Can cats have broccoli?
Can Cats Eat Broccoli?
The short answer: Yes, but in limited quantities.
The long answer: Broccoli is an edible green plant from the cabbage family. A cruciferous vegetable that can be safely eaten by cats, broccoli can help improve a cat’s digestion, lower her cholesterol levels, prevent cancer, and boost her immune system. However, Avondale Animal Hospital warns that giving too much broccoli to your cat may cause diarrhea, so it is best to give it in small quantities.
How to feed broccoli to your cat: Raw broccoli can be given to your cat. But it is highly recommended that you clean, cook, and chop it into smaller pieces before feeding.
Remove the hard parts of the broccoli (particularly the stalk) to prevent choking and intestinal blockage. Also, remember to steam, roast, or boil the vegetable without salt, onion, garlic, and other seasonings.
If your cat is trying broccoli for the first time, give her a small piece and see how her body responds to it. Contact your veterinarian if she vomits or has diarrhea.
Here are three ideas for broccoli treats your cat will love:
- Prepare a meal for Kitty made with salmon and broccoli.
- Feed her small pieces of freshly steamed broccoli as a healthy treat.
- Cooked chicken, steamed broccoli, steamed carrot, and chicken broth are all you need for this homemade meal.
In summary: When prepared properly, broccoli is a healthy vegetable that your cat can safely eat to complement her protein-rich diet. It is a good source of roughage, which can calm your cat’s upset stomach and improve her bowel movement.
References:
Tags
Mimi Tiu
A freelance editor based in the Philippines, Mimi Tiu is a proud paw aunt to a family of Terriers and a Ragdoll-Persian cat. When she isn’t creating meaningful content for Waldo’s Friends, she finds pleasure in chronicling her ice cream discoveries and coming up with meticulously detailed plans for her next getaway. Follow her adventures on Instagram @nicetomitiu.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.
Check out related posts
Which herbs and spices can your cat eat? [Over 20 options reviewed!]
Feeding your cat “complete and balanced” food is vital for her well-being. Aside from delivering essential nutrients throughout her body, the right food makes her organs function properly and helps her grow into a happy, healthy kitty. Different life stages require varying nutritional content, so what you serve your pregnant cat won’t necessarily be sufficient… Continue reading Which herbs and spices can your cat eat? [Over 20 options reviewed!]
Which nuts and seeds can your cat eat? [We reviewed 12 options!]
Have you recently adopted a cat or brought home a kitten for fostering? As a paw-rent, it’s important to provide for every aspect of her life. This includes preparing a safe, designated space for her, and mentally stimulating her through toys. Preparing nourishing meals is also essential since what she eats greatly affects her growth… Continue reading Which nuts and seeds can your cat eat? [We reviewed 12 options!]
Can Cats Eat Cumin?
Yes, cats can eat cumin but only in moderation. Cumin is used as a spice in many cuisines throughout the world. Taken from the flowering plant, the seeds are dried then used in whole or crushed forms. The spice contains fat, protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Though spices in general should not… Continue reading Can Cats Eat Cumin?
Can Cats Eat Broccoli?
Broccoli is one of the most beneficial vegetables to humans and it is packed with nutrients? The question is can cats benefit from it and can cats eat broccoli?
The answer to the question “can cats eat broccoli” is short and simple. Yes, cats can eat broccoli and it is beneficial to cats in some ways but when we are talking about plants and feline diet, there are always a few points to consider and watch out.
Although broccoli is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a cat’s diet, it might be a good idea to prepare some broccoli as snacks for our little furry friends and here is how they benefit from broccoli and how to feed them this wonderful vegetable.
Health Benefits of Broccoli to Cats
Broccoli contains antioxidants such as zeaxanthin and lutein, Vitamin C, K and B6 along with minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, and phosphorus.
The antioxidants in broccoli help preventing cancer by fighting free radicals in the body as well as reducing the inflammations in the body which in the end turns out to be a boost to your little friend’s immune system.
Vitamin C aids cats by preventing and healing various illnesses. It also helps repairing body tissues by facilitating collagen formation.
Also with the fiber and roughage it contains. broccoli helps cats regulate their digestive system. As we all know, cats sometimes may have upset stomachs and look for some grass or other plants to consume in order to calm their upset stomachs. The good new is broccoli might be a good alternative if your cat does not have access to the plants it desires.
How to Feed Broccoli to Cats? What to Avoid?
The first question that comes to mind when we speak about feeding broccoli to cats is if it can should be eaten raw or cooked and if we cook it, how?
There are several reasons why you don’t want your cat consume raw broccoli. First of all cats’ digestive system does not have the digestive enzymes to appropriately break down raw broccoli because it evolved as a carnivore’s digestive system.
Also raw broccoli might become a choking hazard for cats in addition to upsetting stomach if the cat is not used to it.
The best way to serve broccoli to cats is to boil it without any salt or any other seasonings because these can be very harmful for your cat, especially salt.
Another good cooking method might be steaming the broccoli, again without any seasonings, toppings or any other addition.
Giving broccoli that is fried is not a good option, Actually anything that is fried is very harmful to your cat and should be avoided.
Conclusion
Cats can safely eat broccoli but as with all vegetables, it should be given in moderation as the cats get their main nutrition from meat, being obligate carnivores.
You can give broccoli as a treat to your cat but for the same reason written above, it can not be a main dish.
Boiled or steamed broccoli are safer and healthier options when feeding broccoli to cats.
Some cats might vomit or have diarrhea when they first consume broccoli or when they consume it in big amounts. On such occasions stop feeding broccoli to your cat.
You should always keep in mind that when introducing a new item to your cat’s diet, start with small amounts and increase it in time in order to prevent any digestive issues.
Always consult to your regular veterinarian before introducing a new food to your cat’s diet as nothing is more important than its health.
Be vigilant when you first give any kind of new food to your cat as there might be adverse effects or even allergies. On such occasions consult to your veterinarian immediately.
Author Yusuf Can Ekinci
Father of two cats named Tzatziki & Ouzo. Our small family tries to live without harming any living being. I am a small time farmer who tries to apply natural farming methods. Favorite activities: watching wild life at nature, passing time at home with my cats.
How about writing a comment? Cancel reply
We are wisekitten.com and we are here to collectively share our knowledge and experiences about cats. What we know, you should know. We have a huge archive on cat breeds and we also research and write about cat care, nutrition, training, health, news, etc. Remember sharing knowledge is important but all we can do is giving you advice. Please be responsible and contact your veterinarian when needed.
Wise Kitten infrastructure is powered by WPX Hosting.
- The Truth About Cats and Bunnies: Do Cats Really Eat Them?
- Hunting in Cats: Do Cats Eat Lizards?
- Ham for Cats: A Delicious Snack or a Dangerous Risk?
- Can Cats Eat Cheez-Its? Are They Safe?
- Cold Cat Paws: Are They a Reason for Concern?
Might Interest You
- Can Cats Eat Lettuce?
- Can Cats Eat Pepperoni?
- Majestic Cat Names
- Cat Breeds With Pointy Ears
- Black Smoke Cat Breeds
- Cat Tattoo on Belly Button
- Sphynx vs. Siamese Cat
