Cats have a habit of lingering around their owners at all times, and we completely understand your temptation to share your food with your beloved kitty.Can cats eat sweet potatoes? Or can we give cats to eat the food made of potatoes consumed by humans?While a domesticated feline can eat most cooked human foods without any problem, some foods can be exceptionally toxic and even fatally poisonous for them.Potatoes can be called one of the most common foods consumed by humans. Humans consume potatoes in many forms, and therefore humans might wonder if potatoes are safe for cats and if it is OK to feed your pet cat some potatoes consumed by humans now and then. We have an answer for you.Cats are naturally obligate carnivores which implies that cats require a regular meat-based diet to survive. The feline digestive system is not designed to process a plant-based diet efficiently. But you may be surprised to know that many of a cat diet or packed cat foods contain some amount of cooked potatoes to balance the number of carbohydrates in the meal or diet.Cooked potatoes by themselves do not have enough nutrition for your pet cat. Therefore, they should not be served as a complete meal. On the other hand, raw vegetables should never be fed to a pet cat due to the presence of solanine in them, which is indigestible and even poisonous for cats and can even be fatal. Hence it is not advisable for the cats to eat raw veggies. Even cooked vegetables served as an occasional treat to cats should be fed with immense caution as what might suit one cat’s system as a treat might be toxic to another.Look into our other articles like can cats eat sweet potatoes? And, can cats eat peanuts? For more insights.What happens if cats eat potatoes?As we mentioned above, a small portion of cooked potatoes can be eaten by cats without posing any danger. Still, you may wonder what exactly happens when a cat ingests potatoes and which potatoes the cat can eat.Potatoes are one of the oldest consumed crops globally and are popularly enjoyed all across the globe today. Cats, however, are naturally carnivores, which means that their systems are not designed to digest vegetarian or plant-based foods. Hence, for cats, meats are easier to digest than plants.Raw vegetables are not safe for cats and can be toxic to cats and even kill them. If your cat eats just a little bit of cooked mashed potato off your plate, it might not be a very bad thing once in a while, but you must ensure that your cat doesn’t make a habit of it.A small portion of cooked potatoes can be a great occasional treat for your kitten because potatoes contain a rich amount of carbs, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, which can be beneficial for your cat. But the chances are that your cat won’t enjoy the taste and texture of potatoes due to their natural palette.Be careful though, potatoes can lead to various gastric problems in cats and can lead to indigestion.Can cats eat raw potatoes?As we mentioned above, raw vegetables are indigestible and toxic for cats because of their carnivorous nature. But since we also noted that cats could eat cooked potatoes, some of you might wonder if your cat can eat a raw potato occasionally or is it OK if they eat it by accident.Raw potatoes come from the root of the potato plant, and like all-natural living things have a defense mechanism of their own; raw potatoes secrete a chemical known as solanine, which gives it its earthy smell; this chemical prevents the potato from being eaten by animals. This chemical is lost while cooking, but if ingested by cats, it can lead to immense gastric problems like diarrhea, excessive vomiting, lethargy, and even lead to the breakdown of the nervous system in extreme cases.Raw potato can also be a choking hazard for cats if ingested in large chunks. Parts of the potato plant other than raw potatoes like leaves, roots, and even small amounts of peelings can be fatal to cats. If your cat ingests any portion of the potato plants, then you must immediately contact your veterinarian and get your cat treated as soon as possible.To another question, can cats eat sweet potatoes? Sadly, they can’t.How to know if your cat has ingested a raw potato? We have now established that raw potatoes are toxic to cats and can threaten their lives if ingested. Although you might not feed your cat any raw potato, chances are your cat won’t try to eat it too, but cats can be curious little creatures.If by mistake your cat ingests any part of a raw potato plant, these are the symptoms you must watch out for to know that your cat has got solanine poisoning.Gastric problems like excessive vomiting, indigestion, upset stomach, and loss of appetite.Trouble in breathing and continuous wheezing.Excessive thirst.Bloody vomit or painful stools.Pale gums and fainting.Lethargy and motionlessness.Seizures.What to you do if your cat eats a raw potato? If you notice any of these symptoms mentioned above in your kitty after eating raw potatoes, the first thing is to keep calm and think before you act. Here are some pointers that you must keep in mind when dealing with a feline that has consumed something toxic.Don’t try to force your cat to vomit without your veterinarian’s instruction, as this might worsen the situation and harm your feline. Please do not feed your cat charcoal tablets as it won’t help and can be potentially dangerous. Call your area’s local pet poison control helpline and ask them for advice. If sizeable raw potato chunks are still in your pet’s mouth, try to extract them. Take your kitty to the vet immediately whenever you feel their health is at harm without a moment’s delay, and inform your vet if your cat has any underlying health issues.Can cats eat potato fries?Cats are particularly notorious for stealing food from their owner’s kitchens; if your cat eats French fries from your plate, or if you have seen a stray cat eat leftover fries out of a dumpster and wondered if eating fries is even safe for them, read further to find out if fries are safe for cats and if you should let your cat have a French potato fry once in a while as a treat.Potato fries are made out of deep-fried potatoes, butter, seasoning, and occasionally cheese. While cooked potato is non-toxic and relatively safe for cats, oil, butter, and seasoning can severely upset your pet’s stomach and induce vomiting and diarrhea. Although cooked French fries are not as harmful as raw potatoes, you should avoid feeding them to your cat.If your cat enjoys eating fries, you can give it homemade fries every few months. This is because store-bought and ready to cook frozen fries can contain up to twenty ingredients, increasing the chance of reactions. The deep-frying of the French fries can perhaps be a good thing because the boiling oil removes the solanine present in the potatoes thoroughly. However, if your cat is diabetic or obese, you should skip on the fries completely because fried food can have severe consequences for fat cats in the long run, although you can feed your cat some boiled potatoes/sweet potatoes.Are chips bad for cats? Almost everyone is guilty of munching on crispy potato chips, the ultimate comfort food for most people. Similarly, your cat might also like to steal potato chips from your kitchen counter or shelves. But it may lead you to wonder if it is OK for your cat to eat some potato chips.Potato chips are thinly sliced potatoes deep-fried in vegetable oil and seasoned with salt, pepper, and acidity regulators. Although chips are not harmful to cats, they can pose a danger to your cat’s health over time. Although potatoes are safe for your pet’s consumption, the seasoning and oils can be harmful to your pet’s digestive system. Especially store-bought chips that have a long list of potentially dangerous ingredients that might cause harm. Therefore it is better to feed your cat some homemade fries than store-bought fried chips to avoid potential danger.How much potatoes can a cat have in a day?Your cat might develop a liking for potatoes, much like their human owners, Although cooked potatoes in the form of baked, fried, and boiled potatoes are non-toxic and safe for your cat if consumed in small quantities once in a while.But in the long run, these delicious fried potatoes can be fatal for your cat. This is because a cat’s digestive system is not designed to digest and properly process such complex and processed foods, especially with salt, seasoning, and butter, and can induce problems in the long run. It is OK if you feed your cat some prepared potato once in a while, but you should not feed your cat any more than half a boiled potato or a couple of fries to be safe.Carbohydrates are difficult to break down and have no nutritional value for cats, and therefore should not make up more than 10% of the feline’s entire meal.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can cats eat potatoes? Is it safe for your kitty? Uncover the truth! Then why not take a look at do cats know when you are sad? Know your kitty emotions better! Or, do cats get hiccups? Know what causes hiccups in cats!
Cats have a habit of lingering around their owners at all times, and we completely understand your temptation to share your food with your beloved kitty.
