Updated: August 11, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
Oatmeal is a really great choice for your breakfast and many appreciate it for the amount of important nutrients and energy it provides. Now, since we know that it is so good for us we might ask ourselves can cats eat oatmeal? Let us find out all about this!
Nutritional Value and Benefits
Oatmeal contains iron, vitamin B6, zinc, calcium, manganese, a lot of fiber that will keep the cholesterol levels low and proteins. They are low in gluten and act as a nerve tonic while also acting as a digestive aid to calm the intestinal tract.
Since cats are obligate carnivores they require a diet that is rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates but oatmeal is just the opposite so it won’t make a proper meal for your pet. If you decide to give some to your cat then make sure it doesn’t have too much salt and stay away from the products that put sugar or chocolate on the cereals because these can cause a lot of serious problems.
Among the things oatmeal contain that are most important for cats iron stands out since it is a really good source for this and it ensures the blood health of your cat along with the proper function of several enzymes. Without sufficient iron the cat can become anemic.
Vitamin B6 is required for the body’s amino acids and these are even more important for cats than for humans. Calcium is also needed for the bones, muscles and nerves so there are quite a few reasons to add some oatmeal but as with any medicine, more isn’t necessarily better.
Small Amounts
A bit of oatmeal can be helpful for your cat but this should only work as a treat for them. We usually like our cereals with some milk but this isn’t the way to serve them to your cat. Most adult cats are intolerant to lactose and this might do a lot of damage so just use it as an occasional treat.
Instead of using milk you can make a sort of porridge that just uses some water to make the grain softer but the best choice is to combine the oatmeal into the wet cat food that you usually serve them. This will make it easier to swallow and it’s an efficient way to introduce the nutrients that you want from the cereal.
Avoid oatmeal cookies because most of them contain raisins and chocolate which are both really dangerous for cats (possibly proving deadly) and they also have a lot of sugar and calories that can lead to obesity.
Dry, rolled oats are also a main ingredient in granola, and if you’re thinking of letting your cat have some, the plain kind would be best, although again, it won’t offer much in terms of nutrition.
Some commercial cat food brands might add some cereal in their products or they might use other sources for iron, calcium and vitamin B6 which are the main benefits of oatmeal so check your regular cans to see if they don’t already cover the cat’s needs in that regard.
Short Answer:
Yes, cats can eat oatmeal but should do so only in small portions.
