Banana is a happy fruit that offers excellent benefits to humans, but the question of whether cats can eat bananas is a real deal for those who don’t know about it. The simple answer is yes, cats can eat bananas, but there are unanswered questions as well. Are bananas toxic to cats? Can my senior cat eat bananas? Well, cats can eat bananas and get various health benefits if you keep the rule of moderation in mind. Cat food doesn’t contain any sugar or sweetener because felines do not have sweet taste buds, so when a cat eats a banana, she doesn’t enjoy the sweetness as we do.
Many pet parents know that a cat’s digestive system cannot process all human foods, but a few fruits and vegetables are okay to give your cat in moderation. Banana is a healthy snack for your furball and can be a part of their balanced diet. However, it cannot replace the cat’s diet, which should consist mostly of animal fat and protein. And when your feline friend has an upset stomach, you should avoid giving this treat.
You might have seen videos where cats eat watermelon. In the wild, cats eat berries of different kinds to get vitamins. Citrus fruits are not suitable for cats under any circumstances, but giving them bananas will not cause an issue. Banana is a safe treat that offers various health benefits, but you must watch out for any allergic reactions and stop feeding bananas to your pet if you see any signs.
Are Bananas a Good Food for Cats?
Bananas are not suitable as a daily food item for cats. They have a different nutritional profile that offers great value to humans and other omnivores, but for carnivores, this natural food item has not much to offer for daily functioning. Cats need protein and fat to survive and thrive.
Bananas are full of iron, vitamins, and magnesium. Your cat needs these things, but only occasionally, as felines need meat protein to thrive. Your cat can survive without meat protein and fat for only 4 to 5 days before compromising their health.
The protein and food should only come from small game and birds. The animals with thick protein and excessive fat will stop the growth of growing cats and make the adult cats seriously ill. Cats cannot eat thick protein from turkey. You can offer fat and protein of fish and chicken to your cat daily for their good growth and sustained health.
Are bananas safe/toxic for cats to eat?
According to vets and experts, bananas are safe for felines. There are no toxins or harmful agents in bananas for your cat, but you must know that this food is not what your cat needs daily. Cats love the mushy texture of bananas and will ask for more, but you must keep the quantity in moderation to keep the fruit safe for their consumption.
Banana is safe for your feline only if the consumption is in moderation. Anything more than the prescribed amount will cause various dangers for your beloved furball. Pet parents must know that your cat is not an omnivore, and giving them bananas daily will worsen their health whether you have a kitten, a growing kitty, or a senior cat. Before adding this food to the feeding menu, you should also consult your vet.
Some cats show digestive issues like diarrhea or vomiting. It doesn’t mean that the banana is poisonous, but you shouldn’t take things lightly and you should consult your vet right away. Banana contains a lot of sugar and carbs that can disrupt the gut flora in your beloved kitty. We will discuss the risks and side effects of bananas in later sections.
Are there any side effects of feeding cats bananas?
Giving your cat a banana can cause an allergic reaction if your cat’s digestive system doesn’t agree with this fruit. You must always start feeding only a couple of bites to the feline. After feeding the first two bites, keep a vigilant watch on your kitty’s eating and litter routine.
If the cat is not eating or playing after a couple of hours of feeding them bananas, this could be because of stomach aches and cramps. Even if your cat isn’t suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, there are still chances of her having a stomachache that will cause bloating and gas. Most cats suffer from constipation after eating bananas because of the fiber in this fruit.
The feeling of a full stomach is also common for kitties that are not fond of eating sugar-loaded bananas. Cats do not need sugar, and the carbs in this food will cause the feeling of a full tummy. This will stop your kitty from eating regular cat food, which will cause weight loss.
Your cat can show one or more of the following signs after eating bananas:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- All-time thirst
- Loss of control over urination
- Inability to jump
- Weight loss
- Weight gain
How much banana can a cat eat?
It is safe to give your furball no more than 200 to 250 grams or half of an average banana, occasionally. Senior cats should not eat too much sugar, as they are not as agile as they used to be. Cats usually spend 12 to 14 hours sleeping, and during the time they are awake, they love to groom themselves. So a fully agile kitty will have only an hour or two to show some athletic skills and burn energy.
But when the same cat grows old, its agility reduces and they spend less time in activities such as running behind flies or climbing trees. Reduced exercise combined with sugary treats will lead your senior kitty to become unhealthy and unfit. If you have a small breed munchkin or lethargic kitty, do not feed them more than 200 grams of banana. The same goes for senior cats. The best approach is to consult your vet before making any new additions to its diet.
What are the risks of feeding cats bananas?
The biggest risk with bananas is choking. If you do not cut the banana into pieces, you are compromising your kitty’s life. If the cat tries to swallow the piece, the soft structure could block the trachea and prevent your kitty from breathing. Big pieces could also get stuck in the esophagus and make your cat suffer from severe pain.
