Can Cats Eat Bananas?

Let's get straight to the point of whether it is safe to feed bananas to your cat. The ASPCA has labelled bananas as a non-toxic food to cats. But, does that mean that you can actually feed the banana to the cat? Unlike the poisonous potatoes, bananas might not harm the cat but they are not any good either.

Cats are fascinating creatures with a very complicated digestive and taste buds system and sometimes, watching it look at you munch on a banana could lead you to think that he actually wants a piece. If you give it to him, he might take a couple of sniffs and then leave it, or she might even take a lick or two of the banana.

Is it Safe to Give Bananas to your Cat?

Just because the fruit has been classified as non-toxic to the cat does not mean that it is safe for the cat. While it may not hurt the cat, it might end up doing more damage than good.

You need to understand that unlike humans and dogs, cats have unique nutritional requirements. If you think that it doesn't matter as long as the cat can enjoy the sugary taste, then you're mistaken. The whole question of can cats eat bananas has primarily fuelled by the sweet taste of bananas. Unfortunately, cats don't have sweet taste receptors in their taste buds and hence cannot taste the sweetness of the banana.

One of the most unique aspects of a cat's nutritional requirement is that they don't need any carbohydrates in their system. Cats do not have the enzymes in their digestive system to digest most of the plant-based foods. Additionally, cats are only able to digest carbs in a very limited way. A cat diet should not comprise more than 2% carbs.

Feeding bananas which are rich in carbohydrates for a cat are not safe. In fact, it has been linked to a variety of health problems among them diabetes and obesity.

Are Bananas Beneficial to the Cat?

Now that you have the answer to the question, "Can cats eat bananas?" you must be wondering if they are of any nutritional value to the cat. Bananas are not of any nutritional benefit to cats. What's more, cats are appalled by cold and frozen foods. In fact, if you notice your cat failing to eat some of the time, it is because the food is cold. In most cases, the banana is cold and will quickly turn off the cat. Him staring at you while you gorge down the fruit is usually a matter of curiosity.

How Can I Be Sure my Cat has its Nutrients?

The digestive system of a cat is very sensitive. There are plenty of things that humans eat that would not sit well with the kitties. Knowing what is good for your cat and what is not essential to keep your kitty safe.

In most cases, all your cat needs to meet his daily dose of nutrients and good health is high-quality cat food like Nutro Wet Cat Food. It is important for cats especially those that spend most of their time indoors to get a sufficient dose of nutrients and cat food has everything the cat needs. Another great option for all-round nutrition for cats is AvoDerm Natural Cat food.

It is important to note that most cat foods do not contain any sweeteners whether natural or artificial since they are don’t have sweet taste receptors. 

Why Are Cats Afraid of Bananas?

Cats are funny creatures, and they have their fair share of funny clips online. You might even have come across some of them. There is quite a number that show cats jump in fright when a banana is placed behind the cat without it knowing.

For the safety and comfort of your cat, you have to wonder if cats actually fear bananas. The last thing you want is to sit there thinking the cat is salivating for a banana while in essence, it is scared for its life.

The reaction of cats towards bananas can be expressed in one of two ways.

The first is that placing the banana behind the cat without him knowing puts him on edge once he realizes the presence of something unfamiliar and one that could be a potential predator. In such a case, it is only normal for the cat to take react and take flight. However, left there long enough, the cat might actually come back and make play with the banana once he realizes that it is harmless.

A ripening banana gives off a smell of ethyl acetate. To humans, the smell is quite pleasing and could actually lead you to eat the banana. For cats, the smell can be repulsive which can be the second reason for their reaction towards bananas.

It doesn't mean that cats will typically run away at the scent of a banana. In their ever-curious nature, they might want to stick around and find out what the strange thing is if it is introduced in the right way.