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Don’t you just love the smell and taste of roasted asparagus? There’s nothing quite like it! The food is very healthy and may even be appetizing to your cat! But what happens if your cat snitches and eats some asparagus?
Has your cat eaten asparagus? Are you worried the asparagus will make your cat sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your cat eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about asparagus and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Asparagus?
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial plant that’s a member of the lily family! Who knew? The vegetable features slender spears that are pointed on the end, with scale-like tips. We eat the young shoots of the plant. When they’re left to grow, the plant looks like a feathery fern.
Asparagus grows in many places around the world. Some of the largest producers of this yummy veggie are Peru, Germany, the US, and China. They grow in temperate climates where the ground freezers. The spring encourages asparagus spears to come up from the ground. These are harvested once they become 6 to 8 inches tall.
While asparagus is healthy for humans, what about cats? Can asparagus make a cat sick?
Asparagus & Cats
The good news is that asparagus is not toxic to cats. The veggie is a great source of fiber that can help your cat’s digestive tract. The vegetable also contains potassium, vitamins A, C, and K, which can be healthy for cats.
Cats can enjoy asparagus if the vegetable is first cooked by steaming or boiling it. The veggie needs to be soft to keep it from choking your kitty. You should also not use any seasonings on the veggie, as these can be bad for cats. When the veggie is chopped small enough for your cat to safely eat, add it to your cat’s regular meal.
The main issue with asparagus and cats is if a cat eats too much of the veggie. The problem is that asparagus is high in alkaline. If a cat eats too much alkaline, they can develop a UTI (urinary tract infection). It’s also possible the veggie could upset a cat’s stomach.
So, if your cat happens to eat some asparagus, watch for signs that she may be nauseated or that she may have developed a UTI.
And if you have any concerns about your cat eating asparagus, we recommend calling the vet. They have the knowledge and expertise to guide you on how to help your cat.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. No waiting for appointments or office hours. No high fees. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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