Olive oil is one of the common oils used in most households. If you have a pet cat, you might be worried about feeding your cat olive oil and its effect on the cat. Before feeding olive oil to your pet, you should understand its health benefits and dangers.
Yes, cats can have olive oil; it is not poisonous. Olive oil has health benefits for cats. These benefits are; helps in weight loss, promotes the health of the cat’s skin and fur, is a natural remedy for constipation, improves the immune system, and reduces the risk of diabetes.
Although olive oil is not poisonous to cats and has health benefits, you should not feed your cat too much of it. As we all know, too much of anything is not good; you should know the amount of olive oil you can give your cat.
Benefits Of Olive Oil For Cats
The same way olive oil is nutritious and has several benefits for humans, it is for cats. One tablespoon of olive oil contains fourteen grams of fat and 119 calories; so, it is a high-calorie product. However, the fat present in olive oil is unsaturated and very healthy. Olive oil has several benefits to the overall health of a cat.
One of the health benefits of olive oil for cats is that it improves their immune system. A cat with a weak immune system will easily fall sick. Hence, when you feed your cat with olive oil, its immune system becomes stronger and fights any infection or disease.
Another health benefit of olive oil is that it helps get rid of constipation. When your cat is unable to use the toilet due to constipation, it is because its diet is low in fiber. You can give it a teaspoon of olive oil with its normal wet food; this will help stimulate its bowel movement and make the stool liquid which will be easy to discharge.
Olive oil also improves the health of a cat’s skin and fur. It makes the fur of a cat shiny and soft because it has moisturizing properties. Olive oil also reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in a cat. It also prevents ear infections in cats; however, in this case, you will use olive oil to clean the cat’s ears.
First, warm the olive oil to reach the cat’s body temperature. Then fill the ear dropper or syringe with a little olive oil and add one or two drops to the cat’s ear. You will massage the ear area in a circular motion to ensure the oil enters the ear canal.
Repeat this process about five times for each ear and let the cat shake its ear. Then, you can clean the outer part of the ear with cotton balls or a clean towel.
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How Much Olive Oil Can I Give My Cat?
Olive oil is a natural oil extracted from olives, a fruit from olive oil trees. If you have a cat, you might notice them acting wildly at the sight of olives. This behavior and excitement seen in the cat can make you assume olive oil is very helpful to the cat and enjoys it.
With this mentality, you might overfeed your cat with olive oil, which can cause some health issues. When this happens, you will begin to wonder what went wrong. So, you should understand how much olive oil you should give your cat. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants as it contains vitamin E, Carotenoids, Polyphenols, and Chlorophyll.
If you plan on feeding your cat with olive oil, you should only feed it with the purest form of olive oil. That means you should get 100 percent olive oil with nothing added or mixed to it. This kind of olive oil is referred to as virgin olive oil; so, you can visit any grocery store to get virgin olive oil.
The amount of olive oil you give your cat depends on the cat’s size. If you have a small cat or kitten, you should give it three tablespoons of olive oil a week. A medium-sized cat can be fed with half a tablespoon of olive oil daily. In contrast, a large cat can be fed half a spoonful a day.
You can also decide to mix olive oil with your cat’s food rather than giving it just like that. One important thing you should note when feeding your cat with olive oil is to start with small amounts before increasing the feeding. This process will help your cat get used to the taste of olive oil.
What Oil Is Safe For Cats?
Oils are one of the great supplements to add to a cat’s diet. However, you should not add any oil to your cat’s diet because not all kinds of oil are healthy for cats. You must know which oil is safe for cats and their health benefits before feeding them to your cat. You can also consult your veterinarian on which oil to give your cat.
Some of the best and healthiest oils for cats are fish oil, hemp oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, and cod liver oil. These oils have several health benefits for a cat, such as improving the cat’s skin and fur, curing inflammation, fighting infections, promoting healthy metabolism, and improving kidney function.
Knowing which oil to get can be confusing because there are several healthy oils that you can give your cat. In this case, you should take your cat to the veterinarian for an examination. This examination will help your veterinarian recommend the oil you should use for your cat.
Other things to consider when getting oil for your cat’s diet are the energy level of the cat, its age, nutritional deficiencies, and allergies. So, it is best to fully understand your cat to know which type of oil to add to its diet and not cause any allergies to the cat.
Can I Give My Cat Olive Oil For Hairballs?
Hairballs occur when cats groom themselves; during this process, the tiny hook-like structure on their teeth catches loose and dead hair that the cat then swallows. Most of this hair passes through the cat’s digestive tract, but they form hairballs when some stay in the stomach.
When a cat cannot vomit its hairballs, it can cause an intestinal blockage which is hazardous for the cat and result in choking. Once the cat starts choking, it can die if it is not treated quickly and properly. No one wants to lose their cat because it has hairballs which are normal in cats.
To help your cat get rid of hairballs, you can feed it with olive oil. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food for about 3 days. Once your cat feeds on this diet, it will be cured of the hairballs. However, you have to know when your cat has hairballs so that you can help it get rid of the hairballs.
Some of the symptoms of hairballs in cats include gagging, retching, and hacking. When you notice these symptoms in your cat, make sure you take it to the veterinarian for a medical examination and attention.
Final Thoughts
Olive oil is a great supplement that you should add to your cat’s diet, especially if they suffer from constipation or weight gain. However, you must make sure you feed your cat with the right amount as prescribed by your veterinarian. Regardless of how much you feel your cat needs olive oil, you should only feed it the proper quantity.
Keep reading: Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter? How Often Can They Eat It?
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
