Most cat owners want to share pretty much everything with their furry, somewhat demanding pet. Sitting on the floor because your cat is asleep on the chair? Getting no sleep because your cat sleeps on your head? Always drinking quickly because your cat laps from your water glass? All normal cat servant occurrences.
When it comes to sharing your food with your cat though, things get a little bit more complicated. You just can’t share everything you eat with your kitty, because your kitty was made differently to you. That being said, cats can eat quite a few human foods, including some you might not even be aware of.
The question is, does that include your beloved yellow fruit, the banana? Let’s find out:
Can Cats Eat Bananas?
The good news is, cats can eat bananas! They are nutrient dense, full of magnesium, vitamin C, potassium and fibre. They are a great snack for humans and can be given to cats. The catch is, that they should only ever be given as a truly occasional treat for kitties.
Cats are obligate carnivores which means they primarily eat meat and require most of their diet is made up of meat. Anything other than meat can be a struggle for them to digest, as their gastrointestinal system is not designed for plant proteins. These delicious creamy fruits are also super high in sugar and carbohydrates. This can mean that too many snacks like bananas lead to diabetes, toilet issues like diarrhea, or weight gain.
How Often Can Cats Eat Bananas?
If your cat is overweight or has diabetes bananas are likely best avoided altogether. If they have other medical conditions present it is a good idea to speak to your vet about whether or not bananas are a good snack. In all instances, you might wonder can cats eat banana bread, can cats eat banana chips, can cats eat watermelon, can cats eat cheese? Because you want your kitty to join in and enjoy what you enjoy.
It should all be considered individually, as not to risk your cat’s health. For example, some types of banana bread your cat might be able to eat a tiny bit of depending on the ingredients. However, raw banana bread mixture can actually be dangerous to cats. The yeast can expand in their stomach and cause a gastrointestinal emergency. If it contains chocolate, it could actually kill your cat.
Or with banana chips, home dehydrated (lemon juice free) types could be given to your cat in tiny amounts every now and again. However, store bought banana chips can contain lots of fat and salt, and may well be extremely bad for your cat. Every food type in every form has to be considered separately.
The fact is, that if your cat is eating a well balanced and nutritional cat food, they won’t need any additional snacks. If you’re looking to vary their eating a little, the healthiest snacks are freeze dried chicken or fish pieces, or little bits of steamed fish or chicken you cook for yourselves as a family.
What Should I Do If My Cat Has An Allergic Reaction To Banana?
If you do give your cat a little bit of banana do be aware that they may have an allergic reaction if they have never tried the food before. If you see your cat struggling to breathe, swelling up or rashy after they eat bananas, call your vet right away.
What Is The Safest Way To Feed A Cat Banana?
You should never feed a cat banana with any peel attached. Can cats eat banana peels safely? No they can’t They can’t digest that peel so any prepared banana for them should be totally peel free. You should also cut it into small bite size pieces just to avoid any potential choking issues, especially if your cat has missing teeth.
Can Kittens Safely Eat Bananas?
For the first 12 months of life, a kitten has milk from their parent cat, and then specially formulated kitten food. They will then move on to adult cat food, complete with adult appropriate snacks. Small treats can be introduced around this transitional time, however, this should be done with caution and guidance from your vet.
Your Cat Can Go Bananas For Bananas – But Only A Little
If your cat is healthy and in good shape, they should be able to have a little banana very occasionally. Of the most part though, keep their diet well balanced and nutritional with cat food designed for their specific feline needs.
The upside is that unlike most things in your life that you have to share with those furry friends, you can keep your yummy yellow treats mostly all to yourself, which is a small win, right? We’ll take it.