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Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter? (Or Bad Idea)?

If you have a cat, and considering the best foods for it, you may wonder if peanut butter is even a consideration…

Do Cats Eat Peanut Butter?

Cats do not eat peanut butter. They are natural carnivores who prefer to eat fish, meat, and vegetables. The Rescue Vets claims peanut butter does not suit the cat’s carnivorous diet.  It provides no additional support or sustenance to the cat’s diet. Since peanut butter does not have nutritional value for the housecat, they do not eat it.

So, now you know. But, is peanut butter even safe for them? If they consume it, how much is safe? Does it make them sick? Keep reading for these answers, and much more…

What Will Happen If You Try To Feed Cats Peanut Butter?

If you try feeding cats peanut butter, they will likely be unappealed. Typically, cats dislike the aroma and taste of peanut butter. They typically do not like the appearance of peanut butter either.

Nuts are not a normal part of the cat’s diet, mainly because they do not receive any nutritional value from eating them. However, cats usually eat them because of the strange texture on their tongue.

It’s like us humans, just because we can eat something, it does not mean it is beneficial or nutritious for us.

Is it Safe for Cats to Eat Peanut Butter?

If your cat is healthy, it is technically safe for cats to eat peanut butter. However, you should not let your cat consume large amounts of peanut butter because of the many toxic ingredients added by manufacturers. According to The Rescue Vets, the high sodium levels in peanut butter are unhealthy for cats and can lead to potentially fatal poisoning.

Health conditions can arise from eating peanut butter, including short-term and long-term conditions. Cats are prone to heart disease if they consume peanut butter in large quantities. Plus, peanut butter is a choking hazard because of its stickiness.

A cat might not be able to swallow the sticky substance without struggling.

How much peanut butter can a cat have?

Cats can only eat half a tablespoon of peanut butter twice per week. According to Veterinarians.org, the average cat requires 250 calories each day. Therefore, you should feed your cat peanut butter as a treat, not a part of their regular diet, or it can lead to obesity.

The excess weight gain from peanut butter comes from the oils and fats inside peanuts.

Peanut butter is very sticky and is likely to get stuck on the cat’s throat. You should never feed your cat large quantities of peanut butter at once, or else you increase their chances of choking.

Does peanut butter make cats sick?

Consuming peanut butter can make a cat sick. It can even lead to health issues and cause gastrointestinal upset. Many ingredients in peanut butter are toxic.

You may see the symptoms of gastrointestinal upset in your cat clearly, like vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and more.

Other health concerns may arise when you feed your cat peanut butter, such as increasing their weight or making them a higher risk of heart disease. Cat owners can damage some heart diseases, whereas others are fatal.

Why does my cat love peanut butter?

Cats may like peanut butter because of the texture. However, the strange texture is not always good for them. Textured foods like peanut butter can be dangerous for your feline friend because they can get caught in the back of your cat’s throat.

Peanut butter is not a good treat or choice for sneaking pills. Most cats are uninterested in peanut butter, and it can be dangerous. To prevent danger, provide a bowl of water nearby so the cat can rinse water out of the back of their throat.

Are there any known health risks with peanut butter?

There are several known health risks associated with peanut butter and cats. Cats that consume it in large amounts are at risk of being poisoned by the many chemicals.

One of the most common health risks from cats eating peanut butter is xylitol poisoning. Xylitol poisoning is unfortunately fatal in house pets. Many peanut types of butter contain this artificial sweetener.

However, it is toxic to house cats. If you notice your cat accidentally ate peanut butter with xylitol in it, immediately take it to an emergency veterinarian to save their lives.

The high-fat content in peanut butter can easily lead to obesity. Feline obesity can severely diminish the feline’s quality of life, leading to stress and bodily injury.

Many ingredients in peanut butter cause allergic reactions in cats, including peanuts. Many minor allergic reactions, like rash, itching, and redness, are associated with peanuts. They are minor reactions but can escalate into something larger like throat swelling, seizures, or coma.

You should monitor your cat closely after feeding them peanut butter. If their reactions worsen, take them to a vet.

Is peanut butter healthy?

Generally speaking, peanut butter is not healthy. The only time it can be healthy for your cats is 100% peanut butter, with no additional ingredients. Otherwise, peanut butter is unhealthy when consumed.

The high sodium levels and potential toxins can be dangerous for any cat to eat.  Eating peanut butter can cause weight gain and various health complications, including toxic poisoning, gastrointestinal irritation, heart disease, and much more.

There are no real benefits to feeding your cat peanut butter, even when it is 100% natural. Therefore, going out of your way to make 100% peanut butter is a waste of time. If you want to feed your cat peanut butter from the store, you risk their health.

To keep your cat healthy, avoid feeding them peanut butter and stick to a cat’s natural carnivorous diet.

Are other nuts dangerous for cats?

Macadamia nuts are highly dangerous for cats. Eating macadamia nuts can lead to a serious allergic reaction like hives and throat swelling. Consuming macadamia nuts can lead to vomiting and lethargy, hypothermia, and tremors.

In many cases, allergic reactions to macadamia nuts (or ingesting macadamia nuts at all) can be fatal.

What ingredients in peanut butter are dangerous for cats?

Artificial sweeteners, salt, oils, and fats are dangerous ingredients in peanut butter for cats. There are many problematic ingredients in peanut butter. Artificial sugar is the most dangerous ingredient in peanut butter for cats.

It can cause xylitol poisoning, which can be fatal to cats.

Salt is dangerous for cats to consume because it affects the cardiovascular and circulatory systems immensely. High sodium levels in cats can cause heart failure or cardiovascular disease. Consuming large amounts of fats and oils will lead to weight gain, leading to obesity.

Are there any health benefits of peanut butter for cats?

There are no health benefits of peanut butter for cats. The house cat is domesticated, but it is still a carnivore. They do not receive any health benefits from peanut butter because they get the necessary nutrients in other areas of their diet.

Proteins and daily cat food are enough for the cat.

There are many health risks involved with feeding peanut butter to cats. It is more dangerous to feed your cat peanut butter than it is beneficial to consume the creamy substance. There are plenty of substitutes available, like tuna-paste or cat-friendly vegetable paste.

Advise the instructions before feeding.

People may still use peanut butter to feed their cat medicine. However, you should only do so with a small amount no larger than half a spoon full. Cats should not eat servings of peanut butter larger than half a spoon full, or they can get sick.

Other Hazards of Peanut Butter

Another issue with peanut butter, that is rarely discussed is the way its often used and how this can be dangerous for your cat. Basically, it is sometimes used as bait for rats, or mice. The idea is to bait them into eating it, but it is secretly hiding some poison or pest control solution.

My point is, if your cat was to get a real taste for peanut butter and roam around it may lap up some random peanut butter left out for a pest and accidentally consume some harmful poison.

In reality, it may be a low chance of this happening, but it’s worth considering.

Can cats eat peanuts?

In theory, cats can eat peanuts, but it’s not advisable. If they are to be considered you have to avoid salted ones and ideally raw peanuts. In addition, never offer your cat peanuts with shells, and it’s an idea to chop them up to avoid any choking.

The reason I say it’s worth chopping them up is that their natural shape is easy for a cat to get caught in their throat, so it’s best to avoid this.

Another consideration is the chance of a nut allergy. This is obviously an issue for an individual cat, rather than all cats. But, like humans, they could suffer from this. So you will need to monitor your cat for this or consult your vet.