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Can Cats Eat Cashews? Top 10 Proven Secret That You Need To Know

3/25/2023 - 2 Comments

Cashews make a fantastic little snack because they are small and delicious. Many people love them and frequently consume them. Yet, can cats eat cashews? 

While offering your cats cashews, cat owners must know these things. Sharing a few delicious cashew nuts with your cat is okay. 

Let's look at some of the often-asked questions about whether or not our cats can eat cashews and how cashews could be harmful to the health of your cat. 

Continue reading to find out more about how cashews affect your cat!

Can Cats Eat Cashews?

Cashews

Cashews are edible to cats, but giving them a few at a time is advisable. Due to their high-fat content, cashews might upset your cat's stomach.

First, cashews are salty. Too much salt in your cat's diet negatively impacts heart health and bone growth.

Cashews are a very healthy diet option for cats. Experts in animal nutrition have confirmed that cats may consume cashew nut kernels or cashew butter to vary their diet every week.

Yet, cashews don't provide cats with much in the way of nourishment. Studies have shown that cats poorly absorb plant-based diets like seeds and vegetables.

So, you should only give them a limited quantity of cashews. The dosage utilized in the diet must also be considered and evaluated to prevent a severe case.

Most significantly, a cat should receive only a few cashews overall. By doing this, you may prevent giving the cat calories that are not part of its regular diet.

You may also use cashew milk instead of regular milk. It is lactose-free and has no choking hazard.

A random taste or sip of cashew ice cream is okay if your cat genuinely adores cashews. However, avoiding developing a habit that will be difficult to stop later is preferable.

Can Kittens Have Cashews?

Cashews can only be consumed by mature cats at least three years old twice a month, up to two to three nuts each time. Several evaluations from cat breeders state categorically that kittens are not advised to consume nuts like cashews. 

Are cashews bad for cats? Let's look at how eating cashews might harm your kitten's health.

Choking Hazard

A choking cat

Little kittens are still developing, so giving them hard foods like cashews might injure them. Because a cat's dental tissue is relatively minor and scant compared to other animals, using cashews might cause them to choke.

Cats don't consume grains, carbohydrates, nuts, etc., in the wild. They instead consume flesh from other animals as food. As a result, their teeth are designed to shred, tear, and consume meat rather than nuts.

Although cashews seem extremely small to humans, they don't seem as minor to our cats. Your cat might choke on a cashew if it gets stuck in its airway.

If you must offer cashews to your cat, cut them in half or even into tiny pieces to reduce the risk of choking.

Upset Stomach

Cats, especially kittens, have weak digestive systems compared to other animals. Thus it's crucial to think about the meals for cats.

If you give cashews to your cat too frequently, it might develop hazardous intestinal problems. As a result, you should consider the cashew dosage for cats and avoid cashew use for kittens.

High-Fat Content

These nuts have an estimated 4% fat content and are considered hazardous for cats. Cats, on the other hand, don't frequently need to metabolize lipids.

It implies they'll store more of it, resulting in a fat cat over time. Obesity is a severe issue that affects both humans and our pets.

Pancreatitis

A lethargic cat

The worst long-term outcome if you consistently give your cat cashews is pancreatitis. You should provide pets with a lean diet similar to what they would consume in the wild to aid in the battle against it.

Lethargy, loss of appetite, and fever are a few signs of this. You can't handle this significant issue alone; it needs assistance.

It will be necessary to have specialized medical care for this swelling of your cat's pancreas, which can be expensive and upsetting.

High Sodium Content

Even without additional salt, nuts contain a lot of sodium. Your cat may become dehydrated if they consume a lot of salt.

If you give your cat the occasional nut, you still need to make sure there is adequate water around to prevent dehydration. In the worst-case situation, a cat's body may have heart failure and bone problems due to an excessive buildup of sodium or salt.

Be careful to get the lowest-sodium cashews you can locate if you plan to give your cat cashews. Some companies produce them without any salt, while others sell low-sodium cashews.

High Carb Content

Cashews have more carbs than the prey cats typically consume. Frequent feeding of cashews as a treat to cats is not optimal for their nutritional requirements and might eventually result in health problems.

Cats in the wild consume little or no carbohydrates. It has been hypothesized that increased carb diets bring on frequent health problems like obesity and feline diabetes.

Mold

Aflatoxin contamination of cashews is a possibility. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by mold. This poison is hazardous to people. Therefore it stands to reason that it may also be dangerous to cats. Disease, liver damage, and even death might result from it.

