Benefits of pumpkin

Pumpkin contains many beneficial nutrients, including potassium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, and K, and dietary fiber. You may even see pumpkin as an added ingredient in commercial cat foods. Pumpkin can help cats with constipation and diarrhea. Canned pumpkin is 90% water and contains soluble fiber, which is a combination that can be helpful for balancing the digestive system.

How much pumpkin should I give my cat for constipation?

According to PetMD, 2-4 teaspoons of canned pumpkin added to canned cat food can help with mild cases of constipation. Canned pumpkin can help get more water into your cat’s system, making it a natural and safe way to help constipated kitties. For more serious cases, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

Canned pumpkin for diarrhea in cats

Pumpkin contains fiber, which can add bulk to the stool, which means pumpkin can also help cats with diarrhea. However, before trying to treat your cat for diarrhea with canned pumpkin, be sure to chat with your veterinarian. Diarrhea is a common symptom of other medical issues, so it’s best to determine the root cause of the diarrhea rather than just treating the symptom.

Note that if your cat consumes too much canned pumpkin, it can cause or worsen diarrhea.

Hazards of sharing pumpkin with cats

If your kitty would like a taste of pumpkin, be sure it is plain and cooked. Uncooked pumpkin, including the tough outer skin, can be very difficult for a cat to digest. Eating raw pumpkin could pose a threat of choking or an internal blockage.

Pumpkin pie filling is off limits for cats because it contains sugar and spices.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their digestive systems are meant to process meats. Though pumpkin is generally healthy and safe, it should only be fed sparingly.

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Coconut is very high in fat which can lead to health problems, such as pancreatitis or fatty liver disease, for cats that consume it regularly. A healthy diet for a cat consists mainly of proteins from meat or fish. To prevent potential health problems, it’s best to keep your cat’s consumption of coconut products (oil, water, milk, or “meat” from a coconut) to a minimum.

Coconut fruit/meat

A small amount of shredded coconut here and there may interest your cat, and it is safe to share a little bit with them.

What about coconut milk and water?

It’s a myth that cats should drink dairy milk; fortunately coconut milk or coconut water can be a good substitute for cats that want to try a beverage besides water. You can add small amounts of coconut milk or coconut water to your cat’s water or wet cat food to make it creamier.

Can cats eat coconut oil?

Though coconut oil is not toxic to cats, too much can cause tummy troubles because your cat’s digestive system was not meant to process large amounts of coconut oil. However, if your cat is intrigued by coconut oil, it is safe to add a few drops to their food or bake homemade cat treats with coconut oil.

Hazards of sharing coconut with cats

Because of the high fat content in coconut, consuming too much can cause your cat digestive issues. Some cats may have more adverse reactions than others. If your cat experiences vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, fatigue, or difficulty breathing after consuming coconut, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

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The quick answer: Yes, cooked rice is safe for cats to eat.

Rice can be a great source of carbohydrates to round out a meal for humans, but it doesn’t work the same way for cats.

Hazards of feeding rice to cats

Though rice is not toxic to cats, you shouldn’t intentionally feed it to your cat because it is a filler food that is not essential to their diet. Cats do not have any nutritional needs for rice, and eating rice can make them too full to eat the healthy diet they need.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they should eat a diet consisting mostly of meat, and their digestive systems aren’t as equipped to digest grains such as rice. Though rice is a great way to bulk up a meal for humans, cats don’t require carbohydrates in the same way. Rice is an ingredient in some commercial cat foods, but only in small, carefully calculated amounts.

If a cat consumes too much rice or other carbohydrates on a regular basis, this can lead to obesity. Filling up on carbs can also mean your cat is eating less of their nutritionally balanced cat food, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Letting your kitty taste a couple of grains of rice here and there shouldn’t hurt anything. Be sure the rice is fully cooked, because uncooked grains of rice are difficult to digest and may contain a natural pesticide called lectin which can cause stomach upset. Don’t share rice that has been seasoned with spices or sauces.

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The quick answer: avoid them

It’s not recommended to let your cat eat grapes or raisins. 

Most cats are not likely to be interested in eating these foods, which is good news because it means they are unlikely to face serious health consequences. However, this also means there is very little evidence on whether or not grapes are toxic to cats. But because there is no definitive answer, it’s best to make sure your cat does not eat any grapes or raisins. 

Grapes and dogs

It’s not clearly known what makes grapes and raisins toxic to dogs, but consuming them can cause serious kidney problems and even death if left untreated. Symptoms of grape toxicity in dogs include lethargy, weakness, vomiting, and seizures. 

