As a cat owner, one of the most important tasks you have is monitoring your cat’s diet. While giving your cat enough food is usually the easy part, it can be a real struggle making sure your cat doesn’t eat anything toxic. Cats are naturally opportunistic eaters, meaning they will likely seek out food whenever they have the opportunity. This can be a problem for both indoor and outdoor cats. The most common issue we find with indoor cats is their access to the kitchen and the food that falls on the floor. In today’s article, we are going to discuss whether pistachios are bad for cats.
Are pistachios bad for cats?
No, from a nutritional standpoint, pistachios are not bad for cats. Despite being so small, pistachios are actually packed with a ton of beneficial nutrients for your cats. Some of these include fiber, antioxidants, vitamin B6, and potassium. Best of all, pistachios are very high in protein which can help maintain your cat’s healthy muscle growth. For instance, just one cup of pistachios has 25 grams of protein. The small shape of pistachios are usually fascinating for cats, and sometimes a cat will just play around with a pistachio instead of eating it.
Are pistachios harmful for cats?
There are a couple reasons why we don’t recommend feeding your cat pistachios. Listed below are the main reasons.
Cats are carnivores
Unlike humans, and dogs, cats are 100% carnivores. This means that their bodies naturally seek nutrition from only animal sources. While cats can certainly have non-meat food items, it is usually harder for them to digest since it is not natural for them. This is especially the case for pistachios, since they contain a lot of plant fats which can be hard for their digestive system to pass. For this reason, your cat might develop gastrointestinal problems if you consistently feed them a lot of pistachios. Your cat may also develop a lot of gas or bloating if they eat a lot of pistachios at once.
Shells
You should never feed your cat a pistachio with the shell still attached. This is because the shell can be a real choking hazard. If the shell is not chewed properly, it can cause a blockage in your cat’s intestines. This is why you should immediately pick up a full pistachio if it falls on the floor.
Seasoning
Lastly, the seasoning on the pistachio can also be very dangerous for your cat. This is something that is often overlooked by cat owners, but can have devastating effects. Pistachios often have garlic or onion seasoning on them. Both of these are highly toxic for cats. Additionally, it is very common for pistachios to contain a lot of salt. While salt isn’t toxic to cats in small quantities, it can cause dehydrations in your cat.
Is it okay to give pistachios to cats?
While pistachios do have nutritional value, there are some reasons why you should avoid giving your cat pistachios. However, it is definitely okay to give your cat a couple pistachios every now and then. Just make sure you take off the shell!
