If you love pumpkin or eat it frequently, you may wonder whether cats can eat pumpkin too? The good news is pumpkin can be a supplement in your cat’s diet! Pumpkin has a high fiber content and can be used to help your feline with constipation, diarrhea, and weight loss. You should check with your vet before you use pumpkin to make sure you give your cat the right amount for whichever ailment.
Pumpkin also has various nutrients in it that benefits bodily systems, like lutein for healthy eyes, coat and skin. Iron helps with cellular respiration, hemoglobin production and oxidation. Calcium helps with bones and teeth; alpha carotene prevents cell damage. Vitamins A, C, and E are also found in pumpkin and are good for keeping a healthy immune system, enzymatic reaction, collagen synthesis, and regulating fat-soluble antioxidants and enzymatic activity.
Can Cats Eat Raw Pumpkin?
Raw pumpkin is not good for a cat, the gooey stuff in the middle, called pulp, is bad for your cat and shouldn’t be eaten. Pulp is slimy and stringy, doesn’t taste very good and it can be difficult to chew or swallow for your pet.
The stem of the pumpkin is rough and prickly on the felines digestive tract, the pumpkin skin can be very hard to digest. The leaves of a pumpkin can be poisonous to your cat, so avoid letting your little friend eat those. Jack-O-Lanterns left out can grow mold and bacteria and can cause your cat to become ill.
Can Cats Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Pumpkin seeds can be given to your cat after they’ve been cleaned and roasted. Make sure you don’t add any seasonings to the seeds, and the seeds should be ground up and added to your cat’s food. Pumpkin seeds contain fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants that are good for your cat.
Antioxidants may help your feline friend stay healthy, and young, it may even prevent some cancers from forming. Just be sure not to overfeed your cat because an excess of some vitamins and minerals isn’t good for your cat. Pumpkin seeds can help your cat alleviate some digestive issues and have been used to get rid of worms!
Can Cats Eat Cooked Pumpkin?
Cooked pumpkin is also good for your cat friend, but only if it doesn’t contain any added sugars or spices. That holiday pumpkin pie is not a good choice to give your feline to eat, instead, you can give your cat some canned pumpkin or fresh pumpkin that has been cooked without any flavoring.
Pumpkins are high in fiber and other vitamins and that can help your cat if it is having digestive issues like diarrhea and constipation. Make sure to talk with your family vet to ensure a healthy diet, or to get the results you need.
How Much Pumpkin Can Cats Eat?
Before you use pumpkin as a dietary supplement you should always consult your vet to make sure you give your cat the right amount, and you don’t end up harming your pet instead. It doesn’t take a lot to see some results, for constipation or diarrhea, you can begin by giving your cat half a teaspoon daily, and it may only take a few hours for you to see a change.