“Although there is no concrete scientific evidence that grapes and raisins have the same toxic effect on cats, cat owners have reported similar reactions,” says Cuteness. If your cat has eaten grapes or raisins, whether or not you notice these symptoms, it’s a good idea to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Fruits and vegetables for cats

If you’re used to sharing healthy fruits and veggies with dogs, you may be tempted to do the same with a cat. But as a different species, cats have different preferences and nutritional needs than dogs. As omnivores, dogs can benefit from a varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables, but cats are obligate carnivores which means they need a diet comprised of meat protein and fat in order to be healthy. 

When fed a balanced cat food diet, cats will get all the nutrients they need to thrive and should not consume added fruits and veggies. However, if your curious kitty quickly gobbles up a dropped scrap, it’s not likely to cause serious health problems. As with any new type of food introduced to your cat’s diet, be sure to watch for adverse symptoms like weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea if your cat manages to eat a grape or raisin.

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We often think of honey as an ingredient that’s helpful for an upset stomach or sore throat, so you might be tempted to offer some to your kitty when she’s feeling under the weather. However, you should refrain from letting your cat eat honey.

While your cat might want to try some honey, her body can’t digest it. Honey is extremely rich in fructose and glucose (i.e. sugar), which a cat’s digestive system cannot handle. Even though honey is full of natural (as opposed to artificial) sugars, it’s still too intense for most cats. Additionally, sugar provides no nutritional value to cats, so there is no benefit to them eating honey.

Don’t worry about your cat missing out on the sweet flavor, either, because cats cannot detect the taste of sweet foods on their tongues! (Source: Scientific American)

Hazards of sharing honey with cats

Ingesting honey could cause diarrhea, vomiting, a spike in insulin levels, or weight gain in most cats. For obese cats or kittens with underdeveloped immune systems, raw honey could prove fatal.  

If your cat ingests honey and shows any adverse symptoms, see your veterinarian as quickly as possible. 

Advice

Make sure all your honey containers are securely sealed shut, and make sure kitty is kept at a distance when you’re preparing foods with honey.

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What is brewer’s yeast?

Brewer’s yeast is traditionally a byproduct of the beer-making process but can also be primarily grown. Both brewer’s yeast and nutritional yeast can be cultivated on sugarcane or beet molasses. Unlike yeast used for baking bread, these forms of yeast are deactivated and safe for your pet to consume. 

Yeast for making bread is bad for pets

Activated yeast is highly toxic to pets because when ingested, it ferments and expands. Ethanol is a byproduct of the fermentation process, which puts your pet at risk of alcohol poisoning, and the expanding gases can cause harmful bloating. 

Benefits of brewer’s yeast and nutritional yeast

• Both types of yeast are a healthy source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and potassium. They are naturally low in fat and free of sugar and dairy. 
• B vitamins are beneficial for skin, coat, and eye health and promote a shiny coat and reduced shedding.
• Brewer’s yeast contains chromium which helps to regulate blood sugar and stabilize the metabolism.
• Nutritional yeast has a nutty or cheesy flavor which can be appetizing to your cat and encourage a finicky eater to chow down.
• Brewer’s yeast may help deter fleas by making your cat taste unpleasant to a biting flea.

Dosage of brewer’s yeast for cats

Yeast supplements can be purchased as a powder, tablet, or liquid. For powdered yeast, give your cat up to 1 teaspoon per day, mixed with her food. If you use tablets or liquid, follow the directions on the packaging. 

Side effects

Allergies: Some cats are allergic to yeast, so it’s best to start with only a small dose and watch for reactions. Allergy symptoms include excessive scratching, licking, skin redness, and sneezing.

Tummy troubles: Yeast may also cause gastrointestinal problems, and your cat might show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy.

If your cat has any reactions, discontinue the use of yeast supplements. Contact your veterinarian if symptoms are persistent or severe.

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Apples themselves are a symbol of health for humans. After all, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But can an apple a day keep the veterinarian away from kitty? Can cats consume apples? They can, but there are a few things to keep in mind. 

Benefits of apples for cats

The antioxidants in apples can boost your cat’s immune system and even slow the aging process, similar to the health effects of apples on humans. 

Hazards of feeding apples to cats

Some people consider apples toxic to cats, but it’s only certain parts of the apple that are toxic to kitties. If prepared correctly, apples are perfectly safe (and delicious!) for cats. The stems, leaves, and seeds of apples are poisonous to cats due to the toxin in them called cyanide. While the tiny amount of cyanide in an apple seed will do very little to a human, it can have much larger effects on a cat’s small body. 

