Can cats eat cashews?
In this brief guide, we will answer the query, “Can cats eat cashews?” We will also discuss the reasons they should not eat cashews.
Can cats eat cashews?
No, cats cannot eat cashews. To be more precise, they can eat cashews in moderation, but just because they can doesn’t necessarily mean that they should eat cashews. Although cashews aren’t exactly toxic for cats, they aren’t healthy either.
There are many things you should consider while feeding your cats cashew, so to be safe, it is better to not give them cashews at all. Just because cashew is a very healthy nut for us humans doesn’t mean it will have the same effects on cats or other animals as well, feeding cashews to your cats can have negative effects on their health.
Why cats should not eat cashews?
If a cat consumes cashews in excessive amounts, it may harm its health. Lets us discuss some of the reasons why you should not feed your cat with cashews:
Cashews have high-fat content
Cats live in the wild so their diets consist of mostly lean meats. They don’t eat fats very often, and certainly not in the quantities found in cashews.
Because cats don’t have to digest fats very often in the wild, their bodies aren’t particularly inefficient at it. This means they’ll store more of it, eventually leading to obesity in cats, which can be as serious in cats as in humans. Cats should be fed a similar diet as they are habitual for a healthy body.
Cashews have a high sodium content
Cats have no natural sodium sources in their diet, so they consume very little sodium. As a result, their bodies are incapable of processing large amounts of it. When a cat consumes a high sodium content food, such as a few cashews, it can quickly become dehydrated.
If you’re thinking of feeding your cat cashews, it is not a good idea. Even if you do, only give them a few make sure they drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Salted cashews or other nuts are out of the question so go for the unsalted ones as they have low sodium.
Choking hazard
One might not consider this while feeding cashews to their cats but it is one of the most life-threatening risks that cashews pose to your cats. Just because cashews are very small and easy for us to eat does not mean it will be the same for cats. Cats are very small and delicate animals and they do not have the same type of teeth as we do.
Their teeth are designed in a way that is more suitable for killing their prey and eating lean meats instead of nuts. Cashews may be small for us but it is very huge to fit and chew inside their tiny mouth. Especially if it’s full cashew, it can easily become lodged in your cat’s airway. In such situations, your cat will choke and may die if you do not intervene immediately.
Pancreatitis
In a long run, if you regularly feed cashews to your cat, the worst thing that could happen is pancreatitis. The enlargement of your cat’s pancreas will necessarily require immediate and advanced medical treatment. This will cost you a lot of money as well as energy. Fever, appetite loss, and lethargy are some of the symptoms of pancreatitis in cats.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions are also one of the most common side effects of feeding cashews or other types of nuts to your cats. The symptoms of cashew allergy in cats are similar to those of other plant-based food allergies as they are not used to plant-based foods. Some common symptoms include runny eyes/nose, difficulty breathing, irritable behavior, inflammation, dehydration, rashes, and facial swelling.
Different diet preference
Cats are obligate carnivores and they don’t require plant-based foods like cashews or any other nuts or vegetables to fulfill their nutrient requirements. Their diet mostly consists of lean meats: animal proteins are enough for their survival. So by giving cashews to your cats, you’re not helping their diet, instead increasing the risk of digestive problems.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have answered the query, “Can cats eat cashews?” We have also discussed the reasons they should not eat cashews.
