Can cats eat pistachios

Pistachios are one of my favorite snacks and as I was snacking on a bunch of them the other day, my cat expressed an interest in them which is the source of inspiration for this article. So, can cats eat pistachios?

Nuts are quick and efficient energy boosters for us humans. Pistachios are one of the most popular nuts because they are not only great for health with incredible nutritional values but also that they are tasty. Pistachios also is a common ingredient in many desserts and other food products. Well! Most of us like pistachios, but what about our pets?

Were there instances when your cute cat came close to you, wanting a share of the pistachios that you were eating? Were you tempted to give in to the cat’s sweet drooling face and give one to him/her? But Wait! Can you feed your cat pistachios? Though it is considered to be healthy for humans, can it turn out to be dangerous for our meow mates?

Can you give cats pistachios?

To answer that, in a nutshell, it is better to keep your cats away from pistachios. Don’t panic if your cat has eaten a few pistachio nuts by mistake; they are not grave for its health. However, though not fatal, they can pose multiple health risks to cats when consumed regularly or in large amounts.

Health threats cat have from eating pistachios

Although Pistachios are considered a healthy food for humans, they can have the opposite effect on cats. These otherwise tasty nuts are not suitable for your cat’s health due to the following reasons:

Pistachios can cause gastrointestinal issues in cats

One of the most common issues your cat would face after consuming pistachios would be experiencing gastrointestinal distress problems. As nuts like pistachios are not easy to digest for a cat’s digestive system, it might result in extreme gas and bloating.

Excessively eating nuts can even give omnivorous creatures like us a bad case of indigestion, bloating, and gas. Hence, carnivorous animals like cats would only have it tougher digesting nuts like pistachios. Moreover, the size of your little pet also doesn’t help. The smaller the body and digestive system, the harder it would be for your feline friend to digest the nuts without having gastrointestinal distress. Hence, it is a best practice to keep your cats completely away from pistachios.

Foreign body obstruction risk

Apart from gastrointestinal issues, feeding your pet cat pistachios may also cause foreign body obstruction. Generally, foreign body obstruction is caused by fruit seeds or nutshells.

To explain it in detail, the condition like foreign body obstruction occurs when somebody is stuck in the intestinal tract. This can turn out to be a grave condition with a lot of pain and discomfort. Most of the time, cats need to undergo surgery to remove the foreign body from the intestinal tract, which can be a painful procedure.

Artificial Flavouring Ingredients

As pistachios are one of the most popular snacks, they come in a variety of flavors such as salted, onion, or garlic. These packaged pistachios contain a lot of artificial flavoring agents or other artificial ingredients. We might enjoy these flavors, but these can be very dangerous for your cats.

A lot of salt can be fatal for the cat. Hence, make sure not only in pistachios, but your cats should not eat too much salt in any form or any food. Apart from salt, you can not give your cat garlic or onion. They are both toxic foods for cats and can cause serious harm to them.

So, cats can not eat pistachios as it is, but what about the pistachio flavored foods? For example. Can you give you cat a pistachio pudding? Here is a breakup of the ingredients of pistachio pudding and if they suit your cat’s digestive system.

Are dairy products okay for cats?

Apart from the pistachios, pudding contains dairy products. In contrast to the popular belief that cats love milk, and they are often caught sipping into your milk, dairy is not actually good for your cat’s health.

Even though it was a common belief right from the early 20th century that milk is not suitable for cats, we always imagine a cat drinking milk. This is so because they are drawn to the smell of dairy products such as milk, puddings, ice cream, etc.

Similar to pistachios, dairy products contain fats and carbohydrates that can irritate your cat’s stomach. They can further cause digestion-related issues such as diarrhea. Hence, keep your cat away from milk and other milk products. If your cat often has stomach issues, it might be worthwhile to shift to a sensitive stomach cat food.

So, not only pudding but any kind of ice cream or milkshake is a big no-no for your cute kitten. Does that mean cats can be lactose intolerant?

Is your cat lactose intolerant?

When they are kittens, cats survive on their mother’s milk, just like us. However, as they get old, their digestive system becomes less tolerant to the presence of milk and dairy in their food. That said, a few cats may be more intolerant to lactose food products than others. If your cat consumes milk products and seems to be fine, perhaps, its degree of intolerance is less. However, you should still not feed your cat milk or its products to avoid any digestion issues. If you haven’t tried feeding your cat milk, you should not try to, as a few cats may be extremely intolerant, which may cause severe stomach issues.

Are Pistachios safe for cats?

To conclude, pistachios or pistachio puddings can cause extreme digestive problems, which could be fatal. Hence, make sure you are not giving your cat any nut. Also, be cautious about milk and milk-based products. A spoonful of milk may not do much harm, but, when consumed in large quantities, milk, salt, and nuts can have dangerous effects on your cat’s health. It is a good idea to have knowledge of cat nutrition. Here’s our comprehensive guide on cat nutrition to help you choose the perfect cat food.