Alliums

Cats should not be exposed to alliums, which are present in cashews in powdered form. Alliums include onions, scallions, leeks, garlic, shallots, and chives. Onion and garlic powder may be stated as ingredients in certain nuts.

Allergic Response

Cashew nut allergies are uncommon but can develop if our cats consume too many of them often. The seasoning can set up allergic responses, leading to other illnesses. 

It covers issues like diarrhea, upset stomach, and other such concerns. Breathing issues, a rash, puffiness, or decreased appetite are further symptoms of an allergic reaction to cashews.

Broken Teeth

Kittens are too young to handle nuts like cashews, for example. As a result, their teeth will develop slowly and even crack easily.

Give the kitten meals that are soft and simple to chew, such as cashew butter or oatmeal.

See more cat pictures at: Cat Images

Can I Give My Cat Cashew Milk?

Cashew milk

If you want to offer your cat a cashew-flavored treat, cashew milk is a better option than whole cashews. However, remember that Cashew milk is very high-fat for your cat. 

For the benefit of our feline pals, cashew milk not only has no lactose but also far less fat than cow's milk. Furthermore, unlike whole cashews, which might be a choking hazard, this milk won't be a problem. 

Obesity and cardiac issues may be brought on by excessive fat. Cashew milk has the potential to cause an allergic reaction and can overwhelm your cat's digestive system in large doses.

Yet, it is a substitute beverage that cats may safely ingest that is lactose-free. As a result, if you offer your cat cashew milk, do it gradually and in small amounts

How Many Cashews Can Cats Eat In A Day?

As was previously said, you should only give your cat some cashews. Giving your cat the appropriate quantity of cashews will make the cat happier.

It would help to use only small or cracked cashews so your cat can chew and swallow them more easily. Separating the cashew nut silk shell is crucial while feeding cats to prevent choking on the cashew testa in the cat's neck.

You should feed at most one or two cashews at once. Increase the time between two snack feeding sessions to break the cashew habit.

So long as you are firm with your cat, the odds are strong that your tiny kitty will quickly forget about the unhealthy food and stick to what is healthy.

Can Cats Eat Cashew Butter?

Cashew butter

No, cats shouldn't consume cashew butter since it is incredibly high in fat and can, in the short term, create several digestive problems. 

It is comparable to other nut kinds of butter like almond butter and peanut butter. Cashew butter is not considered a typical allergy in cats or people, unlike peanut butter.

Can Cats Have Roasted Cashews?

Cats shouldn't consume roasted cashews, no. While not intrinsically hazardous or detrimental to cats, roasted cashews can be heavy in salt and fat, which, if ingested in excessive quantities, can lead to digestive disorders and other problems in cats.

Additionally, roasting nuts absorb more oil, enhancing their fat content. Obesity and diabetes can all result from a cat's diet being too high in fat.

Can Cats Eat Cashew Yogurt?

Cashew yogurt

Cats shouldn't consume cashew yogurt. Many veterinarians do not advise feeding yogurt to your cat.

Although cashew yogurt is safe for cats, many cats have lactose intolerance. Dairy products might give them digestive issues, including diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Healthy Alternatives To Cashews

Although cashews are not poisonous, they can make you bloated, give you diarrhea, and put you in danger of choking.

There are healthier options available if you wish to give your cat treats made of human food, such as the following foods:

Oatmeal

Iron, fiber, and protein are all found in oats. Oatmeal is a safe snack and choking hazard-free.

Strawberries

Small, juicy, and loaded with antioxidants are strawberries. Several dry and some wet foods will have a decent assortment of berries, such as blueberries and strawberries.

Bananas

Bananas are another delight. It is a simple and affordable human food treat if your cat enjoys bananas.

However, due to their high sugar content, you should give them in moderation to cats. You can watch this video to learn which foods are suitable for cats.

Conclusion

Can cats have cashews? The answer is yes because consuming cashews in moderation won't have any adverse effects.

But, if they become a regular component of your cat's diet, they may have a negative impact on their health.

As with any new meal, gradually introduce it to observe how the body responds before regularly including it in the diet. Always make sure that there is enough water available for hydration.

If you want to feed your cat sometimes, you may select from various cat-friendly treats. Now, tell me about your experiences!

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About Billy Nguyen
I'm Billy Nguyen, currently CEO/Founder Cat Images, with over 3 years of experience in cat care and training. I hope the knowledge I share brings useful value to promote your pet care effectively.

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