Sunflower seeds are well-known snacks for human because it contains a lot of nutrients and health benefits. But as a loving cat parent, you might ask, can cats eat sunflower seeds? And also want to know that Are sunflower seeds poisonous to cats?
I would say yes cat can eat sunflower seeds in a quick answer, and it is not poisonous for the cat. But do you know how amount sunflower seeds your cat can eat in a day? What are the health benefits of sunflower seeds to your cat? And what might happen if your cat eats an excess number of sunflower seeds?
I have decorated this guide with all answer to your question related to your cat and sunflower seeds. So, scroll down to read more.
Can cats eat sunflower seeds?
Yes, a cat can eat sunflower seeds without the shell. The ASCA organization proved that sunflower and its seeds are not toxic for a pet.
However, it would help if you discarded the seeds’ shell because a sharp and hard shell can hurt the cat’s tongue and internal throat injuries. Besides, hard shell can’t be digested easily. Also, keep in mind to buy fresh seeds because older seeds may occur an abdominal problem in your cat’s health.
The Health Benefits of Cats to eat sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds have incredible health benefits for human. It contains omega fatty acids, fiber, vitamin and minerals.
No-toxic:
ASPCA stated that sunflower seeds are one of the safe foods for pets. So, if you feed your cat sunflower seed, there has no bad impact on cats’ gastrointestinal health. However, the hard seeds might get stuck into the cat gut. It is why it is recommended to provide smaller size and soft seeds to your cat.
Protein:
The main part of the predatory animal is a protein that they get from meat or fish since sunflower seeds are a great source of protein to let your feline eat sunflower seeds but must leave the seed shell.
Fiber:
Foods with fiber keep the digestive system active for all animal-like human or pet. In this case, sunflower seeds work great because a prebiotic fiber increases the animal gut’s health-friendly bacteria. Also, fiber-rich foods keep the stools firm and normal.
But it is better to refrain from feeding extra fiber. Many cat owners feed their feline excessive fiver rich food for better digestion, but additional fiber can be harmful to the cat. Even sometimes, additional fiber can occur gasses in your felines gut.
Vitamin E:
Sunflower seeds contain Vitamin E, which has a good impact on animal health. Most importantly, vitamin E increases the brightness of a cat fur and hair. So, sunflower seeds might help make shiny the cat fur. Besides, it has an unbelievable medical benefit for a cat. Good to know that vitamin E can prevent severe cancer.
Vitamin B1:
Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamine. It is beneficial for a cat’s health. Studies have shown that cats often suffer from a lack of thiamine. So, you can let your cat eat some sunflower seeds.
Selenium:
Selenium is great for cancer prevention like vitamin E. Do note that selenium has one antioxidant, which is good for cancer prevention.
Tasty:
Sunflower seeds are not only good for cat health but also very tasty to cat. And this is why cats are interested in eating sunflower seeds.
How Many Sunflower Seeds Can Cats Eat?
It is good to take a moderate food for all animals. Especially which animals have smaller stomach they should eat moderate food. Animals like a cat have a small stomach so they can’t digest as like a human. Similarly, sunflower seeds will work well for your cat if the amount is small. Otherwise, it will cause a health risk for your cat.
Is Sunflower Seed Oil Safe for Cats?
Can cat eats sunflower oil? Do you think that is sunflower seed oil safe for cats? You maybe wonder that sunflower seed or oil none is ideal for a cat. But if you want to take some sunflower items for your cat, I would say to prefer the oil first. Sunflower oil is better to work then seeds because it is easier to feed and digest it soon. Besides, some cat parents are interested to know that can cats eat vegetables oil? For those owners I would say that some fish, safflower, or flax oil is safe for cat.
Can Cats Eat Sunflower Seed Butter?
No matter what you say about seed, oil or butter, all have the same quality for cats. However, butter is relatively better than oil and seeds. Also, butter is good for consumption. But must avoid the industrial butter because it can cause dangerous health issues.
