Can cats eat potatoes?

Cats may be carnivores, but many people feed their cats food with grains and other plant-based ingredients. If you’re wondering if your cat can eat potatoes, the answer is . . . maybe! Potatoes are safe to feed your pet if she has no issues digesting carbohydrates (which many cats do). Potatoes are high in starch, making some cats sick if they don’t process it well.

Can Cats Eat Potatoes?

Cats cannot eat potatoes because they are not omnivores and lack the necessary enzymes in their stomachs to digest the carbohydrate. Potatoes, like grains and legumes, contain high amounts of carbohydrates which would cause a cat’s pancreas to overproduce insulin. This may lead to diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Cats also lack an enzyme called amylase, which breaks down starch molecules into sugar molecules. The sugar from potatoes can be hazardous for cats because it will not be properly digested and instead turn into fatty acids in their liver which may result in pancreatitis or even kidney failure if left untreated.

Types of Potatoes

There are two types of potatoes – white and sweet. Humans can eat white potatoes, but sweet potatoes have a more complex carbohydrate that is not well-digested by humans. They can feed sweet Potatoes to dogs, which are omnivores. Cats are carnivores and do not need carbohydrates, so they should avoid eating sweet potatoes altogether.

Nutrition Facts

The potato is a starchy vegetable that can be a valuable part of your pet’s diet. Potatoes provide important carbohydrates and B-complex vitamins, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid.

However, some potential health risks are associated with feeding your cat raw or cooked potatoes. These include the potential for gastrointestinal upset and, if large amounts are consumed, the possibility of anemia due to vitamin deficiency.

Other Side Effects

Yes, your cat can eat potatoes. However, there are some side effects. The most common one is gas. Depending on the size of your cat and how many potatoes they ate, the gas may smell bad. It might also make their stool smell bad as well! Other side effects include bloating and diarrhea.