Can Cats Eat Popcorn? Is Popcorn Dangerous For Your Kitty?
Whenever I watch a movie late at night, my Sphynx cat gives me her lovely company by sitting next to me but I never allow her to eat popcorn with me but when she makes her sad eyes, then I feed her one kernel as I am concerned about my cat friend’s health. But I don’t offer her popcorn on a regular basis as it does not have nutritional value at all. Are, you also wondering can cats eat popcorn, then read the article below and find your answers.
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Can Cats Eat Popcorn?
The answer to this question is both yes as well as no. You can feed popcorn to your feline friend but you have to feed it to her in moderate quantities only. You need to remember that popcorn is unfavorable for cats as they do not have a strong digestive system. My recommendation would be not to offer popcorn to your cat as it can be dangerous.
If you offer home-made popcorn to your cats then it is safe. Even though popcorn doesn’t have any nutritional value still cats are allowed to eat them if they are plain, unflavored, and unsalted. If your cat’s digestive system is not strong, then you should not feed her popcorn. If your cat is very old or is a small kitten, then you should not give popcorn to her at all as the small kernels can cause problems related to digestion and can also cause choking problems.
Is There Any Benefit Of Eating Popcorn To A Cat?
Popcorn gives a minimum amount of nutrition to your feline friend. If you offer unsalted and plain popcorn to your cats, then it can give some benefits to her. These benefits include:
How To Serve Popcorn To Your Cat?
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Generally, popcorn is not good for felines but if you really want to offer popcorn to your feline friend, then serve fresh. Don’t add any flavors or seasonings in the popcorn that you make for your cat. If you offer popcorn with flavorings, then it can cause her diabetes.
Don’t ever buy popcorn with artificial sweeteners (called Xylitol) for your cat. It is toxic to cats. The popcorn that you feed your cats should be free from salt, additives, and flavors. Moreover, you should not put toppings on such popcorn. Harmless things for humans can be dangerous for cats, so don’t offer everything you eat to your cats.
Another important thing to remember at the time of serving popcorn to your feline is that the kernels served should be popped up because if a kernel gets stuck in the throat of a cat, then it can make your feline suffer from choking and vomiting. So, it is advisable to feed the popcorn’s fluffy white portions only.
Is Popcorn Harmful To Felines?
Here are some of the reasons why your cat should not have popcorn:
1. Sensitive stomach
Cats do not have any biological requirement for grains. Popcorn is actually corn which is neither nutritional for humans nor for the cats. Amylase enzyme is not present in cats, which can properly digest carbohydrates. It is necessary to have this enzyme in order to digest popcorn. If corns are undigested, then cats can also suffer from abdominal pain.
2. Salty popcorn is poisonous for cats
If you make popcorn for your cat in a microwave, then it can be poisonous for the felines as it includes additives, which are poisonous. Flavor varieties like cheese and butter are harmful to cat’s digestive system. Moreover, it removes all the benefits associated with health.
Popcorn prepared in microwave contains garlic, butter, onion, salt, and various other additives. Consuming it in little amounts can also cause harm to the cats. It contains a high content of sodium that can lead to hypernatremia. Excessive sodium can also affect acid-base, blood pressure, and blood volume.
If a cat eats too much of salt, then it can lead to health problems like increase in body temperature, lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. Consumption of salt in excessive amounts can also lead to the death of a feline.
3. Choking hazard
This is a very obvious problem. Although popcorn is small-sized, still they can cause choking problems to the feline. Popcorn is a choking hazard that can cause choking problems to your feline, particularly the kernels, which are not popped.
4. Contains hydrogenated oils
Hydrogenated oil is also one of the contents present in popcorn. It adds the flavor of butter in the popcorn that makes it crispy and tasty bit if such popcorn is fed to felines, then it can lead to a health hazard. If cats intake this toxic ingredient, then they can suffer from hepatic lipidosis. This problem has symptoms like vomiting, weight loss, poor appetite, lethargy, and depression.
5. High calories and fat content
The flavorings of popcorn have a high amount of calories and fat. That is why cats should not eat them. They can also lead to obesity. Moreover, there is a risk of diabetes associated with its consumption. Artificial popcorn has a lot of calories, sugar, and salt. That is why popcorn is very harmful to cats.
How To Stop Felines From Consuming Popcorn?
Now, you are well aware of the fact that popcorn can be very dangerous for the health of your four-legged friend. Mentioned below are some of the things that you have to do so that your cat stays away from this kind of snack.
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Steps To Take If Cats Suffer From illness After Eating Popcorn
If your feline friend gets unwell after eating popcorn, then you should follow these steps:
Things To Take Care Of While Giving Popcorn To Cats
It is important for you to be careful while giving any diet to your feline friend.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the things that you should be aware of as a cat owner. My personal advice would be to feed popcorn to your four-legged friend once in a while as it has some amount of fiber but feeding it every day to her can cause harm to her health. Please ensure that the kernels are properly cooked before feeding it to your cat.
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