Is it safe for your cat to eat the seeds or could it cause serious problems? If this question is now running through your head, then you have come to the right place.
There are many foods your cat would like to try, but what about her health? Before offering your pet anything new, check whether it is safe for him. For example, eating garlic can be fatal to your cat due to the high concentration of the toxin. What about seeds?
Are sunflower seeds poisonous to cats?
According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), sunflower seeds are not toxic to cats . So you don't have to worry about your pet getting poisoned. In fact, many veterinarians recommend giving cats unsalted, shelled sunflower seeds in moderation due to their many health benefits.
IMPORTANT! You have to be careful with the number of seeds. One seed will not cause any harm, but overeating will not benefit the cat's health.
Sunflower seeds are a rich source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, you should be sure to remove the seed shells as they contain chemicals that can be toxic to cats if consumed in excess.
Can it be given to cats?
Sunflower seeds
It is important for the animal to consume a purified product.
Veterinarians disagree on the need to feed cats seeds. However, one thing is clear - if given, it will be in strictly limited quantities. When offering sunflower seeds to your pet, you need to remember the following recommendations:
- The seeds must be well dried.
- It is not allowed to use rotten kernels.
- Before feeding, the product must be thoroughly cleaned of husks.
- Well crushed seeds should be given.
- You can feed no more than 10 seeds at one time. This can be done no more than 3 times a week.
Pumpkin seeds
When choosing a pumpkin for preparing a product, you need to pay attention to the ripeness of the melon vegetable. Unripe pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of chenille substances, which can cause poisoning in a cat. After removing the seeds, you need to dry them well. Then they need to be peeled and filmed, chopped and treated to your pet. The daily norm is 5-6 pieces. Just like sunflower seeds, you can give them no more than 3 times a week.
Such seeds can be combined with pumpkin pulp.
It has been proven that vegetables that cat owners add to the menu are of great benefit. Therefore, you can add finely chopped pumpkin to the cooked seeds. The animal will definitely like this treat and benefit it. When feeding pumpkin seeds, you need to carefully monitor the physical condition of your pet and monitor the digestion process. If constipation or diarrhea occurs, such meals should be discontinued.
What are the benefits of seeds for a cat?
Many cats enjoy eating seeds. These treats contain many minerals, nutrients and vitamins. Sunflower seeds are very beneficial for a cat’s body due to the fatty acids, proteins, fiber, microelements and vitamins they contain.
If you regularly feed your cat seeds, her coat will become shinier and healthier.
30 grams of shelled sunflower seeds contain the following nutrients:
| Calories | 160 Kcal |
| Protein | 5.5 grams |
| Fiber | 3 grams |
| Vitamin E | 37% (of the RDI for cats) |
| Vitamin B6 | 11% |
| Iron | 6% |
| Magnesium | 9% |
| Zinc | 10% |
| Copper | 26% |
| Manganese | 30% |
| Selenium | 32% |
Sunflower seeds improve the functioning of the cardiovascular (vitamin E) and nervous (B vitamins) systems, which leads to an increase in the overall vitality of cats. These miracle seeds also contain vitamin A, which improves vision, and vitamin D, which is responsible for healthy bones, nails and teeth.
In addition to the vitamin complex, sunflower seeds are an excellent source of amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. As in the human body, these two minerals have antioxidant effects . Flavonoids and other compounds in the seeds help fight inflammation.
Finally, sunflower seeds contain:
- iodine;
- calcium;
- silicon;
- magnesium;
- sodium;
- phosphorus.
Regular but moderate consumption of sunflower seeds may reduce the risk of diabetes in cats due to the presence of the plant compound chlorogenic acid.
Composition and properties of seeds
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds contain a number of B vitamins, which ensure normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin A, which is included in the composition, improves vision, vitamin E strengthens the walls of blood vessels, vitamin D is responsible for the strength of bones, nails and teeth. In addition, the seeds contain a large amount of amino acids and polyunsaturated acids, which are a unique antioxidant and also have an excellent effect on the quality and appearance of cat fur.
The seeds contain many micro- and macroelements, such as:
All components have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems and help the cat’s body function normally.
Can cats eat sunflower seeds in the shell?
Never feed your cat unhulled seeds because:
- Sharp shells can damage your cat's gums and cause stomach problems. Mild damage to the intestines from sunflower shells sometimes leads to cancer. Additionally, the shell is not easy to crack and your cat will likely not like the taste.
- The fibrous shell is quite difficult to digest. Lignin and cellulose often cause intestinal blockages in cats. Signs of intestinal obstruction include: difficult bowel movements, constipation and abdominal pain.
So is it possible or not?
There is no clear answer to this question. Most veterinarians are inclined to believe that pumpkin and any other seeds can harm a cat . However, if the pet owner carefully cleans and grinds the seeds, then a small amount of them can still be added to food. The use of pumpkin seeds is also supported by the fact that the cats themselves, having smelled them, beg the seeds from the owner and eat them with pleasure. And, as you know, if an animal’s body needs certain substances, then the pet itself chooses a product that covers these needs.
Skepticism about the consumption of pumpkin seeds by cats is based on the fact that the predatory organism is simply not adapted to most plant foods. To digest such a highly nutritious product as seeds, a certain set of enzymes is required, as well as a long intestine, like in herbivores, neither of which cats have.
In addition, cats are very sensitive to some substances contained in the seeds. Attentive owners who gave their cats whole pumpkin seeds noticed that they left the body undigested.
Can cats eat salted sunflower seeds?
