Can cats eat walnuts?
Winters are all about dry fruits and sitting beside the fire, but while enjoying some, you wonder, “Can cats eat walnuts?” So you can give it to your furry too. This article will explore what happens if a cat eats walnuts. Can cats eat salted walnuts, and can cats eat chocolate walnuts?
Can cats eat walnuts?
No, cats can not eat walnuts but only a bite or two. If they continue to eat them, they can face some health-related complications. Walnuts are not toxic for cats, and a bite or two will not lead your cat to an emergency room in a pet hospital, but long-term use can cause nausea.
Walnuts have a lot of fat and sodium in them in the form of salt. They can cause pancreatitis, weight gain, nausea, and other health complications. There are other nuts like pine or hazelnuts that you can give your cat.
What happens if a cat eats walnuts?
Walnuts are highly beneficial to humans as they help in diabetes management and weight loss. But do these nuts provide your cat with the same advantages?
No, it doesn’t provide your cat with any significant nutritional benefits. It can damage the gut of your cat. Following are the disadvantages of feeding walnut to cats:
Fat content:
Cats have a narrow and sensitive digestive tract, and they face a hard time digesting fatty walnuts. The fat content irritates your cat’s digestive system and causes diarrhea and vomiting.
Sodium poisoning:
Walnuts have high salt in them, and long-term usage of this ingredient can lead to salt poisoning. Products that are salt-rich also tend to cause vomiting in cats. Following are the symptoms of salt poisoning in cats.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Less appetite
- Lethargy
- Tremors
- Kidney damage
- Excessive urination
- Coma (server cases)
- Convulsions
There are many ways to treat salt poisoning. Intravenous fluids are given to cope with dehydration. Electrolytes are managed, and critical medical care is given to cats suffering from sodium poisoning. Some bites of plain walnuts might not hurt your cat, but if you have seen your cat eat some salty walnuts, you should observe it for a few more hours.
Pancreatitis:
Long-term use of high-fat contents causes pancreatitis in cats, the inflammation of the pancreas. It is a harrowing situation where your pet feels pain in the abdominal region and might skip eating due to the pain sensation in their belly.
Can cats eat salted walnuts?
No, cats certainly can’t eat salty walnuts. It can potentially cause sodium poisoning in cats, and your cat might throw up after eating those. Besides, why put your cat through this process if walnuts can’t give your cat any nutrition?
Can cats eat chocolate walnuts?
It is a delicious human treat but is “Nay-Nay” for cats. It is composed of both ingredients that can potentially harm your cat. Caffeine and thrombin are the two essential ingredients of chocolate. Cats can’t digest them and, in return, get chocolate poisoning.
The following are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in cats:
- Muscle stiffness
- Tremors
- Increased heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Convulsions
- Fever
If you have observed these symptoms in your pet, rush toward the vet. The vet will induce vomiting in your cat to prevent the absorption of the toxic substances in the bloodstream. But do not try to induce vomit in your cat alone. You might end up hurting your cat even more.
On the other hand, walnuts are unsuitable for cats due to their high salt and fat content. It can cause pancreatitis and salt poisoning in your fluffy.
Are there any benefits of feeding plain walnuts to your cats?
Yes, here are some of the advantages that your cat might get from walnuts:
Improved brain functions:
Polyphenols, Vitamin E, and polyunsaturated fats in walnuts make them helpful in healthy brain functioning. These agents suppress the action of inflammatory agents and keep the brain healthy.
Heart diseases:
Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, a fat that keeps the heart healthy and reduces the chances of cardiopulmonary diseases.
Prevent aging:
Walnuts have agents that improve motor functioning and hence delay the aging process.
Immunity:
Walnuts are rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and melatonin. These agents work together to prevent the cells from destruction in the body and reduce inflammation. They contain the occurrence of cancer. Yes, you read it right!
So, giving your cat a bite or two of walnuts is not that bad. Make sure it is plain and doesn’t have any chocolate or salt.
Walnuts also have agents that prevent diabetes in cats. Along with all these advantages, it can suppress the appetizing cats. It is incredibly beneficial for overweight cats who are always looking for food.
Conclusion:
In this article, we discussed “Can cats eat walnuts?” So you can give it to your furry too. We also explored what happens if a cat eats walnuts, whether cats can eat salted walnuts, and whether cats can eat chocolate walnuts.
References:
https://askmycats.com/can-cats-eat-walnuts/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/petcube.com/blog/can-cats-eat-nuts-and-seeds/amp/
https://meowbox.com/blog/2016/8/foods-that-can-harm-your-cat
