Is popcorn a good snack for your feline friend? The answer is both yes and no! Cats can eat popcorn. Popcorn kernels themselves won’t hurt cats if they eat them in moderation, but the flavored toppings are often not as healthy.
Can kittens or senior cats eat popcorn?
In general, popcorn is safe for cats to eat in moderation. However, this isn’t the case if your cat is very young or senior. Popcorn can pose a choking hazard for kittens and older cats, so it’s best to avoid giving it to them altogether.
Popcorn vs. Corn
You’ve probably seen that corn is an ingredient in a variety of popular types of dried cat food. But just because it’s there, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for them. Corn actually only binds all the ingredients together and acts as filler to add bulk. And unfortunately, your kitty won’t gain much benefit from consuming fillers like this. The one slight upside to having corn in their food is that provides some energy through carbohydrates; though not enough make up for its negatives.
Although corn is often found in cat food, few people know that there are actually two types of corn used- field and popcorn. Field corn contains large amounts of sugar, moisture, protein, and carbohydrates whereas popcorn has high levels of calories and carbs but lack protein or fiber. Additionally, neither type of corn provides essential nutrients to your cat that can’t be found in other parts their diet.
Can Cats Eat Popcorn: nutrition and health benefits
Popcorn contains fiber, carbs, fat and protein. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they can’t really get nutrients from foods other than meat.
However, they can utilize some of the fats and carbs in popcorn. Bear in mind that your cat would only be likely to eat a couple of kernels at most, so any nutrients that they obtain from these will be negligible.
Can Cats Eat Popcorn toppings
Though popcorn kernels won’t hurt your cat, they don’t provide any nutrients either. The real danger to cats comes from the toppings humans enjoy on their popcorn, like salt, butter, sugar, and spices. These can cause digestive problems for your feline friend–even if they only have a few pieces of popcorn with added seasonings. Never give your catpopcorn seasoningsto eat intentionally.
Can you feed your cat popcorn?
You can give your cat popcorn as a treat, but make sure it is plain and unseasoned. Some cats even enjoy playing with the kernels before eating them. Remember, this should only be given to your pet in small amounts occasionally.
Keep in mind that your cat will not be gaining any health benefits from eating popcorn. After trying different things, you might discover a certain type of cat treat that they like just as much but also contains healthy vitamins and minerals.
