Can cats eat vegetables?
This cat blog will answer the main query, “Can cats eat vegetables?” we will also discuss the safe vegetables that your cat can eat, the unhealthy vegetables that your cat cannot eat, and how you can safely give vegetables to your cat.
Can cats eat vegetables?
Yes, cats can eat vegetables. It is safe and healthy for your cat to consume vegetables but in moderation. Consuming broccoli, carrots, and pumpkin are safe for your cat but you should avoid giving garlic and onion to your cat.
What are the healthy vegetables your cat can consume?
Following are the healthy vegetables your cat can consume:
Carrots
The first vegetable is the carrot which is an important source of vitamins A, B6, and potassium. Vitamin A is essential in healthy vision and acts as an antioxidant agent in the body. Vitamin B6 is important for the conversion of food into energy. Potassium is the only mineral in carrots that is responsible for the regulation of blood pressure in the body.
Potassium is also important for healthy nerve conduction in the body. Healthy nerve conduction is required for proper coordination between the brain and the organs of the body.
Broccoli
The next healthy vegetable is broccoli which has fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. It also has antioxidants that protect the body from harmful reactive agents.
Fiber is essential for regulating bowel movements in the body. A healthy bowel movement prevents diarrhea and constipation in the body.
Fiber also prevents your cat from becoming obese by controlling the food intake of your cat. The more your cat eats the more fat is deposited in the body.
The limited food intake will also help to regulate the blood sugar level in the body of your cat.
The reactive oxidant species can cause oxidative damage to the cells of the body leading to cancer of the cells in the body. The antioxidant agents in broccoli help to capture and kill the reactive species in the body.
Spinach
The next vegetable is spinach. Spinach also has high fiber content but you need to make sure that your cat gets the right amount of fiber from it. Giving too much spinach is not healthy for your cat to consume as cats are obligate carnivore animals, they like to eat meat-based products.
Spinach also has oxalates. If your cat has a history of kidney stones, you shouldn’t give too much spinach to the cat. The calcium in the body combines with the oxalates to form calcium oxalate-type stones.
Pumpkin
The next healthy vegetable is the pumpkin. Pumpkin has a hard outer covering and you need to make sure it is boiled to soften the outer covering.
You should also keep in mind that consuming more and more pumpkins can cause choking in your cat.
What are the unhealthy vegetables for your cat?
Following are the unhealthy vegetables for your cat:
Garlic
The first unhealthy vegetable is garlic which is high in thiosulfate compounds. The thiosulfate can cause red blood cell lysis in your cat leading to tissue hypoxia and death of the cat.
The red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body’s organs. If the level of red blood cells falls from a certain limit, the oxygen will fall leading to tissue hypoxia and ultimately leading to the death of your cat.
Onion
Onion belongs to the same family as garlic. Onion has thiosulfate but also disulfide compounds which can cause hemolysis of red blood cells in the body.
Following are the clinical signs of onion toxicity in your cat:
- Increased heart rate
- Increase breathing rate
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Tomatoes
The next vegetable is tomatoes. Tomatoes are not healthy for your cat because of the tomatine and solanine compounds.
Both of these compounds can cause stomach upset in your cat. The stomach upset in your cat is a minor problem so it could be dealt with with a basic treatment.
How can you safely give vegetables to your cat?
The first thing you should do when you buy some vegetables for your cat is to wash them thoroughly to remove the pesticides and dirt.
Now you should boil it without any added salt or seasonings. Both of these will cause problems for your cat.
After boiling the vegetables, you need to reduce them to a bite-size so that your cat can eat them without choking problems. You should add vegetables at the rate of 10% of the body weight.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the major question, “Can cats eat vegetables?” we also discussed the safe vegetables that your cat can eat, the unhealthy vegetables that your cat cannot eat, and how you can safely give vegetables to your cat.
