Yes and no.
Licorice or liquorice is a flowering plant from the Fabaceae bean family. Its root is typically used to extract a sweet, aromatic flavouring used for confections, tobacco, and even cough syrups and lozenges. PetMD states that licorice root can improve your cat’s overall health. It can treat digestive issues, ease respiratory conditions, and clean the blood. The root can even soothe cats suffering from allergies or arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Licorice candy, on the other hand, is not recommended for cat consumption. Though its flavour is derived from the same licorice plant, the other ingredients mixed in to produce the confection may be harmful for your pet cat. Available in sweet and salty variants, licorice may contain sugar or salt—two harmful ingredients for cats. Aside from not being able to taste sweetness, sugar can bring about dental issues, weight gain, and feline diabetes. Meanwhile, salt can cause diarrhea, vomiting, appetite loss, lethargy, incoordination, and excessive thirst or urination in your cat.
In addition to the ingredients used to make licorice candy, its texture may be tough for cats to handle. Eating it may result in airway and internal blockages or dental problems.
How to feed licorice root to your cat: Talk to your veterinarian to find out if your cat would benefit from eating licorice root. Once you get his approval, start off with a very small portion. Keep an eye on her over the next 24 hours to check how the plant affects her body. Do not offer red or black licorice candy to your cat.
In summary: Introducing fresh or dried licorice root to your cat’s diet may benefit her in the long run, as long as she is not allergic or intolerant to the plant. However, it’s important to monitor the amount you give her. Too much licorice root may cause a dip in potassium levels, increase in blood pressure, and irregular heart rhythms.
Find out which fruits and vegetables you can safely feed your cat by checking out our blog’s “can cats eat” category.
References:
Wikipedia: Liquorice (confectionery)
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