Pet owners, especially cat owners, know that most cats have different preferences and attitudes, particularly towards food. If you are a big fan of pecans, you might have wondered: can cats eat pecans?
While cats will pretty much eat anything-especially meat-you give them, when it comes to nuts, you might want to be cautious. Can cats eat pecans? Let’s put it this way, some treats might not be beneficial for our furry friends. Some are meant to be an occasional treat and some are not at all.
Before launching into an in-depth discussion about your cat, pecans, cat foods, pecan pie, peanuts, pistachio nuts, walnuts, and other nuts, here are a few foods you should never feed and are poisonous to cats:
Good pet care tips: Seven other human foods you should avoid feeding and include in your pet’s diet
In this list, you will know about the more dangerous foods and their nutritional profile that can be found in your home that, under no circumstances, feed to your feline friend.
These human foods are okay for people but regarded as risky for cats, and some may even be lethal.
If they do consume any of these items, bring them to your vet immediately to get medical treatment. Or, if you have a local animal poison control center, contact them right away. So always be extra careful.
Chocolate
You probably know that chocolate is poisonous for canines, but few people know it also has undesirable effects on your cat’s stomach.
The sugar content is not the culprit, but the cacao seeds that have methylxanthines. Caffeinated foods, including coffee, have this kind of substance.
Methylxanthines can induce nausea, habitual urination, diarrhea, constant thirst, tremors, abnormal heartbeat, and panting in your cat. Of which culminates in seizures and premature demise.
Alcohol
Alcohol might be wonderfully intoxicating to humans but not wonderful at all for cats.
Any beverage and foodstuff with an alcohol content will experience upset stomachs, vomiting, looseness of bowels, and nervous system problems like shortness of breathing and loss of coordination.
Other probable issues will arise like tremors, acquiring acidity in the blood, and heart ailments. Of which will lead to comatoseness and death.
Raisins and grapes
Experts are baffled why these are highly toxic foods to a cat’s diet, even more so than chocolate. After twelve hours of a cat eating it, vomiting will happen, it will then lead to kidney failure and ultimately death.
Grapes and raisins have toxicity content that experts have not fully explored yet, so to be on the safe side, do not let your cat anywhere near it. Or any of its offshoots like pastries and any other baked goods.
Yeast
To bake delicious bread, you will need yeast to let it rise and become fluffy. While it enables breadstuff to be tasty, it is bad for a cat’s health. It will cause the stomach of your cat to expand, then induces bloating and gassiness.
It will worsen and reach the point that it will bring to an end all of its nine lives.
Garlic and onion
Garlic, onions, chives, shallots, and other aromatic bulbous plants, while it makes people’s food delectable, is incredibly bad for cats.
It causes pain in their gastrointestinal tract and destroys red blood cells, which will make your pet cat anemic, induce vomiting, have an upset stomach, and urinate blood.
Foods like pizza, pasta, and other foods contain these herbs, so be sure not to feed them to your cat.
Raw meat
There may be a few health benefits if your cat ate raw meat, but is bad in the long run. If your cat shows weakness and will experience vomiting, take it to your local veterinarian.
Xylitol
It is a sweetening agent included in candies and baked foods and also in toothpaste and mouthwash. If eaten by your cat, it forces insulin into its bloodstream. It makes the blood sugar too low that can threaten its life.
Other ailments include nausea, incoordination, which leads to liver failure, seizures, and demise shortly after.
When can cats eat pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and other tasty nuts
All kinds of nuts have high-fat content, fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients that make them an excellent snack for human beings. But what about including it in your cat’s diet? Will it go nutty for nuts?
Will cats eat nuts?
They will if you give it to them and will consume anything given to them by people they have grown to trust. However, some nuts are relatively safe for cats to consume, and some are not as safe. And with all nuts, moderation is the key.
Can cats eat pecans?
The short answer
Yes, cats can consume pecans, which are regarded as not toxic and safe. If by chance, your pet cat has eaten a bunch of pecans, they will be alright.
But to make it clear, cats should not ingest it and not include them as part of their diet.
The long answer
Even though cats can consume, digest, and not have adverse effects from pecans, they still should not be at it.
Pecans and most nuts have omega-three fatty acids and other nutrients, which can be beneficial for them by giving energy and structure to their cell membranes.
Yet, pecans are difficult to pass through their digestive system, which causes nausea, stomach aches, diarrhea, dilated pupils, and other symptoms. Keep this in mind when asking yourself ‘can cats eat pecans?’
And highly fat foods can make your cat fat, which leads to obesity, kidney failure, sodium poisoning, and pancreatitis. So be sure your cat will only consume a small number of pecans.
Can your cat ingest pecan pie?
A small amount of this pie that you may have accidentally dropped and eaten by your pet cat is harmless. However, it is still sweet and will not have a good effect on your cat. Can cats eat pecans stuffed into a pie-it all depends on volume and frequency.
Can cats eat peanuts?
While peanuts are not toxic to cats, they have too much fat content than other nuts. The peanuts you buy will most likely have additives like salt, garlic, and other flavorings, which are also not good for felines.
People can be deathly allergic to peanuts, and some cats are the same, although only rare. Also, the shells are choking hazards.
Can cats eat macadamia nuts?
Dogs have severe problems after consuming macadamia nuts. Once this happens, their owners will force them to vomit it out to remove it from their system or bring it to the vet immediately.
But there are no studies yet of severe aftereffects of consuming macadamia nuts by cats. However, to be on the safe side, do not let your pet cat ingest these nuts since the risk is too high.
Can cats eat walnuts?
Walnuts also contain higher fats than the other types of nuts, and one nut can cause nausea and diarrhea in your cat. Also, walnuts tend to mold easily and contain fungi that can be toxic upon ingestion.
If you find out your walnuts are covered with mold, throw them away immediately.
Can your kitty eat pistachios?
Pistachio nuts are also especially fatty and hurtful to your pet cat. They often come prepackaged, containing additives like salt and flavorings. All of these spell disaster upon ingestion.
If your cat gets to ingest pistachios, be sure the shells are removed since they might obstruct the intestinal tract and may need surgery.
Can your cat eat almonds?
Almonds are regarded as a healthy human snack. It contains vitamin E, protein, mono-saturated fat, magnesium, and other healthy nutrients. But is it alright for your pet cat?
Almonds are safe for your cat to consume, just give it one or two pieces, and it will be harmless.
Can your kitty eat hazelnuts?
This kind of nut is regarded as safe for your cat to ingest, but it is not healthy. You can give it a few pieces but would not do anything for nutritional value.
Hazelnuts are still highly fatty and can still cause stomach aches and diarrhea if consumed too much. They can also be potential choking hazards.
Conclusion: When your cat ingests too much
Too many nuts are not good for cats
While pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, and any nut types will not cause harm to your cat if eaten in large amounts will lead to problems in its health.
So be sure, do not leave them lying around your house that your furry friend can easily reach. A healthy pet cat means a happy household.
