Peas are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are extremely healthy for people but what about cats? Can cats eat peas? Are they safe for cat consumption?
Let’s say you dropped a pea to the floor at the dinner table and your cat grabbed it. Can cats eat peas? You don’t need to worry about it because peas are perfectly safe for cats to eat. As a matter of fact, a lot of cat food brands use peas as fillers in their products. But there are a few points to be careful about.
Are There Any Benefits of Peas to Cats?
Peas contain a lot of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B1, C, K, Fiber, Manganese, Copper, Potassium, Iron. These are very beneficial to cats and can help supporting your cat’s gastrointestinal health. Also, due to the fiber it contains they are good for cats with constipation.
However, cats are obligate carnivores which means that the main source of nutrients for cats is meat. So peas or any other vegetable can not be the main food for your little friend.
What Kind of Peas Can Cats Eat?
Green peas, snow peas, and snap peas are all safe options for cats as long as given in moderation. Although peas are beneficial to cats, high amounts of peas can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Whether it is green peas, snow peas or snap peas, it is important to remove the peas from their pods as the pods can cause choking and sometimes might be hard to chew if they are not fresh.
On the other hand sweet peas are toxic to cats and they can not be eaten by cats. So keep sweet peas away from your furry friends. If you think that your cat has eaten sweet peas, watch out for below symptoms and if you see any of them consult to your veterinarian:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Pacing
- Pressing their head against furniture
- Tremors
- Seizures
How Can I Feed Peas to My cat?
Fresh, frozen or boiled peas are all safe options but it is important to wait until the frozen peas are soft enough to chew otherwise they might be choking hazards.
It is also very important to avoid any seasonings at all. Always keep in mind that onion, garlic and many other delicious flavors to humans are toxic to cats. Also salt is a big no for cats which is another reason not to feed your cat any canned peas as they contain high amounts of sodium.
If you want to give peas to your cat, keep it in moderation as cats are obligate carnivores that need animal protein as the main nutrient in their diets.
When introducing peas to your cats diet, first consult your veterinarian and then introduce it slowly. You can start by putting a few peas on the regular cat food it consumes and then give peas as a treat from time to time.