Can Cat Eat Shelled Sunflower Seeds?
You might be curious that can cats eat sunflower seeds with shells? Shelled sunflower seeds are harmful to cats. That is why you should avoid feeding then shelled seeds. If you notice that the cat has eaten the seeds with the shell then take immediate action.
The bad impact of eating shelled sunflower seeds:
- The hard shell is critical to chew and digest for your cat
- Shell might get sucked into the cat throat, tongue and choked
- Sharp shell piece might reach into the stomach and punctured the digestive system
- Eating shells can cause pain in your cat’s stomach
When Are Sunflower Seeds Unideal?
Even though sunflower seeds have health benefits for a cat but it is not ideal cat food. It is enough to give your cat normal protein-rich food fish or meat. It is better not to feed the cat the seed of success unless necessary.
Vets are suggested to avoid sunflower seed because it may occur toxic in some cases. If you have seeds in your home, then make sure about the unshelled. And also remember not to feed your cat commercial sunflower seeds because it is mainly for human consumption. Keep in mind that cat digestive system is different from human so they can’t digest all human food.
Concerned your cat has eaten too many sunflower seeds.
Although I am not a vet, I have researched many foods for my felines. So, I have learnt that eaten too many sunflower seeds might create some health issues for your cat. Here are the common symptoms for your concerned.
- Vomiting
- Lacking appetite
- Bowel movement change
- Excess water drinking
- Frequent urinating
- Behavior changes
- Lethargy
- Stomach pain
- Drooling
- Difficulties in movement
- Blood signs
- Dizziness
Citrus fruit vs sunflower seeds which is better for cats?
Many cat owners ask can cats eat lemon? The quick answer is no. On the other hand, if you ask about sunflower seeds, then the quick answer will be no. So, when you want to compare the citrus fruit like lemon and sunflower seed, sunflower seeds are much better than any citrus fruit. Moreover, sunflower seeds have a lot of health benefit. On the other hand, citrus fruit has a huge health risk for your cat.
What you can do to save your cat from sunflower seed
Protect the sunflower:
Have you a sunflower farm or a small garden in your home? Your pet cat can easily reach into the garden and take some seeds as per their wish. You might not observe the feline at all times. So, the feline could eat excess seeds often, which might be dangerous for it. So, what should you do? You can cover the larger flower with a thinner net. Cats are generally doesn’t eat raw seeds, so you have not covered the raw sunflower. I hope this process will help you a lot.
Observed the cat food habit:
If possible, make your home catproof so that the feline can’t go inside the sunflower garden. And observed your cat what it had eaten all day long. If you have sunflower seeds, they might try to eat. So, I observed them as much as possible.
Hide your sunflower seed snacks:
If you have some success seeds for yourself or your family members, be sure to hide them so that the cat will not find them. It will reduce the chances of your cat eating extra seeds.
FAQ’S
- Can cats eat salted sunflower seeds?
Can cats have salted sunflower seeds? No, salted sunflower seeds are not good at all for cat health. International vets are suggested to avoid salted seeds for the cat.
- How bad is eating sunflower seeds?
Sunflower seeds are naturally good for health. But if you take a lot of salted sunflower seeds, you might be affected by kidney and heart disease.
- Can sunflower seeds hurt cats?
Sunflower seeds can hurt the cat’s gut if here has a shell in the seeds.
- Are sunflowers toxic to cats?
No, the sunflower is not toxic for cats, and it proved.
- What benefits do sunflower seeds have?
Sunflower seeds have a lot of nutrients like vitamins, minerals and protein.
- Are sunflower seeds good for weight loss?
It is not so effective for weight loss, but you can get a bit of support from seeds.
Final Words
I believe you have found a lot of unknown information from this guide about a sunflower’s seeds. And also, you have hit the answer to your question can cats eat sunflower seeds. In a quick answer, cats can eat sunflower seeds, but they should take a moderate number of seeds since a cat can’t control their food habit, so you need to control your cat habit.