Banana is full of sugar and carbs. These are two things your cat doesn’t need in abundance. Cats need protein and fat to survive and perform normal body functions. But when you feed bananas to your feline daily, the result will be excessive blood sugar levels and a high amount of fat in their body.
The high amount of fat will cause obesity, and sugar will increase the risk of diabetes as it will affect the pancreas and kidneys, and your cat could get terminally ill. Vitamin C is in abundance in bananas, which can cause great trouble for feline kidneys. Unnecessary vitamin C can crystalize, which could create kidney stones causing UTIs and severe pain.
You should watch for the following when feeding banana to your furball:
- Choking hazard
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Compromised hunger
- Gut flora imbalance
Can kittens eat bananas?
No, kittens cannot eat bananas at all. They have a sensitive digestive system that cannot process this happy fruit. For the first twelve months of their lives, cats do not show any sign or ability to process this fruit. If your kitty begs you for this fruit, giving them a small piece will not cause many problems, but according to vets, you shouldn’t give them this fruit at all.
Bananas Nutrition Benefits For Cats
Vitamin A is necessary for healthy cats’ eyes, coats, and skin. This vitamin also enhances the immunity of your kitty. Using foods loaded with vitamin B6 will give them exceptional support in keeping body functions regular. It also enhances the function of fluid secretion and absorption in their body. B6 is lost through urination and giving them this vitamin will help them sustain healthy levels.
Growing kitties need vitamin C for teeth and bone density, but senior cats do not need so much. Giving bananas to your cat after one year of age will offer them good support in increasing bone strength and muscle density. Iron, magnesium, and potassium are also as important to a cat’s health as they are for humans.
A feline can gain the following health benefits from bananas:
- Vitamin A, B6, C
- Minerals
- Nutrients
- Iron
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Fiber
How Should Bananas be Served to Your Cat?
You don’t need to cook it or add anything extra to this food to make it presentable to your kitty. The most important thing that you need to do while offering a banana to your furball is to cut it into small pieces to prevent the chance of a choking hazard. You can hand-feed banana to your cat, offer it on a spoon or use it as a seasoning in their food bowl.
What about banana peel?
Banana peel contains ethyl acetate which will make your cat behave abnormally around this fruit. Cats love to eat bananas, but your feline cannot digest, or get any nutritional benefit from the banana peel. According to vets and experts, avoid giving this part of the banana to your furball.
Can cats eat banana bread?
No, cats cannot eat banana bread because yeast, flour, sugar, and salt are a big no for feline consumption.
Can cats eat frozen bananas?
Yes, cats can eat them and will enjoy frozen bananas. The only consideration here is the quantity and frequency.
Alternative Healthy Snacks
An alternative healthy snack will only remain healthy if you don’t overfeed it to your pet. You should limit consumption to under four days a week. Pet parents can offer the following to their kitties as healthy snacks:
- Zucchini
- Peas
- Green beans
- Strawberry
- Mango
- Apples
- Watermelon
Final Thoughts
- Banana is a happy fruit for humans but can be unhappy for kitties if you keep feeding it to them daily.
- Banana doesn’t have the protein and fat that your cat needs.
- It contains various vitamins and minerals that enhance the health of your feline.
- Vitamin A, B6, and iron increase the immunity of your furball.
- To avoid choking hazards, cut the banana into tiny pieces.
- Kittens cannot eat bananas, and you should also avoid feeding them to senior cats
FAQs for Cats Eating Bananas
What other foods can cats eat?
Cats are not omnivores. Nevertheless, they can eat several food items other than chicken and fish. But you shouldn’t feed these additives daily to your kitties. You can offer other fruits like blueberries, strawberries, mango, and apple. Cats also get health benefits from occasionally eating vegetables, such as green beans, squash, and potato.
Do bananas cause obesity in cats?
Extra carbs and sugar result in weight gain for your kitty. When you offer bananas more than the prescribed amount, you give them more than their required sugar and carbs. This readily available energy will travel from their stomach to under the skin and convert into fat. Regular banana-eating will make your cat obese within a matter of months.
Do bananas cause digestive issues in cats?
Yes, bananas are loaded with carbs and other agents that are not suitable for the digestive system of your feline. These things in smaller amounts are no issue for your furball, but when you feed bananas to your kitty daily, they traumatize their digestive system.
Can a diabetic cat eat bananas?
Not at all, a diabetic cat cannot eat bananas, and you shouldn’t make them eat them. A diabetic cat already suffers from the pancreas, high blood sugar, and insulin issues. Using bananas will make them suffer from soaring blood sugar levels, and this will offer a severe blow to the already deteriorating pancreas. The answer to the question–can cats eat bananas?–is yes, but you must learn about your cat’s health and the effect of bananas on your kitty first.
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