Being a cat servant is tricky- and notice we didn’t say owner because, let’s be honest, you can never really own a cat. But we digress; being a cat servant is tricky – especially when it comes to food.
Your cat doesn’t have the same digestive system as us. There are some things that we can eat and digest without so much as a parp, but then when it comes to your kitty, you better get them to the litter box and fast.
So you need to check and recheck anything that they’re eating because it could be a matter of life and death and a very, very stained carpet.
When it comes to oatmeal, there are some people who say you should avoid it and others who say it’s fine. But what is the truth? We’ve researched whether cats can eat oatmeal and found some really interesting facts. Here, take a look!
Cats Can Eat Oatmeal?
Oatmeal is made from oats that are ground into flour. It’s usually sold in flakes or granules. It has many health benefits for humans and dogs. When it comes to cats, though, it can cause problems.
The problem with oatmeal is that when it’s prepared, it contains milk which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. This is why most vets recommend avoiding it for cats. However, if you do want to feed your cat oatmeal, make sure you prepare it with water instead of milk.
This is because most cats are actually lactose intolerant. So a cat and a bowl of milk are less like a pretty picture and more like a disaster waiting to happen. You can also try mixing it with other foods like rice instead of just giving it on its own.
In fact, it may actually help keep their teeth clean. The fiber helps prevent plaque build-up, and the magnesium content helps strengthen bones and muscles.
Cat Grass
Most people don’t realize this, but for cats, oatmeal is a very acquired taste. So you can feed your cat oatmeal, but the question is whether they’ll actually want to eat it.
An alternative to oatmeal is called cat grass. Don’t confuse cat grass with catnip; they’re two very different things with very different effects on your cat.
Cat grass is the name for lots of different types of grass that grow wild all over the world. It’s been shown to reduce stress levels in cats and even increase their lifespan. It’s also known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure in both animals and humans.
It’s safe to eat for cats and can be fed to them either dry or wet. Cat grass is the umbrella term for wheat, oat, barley, and rye. This means that it’s easy for you to grow at home.
Just buy a packet of seeds online and plant them. They will begin growing within a few days. Once they start sprouting, you can cut off the stems and give them to your cat. If you’d rather not do that, you can simply sprinkle the leaves onto their food.
If your cat loves to go outdoors, it’ll probably stumble on the grass and start eating it just like that. The thing with cat grass is it has all the nutrients of oatmeal as it comes from the base plant but is a lot tastier to cats. They’re more likely to like the taste of cat grass than oatmeal.
So now that we know cats can eat oatmeal let’s see how well they can digest it.
How Does Oatmeal Digestion Work In Cats?
There are many ways that oatmeal digestion works in cats. For example, it can pass through the stomach without being broken down, or it can get digested by enzymes present in the pancreas.
Either way, it ends up going through the small intestine, where it gets turned into glucose. Glucose then goes into the bloodstream so that it can be used by the body.
Oatmeal is a very nutritious food. It contains lots of vitamins and minerals that your cat needs. These include vitamin A, B1, B2, C, D3, E, K, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, manganese, selenium, copper, iodine, molybdenum, chromium, potassium, and sodium.
It also contains fiber which helps keep your cat’s digestive system clean. Fiber is important because it keeps things moving along smoothly. Without it, your cat could end up having problems such as constipation.
Another reason why you should feed your cat oatmeal is that it’s one of the easiest foods to prepare. All you need to do is mix it with warm water and give it to your cat.
What About Other Foods?
While oatmeal is great for cats, it doesn’t mean that every other type of food is bad for them. There are plenty of healthy alternatives out there that won’t upset their tummies. Here are some examples:
Cereals – Rice, oats, corn, etc.
Vegetables – Broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc.
Fruits – Apples, bananas, pears, oranges, etc.
Meat – Chicken, beef, fish, etc. (cooked!)
DairyProducts – Milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.
Legumes – Beans, peas, lentils, etc.
Grains – Barley, brown rice, quinoa, etc.
Nuts – Almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
Seeds – Pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseed, etc.
You might think that feeding your cat these kinds of foods would make them sick. But if you read up on what happens when a cat eats certain foods, you’ll find that most of them aren’t harmful. Some of these foods can even help improve health conditions in cats.
The best part about these foods is that they’re all natural. You don’t have to worry about any chemicals or preservatives. And because they’re all made from plants, they contain no fat. That means that they’re low-calorie and high in protein.
Final Thoughts
So your cat can eat oatmeal, just make sure to switch out the milk with water. And if you want to tempt them with even tastier nutrition, you can always try cat grass. Both cat grass and oatmeal are very good for your cat’s health!
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
