Pet owners might be curious about varying their cat’s diet. You probably have seen how cats show interest in particular human food. But, even though we are both mammals, it is clear that cats and humans are not the same. In this article, we will talk about how cats react to peanut butter. Is it safe for cats to eat it?
In general, cats can eat peanut butter without presenting any adverse effects after its consumption. However, peanut butter should account as a treat you give to your cat occasionally.
Most peanut butter brands offer you roughly 600 calories per 100 g. This type of caloric-dense food is not an excellent option for your furry friend. Let’s see more information about cats and peanut butter to understand better your pet’s needs and what peanut butter can offer.
Understanding Cats And Peanut Butter
A cat’s diet should be meat-based. Peanut butter is made out of nuts. Due to this, you could probably infer that peanut butter shouldn’t be included in your cat’s diet. However, you can give a small amount of peanut butter to your cat, and it will enjoy it.
One of the drawbacks most people agree with is that peanut butter’s texture can be a choking hazard. Most store-bought peanut butter is highly thick and sticky. Many people fear that it can get stuck in your cat’s throat and cause asphyxia. But, food asphyxiation is not very common in cats.
Nevertheless, if your cat is found to have eaten more peanut butter than it should, remain calm. Open your kitty’s mouth and try to clear its throat with your fingers. If you notice that you can’t reach the obstruction, you may try to apply force to its belly to provoke vomiting. If this doesn’t work, take your pet to the nearest vet.
How Peanut Butter Benefits Cats
Peanut butter can offer benefits to your cat. But there are some things you should consider about peanut butter before you can choose the right one for your pet.
The Right Peanut Butter
We can divide peanut butter into two significant groups, processed peanut butter and natural peanut butter.
There are differences between these two groups. Here we have listed some of them:
- Consistency
Natural peanut butter is silkier than processed peanut butter. The latter goes under a process where more hydrogen is added to increase its shelf life. Besides lasting longer in your food cabinet, this hydrogenation makes the consistency stickier.
- Ingredients
If you look at the ingredients in natural peanut butter, you will notice it is just peanuts and salt. That’s the main reason why people call it “natural.” Processed peanut butter includes more ingredients such as vegetable oil, high-fructose corn syrup, sugars, cornstarch, molasses, and many more.
Benefits Of Natural Peanut Butter
Peanuts and natural peanut butter can offer benefits for your cat, including:
- Natural peanut butter can help with blood circulation and coagulation.
- Peanuts help balance the sugar levels in your blood.
- They are a great source of good fats and protein.
How To Safely Feed Peanut Butter To Your Cat
Safety is essential. Taking the correct measures to include peanut butter into your cat’s diet is vital to preserving its health and wellbeing. Here are a few aspects cat owners should consider when feeding peanut butter to their pet:
- Test your cat’s reaction to peanut butter. Take a small amount of it and let your cat try it. Observe if it likes the flavor or consistency or not.
- Additionally, make sure you track down any unusual behavior. Peanut butter can create an adverse reaction in cats. Pay close attention to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, or stomachaches.
- Choose natural over processed peanut butter. There’s nothing wrong with humans choosing this, but it’s a different story when it comes to cats. Nowadays, most processed food includes xylitol, a substitute for sugar that is highly toxic to cats.
- You could make your peanut butter at home in a food processor, or you can choose peanut butter for dogs. Some brands offer peanut butter that is safe for dogs; no additional ingredients are added, just peanuts.
See Also: Can Cats Eat Butter?
Other Treats For Cats
We have already mentioned that peanut butter should be given as a treat to your cat. Every once in a while, you can scoop a pea-sized amount of peanut butter for your furry friend. As long as you supervise it, your furry companion can enjoy peanut butter. But if you are looking for a safer treat, we brought you a list of some:
- Bananas
- Berries
- Carrots
- Eggs
- Cheese
When it comes to cats, you should have some considerations about giving them treats. First, obesity in cats is a common problem, especially when it comes to indoor cats. Some cats don’t get enough physical activity and start gaining weight. There are other instances where people force cats to eat, so they gain weight.
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Treats can worsen the obesity problem. We call them treats because this food doesn’t offer your cat the nutrients it needs. It is the case with most human food. Your cat should only eat small amounts of human food every once in a while.
On the other end, we have malnutrition. If your cat doesn’t get the necessary nutrients, its health will start to decay. You can notice malnutrition by looking at your pet’s fur.
Even if your cat doesn’t seem to be underweight or overweight, you should be careful with treats. Once the food is ingested, your cat’s organism will start to break down the nutrients in it. If your cat is affected by any health condition you don’t know of, food may trigger symptoms.
For instance, xylitol, a natural sweetener found in some peanut butter brands and many other processed foods, affects your cat’s sugar levels, kidneys, and liver. It is known that it can affect your pet’s health no more than two hours after ingestion. Thankfully, most cats don’t like processed foods or sweet flavors.
It is best for your cat if you consult with the vet before feeding any treats. As you can see, sometimes our good intentions can lead to negative results, and no pet owner wants to see their loyal companion suffer.
Common Questions
Do cats love peanut butter?
Some cats do like peanut butter, while some are indifferent about it. Their reaction to peanut butter may vary from cat to cat.
Is peanut butter safe for your cat?
Yes, it is safe for your furry friend to eat peanut butter. But, you should pay attention to the effects it can have on your kitten. There have been cases where cats developed an allergic reaction to ingredients in peanut butter.
Will peanut butter kill a cat?
There is no reference to a cat getting killed by the consumption of peanut butter. However, you should know there is a risk of asphyxia related to processed peanut butter due to its consistency.
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Final Thoughts About Cats And Peanut Butter
Cats can eat peanut butter in moderation. Remember that cats must eat meat-based proteins. Most of your kitten’s necessary nutrients occur in meat. Additionally, their bodies are designed to break down fats that come from animal products.
Nevertheless, you can choose natural peanut butter to feed your cat. Experts recommend selecting that option because it only contains peanuts and salt. Processed peanut butter includes other ingredients that are not beneficial to your pet. For instance, xylitol, a substance that substitutes sugar, can be highly toxic in cats.
Sharing is caring; remember your pet counts on you to keep them healthy and safe.
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.
