Can Cats Eat Peanuts?

Peanuts are one of those foods that you know to be careful with. Peanut allergies among humans are one of the most common around.

When it comes to cats, there are a lot of foods that you might be wondering about. What is the right thing to feed them? Are there certain foods that they can’t eat?

Maybe you left some peanuts out and your cat has gotten into them - what should you do? 
If you find yourself wondering these questions, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’re going to be telling you everything you’ll want to know about cats and peanuts - whether or not they can eat them and if it’s a good choice for your pet's diet!

​We’ve also included a short section about cats and allergies, and what to do if you suspect your cat is intolerant or allergic to a particular food.
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​Are Peanuts A Good Thing To Feed Cats?

​To answer this question first off, the answer is maybe. So peanuts are non-toxic to cats, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing to feed them.

​Peanuts are high in fat and not a great choice to feed your cat every day. One of the main things you need to keep in mind is that peanuts can be difficult for cats to digest.

If you do want to give your cat a peanut, you’re going to make sure it’s a completely raw and unsalted version without any additives.

This is because cats - unlike humans - do not have the digestive functions to properly digest additional ingredients.

Another thing that is really important to note, and something that can be dangerous if not properly prepared, are peanuts with shells.

​Shells are a potential choking hazard to cats and something that you’ll need to make sure that any peanuts you feed to your cat have their shells completely removed. 
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What About Peanut Butter?

​Like regular peanuts, peanut butter has some of the same issues. Most peanut butter that you can buy in a store is likely to contain a wide variety of different additives.

This is because for humans we use these ingredients to make it taste better or last longer, but for cats, it can be much more dangerous.

​Peanut butter typically has a higher fat content than raw peanuts so expect this to cause a weight increase if your cat eats a lot of Peanut Butter.
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​What About Other Nuts?

​When it comes to other nuts you’re going to have to be even more careful. Peanuts are easier for cats to digest because they are a lot smaller and softer than other nuts.

​Some common nuts to stay clear from are nuts with high salt content (as this can cause intense intestinal stress for your pet), and Macadamia Nuts, which can cause vomiting. 
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​Allergies And Cats

One thing you might be wondering is whether or not cats can have food allergies just like humans.

Well, you should know that allergies are similar for humans and animals! Nut allergies are actually not all that uncommon in cats and are a common cause of symptoms such as itching and hair loss.

Excessive itching can cause patches of broken or dry skin on your cat’s coat. 

Nut allergies occur when your pet’s immune system over-reacts to a certain protein that can be found within the nut in question.

Although cats have been domesticated for a lot of human history, it’s not always a food they would have been naturally interacting with, so this is one of the reasons why allergies can occur. 

Symptoms: Common symptoms of nut allergy for cats can include…

• Hair loss
• Excessive itchiness
• Runny or itchy eyes
• Dry skin around eyes
• Vomiting & Diarrhea
• Wheezing

If you notice that your cat has any of these symptoms then you need to consider their diet.

Cats, especially cats that are allowed free-roam of outside environments, can be hard to monitor in terms of their diet, but you can consider the food that you give them.

If you feed your cats peanuts, for example, and notice any of these symptoms, then there’s a high chance that they have an allergy.
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​Important Note: like in humans, peanut allergies can be deadly for a cat. If you want to feed your cat peanuts, but aren’t sure about this - then you need to consider feeding them just a tiny bit to see how they react. If you notice any severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, then you need to take your cat to a vet for immediate medical attention.
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Final Thoughts

​A healthy diet is something that you need to consider when taking care of a cat.

They have slightly more complex systems than something like a dog, and you’ll need a comprehensive plan if you want to optimize their diet and make them healthy as they can be.

Before adding new food to their diet, we recommend researching this extensively or checking with your vet for some more specialist knowledge.

​We hope that this article has helped you to understand how cats will deal with eating peanuts and that you now feel a lot more confident about the whole thing. 
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​Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cats Carnivores?

Cats are carnivores, this means that meat has to be a part of their diet if they are to survive.

Generally, you want to make sure that cats are getting enough meat in their diet over the course of a week.

Without meat, cats can suffer from a whole host of health defects such as liver damage, skin irritation, and a loss of hearing. 

What Are Some Healthy Snacks For A Cat?
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Some of the healthiest snacks you can give your cat include:

• Cheese
• Melon
• Carrots
• Fish such as Tuna
• Meats ​