Carrots are America’s third favourite vegetable and it is easy to see why. They are packed with vitamin C and other nutrients, they work well in salads, wraps, stews, soups, mash, slaws and more.
If you’re a cat lover and a carrot lover, you might have wondered if your favourite furry friend can get in on this orange veggie action. Could your cat benefit from eating carrots like you do? Can cats eat carrots safely?
The good news is, you’re checking before doing, which is important as lots of fruits and veggies are not good or kitty. So before you put Peter Rabbits favourite in front of your kitter today, read on:
Can Cats Eat Carrots?
Carrots are safe for kitties to consume as an occasional snack and addition to their diet every now and again. Although the carrot has vitamin A in it, which cats need in their diet, cats are not designed to digest plant matter well. Cats are obligate carnivores which means their diet has to be predominantly meat. They can digest certain types of plant matter which is prepared appropriately and given very occasionally, but it should never be a main part of their diet.
Can Cats Eat Different Coloured Carrots?
There isn’t too much difference in flavour or vitamin content with purple, white, yellow or other carrots that are not orange. So if you’re steaming some rainbow carrots for yourself and you want to give your cat a small piece, it won’t matter what colour the carrot is. If you fancy growing some rainbow carrots for your family, you can find out more about it here.
How To Prepare Carrots For Cats To Eat
If you do choose to give your cat a small amount of carrot you have to be really careful as to how you offer it to them. Can cats eat raw carrots? They really shouldn’t because they are a choking hazard for the cat, and the root vegetable will be tricky for the cat to digest. Can cats eat cooked carrots? Yes, you can steam the carrots until they are soft and then cut it down into little chunks once cooled.
You should also ensure the carrots have no seasoning on them at all as it could well make your cat sick. The carrots should be totally plain, steamed and cut into small chunks.
Should All Cats Eat Carrots?
No cat should have a lot of carrots as part of their diet. A cat’s diet should be mainly tried and tested food for cats that is made up predominantly of meat. The diet should also be specific to your cat’s individual age, health status and needs. Too many snacks like carrot, apple or strawberry could impact your cats blood sugar, bringing on diabetes. Your cat also doesn’t need plant matter because of the way their digestive system works so carrots are more of an occasional treat, than a necessity.
Cats who are diabetic should definitely not have carrots as part of their diet because they already have issues with their blood sugar. If your cat is obese, you should also refrain from feeding them carrots as not to tip them into that diabetic state. Your veterinarian can advise you more on this because they know your cat’s specific health status.