Veterinarians do not recommend feeding cats salty snacks, including salted sunflower seeds. Salt has a detrimental effect on a cat's health. Its excess can lead to poisoning, causing vomiting, dehydration, tremors, coma and even death of the pet.
Salt affects a cat's electrolyte balance, even causing neurological effects and causing irreparable damage to the kidneys in the long term. So refrain from feeding your favorite furry friend salted seeds.
Is it possible to have mixed
It is permissible to mix different types of food, but this must be done following certain rules:
- Do not combine natural and industrial food in one feeding. It is unacceptable to mix raw meat into pate or dry food;
- The cat should receive this or that food regularly, at the same time. For example, if he eats pouches in the morning and natural food in the evening, this regime must be followed daily. Then the pet’s digestive tract will adapt to the schedule and work without failures;
- all components must be balanced and meet the needs of the animal. It is impossible to give ready-made food at one meal, and at another one of the baby’s favorite products. This can cause a serious imbalance of active nutrients.
If it is convenient for the owner to adhere to mixed feeding, it is advisable to first consult with a veterinarian in order to correctly create a healthy, safe diet.
What is the best way to feed your cat sunflower seeds?
When feeding cats seeds, you should adhere to several rules:
- choose organic seeds. This will minimize the content of chemicals and preservatives. It is best to grow seeds at home, then you will be sure of their environmental purity;
- de-shell store-bought seeds. This minimizes cellulose and sodium content;
- add grated seeds to cat food. You can grind the seeds and sprinkle them on your cat's food. Many cats like the crunchy texture of the seeds;
- Avoid salty and flavored foods. Be sure to read the ingredients. Many stores sell salted and flavored seeds, as well as seed mixtures. Preservatives, artificial flavors, oils or salts are difficult for your cat to digest.
Is it possible to give melon to rats?
Rats should always have a bowl of food. ... They should be given every day or every other day, 30-40 g per rat Watermelon, apricot, avocado, pineapple, grapes, cherry, melon, strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, mango, peaches, currant, persimmon, blueberry, apple, basil, zucchini, cilantro, parsley, celery, lettuce, zucchini, pumpkin, dill.
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What harm can seeds cause to a cat?
Although sunflower seeds are beneficial in moderation, in excess they lead to:
- Overeating. Just 30 grams of sunflower seeds contain about 163 calories and 2,500 mg of sodium. Veterinarians do not recommend giving your cat snacks that exceed 10% of her total caloric intake.
- Kidney problems due to a high percentage of cadmium. Cadmium is a heavy metal that sunflowers extract from the soil. It is also present in seeds. For a skinny cat or kitten, cadmium is harmful and puts excessive strain on the kidneys. In excess, it can even cause kidney damage. This is why you should limit your cat's seed intake.
- I'm constipated. This mainly happens when you feed seed shells to your pet. Difficult-to-digest lignin and cellulose fibers can form a plug in the intestines that prevents bowel movements.
- Allergies. Some cats develop an allergic reaction to sunflower seeds, which can lead to difficulty breathing, oral swelling, rashes, hives, etc.
Restrictions
You should not feed cats pumpkin or sunflower seeds if they have high cholesterol, allergic reactions to fats, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, inflammation of the mouth and gums. Treats should not be given to kittens under 6 months of age. Such feeding can cause intestinal obstruction in babies. The seeds must be well cleaned, since if even a small amount of husk gets into the animal’s stomach, intestinal blockage can occur. You should not feed cats commercial pastes made from certain seeds. When making these products, manufacturers add sugar, which is very harmful to the cat's body.
Source
Classification
Cheese making is a fairly developed food industry; accordingly, today there are many varieties of cheeses.
Fermented milk
They are made from completely fat-free milk, to which lactic acid starters are added. Cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, and butter can be added as additional ingredients. And certain types of fermented milk cheeses contain spices, coffee, herbs, cocoa, chocolate or vanillin.
Your pet's menu can include products consisting of cottage cheese or milk, without foreign ingredients.
Serum
They are obtained from the liquid that remains after cheese making - whey, that is, secondary raw materials. Because of this, whey cheeses are inferior in composition to previous varieties; they have little fat - from 15 to 25% and a large amount of albumin.
The most popular whey cheeses are:
- ricotta;
- feta;
- feta cheese;
- Adyghe
The last product is better suited for cats than the others. It is of high quality, does not contain spices and herbs, as well as other components harmful to the health of cats, and is relatively inexpensive. It is rich in vitamins and microelements.
Mold
During the cooking process, raw materials are exposed to mold fungi. In most cases these are organisms from the genus Penicillium. Mold cheeses have medium fat content, the figure varies from 25 to 35%.
They are prepared without flavoring and aromatic additives, since the action of mold provides the pronounced taste of cheese products. These products are allowed to be given to cats. But the first time, a small piece is enough, since the animal may become allergic to the fungus.
Smoked
Suluguni and sausage cheeses are very popular in Russia. They acquire a pronounced smoked flavor during processing under high temperatures. Then the product is dehydrated, it is saturated with components with a bacteriostatic, preservative effect and polycyclic carcinogens.
Such cheeses have no place on a cat’s menu, as they contain a lot of salt and preservatives. And this negatively affects the general condition of pets, as well as the gastrointestinal tract and coat.
Rennet
Like other varieties, these cheeses are made from milk, which is affected by the rennet enzyme - rennin (chymosin). They have a high fat content - from 40 to 50%, so it is not advisable to feed them to a cat.
Among the varieties of rennet cheeses, only hard and soft ones can be given to pets. But pickled varieties are too salty with spices in their composition, for this reason they are absolutely not suitable for furry pets.
