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Both Cats and Dogs Can Eat Pumpkin! What Does Pumpkin Do for Your Pets?
Fiber, Fiber, and More Fiber
Pumpkin is high in fiber, including up to five grams per half-cup serving. In cats, fiber may provide the following potential benefits:
Fiber has laxative effects, which means it moves fur through your cat's intestinal tract rather than expelling it as a hairball. Fiber also helps to relieve constipation and encourages bowel movements for the same reason. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, can absorb excess water in the digestive tract, alleviating or lowering diarrhea.
Fiber helps your cat feel fuller faster, which aids in weight control.
Moisture
Cat’s parents are typically unaware that their cats aren't drinking enough water or getting adequate moisture in their diets. That's why your veterinarian may advise you add canned wet food to your cat’s diet. Pumpkin is high in moisture and has fiber-friendly laxative qualities, making it a hydrating food.
Other Nutrients
Pumpkin also contains a variety of other nutrients that aid your cat's immune system, vision, cellular respiration, and hemoglobin formation, among other things. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, alpha carotene, calcium, iron, and lutein are among these nutrients.
How Should You Give Pumpkin to Your Cats?
The best option is 100% canned pumpkin. As long as it's free of chemicals, fillers, sugar, or spices, you can feed them 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon pumpkin to your adult cat once a day or incorporate it into their food by baking them in the oven and mixing it with their regular food.
Do not give your cat:
- Raw pumpkin,
- Pumpkin pulp,
- Pumpkin stems, or
- Pumpkin skin straight out of a fresh pumpkin.
Pumpkin Seeds
Cats may eat pumpkin seeds as long as they've been washed and roasted for an hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you would want to grind up the seeds as you do not want the seeds to get stuck in your cat's windpipe.
Recipes with Pumpkins:
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree?
Healthy Salmon Pumpkin Paw Treats
Pumpkin Tuna Cat Treats