The banana, banana or banana, is a very he althy fruit, energetic and rich in potassium and magnesium, carbohydrates and vitamins, all of them nutrients that make it a good food for the he alth of the people. However, they are not recommended for cats due to their carnivorous nature and the amount of sugar they contain. Even if your cat doesn't refuse to eat a little banana and it's okay if she eats a small amount from time to time, this food isn't necessary for her proper he alth and the obtaining nutrients, so you can save yourself giving fruits like this. In addition, some cats may show signs of food allergies or feel unwell.
Do you want to know if cats can eat banana or not, if it has benefits and how to offer it? Well, continue reading this article on our site to find out everything.
Are bananas bad for cats?
Actually, bananas are not bad for cats, as long as they are offered in very small amounts and every so often, never daily and much less on a diet based solely on fruits and vegetables. Unlike omnivorous animals that can take advantage of and obtain nutrients from vegetables, our cats are carnivorous by nature, so they only get the energy and essential nutrients of animal tissue, with animal protein being the main part of their diet, followed by fat.
Bananas in particular are also very rich in carbohydrates, especially when they are very ripe. Such sugar content is not good for our feline's body, which is not adapted to diets rich in carbohydrates, so its body could be affected affected, being prone to the development of diseases such as diabetes mellitus or obesity. In addition, some cats can experience an allergic reaction to even a minute consumption of bananas. To know if your cat is having such a reaction, you should pay attention to the appearance of clinical signs such as itching or swelling of the throat or mouth, as well as of the mucous membranes, symptoms of suffocation or wheezing.
Benefits of bananas for cats
As we say, the benefits of this fruit are really minimal for cats, however, offered from time to time it can provide some nutrients. Bananas have many benefits for people due to their nutritional content, highlighting the following nutrients:
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Fiber
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Folic acid
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Tannins
- Carbs
Now, of all these benefits, which ones are really useful for cats if they eat bananas? The content of potassium may be good for your cat's heart and kidney he alth, but overdoing it would also be detrimental. The folic acid in the banana helps to create new cells and protein metabolism, while fiber helps the cat's intestinal he alth, although an excess can cause diarrhoea. Regarding the latter, the banana also has tannins that could protect against this condition due to its astringent action.
However, the banana contains hardly any protein or fat, the most important macronutrients for the cat, so it's okay to offer a little from time to time, but never routinely because it does not provide them with what they need for the correct maintenance of their he alth and the obtaining of nutrients.
How to give a cat a banana?
If you have decided to try giving your cat a little banana, you should know how to do it to avoid problems:
- First of all, you have to remove the skin from the entire length of the banana, also removing the strands and anything that could choke them or make them feel bad at the digestive level.
- Next, you should cut the banana into small pieces so that your cat does not swallow them whole without chewing and could harm himself. He thinks that he is not used to eating this type of food and it could be very strange for him and he could even be scared and choke.
- The amount you should feed is around a fifth of a banana at most (four or five pieces for an adult cat). Likewise, it is very important to watch while you take it to detect any signs of allergy and to be able to act quickly.
How often to give a cat a banana?
As we mentioned before, the banana is an unnecessary fruit in the diet of cats, so you could just never give it to them. However, if you want to offer small amounts as a reward or as a special food, it is best to give your cat a banana very occasionally There are other much more beneficial foods that you can also offer as a reward, such as pieces of dehydrated tuna, pieces of chicken breast, etc. In addition, there are other fruits and vegetables that are much more recommended for these animals, such as pumpkin or strawberry, although it is also important to limit their consumption. In this other article we explain in depth what cats eat.
Do cats like bananas?
The truth is that cats may not taste the bananabecause they don't detect the sweet taste, but they do detect the bitter, acid and s alty taste. This has an explanation and it is that wild cats feed exclusively on meat, composed mostly of protein and fat and few complex carbohydrates (unlike those of fruits such as bananas), so they do not need to detect the taste sweet, since the meat is not, nor do they eat a diet rich in carbohydrates like other animals.
For this reason, your cat may neither like nor dislike bananas, maybe he likes the texture and its freshness if You offer it to them in the summer somewhat chilled, but it is different from really enjoying its taste. Definitely. it is best to give your cat a complete food intended for the feline species, since only these are formulated with the necessary nutrients for cats in their correct proportions and, if possible, look for one that contains at least 40% protein. Homemade diets are also one of the best options because they are made up of natural and fresh foods, but they must be established by a veterinarian specialized in feline nutrition in order to avoid nutritional deficiencies. In this video we talk about the BARF diet as an example of homemade food:
