Can Cats Eat Bananas?
Banana is not toxic for cats however, you should avoid feeding them large quantities due to their sugar content.
So can cats eat banana safely? While not on the ASPCA list of toxic foods, banana has no real nutritional benefits to cats.
It should really be avoided due to the sugar content potentially causing health problems. With that said, a small bite here and there won’t kill them.
Feeding excessive amounts of fruits to your cat can result in high blood sugar levels, cat diabetes, obesity, digestive issues or at the least an upset stomach.
While it may seem logical to share foods with your cat that give us great health benefits the fact is they really only need a good quality cat food. They can get all the nutrients they need from dry or wet food or even a raw meat diet.
Can Cats Eat Frozen Banana?
Cats seem to enjoy nibbling on frozen treats and frozen banana could be one of them. While it’s safe for your cat to nibble on a small piece of frozen banana you should keep in mind they defientely don’t need it.
What About Dried Banana?
Some cats go crazy for dried fruit and while it doesn’t serve them any health benefits, a small amount here and there won’t hurt them. Just keep an eye on them if you decide to feed them a small piece of dried banana to make sure they don’t have any reaction.
Do Cats Like Bananas?
Have you tries asking them? In all seriousnes, while it may seem your cat has a sweet tooth the fact is, felines’ taste receptors can’t detect sugar. In other words they can’t taste sugar.
Do Cats Have Taste Buds?
Cats only have a few hundred taste buds while a human can have over 9000 taste buds.
With that in mind you can begin to understand that cats don’t need sweet treats such as ice cream, watermelon or chocolate.
I’m sure you have all seen on of those funny videos of a banana placed near a cat and the cat jumping out of fright. As funny as they are (I know you laughed) there could be a couple of explanations for this.
A cats sense of smell is incredible and bananas can emit ethyl acetate which could surprise of irritate your cat leading them to jump. Some pet owners have gone on record saying they have rubbed their furniture with banana peel to try and keep their cat off.
Another thought is that the shape itself of a banana could resemble a snake or reptile that cats would naturally avoid. I would jump to if I thought I saw a snake behind me.
Can Cats Eat Banana Peel?
Kitty shouldn’t be allowed to chew or swallow the peel as it can present a choking hazard. Your cat will not be able to digest the peel if they swallow it and it could lead to stomach upset.
If you want to let your cat try some banana which I don’t recommend always remove any skin or banana peel.
In very rare circumstances, bananas or banana peel can cause your cat to have an allergic reaction so bare that in mind.
Can Cats Eat Banana Bread?
You might see a common theme here already. While cats can technically eat banana bread, they really shouldn’t.
Because cats are carnivores they have no need to eat anything plant based such as banana or banana bread. Their digestive systems aren’t built to digest these sorts of foods.
If you can’t help yourself and you must give them some banana bread, please keep it to a very, very small amount.
Read this article for more information on can cats eat bread
When it comes to your feline friends bread consumption keep to an absolute minimum and remember no health benefits come from feeding your cat bread.
Are Bananas Beneficial For Cats?
A piece of banana will serve your cat no nutritional benefits at all. Although an excellent source of vitamins for humans, your cats digestive system won’t be able to process it like we can.
Giving your cat human food as a treat in moderation may seem like a great idea but actually it can cause unwanted health issues.
Fruit is high in calories due to their sugar content and should be avoided, even in bite sized pieces. Your cat can suffer from an allergic reaction if they eat inappropriate foods.
There are dangers to feeding cats foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, such as the following medical conditions:
- weight gain
- abdominal pain
- feline diabetes
- acute kidney failure
- skin rash
- raised blood pressure
How Much Banana Can I Give My Cat?
First of all, I don’t recommend you feed your cat banana for the many resons above. Instead focus on finding a good quality food they enjoy and feed them a balanced diet.
If for some reson you do decide to let your cat eat a piece of banana you should keep it to no more than one small bite twice a month.
Never feed your kitten banana as they require specific formulated kitten food in order to grow into a healthy adult cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there Nutritional Benefits to Feeding Cats Bananas?
No, cats are carnivores and aren’t able to process plant based foods the same way humans do. You should avoid feeding them any kind of fruit.
Can Bananas Give My Cat An Upset Stomach?
Yes, and from time to time they can suffer from an allergic reaction although rare.
