Can Cats Eat Bananas?

Monkeys love them & Dogs drool for them, but cats discriminate them. Do you know what are we talking about? It may seem like a complicated riddle, but the answer is simple. We are talking about cats and bananas. While fruits seem to be a healthy human diet, cats may feel it offensive. Their taste buds are not driven for the fruits, especially banana because of the high-level sugar content.

Does it mean that cats may avoid bananas for no reason? The cats are not fond of fruits in general due to varied reasons. In this article, we are going to discuss in detail whether cats can eat bananas or not? Are they feeling the same for all the other fruits? How can we feed them with bananas and so on?

Why banana?

Every creature on this planet has different nutritional needs, and they must be satisfied to stay healthy. But depending upon the class of species, the nutritional needs are driven by the various intake of food. In other words, there is confinement when it comes to eating the type of foods.

Bananas contain potassium, proteins, magnesium, fiber, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and all holistically provide the natural source of sugars. Also, they are relatively low in calories, and hence it is recommended for all living organisms.

Researches for years together prove that eating a banana can lower blood pressure. You may have heard numerous times about how they can reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes. Well! They indeed have the potential when you include them as part of your routine. Psychologically, bananas also lit up the mood.

What happens when cats eat a banana?

However, the real problems come in when these benefits are not reflective of the cats. The cats by obligation are carnivores, and hence their body functions are designed in such a way that they are not meant to digest plant-based proteins. Thus, even if the cats eat the banana, they naturally don’t absorb the proteins nor any other vitamins. It does not apply only for the bananas but also for other fruits for that matter. Even when you feed the cat with a banana, it gets stored in the stomach and excreted without causing any impact in the cat’s body.

What happens to the nutrients in the body of cats??

Even though banana has numerous nutrients, as mentioned above, the core form of settling in the body is through fiber. Eventually, the human body absorbs the proteins and vitamins; when it comes to cats, this is not the same. Firstly, the fibers are not an essential source of energy or nutrient to the cats. Hence it is not fully utilized or useful even when included in the cat’s diet. But there are other benefits when cats eat a banana.

For instance, adding fiber to the cat’s diet will help them to prevent obesity. The cats usually feel stomach full even without having a high number of calories. Thus, it can be an additional compound to the cat’s diets. Especially when you raise a vegan cat, it is much simpler to offer them a stomach-filling diet routine that does not affect them in any way. Also, just like how bananas help the digestive system in humans, even cats get assisted with their functions of free passing of motion without any struggle. They are one of the hands-on treatments or natural methods for treating diarrhea or constipation in cats.

It provides instant energy to the cats, and thus, it can be relatively helpful for the body. However, there are multiple reasons why it is not recommended to be part of an everyday routine.

Do cats crave banana?

Many owners have this question that apart from the nutritional values, does the cat even like to have bananas? Well, the answer, to be honest, will be based on experimentation. Even though cats don’t crave bananas or they are not fond of it, they can still consume it without any hassle. However, there are chances that your cats might be sensitive that they may feel allergic to bananas.

Also, cats by nature are highly picky about the food. They avoid food, fruits, vegetables, and even a certain type of meat for varied reasons. Their olfactory muscles and taste buds are so strong that they can quickly be offended by some of the foods.

Even when you try to give them without them knowing, they will react to it. Thus, the answer becomes specific to the cats. Some cats do love bananas. Well, others have their personal preferences. Especially cats from outside does not show any difference. They might have been practiced to eat bananas for their hunger hence does not show anything against the fruit. Therefore, don’t feel anything terrible if your cats are not willing to eat bananas.

The following table will give you an idea of what your cats can eat as fruit and their nutritional value.

Bananas

Rich in potassium, vitamin B and C, Copper

Fiber nutrients to support the digestive system. It is used for treating cats with tapeworms inside the stomach.

High sugar content.

It can’t be fed frequently.

Blueberries

Protein, dietary fibers, manganese

Highly rich in antioxidants and fiber. They even have the potential to prevent your feline friends from cancer.

Some cat breeds are allergic to blueberries.

Strawberries

Proteins, carbs, fiber and Vitamin C

Nutritious and can be consumed at any time. Strawberries are completely fat and cholesterol-free.

Strawberries can lead to respiratory problems in cats. Hence, don’t feed them with strawberries. Some cats avoid strawberries because of their sour taste.

Mangoes

Potassium, proteins, vitamin E and K, Carbs

Keep your feline friends energetic throughout the day. Provide seasonal foods that offer the right nutrition during the summers.

Don’t overfeed as mangoes can lead to diabetes. Remove the kernel before feeding them.

Peaches

Potassium, proteins, manganese, iron, and Vitamin A and C

The fruit offers good immune to the body. It particularly helps cats with an increasing hemoglobin level.

