The Mystery of Cats and Celery: Edible or Not
Jan 27,2025 | puaintapets
As a cat owner, you’re likely familiar with the idea of providing your furry friend with a healthy, balanced diet. While most cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their nutritional needs are primarily met through meat, you may be curious about whether certain vegetables can be safely added to their diet. One such vegetable is celery. If you’ve ever wondered, can cats eat celery, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explore the safety, benefits, and potential risks of feeding celery to cats, as well as how to prepare it correctly if you choose to offer it to your feline companion.
Can Cats Eat Celery?
The simple answer is yes, cats can eat celery in small amounts. Celery is non-toxic to cats and can be a healthy, crunchy snack if given occasionally. However, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet should primarily consist of animal-based proteins. Celery should never replace a cat’s primary food source, but it can be given as a treat on occasion.
Nutritional Supplement
Celery is rich in nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, folic acid and fiber, which are beneficial to your cat's health. For example, Vitamin K helps to reduce the risk of heart attack, and fiber promotes intestinal motility and lowers cholesterol levels.
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Promotes Digestion
The fiber in celery can promote peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract of cats and help cats spit out hairballs from their bodies, as well as expel hairballs from their stomachs. For obese cats, the high-fiber properties of celery can help to increase satiety and reduce calorie intake, which in turn can help to control weight.
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Diuretic and detoxification
Celery has diuretic properties, which can help cats eliminate excess water and toxins from the body, ensuring the health of the liver.
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Other effects
Increase appetite: moderate amount of celery can increase the appetite of cats.
Protect gastric mucosa: celery contains pectin polysaccharides, which can protect the stomach and prevent ulcers.
It should be noted that cats are carnivorous animals and their diet should be based on meat. Vegetables can only be used as snacks or small nutritional supplements, and you should not overfeed celery, as this may lead to problems such as indigestion, diarrhea and vomiting. Also, before feeding your cat celery, it should be washed and all leaves and stems removed to avoid your cat eating excess fiber and impurities.
Benefits of Celery for Cats
While celery isn’t a necessary part of a cat’s diet, it can offer some minor benefits when given occasionally:
1. Low in Calories
Celery is a great option if you’re looking for a low-calorie snack for your cat. It’s especially helpful for overweight or less active cats who need to manage their weight. Celery can provide the crunch your cat enjoys without the added calories of other treats.
2. Hydration
Celery has a high water content (about 95%), which can help keep your cat hydrated, especially if they tend to be less enthusiastic about drinking water. Offering small amounts of celery can be a good way to boost hydration.
3. Fiber Content
The fiber in celery can be beneficial for your cat’s digestive system. While cats don’t need as much fiber as humans do, small amounts of fiber can help support regular digestion and prevent constipation.
Risks of Feeding Celery to Cats
While celery is generally safe for cats in small amounts, there are a few potential risks and considerations to keep in mind:
1.Digestive Problems
Indigestion: Celery contains a high amount of fiber. Cats have a relatively short digestive system and have difficulty digesting large amounts of fiber, which may lead to indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea.
Intestinal obstruction: The stalk of celery may form clumps of fiber that can lead to intestinal obstruction, especially if your cat swallows larger pieces of celery.
2.Nutritional imbalance
Protein deficiency: Cats are carnivorous animals and their diet should be based on meat, vegetables can only be used as a snack or a small part of the nutritional supplement. If cats consume too much celery, it may lead to insufficient protein intake, affecting their growth, development and health.
Mineral malabsorption: celery contains oxalic acid, which combines with minerals such as calcium and magnesium to form compounds such as calcium oxalate and magnesium oxalate, affecting the absorption of these minerals in cats, and long-term consumption of large quantities may lead to mineral deficiencies in cats, such as osteoporosis.
3.Other risks
Foodborne illness: If celery is contaminated by bacteria such as E. coli, cats may contract foodborne illness after consumption, especially kittens, which are at higher risk of foodborne illness as their immune system is not yet fully developed.
Allergic reaction: Some cats may be allergic to celery, manifesting allergic symptoms such as sneezing, red eyes, itching and rashes.
Therefore, although cats can consume celery in moderation, they need to be careful to control the amount consumed and wash and chop the celery before feeding, removing potentially toxic parts such as roots and seeds. Meanwhile, if your cat develops any symptoms of discomfort after consuming celery, you should stop feeding it immediately and seek medical attention.
