Can Cats Eat Spinach? This Is What You Need To Know

Everyone knows that leafy greens are important for our diet, as it has many health benefits. Spinach is no exception. Spinach is one of the most popular green vegetables in our diet, sometimes called a “superfood”.

There are many benefits of spinach; it is full of minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, folate, and potassium, and many other important nutrients that are important for our organism.

So, if spinach is so healthy and important for humans, here’s a question that every cat owner will want to ask – can cats eat spinach? In short, yes; cats can eat spinach. However, you have to be careful just as with any human food you give to your cat.

So, if you want to feed your feline friend spinach, then read on to find out more about keeping your pet healthy.

Can Cats Eat Spinach?

If you wondered can cats eat spinach, well the answer is yes. Spinach is safe for cats to eat. However, although spinach is safe for cats, cats are obligate carnivores which means that a cat’s diet should be based on meat because it contains the necessary nutrients for optimum health.

That doesn’t mean that cats shouldn’t eat spinach or other green vegetables that are safe for them. You can always add a small amount of spinach or other vegetables to your cat’s food to provide her with essential nutrients.

The most important thing to know is that spinach is not toxic for your feline, but you have to pay attention to the amount of spinach you’re giving your cat because eating a lot of spinach can cause health issues.

So, make sure you pay attention to your feline’s diet because your cat’s health should be a priority!

Can Kittens Eat Spinach?

It’s not the best idea to feed your kitten spinach. It probably wouldn’t do any harm to your kitten, but the difference is that kittens and their digestive systems are not quite as developed as adult cats.

So, it’s for the best if your kitten continues to drink its mother’s milk as this will provide it with all the necessary nutrients for further development.

However, if your kitten is not with its mother anymore, then the best thing you can do is to feed it with quality kitten food.

How Much Spinach Can A Cat Have?

Now you know the answer to the question can cats eat spinach, you are probably wondering how much spinach a cat should have. Well, it’s the same as with every other human food that is not particular to your feline’s diet.

Cats shouldn’t eat huge quantities of spinach, especially for the first time. If you want to introduce spinach to your cat’s diet, then you should start with small quantities and rarely. In that way, the cat’s system will have time to get used to the new food gradually.

Again, as cats are carnivores, they may not be very excited at seeing spinach in their food bowl, so it’s best if you mix it with the cat food.

Can Cats Eat Cooked Spinach? Is It Safe To Eat?

Can cats eat spinach if it’s cooked? Yes, BUT, if you decide to feed your feline with cooked spinach, make sure you only give them tiny amounts. There are several reasons for this.

The first one is that cooked spinach has high amounts of calcium oxalate which may cause health issues such as urinary problems or even kidney stones.

As well as the amount of spinach, you should pay attention to how it is cooked. Spinach is safest for cats if it is steamed. Boiling is not good because spinach loses many of its beneficial nutrients that way. Also, avoid adding seasonings, salt or oils.

Quick tip: If you want to learn more about the effects of salt on cats, read Happy Whisker’s article on can cats eat salt.

If your cat has ever had problems with their urinary tract or bladder stones, make sure that you avoid feeding her spinach completely.

Can Cats Eat Raw Spinach? Is It Safe To Eat?

Raw spinach is safe for healthy cats to eat as long as it’s given in small quantities just like other veggies. Raw spinach will provide your cat with a high amount of vitamins.

However, spinach is also high in oxalates which may be bad for your cat, especially if your cat has ever suffered from urinary tract infections or kidney problems.

Is Spinach Good For Cats?

In fact, spinach is very good for healthy cats, if given rarely. Many commercial cat foods contain small pieces of spinach because it contributes nutrients to the pet food..

So, have a look at some of the benefits of spinach:

• Spinach contains omega-3 fatty acids which are highly beneficial.

• Spinach is full of vitamins and minerals.

• Spinach contains nitrates that can be helpful with heart diseases.

• Spinach is low-calorie which makes it perfect for weight management.

• Spinach contains carotenoids which improve vision, and that’s highly important for cats.

• Spinach contains natural antioxidants which can be helpful in preventing cancer.

• Spinach has dietary fiber which can be helpful for a cat with digestive system problems.

• Spinach is good for cats suffering from constipation.

Fun fact: There is another green vegetable very healthy for cats – celery! Yes, you heard it right. To learn more about it, I suggest reading can cats eat celery.

Is Spinach Bad For Cats?

Spinach is not bad for cats as long as your feline friend is healthy and as long as you give her spinach in small amounts.

However, as previously mentioned, if your cat has kidney problems or urinary problems, make sure you avoid adding spinach to her diet.

Your cat’s diet shouldn’t be based on food with high calories. Luckily, spinach is good because one spinach leaf only contains about 2 calories, making it perfectly safe for your pet friend.

Make sure that your feline’s diet is based mostly on meat (such as beef, chicken, sardines or tuna), because frequently giving large amounts of spinach can cause indigestion or even vomiting.

Health Benefits That A Cat Can Have From Spinach

As we have discovered, cats can get many health benefits from eating a little spinach.

Spinach can protect your cat’s health thanks to the vitamins and minerals it contains. Moreover, it contains fiber which can help improve the cat’s digestion. It is low in calories which is ideal if you need to control your cat’s weight.

One of the most important health benefits of spinach is that it has substances that help in the regulation of blood pressure, thus preventing heart diseases in cats, as well as cancer.

And finally, a cat’s vision is very important for them – especially in the dark – and spinach is the perfect vegetable for maintaining their vision!

To Wrap It Up

Some food that is healthy for humans is not healthy for your cat. So can cats eat spinach? Yes! Spinach is generally a perfect, healthy food for your cat.

However, you have to be careful. I advise you to avoid feeding your cat spinach if it has kidney or urinary problems. If your cat is perfectly healthy, then a tiny amount of spinach would influence the cat’s overall health positively.

Both raw and cooked spinach are safe for your cat, but make sure you avoid adding condiments, oils, and especially salt.