Cats are the most popular pet in households across America with over 70 million cats living in homes. Unfortunately, not all of these felines can enjoy a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich like their canine counterparts.
Can cats eat peanut butter? The short answer is no! Cats lack the necessary enzymes to break down peanuts and it can cause them some serious digestive problems. Their stomachs cannot digest nuts because they have a different anatomy than humans do.
This blog will explore why cat owners should avoid giving their pets any form of peanut butter for this reason and what alternatives there are for snacks that won’t make your kitty sick!
1. Are There Nutritional Benefits to Feeding Cats Peanut Butter?
The short answer is no! There are literally no nutritional benefits in feeding peanut butter to a cat. In fact, according to Pet MD, “because cats can’t metabolize proteins, they usually have severe and dangerous reactions” if given any sort of nut-based treats.
Is Peanut Butter Good For Cats? Cat guardians shouldn’t feed their feline friends anything that is made from peanuts. In fact, cats should never have nuts of any type in their diet. This includes any product that has been processed with the same machines as those products made for humans and other animals.
2. What Are The Negative Effects Of Giving Cats Peanut Butter?
According to Vet Info, “Cats are commonly fed cat food with peanut butter now, but this is a very bad idea. Most cats are lactose intolerant, and the high magnesium content in peanuts adversely affects their digestive system. Peanuts also have an adverse effect on blood platelets.”
It’s not just the lack of enzymes that makes peanuts not fit for feline consumption. Cat owners shouldn’t even consider giving their kitties human food made with peanuts or peanut butter.
This can cause the risk of salmonella and other harmful bacteria that can attack cats’ digestive systems and cause them to develop a potentially deadly form of food poisoning.
The question, “Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?” is a simple one with the simple answer. The short answer is no, but there are always exceptions to every rule.
For example, if your cat has access to the outdoors and lives close enough to humans that he or she can pick up leftover food scraps from certain foods like peanut butter, then it may be possible for them to eat this type of treat.
3. What Can I Feed My Cat Instead Of Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is not on the list of safe human foods for cats, but there are plenty of healthy snacks and treats you can give to your feline friends. According to Pet MD, some good examples include:
- Canned fish in water or oil
- Dry or canned cat food
- Kitty grass (live wheatgrass)
- Mealworms, frozen or freeze-dried
- Unseasoned roast beef (no additives)
- Yogurt (avoiding products with added sugar)
- Cheese (in very small amounts)
- Cottage cheese (in very small amounts)
- Eggs (cooked and shelled)
Cats are highly carnivorous and need a diet rich in animal proteins.
If your cat is overweight, canned food with less carbohydrate will help. Cat owners should also give their kitties plenty of water to drink as well as fresh air.
Peanut butter may be popular among humans, but it’s certainly not good for cats. For this reason, cat owners should avoid feeding their feline friends any type of nut-based treats.
If you absolutely feel that your kitten must have a bit of peanut butter, then only give him or her a very small amount and be ready to take them to a vet if they suffer from any adverse reactions.
4. When Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?
In the rare instance that a cat is allergic to all types of protein-rich food, then a bit of peanut butter might be the safest snack available.
It’s also possible for your cat to eat a very small amount of peanut butter if they are not lactose intolerant and don’t have any existing medical conditions which may be exacerbated by this treat.
However, the vast majority of cat owners should avoid giving their feline friends any type of nut-based snacks.
Cats are carnivores and need protein-rich food to stay healthy. They have no use for peanuts or peanut butter in their diet, so never feed your pet this treat!
5. Is it Safe for Cats to Eat Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is not safe for cats to eat. There is a misconception that cats can eat foods made with peanuts, but the truth is that this type of food not only lacks enzymes needed by felines, it’s also extremely dangerous for their system.
Peanut butter often contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that may cause liver damage if ingested by cats.
New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Marketing warns cat owners not to feed their pets any type of nut butter, including peanut butter. The symptoms of xylitol ingestion include vomiting, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, coma or death in severe cases.
Cats should never be given any kind of nut butter. This includes peanuts, cashews or even almonds. These nuts are all too high in fat and can cause an upset stomach if not life-threatening problems for your feline friend.
If you have given your cat peanut butter in the past, then be sure to keep this treat stored safely away from him or her. Cats have a great sense of smell and will often try to get into things they shouldn’t if you leave them out on your counter or coffee table.
6. What is Xylitol and Why Does Peanut Butter Contain It?
Xylitol is a popular artificial sweetener used in many different types of sugar-free food and drinks. This sugar substitute has the ability to lower blood sugar levels, which means that it can be very dangerous for both your cat and young children.
Xylitol has been known to cause a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, which can lead to seizures and liver failure if left untreated. Unfortunately, many people don’t know that xylitol is naturally found in quite a few fruits and vegetables we eat on a daily basis.
Because of this, some foods made for cats (such as peanut butter) can pose a serious risk to your cat’s health if they have consumed even a small amount.
If you suspect that your kitty has eaten anything containing xylitol, then call your vet immediately. In some cases, he or she may want to induce vomiting before the acid in the animal’s stomach does more damage.
With the proper treatment, most cats will make a full recovery after ingesting this dangerous substance.
As with all other foods on this list, do not give your cat any peanut butter or anything that contains peanuts. Even if it does not contain xylitol, these types of snacks are simply no good for their system and cause digestive problems more often than not.
7. How Can I Prevent My Cat from Eating Peanut Butter?
The best way to prevent your cat from eating peanut butter is to simply never offer it as a treat or snack for them in the first place! If you do want to give your kitty a special form of tasty animal crackers, then there are many brands of cat treats made with real meat or fish that are safe to offer them.
Some ways you can keep your feline friend from trying to eat peanut butter off the spoon or lick it out of the jar is by keeping it in an airtight container, storing it on a high shelf where they can’t reach it, and making sure that it stays in a place that is out of your cat’s reach.
If the jar is already open, then you have no choice but to move it somewhere they can’t get to it. If this makes you nervous, then consider keeping it inside a cabinet you don’t use very often or placing a child safety lock on one of them so your cat can’t open it.
As cute as they might be, cats don’t usually like to share their food with you and will try to stop you from getting near them while they eat. If your kitty is noshing on a special treat that he or she doesn’t get very often, then expect some resistance when you try to take it away from them.
It is very important that you do take it away from them, at least until they have finished eating their meal. In some cases, a cat will stop eating their food if the peanut butter jar is nearby because it smells so good to them and they may not feel hungry anymore.
Conclusion:
Cats can eat peanut butter, but it’s not a good idea. Peanut butter is high in calories and fat which can lead to obesity or diabetes for your cat. It may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, seizures and other serious health problems.
If you want to feed your cat any type of nut product make sure the nuts are raw or unsalted so they do not contain sodium nitrate that could be harmful to dogs if consumed by mistake.
If you have anything in mind that you want to share with us please feel free to leave us a comment, our team of experts will get back to you.