Can cats eat kale? Being that kale is so widely recommended as a super healthy food for humans, you might have found yourself wondering whether your cat would also benefit from it. If humans can eat kale, can cats safely eat it too?
There is no short yes or no answer as to whether cats can eat kale safely. While kale is packed with a number of nutritional benefits, some experts suggest that it could bring on a case of Heinz Body anemia if cats eat it.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your resident feline, including kale. Here’s what you need to know about kale and cats.
When Is Kale Okay For Cats To Eat?
There are a bunch of vitamins and minerals in kale that can prove beneficial for your cat, including vitamin A and copper. It’s also an excellent fiber source and can help keep your kitty on a regular digestion schedule.
When it comes to serving kale to your cat, it’s best to steam the leaves for a bit before chopping them up and adding them to your feline’s regular food. Make sure you only serve the leaves to your cat too, as the stems can be much harder to digest.
Also, being that cats are obligate carnivores, try and stick to under ten percent of their diet being made up of vegetables.
When Is Kale Bad For Cats?
First of all, it should be repeated that cats are obligate carnivores who need the majority of their nutrition to come from protein. So while kale can have a positive impact on your cat’s health if you serve it correctly, make sure that it forms only a small part of their diet.
Secondly, some experts suggest that if a cat eats kale, it could prompt a case of Heinz Body anemia. This is a condition where the red blood cells cease to work properly.
So while you might want to serve your cat a small amount of kale as an occasional treat or a snack, it’s smartest to avoid making kale too regular a part of their daily diet.
Does your feline love to get a bite of kale? How do you make sure to serve it to your cat safely? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
