Can Cats Eat Oatmeal? | Dog Product Picker

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Oatmeal is high in protein and healthy fats. It is one of the human foods that is a healthier option for your feline friend.

Oatmeal contains linoleic acid, essential amino acids, some minerals, and other nutrients suitable for your feline friend’s coat and skin. So, are there any benefits? Let’s find out.

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Cats, Oatmeal, and Benefits

Plain oatmeal is one of the healthy options for giving your feline-friendly human foods. However, your furry friend is an obligate carnivore, and the cat’s digestive system is designed to digest animal protein. Even if you give your cat oatmeal, they won’t be able to get all the nutritional benefits from this cat treat.

A cat’s diet needs small amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of protein because they are obligate carnivores. So, as cat owners, we should ensure that our cat’s diet is beneficial for our cat’s health and is balanced so they can get maximum health benefits. As pet parents, we should know that not all pets are designed similarly. If one human food is good for your dog, then there might be a chance that it is bad for your kitty.

So, as we discussed, giving our feline friends, high carbs is not a good idea, so small portions of oatmeal can be an occasional good treat but not a replacement for your cat’s main meal. As pet parents, you should know that your cat’s digestive system and the digestive enzymes all function differently in your cat’s body. So, oatmeal is a safe food for them and good for their digestive tract, and provides them with good digestive health.

However, if you give your feline friend too much oatmeal, then it will cause health issues. So, the best thing to do is to provide them with oatmeal porridge in small quantities, so it becomes a healthy treat for them and does not cause any health problems. Your feline friend can get necessary nutrients in their daily calorie intake with small portions of the oatmeal, so starting in small quantities is a good starting point. Just do not overdo it to avoid any additional digestive issues.

Cats, Oatmeal, and Risks

Whether wet or dry, oatmeal and whole grains are good options for your feline friend as they are not only healthy foods, but if the amount of oatmeal is not high, they can also benefit your feline friend. Too many plain oats can cause a healthy cat discomfort, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Raw oats and cooked oats are both excellent choices for your feline friend, but the type of cooked oats you give to your furry friend can be concerning. As pet owners, giving your cat oats cooked in regular milk is not a great choice. If you want to give your cat oats, cook them in hot water or oat milk to avoid health problems. The main ingredient in oats cooked in regular milk is milk, a dairy product, and your feline friend already has a low tolerance for dairy products.

So, as cat parents, we should avoid dairy products as they can also cause health problems to a simple average cat. Oatmeal cookies should also be avoided as they are home to too much brown sugar or a lot of regular sugar, along with fats and butter. They can cause health issues like weight gain, iron deficiency, and others in your feline friend, especially older cats.

However, if your kittens want to eat oatmeal, then never give them oatmeal, whether it is instant oatmeal or regular oatmeal. You should never share your feline friend wet cat food at such a young age and if you have an older cat, then still avoid instant oats as they might contain preservatives, additional ingredients like raisins, chocolate, etc., hazardous to them. You can feed them oat tea, made with oat grass, boiled in water, cooled down to room temperature, and served. You cat give your cat grass in this way without any issues.

How Much Oatmeal Can a Cat Eat?

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties and also has a low glycemic index. It is an excellent option to give your feline friend; however, you should it does not contain any other ingredients like chocolate, raisins, etc. As you know, meat plays a vital role in your feline friends’ life as they are obligate carnivores and need food items containing animal protein, so oatmeal is an occasional excellent treat but nothing more. Compared to raw eggs, oatmeal has 11.1 grams of protein, but that doesn’t mean you can feed your cat 120 calories of oatmeal when its calorie intake per day is only 300.

Moreover, give them cup meals if you want to introduce a new food to your cat’s diet. You can make oat tea, provide it as a supplement, and add the water of oat tea after cooling down to room temperature to your cat’s kibble. Kibble is a dry food; it will become softer and a healthy treat for your feline friend.

How Many Times Can a Cat Eat Oatmeal?

Oats are economical and easy to cook. They provide essential nutrients like protein and are a good source of iron, fatty acids, vitamin D, B vitamins like vitamin B6, folic acid, essential amino acids, and important minerals. It has a high nutritional value, and if your feline friend needs a lot of fiber in their diet, they can enjoy this treat.

Giving oats regularly is not a good idea. Your cat should get commercial cat food as a main meal to save them from imbalanced diets, digestive issues, and other related diseases. So, as cat owners, you can give food items like oatmeal only in small quantities and as an occasional treat. Cats can enjoy human foods but avoid giving them.

Does Commercial Cat Food Contain Oatmeal?

There is no doubt that some cat commercial foods contain oatmeal because they are a good source of protein combined with other health benefits. All thanks to antioxidants, essential amino acids, and some important minerals. Cats are curious and love exploring new things.

So, there is no need to worry if you regularly eat oatmeal and find your feline friend one day in the pantry with their paws inside the oatmeal box. They are curious and want to test the product’s texture and new taste. So, if you wish to add oatmeal, here is the good news. Feed them either raw or cooked in water/ oatmeal milk.

Summary

So, now you know if you should feed your feline friend some oatmeal or not. Even though the good news is that this human food is safe for your cats, it is better to avoid it as long as possible. Cats are curious and want to try all the new food; however, it is your responsibility to give them in moderation or altogether avoid it at all costs. Just observe your feline friend and stop the new food if there are health issues.

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