Can Cats Eat Cilantro Like Humans?

​Besides adding protein from meat and fish, cat lovers are increasingly inclined to add vegetables to their cat's meals. Cilantro herbs, the siblings of the parsley family and a popular herbal choice for many dishes due to its health benefits. Have you ever wondered 'can cats eat cilantro?'.

We humans love it and benefit from it, but how about cats? Do they like it?

No actually, more importantly, are they edible for cats? Keep following this article.

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What Is Cilantro?

Cilantro, also sometimes called Coriander or Chinese parsley, is an annual herb. All parts of cilantro can be used for eating.

Coriander contains quite a lot of nutrients. While leaves and stems are rich in macronutrients (including protein, carbohydrates), riboflavin, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, seeds contain fiber, and several minerals such as manganese, calcium, selenium, iron, magnesium.

Because of these nutrients, coriander is used a lot in cooking. For those who love cats, you all know that these minerals and vitamins are essential for the growth and development of your pets. 

With nutritious food like this, you should ask yourself if it is safe to feed your cat. The answer is YES. Why is that? To know why, please continue reading.

can cats eat cilantro

You can feed your cat cilantro

What Will Happen If You Feed Your Cat Cilantro?

Stand on the look of the nutrients that can give cats, with the benefits of vitamins and minerals contained in cilantro, it will bring significant benefits to cats. 

Vitamin A will help your cat's eyes become brighter, your cat's skin become rosy, beautiful, and contribute to the growth of cats. Besides, Vitamin K improves the cat's digestive system. 

Moreover, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium supports the nervous system and Zinc promotes wound healing. However, if cats eat cilantro, can they get those benefits? This has so far been controversial, so, let's look at the points that each party is given.

Does Cilantro really harm cats?

For those who believe cilantro can harm cats, they make the point that cats are carnivores, thus, the digestive system of cat is designed to break and absorb protein. 

It is likely that cilantro will harm cats' stomachs because this herb may act as an irritant and in some rare cases, there is a minimal possibility that cats will suffer from gastrointestinal irritation and arrhythmias after eating cilantro.

On the other side, many people believe that cilantro can't harm cats. Based on Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List – Catswe have information that Cilantro is Non-Toxic to Cats. For those who don't know, this list comes from ASPCA - American Animal Cruelty Prevention Association. It is understood that it will be safe for cats to eat cilantro and the above risks seem to have been minimized. 

Howerer, as mentioned above, cats are carnivorous. There is a risk that cats cannot or are hard to absorb the diet from plants. Even with the high nutrition value in cilantro, but if it cannot be absorbed, it is meaningless for cats to eat coriander to supplement nutrients. 

So if you are considering adding cilantro to your cat food, you may want to reconsider.

can cats eat cilantro

Cilantro is Non-Toxic to Cats

Want to feed your cat Cilantro?

If you still want your cat to eat cilantro, you can divide the cilantro into small portions, and you should monitor your cat to see if it shows any symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting or refusing to eat. If your cat doesn’t show any of these symptoms, you can increase the amount. 

However, to avoid the risk altogether, you should consult your veterinarian before feeding the cat cilantro.

In general, it will be harmless if your cat accidentally eats the coriander. However, if your cat voluntarily eats grasses and vegetables, they may be having problems with hairballs or some other health problems. 

So, take your cat to the doctor and consult a veterinarian to make sure your cat is perfectly healthy.

Are There Any Cilantro Substitutes?

In case your cat lacks in nutrients which exist in coriander, you should choose cat foods that have been supplemented with essential nutrients because it is designed specifically for cats. Moreover, go for the foods that have been certified by experts and veterinarians. 

You should also consult your veterinarian for the best way to supplement your cat's diet to ensure it receives the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

If you don't want to use cat food, there are some types of vegetables that can replace coriander such as squash, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, and some green beans. These vegetables can provide the number of essential vitamins and minerals for your cat without any risk. 

However, there may be a risk that cats will be allergic to certain foods that you feed them. So, in order to avoid danger, you should feed your cat with a small amount of food first, observe their response and make sure your cat responds well to this food before increasing the quantity.

Cilantro Is Okay - But Still Be Careful

As mentioned above, cilantro is considered to be quite safe for cats with a suitable amount. However, if you want to add cilantro to your cat's diet for nutritional supplements, you should consider alternative foods or consult a veterinarian's opinion before making a decision.

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About

Kevin Richard


Kevin Richard is the founder of https://richardpantry.com. He spends plenty of time in the kitchen every day because he loves cooking healthy and delicious foods for his family and friends. Cooking gives him a chance to be creative and fun. It’s also one of the most meaningful ways to express his love and take care of his little family.

Luna Tran
 

My name is Luna and I am a great cat lover and a cat owner of three lovely cats. I have owned many cats till now and have dedicated many years to nurturing and caring cats. Through this blog, I am here to share my knowledge and experience about cats.