Like most fruits, a cat can only eat apples in small amounts. When introducing your cat to apples, start with just a few very small pieces on top of her regular food. Cutting the pieces very small will also help ensure your cat doesn’t choke on the apple pieces. 

If your cat experiences diarrhea or vomiting after eating an apple, consult your veterinarian. 

Advice

To make the apple easier to eat, you can puree or mash it. Store-bought applesauce, however, is risky because most applesauce varieties contain added sugars, artificial sweeteners and preservatives, which cats cannot digest.

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Technically, a cat can eat beans, but they are not necessary for a cat to get the nutrients they need and could potentially cause digestive troubles.

Benefits of beans

There can be some benefits to feeding beans to cats, but you should speak with your veterinarian before changing your cat’s diet. 

Beans are high in fiber and low in calories. In some special cases, the extra fiber may help with digestive issues, and beans can help as part of a weight loss plan. Again, don’t change your cat’s diet without first consulting your vet. Drastically changing your cat’s diet can cause problems with digestion and malnutrition.

Hazards of giving beans to cats

As an obligate carnivore, your cat’s digestive system is well-equipped to process meats but not much else. Humans can benefit from the nutrients and proteins found in beans, but a cat’s digestive system cannot process these the same way we do. Feeding beans to your cat could cause tummy troubles like vomiting, gas, and diarrhea.

Plain, cooked beans are the safest to share with a cat. Never feed raw beans or those that contain added salt, sweeteners, or spices, such as baked beans, canned beans, and refried beans.

Beans as a treat

For most cats, if they like beans, then you can give them one bean as an occasional treat. Plain, cooked beans like green beans, black beans, and pinto beans should be safe to share with your cat if she likes them. If your cat comes running for beans, it should be safe to share one to three beans with her.

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Everyone loves mangos, and your cat just might enjoy them too. Cats love to poke around at our foods as we prepare and enjoy them, so your cat might have explored a taste or two of mango as you prepared it during the warmer months. Not to worry−mangos are perfectly healthy for cats. 

Benefits of mango for cats

The health benefits of mangos for cats are slightly different than the health benefits of mangos for humans. For example, mangos are full of vitamin C which is a huge draw for many humans. However, cats’ bodies independently produce all their own vitamin C and do not need additional help. Similarly, mangos are packed with fiber, but healthy cats don’t typically need more fiber in their diet. 

What is beneficial to cats in a mango then? It’s all the vitamin A and vitamin B-6. Vitamin A boosts your cat’s immune system, which improves and prolongs its life. Vitamin B-6 helps your cat’s body absorb protein and fat, which will help your cat get even more benefits from his daily servings of cat food. 

Hazards of sharing mango with cats

While mango is safe to share with cats, they should still only eat a small amount. Limit your cat to no more than a small taste of mango per day. More than that could upset his stomach due to the high sugar and fiber content. Monitor your cat’s behavior after introducing him to mango, as some cats might have unpleasant reactions to this delicious fruit.

Additionally, make sure to avoid dried or sweetened mangos as cats are unable to digest artificial sugar and this could cause harm to your cat’s stomach and intestines.

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Ice cream consists mostly of fat and carbohydrates. As obligate carnivores, cats receive no nutritional benefit from the sugar and dairy in ice cream. You may recall stories, movies, or TV shows featuring cats being served a dish of milk. However, it is a widespread myth that cats should drink milk. In fact, milk is not very good for cats and can cause tummy troubles. 

Though you may be drawn to the sweet flavor of ice cream, research indicates that cats do not have any sweet taste receptors and are not drawn to sweet foods, so they really aren’t “missing out” if you keep your ice cream to yourself.

Hazards of Ice Cream for Cats

With memories of their mother’s milk and her comforting protection, cats might be attracted to milk or ice cream that has high milk fat content. But adult cats lack the enzyme to digest lactose, which means if they eat ice cream, they will face an upset tummy and possibly diarrhea. Consuming ice cream or other junk foods can also cause your kitty to turn her nose at her dinner because she’s full or because she prefers the fatty allure of dairy products. Missing out on dinner will deprive your cat of the nutrition she needs, which can be dangerous if this is a regular occurrence. 

Sugar is never good for cats, and sugar-free ice cream could contain a sweetener called xylitol which is downright toxic to cats. Your cat should never eat chocolate ice cream or any ice cream that contains chocolate pieces because chocolate is also toxic to cats.

Additionally, eating such a cold treat like ice cream can give your cat brain freeze. It may be entertaining to watch YouTube videos of cats getting brain freeze, but as we all know, that cold headache is quite unpleasant. It’s best to keep your kitty safe and happy by preventing this kind of pain.

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