Cut around the pit before feeding the cats. Check if your cats are not allergic to the fruit.

Is it true that cats are frightened by bananas?

It may be a little surprise for you, but it is a fact that most cats are frightened by the bananas. It is only due to the appearance of the fruit. To be more precise, they get offended by the shape and smell of a banana. It is disgusting for the kitty, and they don’t feel like having it anymore. Even if you want to include a banana in your cat’s diet, it is recommended to peel and cut it in small pieces so that they don’t see the full shape to get frightened.

Is it not strange that cats are afraid of bananas?

Well! As you know, cats do have a lot of strange habits that make a human surprise. But becoming afraid of cats is not one of them. Because instinctively, it is in every cat, and it is common to see them easily freaked out of these objects. For instance, they are also afraid of cucumbers. However, the primary reason for what makes the cat freak out of the fruit is that the peel itself.

Therefore, it is not the whole banana, which makes them afraid, but their peel has a smell that is strange to the cats. There is a theory that the bananas produce the smell of ethyl acetate, which is an odor of acetone. And cats hate the smell of Acetone. Thus, they become highly cautious about this particular fruit. Many owners have tried rubbing the banana peel on the furniture, so the cats do not come near them or scratch them. And secondly, when you keep them as an element of surprise, they will jump out as they assume that it is a snake.

Are bananas safe for cats?

Even though the facts mentioned above are true, bananas are still safe for cats. There is absolutely no doubt about that. It is not a harmful fruit, or it does not cause them any reversible effects unless you don’t overload them. While feeding the bananas for the cats for the first time, it is necessary to take enough precautions.

For example, give them only small pieces of bananas or see that they are cut in chunks while feeding them for the first time. Depending on their reaction, you can feed them further. You must be worried if there is an adverse reaction where the cats’ throws up or end up having stomach pain for that matter.

All of these are significant reasons that the consumption of banana does not fit for cats. Their body functions are different and hence can’t force-feed. Also, it is necessary to ensure that you do not feed cats with rotten bananas. Some owners or first-timers feed the bananas that have become overripe or about to rot to avoid wastage of bananas. But this is very dangerous to the cat. They become ill overall, and it leads to severe vomiting and other stomach problems. When you have susceptible cats, you need to be even more careful.

The following table will give you an overview of other fruits that are not safe for your cats.

Cherries

Cherries contain cyanide, which can highly toxic to your cats as well as other pets.

Grapes

Cats may not be able to consume grapes because they can cause serious digestive issues. If they happen to eat frequently, it can even lead to kidney failure.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits can be allergic to some cats. They instigate vomiting sensation, diarrhea, irritation in the body, etc.

Tomatoes

Green tomatoes are toxic for cats as they are acid in nature & it can be dangerous for cats, especially if consumed frequently.

Where are you going wrong with the cats?

Overfeeding: If you have noticed, cats are very conscious about what they eat. Hence, even though you think bananas can be healthy food for them, don’t overfeed them. It is not constrained to bananas. Whether it is fruit or vegetable, it may not be appropriate for the cats to overfeed or offer them daily. They are moderate animals, and by nature, their body cannot accept certain foods.

Given the circumstances that your cat is perfectly practiced to this routine of having bananas, feeding them too much will give them diabetes. There is only a certain level of sugar that they can take, and eating bananas continually is not preferred for that.

Allergic cats: Some feline friends tend to be allergic to fruits like bananas. In that case, you have to wait for the reaction to occur. The vets say that some breeds to be particular possess an allergic reaction to the fruits. Therefore, it is advised to consult or take medical opinion with your vets when you are unsure.

Feeding with peel: Unlike some other animals, your pet cat does not tolerate eating banana peels. They are not monkeys, so don’t try hard on that. Even though cats can eat bananas just because you feed them as it is with the peel, they wouldn’t touch it. First of all, it would cause choking in cats; secondly, they can’t digest this, also for the fact that some bananas peel can have the pesticides that are used for terminating insects, which can be harmful to cats if consumed. Whenever you feed them, you should always remember to peel them and cut in small pieces. Try mixing up with the treats like Temptation classic that they wouldn’t throw away or avoid easily.

Conclusion

The information provided above for feeding cats with a banana would be sufficient for you. It gives you an overall idea of how you can include the nutritional value of banana in your cat diet-all you need to remember that you cannot force-feed or stress enough your cat to eat the bananas. If your cats like it, then offer them as treats, which can be bi-monthly. Also, the experience you give them as kittens will stick to them, even when they become adults. Therefore if you want to introduce banana in their diet, you can start feeding them from an early age.

Originally published at https://purrpetrators.com on August 19, 2020.