We have a jar of peanut butter at all times in our household. Peanut butter sandwiches are quick and easy to prepare, making them ideal for my partner and I since we tend to lose track of time.
Peanut butter is also a great choice in our household because it has a long expiry date, it’s filled with nutrients like protein and can hold while travelling. The biggest downside to peanut butter is the fact that in North America, peanuts seem to be an evergrowing allergen. So, not only do we have to worry about what ingredients are found inside of our peanut butter jar, but we also have to worry about whether our loved ones are allergic to it.
There are some human foods that we’re used to seeing our cats being fed. Foods like rice, bananas, or even on a beautiful hot day a piece of watermelon seem like natural choices to make, but there are some foods you definitely want to stay away from, including almond milk.
I’m sure we’ve all heard cute stories about dogs licking spoonful after spoonful of peanut butter, but just because dogs can eat something, doesn’t mean cats should. Some foods, such as sweet potato, have been highly popularized by the pet industry simply because they are beneficial for canines. So, is peanut butter similar?
We’ve already covered whether or not peanuts are safe for cats, concluding that there are some instances where peanuts are not considered unsafe, but what are some ingredients we may want to avoid when feeding peanut butter?
IS PEANUT BUTTER TOXIC TO CATS?
According to the ASPCA, peanut butter is not considered toxic to cats.
WHAT INGREDIENTS SHOULD I STAY AWAY FROM?
Although peanut butter as a basis is not considered toxic towards cats as one of our readers, Mary, quickly reminded me there are some ingredients in some blends of peanut butter that are considered toxic. A significant ingredient you should avoid is Xylitol.
Xylitol should never be fed to a cat or a dog as it is considered toxic to both. When Xylitol is consumed by felines, they will begin to release a considerable amount of insulin, causing the cat’s blood pressure to drop. If a cat’s blood pressure drops too low, it will lead to hypoglycemia.
Signs of hypoglycemia include lethargy, seizures, vomiting, lack of coordination, and can lead to a coma, liver failure and death.
The general rule for peanut butter is, it should be made from only one ingredient: peanuts. Plenty of companies fill their peanut butter blends with sugars and other unnecessary ingredients. While some of these ingredients can help make peanut butter taste sweeter or may cause the oils to stay inside of the butter, none of them are necessary for making smooth peanut butter.
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO FEEDING YOUR CAT PEANUT BUTTER?
No, there are no benefits to feeding your cat peanut butter, other than Vitamin A. Even with a bit of Vitamin A, peanut butter is still not worth feeding as there are foods that are able to supply a cat with the better amount.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH FEEDING YOUR CAT PEANUT BUTTER?
Since peanut butter contains a high amount of fat and sugars it can lead your cat to gain weight, especially if fed longterm.
Obese cats and cats who are fed a high sugar or fat diet are more susceptible do develop kidney or liver problems or even diabetes. Overweight cats may also struggle more as they become older or arthritic.
Peanut butter should never be fed regularly and should only be used as a treat.
I CAN’T PILL MY CAT… DO CATS LIKE PEANUT BUTTER?
If you’re having a lot of difficulties trying to get your cat to take their pills, you can use peanut butter to entice them. Peanut butter is a hit and miss thing with cats, and since cats taste the world differently than us, we’re unsure what about peanut butter appeals to them. My cats, for example, don’t care for peanut butter.
When using peanut butter to pill your cat, make sure you’re not using big amounts and only use enough to cover the pill or mix in a bit of kibble.
Before using peanut butter, I would recommend trying other ways of pilling your cats first, such as if you can mix the pill in food. You can mix a tablet in both wet or dry just as long as you do not microwave the pill(s).
You can grab some Pill Pockets, which are treats that cover pills that come in flavours like chicken and salmon. I will recommend the chicken ones since we had more success with them than the salmon ones (they’re also much less sticky.)
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CAT EATS TOO MUCH PEANUT BUTTER?
If your cat eats peanut butter, chances are you are in for a bit of a messy night. Cats may vomit and/or have diarrhea. Peanut butter may also cause choking if the cat doesn’t have immediate access to water as peanut butter is very sticky and may get stuck in their throat.
CONCLUSION
So would I ever feed my cats peanut butter? Absolutely not, even when I’m trying to pill them.
Do I think that cats should never be fed peanut butter? If it can be avoided, I don’t see why peanut butter should be fed at all. There are many more beneficial treats out there for cats to eat, putting peanut butter very low on my list.
I’m curious, how many of your cats love peanut butter? How did you discover your cat’s love for peanut butter? Does your cat have a favourite texture? Let me know in the comments below!