The question of Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter is not an easy one to and. There are some clear warning signs there for cat owners and that has put a lot of them off. But the truth is, it might not be as dangerous as they first thought.
Confused? Well, hopefully you won’t be for long.
Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?
One of the issues with this substance is that cats (and dogs for that matter) can take a serious allergic reaction to nuts. There are many nuts that can harm dogs, cats or both. These include academia nuts, but it’s far from the only one.
However, peanuts are fine, simply because peanuts are not actually nuts (confusing, we know). As a result, peanut butter is technically okay as well. It is not included on any list of foods that are toxic to cats, which is a good start. However, as you probably know, just because something is not toxic to your cat doesn’t mean they should eat it.
They should really only be eating foods that are nutritious, especially when consumed in large quantities. So, with regards to nutrition, can cats have peanut butter?
Can Cats Have Peanut Butter?
Cats need a lot of protein and there is certainly a lot of that in peanut butter, but there is also a lot of fat. Also, most jars of peanut butter contain a lot of extra oil and sugar, neither of which are healthy for your cat.
If you stick with small doses of natural peanut butter, however, then your furry friend should be okay. Just make sure you do stick to small doses. Cats are not made to eat this and peanut butter should be treated as nothing more than an occasional treat or a one-off oddity. Let them lick a little off your finger, but don’t go throwing large spoonfuls into their bowl.
It might actually be a good foodstuff for hiding medication. The strong taste and the texture of it can make it perfect for hiding crushed tablets and not facing the wrath of your cat as they realize what you’re trying to do. But the high amount of fat means that anything more than a small amount is likely to be very unhealthy.
Other Things to Consider
A cat will usually not try to eat something new and something unusual unless it gets a taste for it first. Therefore, keeping it away from unhealthy foods altogether is the best way to ensure it doesn’t beg you for them at a later date.
There is also a potentially more issues issue to consider. Peanut butter can be used to disguise rat and mice poison and it can also be used in rodent traps. If you have an outdoor cat that has developed a taste for peanut butter then it could get into some serious trouble around the neighbor. It could end up getting trapped and suffering serious damage, or it could end up swallowing poison meant for a rodent.
It’s a long shot, but it’s a risk that you don’t really need to take. Just keep your feline away from this tasty treat altogether.