Cats are curious creatures, and you might often find your feline eyeing your meals. Although they are carnivores by nature, cats may sometimes feel inclined to take a bite or two of whatever their owner is eating. If you recently noticed your cat eyeing your arugula plants, you might be thinking, “can cats eat arugula?” To learn all about it, keep on reading below.
Can Cats Eat Arugula?
If you are wondering whether your Can Cats Eat Arugula, rest assured that it is entirely safe to eat. The leafy plant also boasts minor health benefits if fed correctly. Arugula or rocket is a common plant used in meals and salads. It is known to have a bitter and pepper-like flavor.
While cats should mainly be fed cat food and meat, a small amount of arugula as an occasional snack is okay as a change of taste. Here is everything you need to know to learn more about arugula and its effects on cats.
Is Arugula Good For Cats?
Can Cats Eat Arugula is one of the few vegetables that is completely safe for cats to eat. The vegetable has no adverse effects on your cat’s health. Moreover, it boasts many health benefits that your cat can enjoy if it eats it.
However, no matter how safe the vegetable is for your feline, you should not go overboard when feeding it. Remember that cats are carnivorous animals whose stomach is mainly designed to digest meaty foods. So, arugula or any other vegetable should only comprise a small portion of your pet’s diet. The majority component should always be meat or commercially-produced cat food.
Is Arugula Toxic To Cats?
Can Cats Eat Arugula is not toxic to a cat’s health in any way. If you find your cat sniffing or nibbling at some rocket or arugula leaves, there is no need to panic. The vegetable provides your cats with several health benefits that we have mentioned later in the article.
While the vegetable is not toxic, making it a regular part of your cat’s diet is still not a good idea.
As carnivorous animals, cats mainly consume meat and get most of their nutrition from it. While they can eat other foods like arugula, it should only comprise 10% of their total diet. Otherwise, it can affect the cat’s health in the long run.
Benefits Of Arugula For Cats
As mentioned before, Can Cats Eat Arugula is not only safe for cats to eat but also has several health benefits. It contains several nutrients and minerals that make it a worthy addition to a cat’s diet. Let’s take a look at these nutrients.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is an essential nutrient for producing red blood cells, synthesizing DNA, easing digestion, and boosting immunity. It is found in arugula, hence making it a healthy plant to eat for cats.
Vitamins
Can Cats Eat Arugula is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, improving eyesight, boosting immunity, and facilitating blood clotting. Cats can enjoy these health benefits by eating arugula.
Fiber
Fiber is an essential nutrient for aiding the digestive system. Arugula contains lots of fiber, which facilitates a cat’s digestion. Moreover, if your cat is suffering from diarrhea or constipation, arugula would make a great plant to help relieve these symptoms. It also maintains water levels in the digestive system and may reduce the risk of colon cancer in cats.
Calcium
While Can Cats Eat Arugula get calcium from food sources like bones, fish, and organ tissues, some additional calcium from arugula is also beneficial. Calcium helps keep your kitty’s bones and teeth strong and healthy. It aids digestion, muscle contraction, and milk production in nursing cats.
Maintains Healthy Weight
Since Can Cats Eat Arugula has low sugar content, it makes for a great filling snack that won’t contribute to weight gain in your cat. Obese cats are a common sight; although they look cute, it is not good for their health to be obese. Hence, to help your cat maintain a healthy weight, arugula can prove to be an excellent food option.
How Much Arugula Is Safe For Cats?
It is necessary to remember that cats are, first and foremost, obligate carnivores who receive most of their nutrition from meat. Hence, most of your cat’s diet should consist of protein-rich foods like meat. Since arugula is a leafy green vegetable, it is only suitable for cats as a treat from time to time. A leaf or two occasionally should do no harm at all. It is also essential to wash the vegetables thoroughly before letting your cat eat them.
Keep a close eye on your cat when eating Can Cats Eat Arugula and take it away if it is overeating or showing any discomfort. To avoid complications, consult a veterinarian before giving your cat this vegetable to get proper professional dietary advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cat like arugula?
It is not uncommon for cats to chew on vegetable leaves from time to time to aid digestion. If you find your cat nibbling on arugula leaves, it might have taken a liking to the veggie, or it may have some digestive issues. In any case, the vegetable is entirely safe for your cat to eat, and if it is eyeing the plant in your hand, you can feed it a leaf or two as a treat.
Will arugula hurt cats?
No, Can Cats Eat Arugula will not harm your cat in any way. It is a healthy vegetable from which even cats can eat and gain nutrients. If you find your cat chewing on some arugula leaves, there is no need to worry as it will not hurt your cat.
Is arugula safe for cats?
Yes, arugula is entirely safe for cats to eat. It also has several nutritional benefits cats can enjoy and take advantage of. Hence, arugula is a safe and beneficial vegetable for your cat if given in moderation.
Conclusion
Arugula is a safe and healthy vegetable for cats to eat. When feeding your cat arugula, keep in mind the following key points from this article:
- Arugula has several nutrients like calcium, fiber, folic acid, etc., which can benefit your cat’s health.
- Although it is safe, you should only give arugula to cats in moderate amounts.
- Arugula has no side effects and does not harm your cat’s health. Hence it is a good snack.
