Can cats eat Cereal?

Many people like to eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast, and among them, there are many cat owners who even like to share this delicious morning snack with their beloved cats.

And though, sharing food with our pets seems heartwarming and absolutely harmless, there are a number of foods and ingredients that are not only bad for cats but can put their overall health and life at risk.

Does cereal fall into this dangerous category? Or can cats eat cereal without any risks? Let’s take a closer look.

Can cats eat Cereal? – Not recommended

If you are having your breakfast, wondering: can cats eat cereal, and thinking to share it with your cat, then I have some bad news for you. Cats should not eat cereal.

Technically, though – they can eat it as it is not poisonous to them, but it doesn’t mean you should feed your cat cereal.

Cats’ digestive system is different from ours, being more sensitive and irritable. Therefore, they have different nutritional requirements. While we are omnivores, cats are carnivores, so they need mostly meat, not some grain-based treats.

So, while eating cereal will not cause much harm to them, it is still not an ideal feline treat and mostly not a meal.

Consequently, while your cat can consume cereal without having much trouble, it is absolutely not recommended to feed your cat cereal.

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About cats and cereal

Cereal, a delicious, typically morning food product, is made from refined grains and shaped into forms, such as balls, stars, loops or rectangles.

While it used to be just the kids’ meal, it is now a highly popular breakfast; which is not surprising. It is an inexpensive, fast, and easy snack that is usually served cold, with milk, yogurt, fruits or nuts.

These breakfast cereals have all sorts of health claims printed on the front of their box (like being low-fat or whole-grain and having great nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin B), as they are often fortified with vitamins and minerals. This means that these nutrients are added to the cereal to make it more nutritious.

However, if you actually look at the ingredients list, you will realize that it contains loads of added sugar and refined carbs.

In conclusion, despite all the nutritional claims printed on the cereal boxes, these tasty, quick snacks are full of added sugar. Therefore, they are not as healthy, even for humans, as they are claimed to be.

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