Can cats eat cilantro?
This cat blog will answer the main query, “Can cats eat cilantro?” we will also cover the benefits of consuming cilantro for your cat, the threats of consuming cilantro for your cat, and how much you should give to your cat.
Can cats eat cilantro?
Yes, cats can eat cilantro. It is safe and healthy for your cat to consume cilantro because it offers vitamins like vitamins A, B, C, E, and K while minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. It also has dietary fiber which also adds to the health of the cat. There are a few concerns about cilantro such as stomach upset and cardiac arrhythmia.
What are the health benefits of consuming cilantro?
Following are the health benefits of consuming cilantro:
Vitamins
Following are the essential vitamins in cilantro:
- The first vitamin is vitamin A which is required for the health of the eye and the immune system of the body. A deficiency of vitamin A can cause night blindness in your cat. Vitamin A also acts as an immune booster in the body.
- The next vitamin is the B vitamin which is essential for the health of the brain, digestive tract, and reproductive organs. It is also essential for the health of the joints and bones.
- The next vitamin is vitamin C which is synthesized by the body of the cat so it is not essential in the case of cats but is essential for humans because they are unable to synthesize vitamin C in the body.
- The next vitamin is vitamin E which is essential for fertility and slowing down the aging process. Vitamin E is also essential for the health of the coat and also acts as an antioxidant agent in the body to kill the reactive species that can cause deadly diseases like cancer.
- The next vitamin is vitamin K which is required for blood clotting. If there is a deficiency of vitamin K there will be no blood clotting and the animal will die due to tissue hypoxia as the red blood cells are the carriers of oxygen in the body.
Minerals
Following are the essential minerals in cilantro:
- The first mineral is potassium which is essential for controlling blood pressure and in the health of nerve conduction in the body.
- The next mineral is magnesium which is required for the absorption of nutrients from the intestine into the bloodstream he of body.
- The next mineral is calcium which is required for the health of the bones. A balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus is required for healthy bone mineral density in the body. Calcium is also essential for the muscular contraction of the heart muscles.
- The next mineral is phosphorus in the body. Phosphorus is essential in energy production due to the three phosphate groups in the ATP molecule. Phosphorus is also essential for bone health. Calcium and phosphorus both maintain bone structure and function in the body.
- The next mineral is iron which is required for red blood cell production in the body. Red blood cells are required to supply oxygen to the body cells. The deficiency of iron can cause anemia, a condition in which there is a shortage of oxygen supply in the body.
What are the health threats of consuming cilantro?
Following are the health threats of consuming cilantro:
Stomach upset
The first problem is the stomach upset in your cat. Consuming cilantro can cause stomach upset in your cat because cats are obligate carnivorous animals. They like to take protein from animal sources. They’re not adapted to digest plant material. Consuming more than the required amount will cause stomach upset in your cat.
Following are a few clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloat
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Weakness
Cardiac arrhythmias
The next problem is cardiac arrhythmias which are not common in cats. Not all cats get cardiac arrhythmias by consuming cilantro but there is a chance of it.
Cardiac arrhythmias are the irregular beating of the heart. It can be diagnosed by the vet by using a stethoscope.
How much cilantro is healthy for your cat to eat?
It is better to provide not more than 10% cilantro in the diet of the cat. Consuming more will cause problems for your cat.
Cilantro should be treated as treats, not cat food. Treating cilantro as cat food is not healthy as the major part of a cat’s diet should come from meat.
Conclusion
In this cat article, we answered the main query, “Can cats eat cilantro?” we also covered the benefits of consuming cilantro for your cat, the threats of consuming cilantro for your cat, and how much you should give to your cat.
References
https://www.cancateat.com/can-cats-eat-cilantro/
https://www.hepper.com/can-cats-eat-cilantro/
https://www.guilfordjamestownvet.com/site/blog-greensboro-vet/2021/01/15/anemia-in-cats
