Can cats eat beans?

This cat blog will answer the main query, “Can cats eat beans?” we will also cover whether your cat can eat green beans, whether your cat can eat canned beans, and whether your cat can eat refried beans.

Can cats eat beans?

Yes, cats can eat beans. It is safe for your cat to eat beans but in a very limited amount. Cats are obligate carnivorous animals, they like to take protein from the animal source and not the plant source such as beans. However, some beans like green beans might provide some benefits to your cat.

Can cats eat refried beans?

No, cats cannot eat refried beans. It is not healthy for your cat to eat refried beans because of the fat content in them. Frying the beans will increase the oil content of the beans leading to stomach upset, pancreatitis, and obesity in your cat in the long run. 

Obesity has several consequences such as heart disease and chronic joint pain. Both of these conditions can affect the quality of life which can be unpleasant for your cat. 

Can cats eat green beans?

Yes, cats can eat green beans. It is healthy for your cat to eat green beans because it offers some fiber and water to your cat.

Fiber is needed for healthy bowel movements in the body. Healthy bowel movements can protect your cat from diarrhea and constipation. 

Fiber also limits the food intake of your cat which helps your cat to control weight gain. The insoluble fiber will limit the food intake thereby controlling the blood sugar level in the body.

It is very good to give fiber to diabetic animals because it will help lower the blood sugar level in the body. 

The water content in the green beans will keep the body of your cat hydrated and will also lower the risk of constipation in the body of your cat. The kidneys will remove the extra water if there is any.

Can cats eat canned beans?

No, cats cannot eat canned beans. It is not healthy for your cat to consume canned beans because canned beans have salt, seasonings, and preservatives which are not healthy for your cat to consume.

The high salt content in canned beans will cause high blood pressure and dehydration in the body. The dehydration can lead to hypovolemia which means the amount of blood drops down in the blood vessels.

The hypovolemia will eventually lead to hypovolemic shock and the death of your cat. High blood pressure will lead to a heart attack in the worst-case scenario. 

The next thing is the seasonings which are garlic and onion. Garlic and onion have thiosulfate and disulfides which can cause red blood cell lysis leading to a hypoxic condition in the body of your cat. 

Garlic and onion also cause dilation in the blood vessels which drops the blood pressure in the body. The drop in blood pressure is determined by the coldness of the extremities. The heart will pump stronger to give enough blood to the extremities but in the long run, the heart will retire.

The next is the preservatives which are safe for you but not for your cat. Preservatives can cause toxicity in your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of toxicity in your cat:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness
  • Seizures
  • Confusion
  • Convulsion
  • Imbalance

Can cats eat black beans?

Yes, cats can eat black beans. It is safe for your cat to eat black beans but they do not give enough benefits to your cat. The black beans are added as a filler in the cat diet and do not provide any benefit to your cat.

You must not give black beans to your cat daily because the stomach of your cat is not able to digest the black beans. It will lead to gas production and other unhealthy effects on your cat.

What can you do if your cat ate too many beans?

Beans are not toxic for your cat so if your cat consumes too many beans, it will probably be okay. The only thing that can happen to your cat is stomach upset. 

Stomach upset is easy to deal with and you should visit a vet for treatment. It is better to keep the number of beans to 10% of the diet and it should be added once a week to the diet of your cat. You must not increase the frequency of the beans in the diet of your cat.

Conclusion

In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Can cats eat beans?” we also covered 

whether your cat can eat green beans, whether your cat can eat canned beans, and whether your cat can eat refried beans.

References

https://www.litter-robot.com/blog/can-cats-eat-beans/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20cats%20can%20eat%20beans,of%20protein%20your%20cat%20needs.

https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/are-preservatives-in-pet-food-products-a-concern/#:~:text=Sodium%20benzoate%20(E211)%20is%20another,may%20be%20toxic%20to%20cats.