Curious cats like to try everything! But can cats eat pumpkin? If your favorite feline friend is inquisitive about your morning sprinkle of pumpkin granola on yogurt or holiday baking projects, have no fear. Pumpkin is safe for cats. But there's a little more to know about this popular squash and how it can be enjoyed safely by your pet.
Let's learn which types of pumpkin products to keep safely tucked away in your kitchen, how to offer pumpkin to your cat and how this squash might benefit their health.
Those sugary slices of pumpkin pie, seasonal lattes or spiced pumpkin bars are delicious for us humans, but they aren't a good treat for cats. While cats can digest pumpkin, the excess sugars, fats, and spices found in pumpkin desserts and drinks are not healthy them.
The Pet Poison Helpline explains that if your cat gets into the container of ground cinnamon or licks at a bottle of cinnamon essential oil or extract used to flavor your pumpkin treats, they may experience any of the following:
Nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice are no better — be sure to keep these spices away from your cat as well.
Can cats eat pumpkin? Yes! The pumpkin that's safe for cats is plain, cooked pumpkin. You can find it canned, or bake a fresh squash in your oven. If you go the canned route, be sure you're not choosing pumpkin pie filling as it's often seasoned. You want plain canned pumpkin, often packed with water.
Veggies are good for you and your pet! Pumpkin is filled with fiber, water, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and ample minerals and vitamins including A, C and K, according to the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota. The orange-colored squash is also low in calories.
The fiber in pumpkin can both reduce excess moisture in your pet's digestive tract and add bulk to stools, helping to remedy diarrhea. The water in pumpkin also helps to alleviate constipation. The secret: moderation and portion control. Too much pumpkin may trigger loose stools.