Can cats eat oatmeal?

It is every cat owner’s dream to have a healthy and nourished cat. Oatmeal is very good for your cat’s intestines and stomach and contains many vitamins and minerals.

Oatmeal is the most digestible food for both your pet and human body. Let’s take a closer look at the properties of oatmeal and what is directly beneficial for cats.

The benefits of oatmeal for the cat

Vitamin group: (B1, B3, E, B2, B4, B6, B5)

  • B1 is responsible for the nervous system of cats, its deficiency in the animal’s body can lead to seizures and paralysis, and can also lead to complications during childbirth.
  • B2 is responsible for growth, vision and skin. Lack of this vitamin in the pet leads to hair loss and deep cracks in the skin. The cat begins to go blind, becomes thin, and kittens have stunted growth.
  • B3 is responsible for getting rid of toxins.
  • B4 – protects the liver.
  • B5 – normal metabolism. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to damage to the kidneys and nervous system, as well as serious hair loss.
  • B6 – metabolizes fats and proteins. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to permanent seizures, skin disease, and anemia. The B vitamin content of oatmeal protects animals that eat it from unpleasant diseases.
  • E is responsible for childbirth. Insufficient absorption by the animal’s body leads to infertility (this occurs when there is a complete lack of vitamin E in the diet).

Minerals in oatmeal

Potassium. Phosphorus. Calcium. Magnesium. Chlorine. Chlorine. Sulfur. Silicon. Sodium. Zinc. Manganese. Iron.

Minerals are responsible for: muscles, bones, cartilage, and the nervous system.

  • Potassium is a mineral found in the cat’s body cells and is needed to balance calcium and sodium levels.
  • Phosphorus is the second most important mineral in a cat’s life after calcium, and its deficiency leads to kidney disease in the cat.
  • Magnesium is a very useful and essential mineral for cats, it is good for strengthening the heart, and its deficiency leads to arrhythmia in cats.
  • Chlorine works in combination with sodium to help her body balance the internal and external environment of the cells.
  • Sulfur is a mineral that helps the cat’s body get rid of toxins and is responsible for the health of her skin and coat.
  • Calcium is a mineral that plays one of the most important roles for every living creature. It is responsible for bone formation, transmits nerve impulses and contracts muscles. In ancient times, animals suffered from a lack of this very important mineral and had rickets, their bones were very brittle. Nowadays, calcium is present in all cat diets, and the owner considers this mineral in their diet, or simply buys an additional vitamin complex for their pet.
  • Silicon is a mineral that helps all of your cat’s organs function properly.
  • Sodium, along with chlorine, provides nutrients for your cat’s cells. Failure to do so can lead to dehydration of the body.
  • Manganese is a very important mineral for your cat’s healthy development. It is necessary for the absorption of vitamins, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and calcium. The amount of manganese in cats depends entirely on the presence of calcium and phosphorus. Cats have virtually no deficiency in this mineral.
  • Zinc is essential for your cat’s healthy coat and skin. When your pet has enough zinc in their system, they will not be at risk of developing infections that can occur with inflammation from injury.
  • Iron is an important mineral in the formation of hemoglobin in cats, the body needs it at all times, when her body is small, she may develop anemia.

Oatmeal contains fiber, which acts as a brush on the intestines, cleaning all their walls from cracks, stimulating all metabolic processes in the body of the animal.

Oatmeal is very good for your cat’s digestive system. But they are very careful with their diet and will not eat porridge just without everything. So, to properly feed your pet who eats natural food, the owner should try. For porridge that is easily digested in the digestive tract, the porridge should not be dry. Oatmeal should be cooked in plenty of water and preferably in fish or meat broth. Adult cats should not eat porridge in milk.

Oatmeal for the cat

All these ingredients will complement the porridge with health benefits and make it more appealing to your pet. To diversify and balance your pet’s food, alternative ingredients are a must. Oatmeal can also be substituted with other cereals: rice, buckwheat. Veterinarians recommend feeding your cat oatmeal no more than 3 times a week. Do not mix oatmeal with ready-bought cat food.

Cat owners talk about feeding their pets oatmeal

For a year and a half now, i.e. practically since he was a baby, I feed my cat for breakfast with oatmeal in water + half a bag of canned cat food. Eats it with pleasure, and the bits of canned food sometimes leaves, and licks the porridge. In general, I am satisfied, because everyone knows the usefulness of oatmeal porridge. (Mildred)

Someone claims that oatmeal is poorly (or not at all) digested in cats. Judging by the way my feline trio eats, including oatmeal, and pardon … what comes out of the bottom of them … ))) I can tell you that it’s very digestible, excellent, I would even say… (Susie)

I know about oatmeal that it can provoke allergies. And I have not heard about any other contraindications for oatmeal and cereals in general. My cat has no such allergies, so she gets oatmeal 2-3 times a month. (Abigail)

I give some, 2-3 tablespoons of oatmeal. Anyway, better than dry food! Especially the cat likes such porridge. (Marie)

Yes, they can have it, if the cat is not allergic to gluten. Everything there is digestible, you just can’t use it as a mono-feed. But mono-food is harmful whatever it is, so you can periodically change oatmeal – for it with apple, for 4 grains and so on, for it with rice… As long as the cat eats oatmeal and feels fine, you don’t have to worry. Cats excrete all the necessary enzymes that digest oatmeal… (Ingrid)

Reyus Mammadli/ author of the article

I have had pets since childhood: cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, geese, chickens, ducks, parrots, aquarium fish and dogs (in the yard). Of course, I constantly encountered diseases of pets and treated them. Glad to be able to share my skills and experience, as well as advice on caring for and adapting these critters and birds.

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