Can cats eat celery?
This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat celery?” we will also discuss the major benefits of consuming celery for your cat, the major threats of consuming celery for your cat, and how you can safely give celery to your cat.
Can cats eat celery?
Yes, cats can eat celery. It is safe and beneficial for your cat to eat celery as a treat in their diet. Celery acts as an antioxidant and diuretic agent. It also has fiber which is beneficial for the health of your cat. Moreover, it is best to give a calculated amount of celery to your cat otherwise it will have stomach upset and other problems in your cat.
What are the major health benefits of consuming celery for your cat?
Following are the major health benefits of consuming celery for your cat:
Fiber
The first ingredient in it is fiber which is required for healthy bowel movements and lower food intake and eventually blood sugar levels in the body.
A healthy bowel movement prevents diarrhea and constipation in your cat. The insoluble fiber in the celery helps to regulate the water content in the large intestine.
The insoluble fiber also regulates the food intake of your cat thereby controlling the unhealthy weight gain in your cat. Fiber also regulates the blood sugar level in the body leading to a lower risk of diabetes in your cat.
Antioxidants
Celery has certain compounds that act as antioxidant agents in the body. There are two major compounds, apigenin, and luteolin which can kill the reactive agent in the body. These reactive agents are capable of causing deadly diseases like heart problems and cancer.
The reactive agents can cause oxidative damage to the normal cells of the body of your cat.
Water content
Celery has a large amount of water content in it which keeps the body hydrated in the long run. You should also consider it because sometimes in disease conditions the cat is not drinking so you can give celery to prevent dehydration in the body. Severe dehydration can lead to hypovolemic shock and the death of your cat.
Diuretics
The seeds of celery have certain compounds that act as diuretics in your cat. Diuretics are compounds that can remove the excess water and the chlorides in the body which prevent salt poisoning and edema in the body.
Diuretics are essential medication for cats suffering from liver damage because the liver is responsible to keep the fluids in the blood vessels and the capillaries. When the liver is damaged it is unable to produce the necessary proteins to maintain the oncotic pressure in the blood cells of the body.
What are the unhealthy effects of celery on your cat’s body?
Following are the unhealthy effects of celery on your cat’s body:
Digestive upset
Cats are not specialized in disguising the celery because they are obligate carnivores. They like to eat meat and are not very fond of a balanced diet in their life.
If your cat consumes too much celery it will lead to digestive upset in your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of digestive upset in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Dehydration
As we have discussed above, the seeds of celery have diuretic properties. Consuming too many seeds can lead to dehydration in the body which is not very good for your cat. The dehydration can lead to hypovolemia and if not treated in time it can lead to hypovolemic shock and death of your cat.
Irregular bowel movements
Irregular bowel movements are due to the overconsumption of fiber content in the body. The irregular bowel movements will hinder the normal digestive process in the body. Normal digestion is disturbed and it can lead to malnutrition in your cat leading to an emaciated body and retarded growth.
Malnutrition will also affect the reproductive performance of the body.
How can you safely give celery to your cat?
First, you need to calculate the amount of celery you should give your cat. The amount of celery is calculated according to the weight of your cat. You should give 10% celery according to the body of your cat.
You can offer celery as a treat but you shouldn’t give it daily to your cat otherwise it will have consequences which are discussed above.
Celery can be very beneficial to your cat if you give it in the right way.
Conclusion
In the cat blog, we entertained our main query, “Can cats eat celery?” we also discussed the major benefits of consuming celery for your cat, the major threats of consuming celery for your cat, and how you can safely give celery to your cat.
References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/cattime.com/cat-facts/health/39995-can-cats-eat-celery%3famp
https://www.dvm360.com/view/recognizing-and-treating-shock-cats
