You know your cat is prancing around the kitchen picking up any scraps that fall and maybe helping herself to a few morsels off your plate. What if one of those things is cucumber? It’s important to know if your cat can eat the food you’re giving her.
» You might also like the 5 Best Automatic Cat Feeders for Wet Food and Can Cats Have Salami?
In this post, we will go over the good and the bad of feeding your cat cucumber. While it’s certainly not the worst human food your cat can eat, it’s not the best either. Read on to learn more.
Can Cats Eat Cucumber?
Yes, the answer to this burning question is that cats can eat cucumber. These water-filled vegetables are not poisonous to kitties. It’s perfectly safe for them to have some bites of cucumber!
If you’re eating a cucumber and your pet is curious about it, you can feed her a small piece, as long as it isn’t too much at one time.
It won’t do any harm to let her nibble on some cucumber. However, make sure it’s being given in moderation. As a cat’s diet should not be made up of carbs. It’s important to limit the amount your cat consumes.
When giving your cat the occasional treat from your plate, keep this in mind so as not to make a habit of feeding her foods she may have a harder time digesting and give it food items that could be harmful to its health.
How to Feed a Cat Cucumber – Things to Remember
Remember that cats are obligate carnivores, and they get all the nutrients they need from high-quality feline diets containing animal protein. Therefore, cucumbers are more of an occasional treat, rather than an ingredient that has to be present in their main meals.
- The skin of the cucumber can be hard to digest, especially for cats with a sensitive digestive system. Because of this, it’s best to remove the peel from the cucumber so it doesn’t create any unexpected digestive problems for your pet.
- Cats should only eat fresh cucumber. If you’re wondering if cats can eat pickles – which are essentially just pickled cucumbers – the answer is no. Since pickles contain a lot of salt, and also sometimes things like garlic and onion (which is toxic to a cat), it’s best not to feed your cat pickles.
- Be sure to clean the cucumber before serving it to your cat, as it can have toxins on the skin that will affect your cat. Of course, you’re going to peel it too, so the worry of substances on the outside isn’t high.
Should I Be Worried If My Cat Eats Cucumber?
When it comes to cats and cucumbers, there are a few things you should know. It’s important to note that eating too much cucumber (or any vegetable, really) can cause your cat gastrointestinal issues if they consume too much. If you feed them in a small amount, the food is digested normally and passed from their bodies.
How Much Cucumber Can My Cat Eat?
Even through cucumbers aren’t bad for cats, a little goes a long way. There is no set guideline as to how much a cat should be given or when, but the consensus is that just a small taste is all they should eat.
You shouldn’t give your cat more than a few nibbles of cucumber. Cats just don’t have very many enzymes in their stomachs and are less able to eat large quantities which might upset them as it won’t properly digest quickly enough.
How to Feed Cucumber to Your Kitty
If you want to feed cucumber to your kitty, give it only occasionally and only for treat purposes. It’s best not to set out a bowl of cucumbers or leave them on the counter, just in case your cat gets curious and dips into it without your knowledge.
Instead, try cutting a slice of cucumber into small pieces. Another benefit of small pieces is that it will also lessen the chances of stomach upset.
If it’s your cats first time eating cucumber, you should watch her carefully for any signs of distress. That will help you know if your cat can/can’t digest it.
Check Out These Other Foods That Cats Get Into
Cats are notorious counter surfers! They are naturally curious and have a way of getting into all kinds of things. Put your mind at ease with this information.
Conclusion
Your cat can eat cucumber, but only in moderation. If you notice your cat being curious about cucumber and wanting to eat some, it’s an okay treat to give once in a while.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Like this? We’d love to hear from you on our Facebook page! If you’re hungry for more, follow us on Pinterest so you never miss a thing.
Pin it for later!