How to Give Celery to Cats?
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Choose fresh celery
Choose celery that is fresh and free of pesticide residue, preferably organic. Avoid celery with yellow, rotten or visibly damaged leaves.
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Washing and handling
Wash celery, remove roots and leaves, and cut into small pieces or julienne for your cat to chew and digest.
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Cooking method
Cook: Cook the chopped celery in boiling water until it is tender. Cooked celery is easier to digest and reduces the risk of digestive upset in cats.
Steamed: You can also steam the celery to retain more nutrients.
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Feed in moderation
When feeding for the first time, give your cat only a small amount of celery and observe its reaction. If there is no discomfort, you can gradually increase the amount you feed, but do not overdo it as it may cause digestive problems.
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Mixing food
You can mix celery with your cat's staple food or other foods to increase the variety and taste of the food.
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Precautions
The cat's diet should be based on meat, and vegetables can only be used as a supplement, not a substitute for meat.
If the cat has special health conditions or dietary restrictions, it should be fed celery under the guidance of the veterinarian.
Observe whether the cat has vomiting, diarrhea or other uncomfortable symptoms after feeding, if so, stop feeding immediately and consult the veterinarian.
What to Do if Your Cat Steals Celery?
If a cat steals celery, owners can take the following steps.
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Observe the cat's reaction
No abnormal reaction: If the cat steals a small amount of celery and does not show any symptoms of discomfort, such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc., the owner can do nothing special for the time being and continue to observe the cat's condition.
Abnormal reaction: If the cat shows abnormal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, etc., the owner should take the cat to the pet hospital immediately for timely treatment.
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Take appropriate measures
Inducing vomiting: If the cat steals celery for a short period of time and the owner can find it in time, you can try to induce vomiting for the cat to reduce the absorption of celery in the cat's body. The method of inducing vomiting can be to give the cat the appropriate amount of soapy water or hydrogen peroxide, but you need to pay attention to the method of operation and dosage, so as not to cause harm to the cat.
Adjusting the diet: During the period of abnormal symptoms, the owner should adjust the cat's diet and provide the cat with light, easy-to-digest food, such as rice porridge, chicken puree, etc. Avoid feeding the cat greasy and stimulating food, so as not to aggravate the burden on the cat's intestines and stomach.
Replenish water: when cats suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, it is easy to lose water and electrolytes in the body. Owners should replenish water and electrolytes to their cats in a timely manner, and they can give their cats moderate amounts of warm water or oral rehydration salts.
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Preventing cats from stealing food again
Proper storage of food: Put food that cats cannot eat, such as celery, in a place where cats cannot reach, such as a high cupboard or a sealed container, to prevent cats from stealing food again.
Provide sufficient food: Ensure that the cat gets enough food every day and feed the cat on time and in quantity according to its weight and age to meet its nutritional needs and reduce the cat's behavior of stealing food due to hunger.
Increase the cat's activity: Provide some interesting toys and activity space to keep the cat busy playing and consume the cat's energy to reduce the cat's stealing food behavior.
Strengthen training: Through strengthening training, let the cat understand which behaviors are not allowed, such as stealing food. When the cat shows food stealing behavior, the owner can stop the cat with sound, gestures and other methods, and give appropriate punishment, such as putting the cat into the cage for a period of time or not giving the cat snacks, etc. However, attention needs to be paid to the strength of the punishment and the way, so as to avoid causing harm to the cat.
FAQs
Can celery be harmful to cats?
No, celery is not harmful to cats in small amounts. However, it should be given in moderation and properly prepared to avoid choking or digestive upset.
How should I prepare celery for my cat?
To prepare celery for your cat, wash it thoroughly, cut it into small, bite-sized pieces, and offer it in moderation as an occasional treat.
Can cats eat celery raw?
Conclusion
In conclusion, cats can eat celery, but it should only be offered in moderation as an occasional treat. While celery is non-toxic and can offer minor benefits like hydration and fiber, it should never replace a balanced, meat-based diet. Always prepare celery safely by cutting it into small pieces and ensuring it’s free from pesticides. If your cat shows interest in celery, it can be a healthy, low-calorie snack, but be cautious of any signs of digestive upset or discomfort.
As with any new food, it’s important to introduce celery gradually and observe your cat’s reaction. If you have concerns about your cat’s diet or any changes in their eating habits, it’s always a good idea to consult your veterinarian for guidance.
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