Can Cats Eat Bananas: Once you have a cat, it becomes a member of the family. And in the same way that the welfare of any other member of the family is important to you, the welfare of your pet is also important.
When you feed him daily, you try to offer him food that is good for his health. Being the owner of a cat, I always asked myself; Can cats eat bananas? Are bananas good for cats in the same way that they are good for humans?
The simple answer to this question is that cats can eat bananas. But that does not mean that they contain the right ingredients and safe for our cat friends, that will try to solve it throughout this article.
Contents
What nutritional benefits does banana provide?
Bananas contain an excellent source of natural sugars. Along with high levels of protein, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber and vitamin B, they are also low in calories. A medium banana has only 105 calories. Sure it’s sweet but it has a low glycemic index.
It gives you a lot of energy because it is full of potassium. Potassium can help prevent muscle cramps. This is the reason why many athletes are eating a lot of bananas during training and tournaments.
Is the banana good food for cats?
There is no doubt that bananas are a rich source of potassium and magnesium. They are good for the health of our hearts and regulate blood pressure. As humans, we love to eat bananas when we are hungry between our meals.
The cat being a carnivore, has different nutritional needs and its digestive system works differently than humans. Cats get all the nutrients they need from meat and do not require diets based on plants or fruits. Before you give your cat a banana, make sure it is ripe and without peel, give it a small piece to keep it from drowning.
That said, it’s important to keep in mind that bananas do not offer any nutritional value to your cat. Therefore, if you feed your cat a unique diet of bananas for a prolonged period, it is possible that it will get sick. Bananas are undoubtedly an inadequate food for cats and should not be the central part of their diet.
Are bananas unsuitable for cats?
Compared to other fruits, bananas have much higher amounts of carbohydrates and sugar. When a banana ripens, it naturally produces more sugar. Your cat can not digest and absorb sugar and carbohydrates in the same way as the human body.
Excess sugar in a cat’s system can cause many health-related problems, including obesity and diabetes. Your digestive system can not cope with the amount of sugar and fiber found in this fruit.
Do cats like bananas?
After talking about the good and bad of bananas, I will answer the question: do cats like bananas? In general, cats do not like bananas. You should know that cats lack the receptor of the sweet taste of food. Therefore, what you can find sweet, for them is something insipid and even bad taste. If your cat refuses the offer of a piece of banana, do not force it, it is an exotic food for cats. That is why they are not naturally inclined towards them.
That said, there are also some cats, and these are a minority, who do not mind eating bananas once in a while. Therefore, everything depends on the taste of your feline friend. Sometimes, they just like to try it as a way to experiment. His curiosity could be due to the fact that he saw you eat a banana and you did not offer it to him.
Some breeds of cats are also allergic to bananas. Therefore, make sure you know if your cat is allergic to it before offering a banana. If you are not sure about your cat’s breed with respect to its affinity or aversions to bananas, you can consult your veterinarian for more information.
Can you feed your cat bananas?
The answer is yes, cats can eat bananas. Most experts agree that there should be no problem for a cat to eat bananas, as long as it is done in moderation. Bananas for cats are not dangerous or toxic. Aside from a mild stomach problem from overeating or eating something you are not used to, it should not cause other adverse problems. But you should not incorporate it as part of your daily diet, since you need to eat nutritionally complete cat food.
Keep in mind that bananas contain a lot of sugar, so it can cause some problems for your cat if you provide too many bananas. Worse still, cats can develop diabetes or get fat if they eat bananas every day.
Tips to feed cats with bananas
If you dare to feed your cat with bananas, you should consider the following tips:
- Take into account the age of your cat. Older cats can suffer from diabetes if they are regularly given bananas
- Start by giving a banana in a very small amount. This will not only prevent suffocation but also allow you to observe any problem that may arise.
- You can cut a banana into small pieces and then mix it with food prepared for cats.
- You can also add water to the fruit to moisten it and make it more attractive to the cat.
- Do not give your cat too many bananas at once, since you can upset your stomach.
- Never give a banana peel because the stomach of your cat can not tolerate it and can cause suffocation.
- Do not give your pet another fruit after feeding it with bananas.
Conclusion
The thing clear. Bananas do not give our cats any real nutrition. Harms are not, as long as you offer them in moderation. If you give bananas to your cat, it can often cause problems to your health due to the high level of sugar they contain. You should always give small pieces and not combine it with other fruits. Never give banana with peel. Therefore, the banana is on the list of fruits that you can supply to your cat.
