Can cats eat peanuts? Like peanut butter, peanuts aren’t toxic to cats but should be served in small amounts. If you want to treat your cat with some peanuts, make sure to choose raw, unsalted peanuts, as cats’ digestive systems can have trouble handling additives like spices, salt, oil, and seasoning.
Avoid peanuts with raisins, chocolate, and other toxic ingredients
Despite the popularity of peanuts, we rarely eat them alone. Nuts are frequently used as ingredients in a wide variety of foods, such as candies, baked goods, savory dishes, and trail mixes.
If your cat is pleading with you for some of your food and you’re considering giving it to them, carefully examine every ingredient. Although your cat may be able to handle peanuts, the ingredient next to them might not be
Raisins are highly toxic to cats and are often found with peanuts, particularly in baked goods or trail mixes.
While the cause of grape and raisin toxicity has long been thought to be unknown, recent studies indicate that tartaric acid is most likely the harmful substance. However, this research is technically tailored to dogs.
Sadly, there is rarely enough research on cat nutrition, so we must rely on studies on dogs, despite the fact that dogs’ biological requirements and capacities differ greatly from cats’.
If your cat does experience kidney failure as a result of grape toxicity, Kidney failure is often fatal or irreversibly damaging if survived. In general, experts advise against giving cats grapes and raisins for their own safety.
Another component that is frequently combined with peanuts in the foods we eat is chocolate. It is extremely toxic to cats and can be fatal, so never give your cat any amount of this sweet option.
Be especially wary of trail mix, baked goods, and candy. Given the added sugar and salt in these snacks, your cat shouldn’t be near them anyhow. However, if the treats contain chocolate, take extra care to secure them.
Avoid peanuts with added salt
Almost always, when people eat peanuts, they also add salt. To our palates, peanuts are fairly flavorless when they are raw and unseasoned.
Cats may not have a strong sense of taste, but adding salt won’t make food taste better to them. For cats and other animals like dogs and horses, salt is highly toxic.
Even minute amounts of salt can cause symptoms of gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In addition, excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, impaired coordination, and, in more severe cases, tremors, seizures, coma, or even death, can be caused by salt poisoning.
Don’t give salt to your cat, and seek medical attention if it has and exhibits any symptoms.
Are peanuts healthy for cats to eat?
We can declare with confidence that peanuts are safe for cats, with a few exceptions. But just because something is safe doesn’t mean it’s healthy or advantageous. “Can” does not necessarily mean “should. ”.
Since peanuts have several nutritional benefits, peanut butter and peanuts are regarded as a healthy food for humans.
For humans, peanuts provide protein, fat, and fiber. Fiber is good for our digestive systems, and protein aids in the synthesis and maintenance of cells in our bodies. In most cases, even the healthy fat found in peanuts is beneficial to humans because it can lower blood cholesterol levels.
Magnesium, an essential mineral for human nutrition, is also present in peanuts.
Although cats do require certain fats, fiber, protein, and magnesium, these ingredients should already be present in sufficient amounts in a balanced diet.
In certain circumstances, adding more of these nutrients might even be detrimental, particularly when it comes to fats. Cats’ digestive systems are not designed to handle large amounts of fat, particularly from plants.
Your cat should have commercial cat food that is formulated by a certified cat nutrition professional to meet its needs. It’s critical to realize that peanuts are a treat and not something your cat should be in need of.
As usual, you should speak with a reliable veterinarian to find out whether and how your cat’s diet could include peanuts or peanut butter, whether as treats or not.
FAQ
Are peanuts toxic to cats?
Is it OK to give cats peanut butter?
Can cats be allergic to peanuts?
Are nuts OK for cats?