Bananas are awesome.
They are available all year long and you can have them as a snack with peanut butter, nutella, add them to cookies and breads when baking, add them to your cereal in the morning, and more!
Bananas are a great source of natural sugars, proteins, fibers, and vitamins. On top of that they are absolutely tasty. They are rich in Vitamin A, C, taurine, protein, and other amino acids as well as fats.
So you’re probably wondering if you should share your banana snack with your feline friend.
Well, in this blog post, we will answer the question, “Can cats eat bananas?” in as much detail as we possibly can along with a few more things that you need to know.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Can Cats Eat Banana? Are They Really Safe?
Cheer up because bananas are not toxic to cats and are safe to feed!
However, you can only feed them to your kitty in moderation.
It is essential to keep in mind that kitties have different nutritional needs as well as tastes to humans.Their digestive systems are also not designed to receive nutrients from plant-based food sources, such as bananas.
As they are true carnivores they should be obtaining all their main nutrients from meat.
But can cats eat banana as a special treat?
Well, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), bananas are non-toxic to felines but provide no other details. Experts do agree, though, that a cat eating a banana occasionally as a treat is fine and perfectly safe if fed in small portions.
Before giving a banana to your cat, though, make sure it is ripe with the peel removed and only feed a small piece to prevent choking.
Dampening the piece of banana slightly with water is a good idea.
Studies suggest that feeding cats moistened food can help prevent weight loss plus it extends the portion. You can give small amounts of banana to your cat, mixed in with their regular food.
Sounds good?
Are Bananas Good for Cats?
Now that we’ve established that bananas are safe for cats, are they actually good for your kitty?
We already know that bananas are one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat with many health benefits for humans.
For a cat, eating a banana is not beneficial as it is for us as they cannot absorb the vitamins and nutrients this fruit contains, apart from the fiber. Adding fiber to a cat’s diet makes their stomachs feel fuller without the addition of calories, thus can help prevent obesity.
But bananas are fruit, and so high in sugar.
Which would again potentially add to this issue.It also aids the digestive system and can assist in the treatment of diarrhea or constipation.
However, compared to humans and dogs, a cat doesn’t need that much dietary fiber anyway. If your cat eats a high-quality commercial feed, it will receive all the fiber it needs without requiring any extra.
Quite simply, a banana has no real nutritional value for your feline friend.
Can cats eat bananas and gain health benefits? I’ don’t think so.
Cats Can Actually Eat Fruits
Cats actually can eat some fruits and so, bananas are considered safe for them.
You can give them fruits as frozen treats every once in a while. Some of the acceptable fruits for cats include:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Seedless watermelons
- Apples without the core
Keep in mind not to give your kitty the core or seeds of fruits because those may contain toxins.
Another good thing is that you can also feed some vegetables to your cat. These include the following:
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Spinach
- Lettuce
These vegetables are completely harmless to cats. You can also give your kitty some sweet potatoes as well as regular potatoes as long as you do not add sugar, butter or seasonings.
Keep In Mind That Bananas Are Too Sweet for Cats
It is very obvious that bananas are sweet.
It contains natural sugars that are commonly harmless to humans. However, cats do not need much sugar in their diets.Having a high sugar diet can cause obesity and diabetes to your feline.
Those are extremely dangerous conditions that you do not want for your cat, right? So, you must watch the sugar in her diet.
Cats Don’t Actually Have Taste Buds That Can Detect Sweets
What most people don’t know is that kitties don’t have a sweet tooth simply because they can’t taste sweets.
So, what you may think of a treat for you kitty—such as a banana, may just be bland food.
Weird, right?
Summing Up: Can Cats Eat Bananas?
Yes, cats can eat bananas and they are completely safe for kitties to consume.
Bananas are a great source of natural sugars, proteins, fibers, and vitamins. On top of that they are absolutely tasty. They are rich in Vitamin A, C, taurine, protein, and other amino acids as well as fats.
Well, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), bananas are non-toxic to felines but provide no other details.
Experts do agree, though, that a cat eating a banana occasionally as a treat is fine and perfectly safe if fed in small portions.
For a cat, eating a banana is not beneficial as it is for us as they cannot absorb the vitamins and nutrients this fruit contains, apart from the fiber. Adding fiber to a cat’s diet makes their stomachs feel fuller without the addition of calories, thus can help prevent obesity.
Do you still have questions? If so, leave them in the comments, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.