What Will Happen If Your Share Peanuts With Your Cat?

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A lot of people like to consume peanuts in many different situations. If you are a peanut lover and a cat parent, there could be situations where your kitty shows interest in your food. You probably wondered: “Can cats eat peanuts?" if she caught you eating them.

We all know that cats are obligate carnivores and that peanuts aren't something they will have in their regular diet. However, don't be surprised if your cat shows interest in them. So, are peanuts safe for your cat? Let's find out.

Can cats eat peanuts?

Simply put – peanuts are safe for cats to eat. However, this doesn't mean that they should eat them. In other terms, peanuts will not cause toxicity for your cat, but if you regularly give your cat some peanuts, you can expect some health problems to arise.

As you may know, peanuts are high in proteins, and by learning that, you might think – well, this is great for cats since they need proteins in their diet. Well, not so fast. They contain proteins but also some other nutrients that are not so good for your kitty's health.

That said, it would be best if you skip feeding your cat with peanuts.

RELATED: Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter? What Do Vets Say?

What are the dangers of feeding cats peanuts?

Constantly offering peanuts to your cat will cause certain health problems in the long run. Peanuts are high in fats, and consuming too many unhealthy fats regularly is a great way for cats to develop obesity.

Many other nuts are toxic for cats and will instantly harm them, and this is not the case with peanuts. The difference is that peanuts will slowly cause the development of health issues that can, at some point, be pretty serious.

If your cat steals a few peanuts or you did offer her some, you don't have to worry. In these cases, peanuts will not cause harm to your cat. It would be best if you don’t regularly give peanuts to your cat.

Health issues connected to cats and peanuts include

1. GI problems

Don't be surprised if your cat has diarrhea or vomits after eating peanuts. Not all cats are the same, and some can have a reaction to peanuts. This is especially true for cats with sensitive stomachs and older cats.

2. Obesity

By regularly eating peanuts, cats have a much more chance of becoming obese. Obesity is a serious problem that many cats are suffering from. Usually, cat owners don't understand this health issue and don't fully know how dangerous it is.

RELATED: Why Sharing A Pistachios With Your Cat Is Not A Smart Idea?

3. Salt poisoning

The most common way humans like to eat peanuts is when they are salted. Cats do need salt in their diet, but the required amount is already inserted into their well-balanced cat food. Anything over that amount can cause salt poisoning.

Offering your cat salty food will cause an imbalance in electrolytes and can mess up her body function.

Symptoms of salt poisoning include

• Excessive thirst
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• The constant need for urination
• Choking

This is mostly related to peanuts in shells. Peanut shells are hard to chew, and most cats will try to swallow them whole. This is where problems can arise. Because of this, it is important that you only offer your cat raw peanuts without any shells.

4. Allergy

Generally speaking, many nuts are not safe for cats and will cause instant toxicity. Besides toxicity, your cat could experience certain allergies, even if the nuts (like peanuts) are safe for consumption. So, if you want to offer your cat some peanuts, it is important that you only give her a small piece and watch for their reaction.

Allergy symptoms to watch for include

• Swelling
• Sneezing
• Itching
• Problems with breathing

How can I safely offer my cat some peanuts?

If it seems that your cat likes to eat peanuts, and you can't say no to her, you must find a way to do it safely. It is important that you only offer your cat raw peanuts without shells. That way, you will prevent any toxic ingredients from harming your cat while also removing the possibility of choking.

The last thing you must understand is to offer your cat only a small amount of peanuts. That way, you can ensure that your cat will not develop a serious health problem in the long run.

As with any other human food, you must follow the 90-10 rule. Daily treats should be at most 10% of your cat's daily food intake.

Only by doing this you will ensure that your cat will receive all the important nutrients she needs in a day while also getting a few tasty treats to spice her diet up.

Vet opinion – should you give peanuts to your cat

We talked to our vets and asked them whether or not you should include peanuts in your cat's diet. They all agreed that this isn't a good idea and that you shouldn't give peanuts to your cat. Since peanuts will not offer any nutritional value to your cat, they advise you not to give them peanuts.

They said that there are many other healthy human food that the cats will benefit from, and offering something that will not enrich their diet makes little sense.

RELATED: 24 Human Foods You Can Safely Offer To Your Cat

World Cat Finder Team