Can cats eat yams?
This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat yams?” we will also discuss the major health benefits of consuming yams for your cat, whether your cat can consume candied yams, and whether your cat can consume raw yams.
Can cats eat yams?
Yes, cats can eat yams. It is very important for you to understand that fully cooked yams are healthy for your cat to eat. Consuming raw yams can cause stomach upset and toxicity in your cat. Yams have fiber and antioxidant properties which are helpful for your cat if consumed in small amounts.
What are the major health benefits of consuming yams for your cat?
Following are the major health benefits of consuming yams for your cat:
Maintaining healthy bowel movements in cats
Consuming yams is healthy for your cat because it has fiber in it. Fiber is for regulating the bowel movements of your cat’s digestive tract. Moreover, it will prevent many digestive-related issues such as diarrhea and constipation.
It is healthy for your cat to consume a small amount of fiber in the diet but the amount should be calculated. Consuming more and more fiber can in turn cause stomach upset which can lead to dehydration.
Yams help to control the weight gain of your cat
Yams have a high amount of fiber content in them which is needed to regulate the food intake of your cat. Consuming insoluble fiber will limit the food intake of your cat which in turn controls the weight gain in your cat. Weight gain can be a big problem for your cat as it has several consequences.
Yams help to regulate the blood sugar level of your cat
Yams have fiber content which limits the food intake of your cat. Moreover, it will also regulate the blood sugar level in the body. The blood sugar level is determined by the amount of glucose produced by the metabolism of the diet you are giving your cat. If food intake is more, more glucose will be produced which can ultimately lead to deadly conditions like diabetes.
Yams have antioxidants for your cat
Yams also have antioxidants that can protect the body of your cat from deadly conditions such as heart problems and cancer. It is very important to understand that there are certain free radicals that are produced in the cat’s body that are harmful to the body.
These free radicals cause oxidation of the cells leading to abnormal production of the cells which ultimately leads to cancer in the body.
These antioxidants capture the free radicals and neutralize them, protecting the body from harmful free radicals.
Can your cat consume candied yams?
No, cats cannot consume candied yams. It is not healthy for your cat to consume candied yams because it has a high amount of fat and sugar which is not healthy for your cat.
Following are the major health hazards of consuming candied yams:
Obesity in cats
The first problem is obesity which can ultimately lead to severe consequences like heart problems and chronic joint inflammation.
The high-fat content can form globules in the body that can be stuck in the blood vessels of the heart leading to the blockage of the major vessels which can ultimately lead to heart attack and the death of your cat.
The next thing is arthritis which is due to the increasing weight of your cat. The increasing weight can put pressure on the joints and the body starts the process of inflammation to cope with the stress on the joints.
Pancreatitis is painful for your cat
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas in the body which can ultimately lead to severe abdominal pain in the body.
Following are the major clinical signs of pancreatitis in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Severe abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Characteristic preying position during an episode of pancreatic pain.
Diabetes in your cat
Consuming high amounts of sugar content is not healthy for your cat to consume because it can cause diabetes in your cat. Diabetes is a deadly and long-term condition that can lead to delayed wound healing and continuous urination in your cat.
Diabetes has two types. The most dangerous one is type II diabetes which is due to the diminished response of the body toward the insulin level in the body.
Can cats consume raw yams?
No, cats cannot consume raw yams because it has solanine which can cause toxicity and stomach upset in your cat.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Can cats eat yams?” we also discussed the major health benefits of consuming yams for your cat, whether your cat can consume candied yams, and whether your cat can consume raw yams.
References
https://petkeen.com/can-cats-eat-sweet-potato/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X14539086
