As you probably already guessed, I’m obsessed with writing and talking about what foods animals can and can’t eat. So it was only a matter of time that I was going to cover whether or not cats can eat Cashews.
Short Answer
Cashew nuts can be fed to your cat sparingly, but should not be fed as a regular treat. (The build of a Cashew Nut is: 44% fat, 30% carbohydrate, 18% protein)
Allergies & Cashews
Although fairly rare, cats can actually be allergic to cashews. Similar to most other food allergies, they will manifest with rashes, swelling, breathing problems or gastrointestinal problems. If you want to give your cat cashews every so often as a treat (which is fully acceptable) make sure you’re only giving your kitty one nut and then think about increasing the amount. Personally, I would only give my cat one cashew every few weeks if not once a month. There are plenty of other alternatives I’d rather give my kitties that have better nutritional values or supplements. Some of these being their favourite Greenies Treats or Caru’s.
Can My Cat Choke on Cashews?
Absolutely, but your cat can also choke on a number of other foods. Cashews are about the same risk as feeding kibble to your pet, but it also depends on the size of the cashew. If this is a worry for you, I would break the cashew in half or even quarters.
I Left My Cashews Out and My Cat Ate A Bunch of them, what do I do?
Monitor your cat. Most cats won’t eat enough cashews at a time to induce toxicity, however, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned. Due to the high amount of fat and protein inside of cashews your cat may experience an unpleasant battle with the runs. This being the case, make sure your cat gets enough water and fluids in their body to rehydrate them. The overconsumption of cashews may also cause your cat to vomit. If your cat shows any signs of wanting to throw up, make sure to take them to the vet. This is usually the first sign of toxicity.
What are the risks of longterm feeding Cashews?
Feeding your cat cashews longterm may actually cause the cat to develop pancreatitis. Pancreatitis causes the pancreas to swell and needs immediate treatment. If your cat is experiencing fevers, lethargy, or a loss of appetite there is a good chance they have developed pancreatitis. There is no “at home” solution for this disease and I strongly recommend speaking to your vet about measures that you can take immediately.
Can Cats Drink Cashew Milk?
Similar to most other milk the answer is… in very small quantities. Even though Cashew milk has absolutely no lactose, it still has too much fat in it and may become a problem long term. If you’re looking for a milk alternative, I strongly recommend trying one of the following: WHISKAS CATMILK PLUS Drink for Cats and Kittens, Cat Sip Real Milk Treat for Cats and Kittens, KMR – Kitten Milk Replacer, PetLac Milk Powder for Kittens, and PetAg Catsure Powder.
If you do choose to allow your cat to drink cashew milk, I highly recommend giving them a very small quantity the first time. Just like the nut, cats may be allergic to the milk. Cats’ stomachs are also sensitive and need to be given time to break down foreign foods and proteins. (You may have experienced this when changing your cat’s diet in the past).
So pet parents, are your cats interested in cashews? Do I have any readers whos cats can’t give up the delicious nut? Have you found a healthy amount of cashews to give them as treats? Let me know in the comments below!
Other foods you might be curious if cats can or can’t eat:
Nuts/Legumes: Peanuts | Cashews | Pecans
Fruits/Vegetables: Olives | Watermelon | Bananas
Treats/Liquids: Ice Cream | Almond Milk | Coffee | Soy Milk
Misc. Plants: Roses
Cha Cha loves anything cashew. I am vegan and while she says it’s not in her nature to be one she likes to try my food. Not nuts but yogurt, milk and cheese. I let her clean up my cereal bowl or yogurt cup or she gets a tiny bit of cheese. All these are unsweetened and she seems ok. She is a very thin cat so not worried about her weight. Besides that she loves vegan mayo or butter. Also gets a tiny lick. We discovered this because I was eating a sandwich and mayo was on my finger. She lost it! So now we play and I accidentally put some mayo on my finger and she cleans it off. She pulls peanuts out of a bowl but won’t eat them and she loves pulling my tea bag out of the cup. She even rolls in it sometimes. It’s a sleepy kind and I guess cats love valerian. I learned this when I came home and found bags of tea shredded everywhere and two tipsy cats sleeping covered in tea.
All I can say is, just be careful not to overfeed, even if skinny! But as long as you’re keeping a close eye on her, you’re right she should be okay!
As for the Valerian comment, absolutely! Most cats will enjoy valerian, especially if your cat isn’t a huge fan of catnip. I couldn’t imagine what that mess looked like, but I’m glad to hear they were having a fun tipsy time!
I have a 5 month old Persian – she LOVES cashews … I was eating them and was surprised she ate one… then a second. it was 2 months ago, I tested her today… with a small piece… still loves them!
That’s pretty cool! Just make sure not to overfeed and you should be good!
I love where your mind leads! Years ago, I was shocked when Bear ate a big hunk of peanut butter. I left it out thinking he wouldn’t touch it. Now I know better. Then he got his back paw stuck in the jar of peanut butter. Let’s just say that some traumas are insurmountable 🙂
Oh man, that’s scary! I hope no similar scares happen anytime soon!
It’s good to learn about cashews. I nearly panicked a few days ago when our kitten ate a green olive. What did we ever do before the internet? I learned that olives contain a chemical similar to catnip, so cats are attracted to them. They are okay as an occasional snack. We avoided a visit to the emergency vet!
The internet is amazing! I love the fact that knowledge is always at our fingertips! I actually did a write-up on Olives and cats not too long ago!
Very interesting. My cats never seem interested in nuts when we eat them.
Beau is sometimes interested in nuts, but only very rarely!
Sorry, but I ADORE cashews, which is why I rarely have them in the house…I’ll just eat them ALL! So, if there were cashews around, ain’t NO WAY a kitty is gonna get one…Mama is gonna gobble them all up!
Hahaaha that’s amazing!