Have you ever thought of a cat eating banana? Even imagining this situation looks quite funny, though, cats are known as finicky eaters. But, they are not all the same. Having different personalities, likes, and dislikes, some cats aren’t interested in anything other than their normal diet, while others like to experiment with unfamiliar food. In one way or another, most of them are curious.
There is a common experience among us, cat owners: when we start eating something, our cat will come closer, staring at us and giving us “the look” no matter what the food is. This situation makes many people share their food with their cat right from their plate. However, before we fall for the cat’s heartwarming influence, we have to keep in mind that there are foods that can endanger our pet’s life. Wondering if bananas fall under this category?
Banana is one of those fruits that most people have in their home as it is not only tasty but full of nutrients as well. For humans at least, bananas are wonderful healthy snacks, but do you know if your cat would have the same benefits by having a little bit of it? Can cats eat bananas safely at all? Let’s take a closer look at all these questions in this article.
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Can cats eat Bananas? – Only in moderation
When it comes to the question about cats and bananas, there is a great piece of news. Yes, cats can eat bananas. But only in moderation as a treat. According to ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) it is non-toxic to cats, therefore, it is safe for cats to consume a small, controlled amount of this tasty fruit. Though, there are a few important things you should consider before feeding banana to your cat:
- Bananas should be given to cats only in moderation, in very small quantity.
- Bananas should be offered to cats occasionally, as a treat.
- Never feed your cat banana peels, only the flesh. Before you feed your cat a piece of banana, make sure its skin has been removed.
- Never feed your cat rotten banana. It may contain molds that can lead to an upset stomach causing vomiting or diarrhea.
- Consider your cat’s age before offering her banana. Older cats have slower metabolism, therefore, the probability of some health problem is more in their age.
- Don’t confuse banana with banana chips. Although banana is safe for cats in small amounts, banana chips are high in oil and fat so considered to be bad for cats.
In conclusion, if your cat desires to eat some banana, it can occasionally be given as a treat. Although you shouldn’t give it in large amounts and more importantly avoid making it a regular part of your cat’s daily diet. Giving her a small piece every now and then though would be fine and shouldn’t cause any harm, provided that the points mentioned above are considered.
About cats and bananas
Banana was first grown in South East Asia and Papua New Guinea before gaining popularity in Africa and then spreading to the rest of the world.
Since it had a very short shelf life, early European and American traders were not willing to purchase, store and transport it across the sea which limited the popularity of this fruit. As time went by, improvements were made in sea transport and ships became faster, safer and finally, could hold refrigerated food. This helped to increase the awareness of banana and made it one of the most popular fruits across the world.
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With its soft, sweet flesh, banana is not only delicious but an amazing healthy tidbit as well that is full of nutrients, therefore has great benefits. It is an excellent source of vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin C, and also rich in minerals, such as potassium and manganese, not to mention its dietary fiber content. In consequence, banana seems to be a nearly perfect snack for people because of its incredibly beneficial content.
What about cats and bananas? Although cats’ digestive system is fine with banana and can digest it well, its nutritional value is open to doubt and needs some detailed explanation.