Cats can safely eat peanut butter but it’s complicated. However, there are several exceptions that you need to take into account. It is important to consider feline nutrition, the appropriate portions of peanut butter, and the ingredients to avoid to protect your cat’s health.
Before offering your kitty a mouthful of peanut butter, there are several other questions that you need to consider; Does peanut butter have any nutritional benefit for cats? Should peanut butter be part of your cat’s diet? Are there any potential consequences? How can you feed peanut butter to your cats safely?
The following article answers these questions, providing a quick summary of cat nutrition plus advice on you can partner with your veterinarian to keep your cat healthy.
Does Peanut Butter Have Any Nutritional Value For Your Cat?
Cats are obligate carnivores. This means that they can only obtain their nutritional needs from animal products. Treats like peanut butter are of no nutritional benefit to cats.
As such, it should only be fed to cats in small quantities. The best way you can meet your cat’s nutritional needs is by providing her with a complete, balanced commercial diet formulated by a certified veterinary nutritionist. This means that your cat can get all its nutritional needs from commercial cat food.
Is peanut butter safe for cats?
Peanut butter is considered to be safe for healthy cats. However, if your cat has underlying health issues, there could be some risks involved with feeding your cat peanut butter.
Also, it is important to treat your cat individually and not as a statistic. Every cat is unique and they tolerate certain foods differently. Your neighbor’s cat may love peanut butter and is able to consume it with no issue, but your cat may consume the same peanut butter and develop issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Peanut butter also contains a lot of calories. Ideally, cats should obtain their calories from foods that also meet their nutritional needs. Foods like peanut butter only offer calories. When offered to cats in large quantities, it may lead to problems such as obesity and malnutrition. For this reason, peanut butter should only be offered to your cat occasionally and in moderation.
Peanut butter also has a thick and sticky consistency that may become a choking hazard for your cat.
Your peanut butter may also contain xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener. Xylitol is very toxic to cats. If ingested in significant amounts, it can cause vomiting, incoordination, lethargy, or even more serious signs such as liver failure, seizures, or even death. Therefore, it is very important to check the label on your peanut butter to ensure that it contains no xylitol before offering it to your cat.
Also, check out this article to know whether cats can eat rice.
How To Safely Feed Peanut Butter To Your Cat.
Before offering your cat human foods like peanut butter, you should always consult your veterinarian first. You should do this even for foods that are generally considered to be safe for cats.
You should also try to find out the appropriate amount of peanut butter your cat should have at a time. Your veterinarian should be able to tell you the safest amount of peanut butter you can offer to your cat. Peanut butter is calorically dense, and should thus be offered to cats in very small portions.
You should also monitor your cat’s reaction after feeding her new food. If she exhibits any signs of gastrointestinal discomfort, then you should avoid offering her peanut butter.
Do Cats Like Peanut Butter?
Cats have varying preferences. Some cats may go nuts for peanut butter while others won’t have the stomach for it. You can start by offering your kitty a tiny taste of peanut butter off the tip of your finger to see if she likes it or has a bad reaction to it. If she likes it, you can offer her peanut butter occasionally as a treat.
If your cat likes peanut butter, you can use it to mask a pill if she’s reluctant to take her medication.
There is also a huge risk involved when you get your cat used to peanut butter. Peanut butter is a popular bait for rats that is used as a disguise for poison or as a lure to a lethal trap. If your cat has a liking for peanut butter, this could have tragic results if your cat ventures around your neighborhood.
So, Can Cats Really Eat Peanut Butter?
Before feeding anything to your cats, you should prioritize its nutrition benefits over personal convenience. Peanut butter offers no nutritional benefit and is not part of a balanced diet for cats. In addition, there are some risks involved, especially when it is offered to cats with underlying health issues.
Therefore, there is no need to go out of your way to get your cat to eat it. However, if your cat has a liking for peanut butter, it might come in handy with your cat’s medication. Just follow the above guidelines for the safest approach.
You should also check out these articles to learn more about your feline’s diet.
