One of my absolute favorite meals of the day is breakfast! And there is one thing I love about breakfast more than any other: peanut butter. It’s great spread on a toasted bagel, stirred into yogurt, mixed into in overnight oats with a mashed banana (my personal favorite), or added to pancakes along with a few berries.
Yup, I eat peanut butter pretty much every day, and have tried countless flavors and variations of it. And my all-time favorite flavor is this Super Butter
made with peanuts, cashews, honey, flax seeds, and chia seeds. (Also the company was started by two college roommates who were on Shank Tank — on one of my favorite shows — so that’s pretty cool too.)
Since I’m constantly eating some form of peanut butter, I’ve often caught Gingie (our fattest cat) sniffing at my breakfast plate as I’m getting ready to eat. I always err on the side of caution and shoo him away before her actually gets into my food, but then I think, am I being overprotective? Can cats eat peanut butter? For that matter, would cats even like peanut butter?
So I decided to find out.
After reading this post, you’ll know all about whether it’s safe to feed your cat peanut butter and whether it’s safe for cats to eat some other yummy things that often go so well with peanut butter.
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What Else Can Cats Eat?
Do Cats Like Peanut Butter?
Honestly, it will depend on your cat. Some may be interested in the fatty nature of the popular paste. But since cats can’t taste sugar, they won’t be particularly enamored with it like we are.
More than likely, they are curious about the smell of your breakfast. Or just want to see what you’re up to. (After all, cats are nothing if not curious.) Unfortunately, the culinary delicacy of peanut butter is going to be lost on your feline friend.
Are There Nutritional Benefits to Feeding Cats Peanut Butter?
If your cat licks up a schmear of peanut butter, they’ll probably be fine. But it must be said, there are no nutritional benefits to feeding cats peanut butter.
“But wait!” I hear you saying. “Peanut butter is high in protein. And protein is good for cats!
While you may be technically right, peanut butter is full of plant proteins, which cats cannot digest properly.
On top of that, peanut butter is full of fat (and often added sugars too), which will also wreck havoc on your cat’s digestive system.
So if your cat takes a liking to peanut butter, be on the lookout for vomiting or diarrhea.
Is Peanut Butter a Choking Hazard for Cats?
A slightly greater concern than nutritional health is the possibility of your cat choking on a hulking glob of peanut butter. Because of peanut butter’s sticky and pasty nature, it is easy for it to become lodged in your cat’s small throat, blocking its airways.
Make sure your cat has plenty of water to wash it down if need be, and never leave a spoonful of peanut butter out as a snack if you cannot monitor your pet.
Is Peanut Butter Poisonous for Cats?
Thankfully, there are no toxic elements in peanut butter that need immediate attention. This may not be the case if your peanut butter has certain additives mixed in, such as artificial sugars like Xylitol or excess salt.
Do your research before feeding your cat “people food.” If your cat does eat something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA’s Poison Control.
Can Cats be Allergic to Nuts?
A few years ago, our youngest cat Cookie had distinct bumps on his chest. We took him to the vet, bracing ourselves for bad news, and were both relieved and surprised to hear that he simply had a food allergy. I didn’t even know cats could have food allergies, and I certainly wouldn’t have expected symptom of a food allergy to be bumps. (He now eats a special cat food made of rabbit meal and doing just fine.)
So yes, cats can have allergic reactions to certain foods, including peanuts and nuts in general. It can be a scary time when your cat is acting strangely, so be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms, especially after they’ve eaten people food:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Skin irritation
- Hair loss
- Chronic ear infection
- Difficulty breathing
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
Allergic reactions vary in severity, so be sure to keep an eye on your pet. If they itch, your cat may just scratch themselves a lot, chew on their paws and tail, or groom excessively. If the reaction is bad, call your vet before it gets worse.
How Much Peanut Butter Can a Cat Have?
Given all we know about peanut butter and cats, it is not wise to feed it to your cat. The fatty paste will make digestion stressful, and the added sugars increase the risk for weight gain, obesity, and diabetes. Even as a treat, there is a high risk for tragedy.
And for what? They can’t taste the sugars or appreciate the yummy goodness anyway. It is best to leave the peanut butter in the jar (or better yet, serve some up for yourself instead).
What Nuts Can Cats Eat?
Like I mentioned earlier, I’m a bit of a nut butter connoisseur. At the moment, our house is stocked with not only this peanut and cashew “super butter”, but also chocolate almond butter, hazelnut spread, and macadamia nut butter.
So if you have any wonderful things like these in your house, treat them the same as you would peanut butter. All nuts, from peanuts to cashews, are far too fatty for your cat’s tummy and can cause a lot of distress later on. You can check out more on my post about cats eating cashews or drinking cashew milk.
Can Cats Eat Jelly?
The most popular partner for peanut butter sandwiches is jelly, bar none. It’s literally an iconic pair. That said, jelly isn’t the best for cats. Especially grape jelly.
Jellies have a lot of added sugars in them. And even though they have whole fruits in them, jams can have added sugars too, depending on the manufacturer. Too much sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes in cats.
Grape jelly is especially dangerous, as grapes and raisins are both known to cause sudden and immediate kidney problems in cats.
Again, monitor your cat for lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea for at least a day if they get a spoonful of grape jelly.
Can Cats Eat Chocolate?
Peanut butter for dessert? Yes, please. I love any peanut butter and chocolate combo, whether it’s Tagalongs Girl Scout cookies or Reese’s Pieces. (Oddly, my husband thinks any peanut/chocolate combo is gross.No problem, that means more for me.)
So … can cats eat chocolate?
Nope. It’s common knowledge that chocolate is bad for dogs, but it’s just as bad for cats too.
Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a naturally occurring compound found in cacao plants and tea leaves. (Incidently, there is some reason to believe that theobromine can help humans improve brain function and the ability to focus, lower blood pressure and balance brain chemistry for a better night’s sleep.)
However, theobromine absorbs much more slowly in cats than it does in humans, so even a small amount of chocolate can be toxic to a small cat.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Increased breathing and/or heart rate
- Heightened temperature
- Seizures
- Muscle rigidity
- Death
The darker the chocolate, the higher the risk. If your cat sneaks some chocolate chips, call your vet immediately.
Can Cats Eat Bananas?
Hurray, we finally found something yummy that cats can eat!
Bananas are low in sugar and high in antioxidants, which make them excellent once in a while treats. So the next time you’re whipping up a peanut butter banana smoothie, feel to give your cat a banana slice as a little treat.
What is a Good Snack For a Cat?
If you desperately need to share some people food with your feline friend, consider one of these. Make sure it’s in small amounts (20 calories, two teaspoons of poultry) and without any additives like salt, sugar, or spices.)
- Cooked Salmon
- Spinach
- Cooked Chicken
- Bananas
- Cooked Eggs
- Cucumbers
- Cantaloupe/Melon
- Pumpkin
- Peas
- Blueberries
- Cooked Turkey
Remember to prepare as needed and limit portions. If your cat is gaining weight or reacting poorly to the treats, stop feeding them people food and call your vet.
Cats are inherently curious and eating is one way they interact with the world around them. They’ll appreciate sharing your culinary world with them.
Just not peanut butter.