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Feeding your cat “complete and balanced” food is vital for her well-being. Aside from delivering essential nutrients throughout her body, the right food makes her organs function properly and helps her grow into a happy, healthy kitty. Different life stages require varying nutritional content, so what you serve your pregnant cat won’t necessarily be sufficient for a senior cat.
Aside from vet-approved dry or wet cat food, paw parents can also treat their pets to snacks and meal upgrades. This includes plant-based food served in limited amounts. However, it is important to know that certain herbs and spices should not be given to cats and even dogs. Read through this compilation to find out:
- What kind of food would benefit cats?
- What are herbs and spices?
- Can cats eat these herbs?
- Can cats eat these spices?
- How should you feed your cat herbs, spices, and other food for the first time?
Remember: This blog post is only a guide. It should not replace a consultation with your veterinarian or pet nutritionist. Your cat’s doctor can give a more comprehensive diagnosis on what your cat can eat based on her age, weight, size, activity levels, and conditions.
What kind of food would benefit cats?
As obligate carnivores, cats benefit from food that contains the following nutrients: protein, fat, fiber, and water. Protein is derived from high-quality animal meat sources such as cooked turkey, beef, and chicken. Meanwhile, fat comes from meat and vegetable oil. Arginine, taurine, retinol, and niacin are examples of what cats cannot produce but can receive from eating meat. Without these nutrients, cats can suffer from health issues such as poor eyesight, weak immune system, and heart complications.
Aside from cat food, dietary fiber can also be taken from plant-based sources such as fruits and vegetables. But since cats cannot digest large amounts of plant matter, these should be given in controlled amounts. In addition, this type of food has nutrients that do not benefit cats greatly. Certain kinds of plants can even poison them.
What are herbs and spices?
A subset of vegetables, herbs are utilized not just for cooking purposes, but also for making medicine and fragrances. A plant’s leaves, flowers, and stems are taken and used in either fresh or dried form.
Spices, on the other hand, go beyond just a plant’s leaves, stems, and flowers. They can also include the seed, root, fruit, and bark. Spices are commonly sold fresh or dried, and served in whole or powdered form. Some variants can also double as food colouring.
Both herbs and spices are used to add flavour to human-friendly meals, with just a small amount needed to season a dish. In some cases, there are edible plants that are considered an herb and a spice. Examples include dill (weed and seed) and coriander (leaves and seeds).
Can cats eat these herbs?
Basil
Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, this culinary herb can be eaten by cats. Popular cat-friendly basil types include catmint and catnip. Some cats may be allergic to basil, so talk to your vet before bringing it home.
Chia grass
Growing freely in warm zones, chia grass can be consumed by cats to induce vomiting, eliminate hairballs, and prevent intestinal parasites.
Chives
Cats cannot eat chives as they fall under Allium, the same genus as garlic and onions. The N-propyl disulfide found in the herb may harm her. Symptoms include vomiting, blood in urine, and breakdown in red blood cells.
Coriander
As mentioned earlier, the coriander plant is used as an herb and spice. Cats can eat small amounts of cilantro to derive nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.
Lavender
Linalool and linalyl acetate are toxic compounds found in lavender. These can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite in cats, dogs, and horses. As such, it is not safe to have the fragrant flower as well as its dried leaves or oil version in your home.
Licorice
Sweet and slightly bitter, this flowering plant can help improve your cat’s well-being. Licorice can do wonders such as ease respiratory conditions, treat digestive issues, and soothe allergies or arthritis.
Mint
Another member of the Lamiaceae family, cats can only eat certain types of mint. Garden mint and peppermint should be avoided by cat parents as these are poisonous for their feline pets.
Parsley
Parsley contains dangerous compounds that can cause photosensitization. When too much of this herb is consumed by your cat, it may result in sunburn, blisters, and sores.
Rosemary
Commonly used for medicinal and culinary purposes, rosemary is an aromatic herb that’s safe for cats to eat.
Can cats eat these spices?
Black pepper
Sold in ground or dried form, black pepper is a spice that may leave a burning sensation in your cat’s gastrointestinal system. The heat comes from the piperine substance found in peppercorns.
Celery
The seeds of celery can be used as a spice and sold in whole or powdered form. These can be safely fed to your cat in small quantities.
Chili
Hot chili peppers should never be given to your cat as they contain the chemical capsaicin. Its effects include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, stomach pain, dehydration, runny nose, excess salivation, and watery eyes.
Cinnamon
Be careful not to expose your cat to large amounts of cinnamon in one sitting. Too much of it may affect Kitty’s circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and integumentary systems.
Cumin
Cumin seeds can be eaten by cats in moderation. Thanks to its natural antioxidants, the spice can help with digestion, weight maintenance, and disease prevention.
Curry
Err on the safe side and do not feed your cat anything made with curry powder. Since a combination of spices are used to create curry, it may include ones that are extremely harmful for her.
Garlic
Highly toxic due to the disulfides and thiosulphates present in it, garlic should always be stored properly to keep it away from cats. Remember that garlic is five times more potent than onions, so a tiny clove can instantly affect your beloved pet.
Ginger
This fragrant spice is safe for cats to eat in moderation. Whether fresh, dried, or powdered, ginger can help with a cat’s nausea and upset stomach.
Mustard
It is not recommended for cats to eat mustard seeds because they can cause severe gastroenteritis. In addition, the hot flavour can make them gassy and nauseous.
Onion
Though safe for humans, onions should not be fed to cats because of the poisonous compounds present. Your cat’s red blood cells can become fragile and burst, leading to complications such as hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia, and methemoglobinemia.
Paprika
Keep the paprika away from cats to prevent health issues from developing. Though there are sweet versions she can consume, the hotter varieties can cause watery eyes, vomiting, runny nose, and upset stomach.
Sesame
Sesame seeds should only be given to your cat once in a while as they are not easy to break down in her stomach.
How should you feed your cat herbs, spices, and other food for the first time?
Be a responsible cat carer. Only feed your feline meals, treats, and add-ons that the veterinarian has deemed harmless for her. When unsure about a certain type of herb or spice, play it safe and do not make her try it. Similarly, refrain from feeding your cat leftover food as these may have been prepared with other ingredients that are bad for her.
If your vet agrees to add a certain kind of herb or spice to your cat’s diet, do a dry run and let her try a tiny portion for the first time. A lick of the powder or a small portion of a leaf is enough. Once eaten, see how her body reacts to it throughout the day. Also, observe her for any changes in her mood, behaviour, eating, drinking, and excreting habits.
To find out more about proper cat feeding, read through our “can cats eat” category. Find out which seafood, legumes, beans, nuts, and seeds your feline pet can have.
If you own or care for a dog, you can also take a look at our “can dogs eat” category.
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