Can cats have peanut butter? Ideally, you should avoid giving your cat peanut butter except you made it yourself. Most brands use sweeteners that contain xylitol—which could be dangerous for cats even in little amounts.
My cat loves eating peanut butter, an effective treat I use in grooming him(cause he hates to be handled). But the peanut butter I use is 100% naturally made by me—I go the extra length to add taurine from turkey dark meat and omega-3 fatty acid from salmon, even at that; I still give him this treat once in two weeks
In this article, you’ll learn everything about cats and peanut butter, its dangers, what to watch out for, its benefits, and how you could make your lip-smacking peanut butter at home for your cat.
Can Cats Have Peanut Butter?
Yes, cats can have peanut butter, this sweet and salty spread can be an irresistible treat for cats, but it provides no value nutritionally and it contains ingredients that do not pet safe such as artificial sweeteners.
It is best to make cats peanut butter at home, in that way, you’ll be in control of what goes into your cat. To enhance the color, and flavor (which is not necessary), most cat peanut butter brands will use compounds that are not safe for cats—leading to crisis and unnecessary expenses.
Do Cats Like Peanut Butter
If you put out some peanut butter, the cat will come because of its nutty smell, but cats don’t like sugar, so it’s the scent they prefer.
According to Vcahospitals, cats make judgments and survive using 40–45 million scent receptors. Thus, if your cat loves peanut butter treats, you should only give them sparingly, unless you manufacture them.
Is Peanut Butter Good For Cats
Peanut butter has no nutritional value for cats, which makes it not good for cats. You can give your cat peanut butter, but in small quantities twice a week. Unlike catnip which could help get your cat exercise, peanut butter could cause stomach upsets for your cat.
Felines get their entire nutrients from animal-based proteins which are included in their dry and wet foods. Peanut butter contains plant-based protein which doesn’t contain enough amino acids required by the cat. If your cat is being fed its normal foods, there is no need to supplement with anything else, except as advised by the vet.
Is Peanut Butter Bad For Cats
Peanut butter could be lovely on bread, cucumbers, garden eggs, and bread for humans, but this salty-sweet spread should not be given to cats if possible. As we have explained in the previous sub-headings— peanut butter has little to no importance in a cat’s nutritional needs. You may only end up affecting your cat’s health with the additives and sweetness present in commercial cat peanut butter.
What’s in Cat’s Peanut Butter?
If you’re so busy and can’t make peanut butter for your cat by yourself, it’s fine if you decide to opt for store-bought alternatives, but you need to be aware of the following problematic ingredients that could cost your cat’s health.
- Oil and Fat – Unlike the name suggests, peanuts are legumes(edible seeds grown in pods like lentils and green peas), and not nuts. Peanuts contain a huge amount of fats and oil and are nutritionally considered nuts. Nuts although beneficial to humans, are among the foods to avoid giving your cat according to ASPCA.
- Sodium – Peanuts in their natural form are void of sodium, but store-bought peanut butter has a high sodium and oil content. If your cat eats salty foods in large quantities diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and depression could occur according to ASPCA. Study shows that heart issues in cats sometimes occur as a result of sodium in human foods they consumed.
- High-calorie content – every cat has a designated daily calorie intake, exceeding this measurement could lead to weight gain problems. Cats should eat 40 – 45 calories per kg of their body weight. Depending on the cat peanut butter brand and the food you’ve given your pet, you may unknowingly exceed its daily calorie requirements.
- Xylitol – Commercially processed peanut butter and cats are not a good match; they contain ingredients that could pose a risk to your cat’s health. The artificial sweetener(xylitol) which is used in most peanut butter brands —is toxic to cats and other pets’ health. Products that contain xylitol shouldn’t be fed to your cat; take up the responsibility of studying the labels of anything you want to give your feline friend. If xylitol poisoning occurs, you’ll notice the following signs: seizures, lethargy, lack of coordination, drooling, and vomiting.
Is Peanut Butter Safe For Cats?
Peanut butter isn’t good for cats, although small amounts are. Meats, salmon, dark turkey, protein, and fiber from cat-friendly diets sustain carnivorous cats.
No outside cats should eat peanut butter. Problem: they may eat peanut butter mouse trap bait.
Some cat peanut butter contains aflatoxin, a serious health danger. Tumor-causing mycotoxins.
Human sweets vs. cat peanut butter. Candy hurts teeth. Only natural peanut butter is cat-safe because “commercial peanut butter contains ingredients that are harmful to cats”.
How can you tell if a peanut butter has xylitol in it?
Always read labels to know what’s inside the peanut butter, many companies may not be 100% truthful about the contents of their products. But watch out for products that are labeled “sugar-free” or ” Natural sweeter” this could be a pointer that xylitol is used in that product. Also, in the nutritional facts, you’ll see xylitol labeled as “sugar alcohol”.
How to know if your cat has a peanut allergy
Peanut allergy cats develop signs shortly after eating peanuts. Allergic responses can cause itching, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, and death. These signs may indicate a peanut butter allergy in cats. The peanut butter ingredients should accompany your pet to the vet.
Even the brand name helps. A medical blood test can confirm your cat’s sensitivity. If your cat is allergic to peanuts, avoid peanut butter and other products. Avoid feeding your cat these products by removing them from the house and worktops.
Does Peanut Butter Kill Cats?
Avoid giving your cat human-made peanut butter cookies, which may include cat-unfriendly ingredients. Cats should never eat peanut butter cookies.
When I went to deworm my cat two months ago, I noticed a woman who let her pet eat peanut butter biscuits, not chocolate. She grieved like she was sorry, but if she loved her cat, she would plead for its food.
How can I Feed My Cat Peanut Butter
How To Make Peanut Butter At Home For Cats
Ingredients
- 2 cups of roasted peanuts (you can do this with your oven or non-stick pan).
- Half a spoon of honey ( as cats don’t produce glucokinase, which helps with the breakdown of glucose and fructose).
- Turkey heart(dark meat, contains taurine).
- Salmon oil
Instructions
- Cut the turkey heart into small bits, then place the bits and peanuts in a fold processor, turn on the food processor and let it run for at least 5 minutes.
- The peanut should go from crumbs to dry balls to smooth creamy peanut butter. At this stage, you could mix in the little honey, and salmon oil.
- Store in the fridge.
Healthy Alternatives To Peanut Butter For Cats
Can kittens have peanut butter – Final Thoughts
