Can Cats Eat Asparagus

Our cats may be the most adorable pets we have, but this does not mean we have to make them enjoy all our sumptuous delicacies. However, these carnivorous felines should be well taken care of especially when diet is at stake. Most pet keepers do not really know how to distinguish whether or not a type of food is appropriate for their pets, especially vegetable diets. Nevertheless, if you have really desired to know whether cats can eat asparagus, then this article is the best for you. But first:

What is asparagus?

Asparagus is a vegetable that is usually cultivated because of its shoots that are edible. Although it is considered to be native to the Mediterranean countries, asparagus is currently cultivated in most regions of the world.

Nutritional benefits of asparagus

This tall plant with smooth feathery foliage has a variety of nutritional benefits. It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals as well as rich dietary roughage. It also has potassium that is usually essential for our hearts and necessary for maintaining blood pressure. Despite these nutritional benefits, one question still stands out:

Can cats really eat asparagus?

Of course! Cats can eat asparagus though in small amounts. Here is why:

Why cats CAN eat asparagus

Cats are naturally meant to be obligate carnivores. However, domestic cats do not have the pleasure of usually making a hunt like their wild nephews. In the wild, cats eat almost every part of their kill including but not limited to: hides, bones, hooves, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. These parts of their meal are a rich source of roughage.
However for domestic cats, their source of roughage is limited, hence they usually rely on vegetables, such as asparagus for roughage. Roughages in the diet of a cat help in regulating digestion.

Why cats SHOULD NOT eat asparagus

Cats are meant to be carnivores. Their essential diet should majorly consist of proteins and fats which are always found in meat. Besides, asparagus is very rich in potassium thus very alkaline. High alkaline levels can lead to alteration of the cat’s urine chemistry leading to a possibility of crystal formation and a potential risk of blockage in the urinary tract, which can consequently lead bacterial infections.

Moreover, cats do not usually indulge in exercise. Therefore, giving them a lot of human foods puts them at a potential risk for obesity. Additionally, this can lead to an overworked pancreas hampering the production and release of insulin from the pancreas, consequently leading to feline diabetes.

These furry creatures with an adorable natural silhouette are very different from us humans. Our body size and chemistry are so distinct that we should not compel our cats to partake of our meals. Although there are benefits for giving your cats asparagus, the potential risks are far much dangerous and outweigh the benefits. It is therefore not advisable to feed your cats on asparagus even in little amounts. However, you should seek for alternative meals with high protein and fat content for your cat.

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