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Can Cats Eat Butter?

Cat lies on the grass.

Whether you feed your cat butter regularly, occasionally, or by accident, it's crucial to know the facts concerning feline dietary safety, especially on dairy products.

Butter is highly nutritious and provides some vitamins. It contains ingredients, such as salt, cream, and fat, which are mostly irresistible to kitties. In fact, most cats will eat butter due to its buttery taste and smell. But, is butter ok for a cat to eat? or is it safe for cats to eat butter? Well, while cats can eat butter, the fact remains that it isn't a great idea. Read on to learn why!

Is it Safe for Cats to Eat Butter?

Feeding your cats a little butter might not hurt them, but it won't be of much help either. Hence, it is generally advised against, except you're feeding them butter for a particular purpose. For example, butter contains fat and sodium which leads to weight gain, and so some cat parents with underweight cats give them butter as a weight gainer. Some other cat parents use butter as a sweetener for their cat's medications - they mix the drug in some butter, knowing that they will lap it up without hesitation. Generally, though, feeding cats with butter causes stomach upset, indigestion, diarrhea, and vomiting. This is because cats are lactose intolerant, and won't break down the butter enzymes. Also, the cat might even have a dairy allergy which will be triggered by butter consumption.

Ginger cat eats from a bowl.

Is Butter Ok for Cat to eat?

Simply put, no! Should cats eat butter? Only if it's needed. Though butter provides vitamins B-12, A, D, protein, and calcium, it has up to 80% fat, with over 65% of it being saturated. This is thus different from the healthy unsaturated fats your cat requires to thrive and grow. Whether it's vegan or animal fat, the situation remains, and so, your cats shouldn't eat butter as it isn't healthy for them. More so, your cats might not benefit from a vegan diet since felines are carnivorous.

Effects of Butter on Cats

On the question of “can cats eat butter as a treat?” So far it isn't all the time, so it might not completely be a terrible idea. You can bake some treats with butter, as a unique snack for them. Kittens that haven't been weaned are better able to tolerate dairy products than most adult cats. This is because they're born with the ability to digest and break down lactose, the major sugar in milk. However, if your cat gains too much weight from taking butter, some complications arise. This is because excessive fat consumption can shorten their lifespan, or create unexpected changes in their behavior and health. It can also cause grave complications such as pancreatitis.

Some cats naturally have a dairy allergy too, and so should never be given butter. The symptoms of this include:

  • Diarrhea,
  • Sneezing,
  • Vomiting,
  • Itchy skin,
  • Hair loss, and
  • Abdominal bloating

Cat eats from a bowl.

Conclusion

Can cats eat butter? Yes. Should cats eat butter? No. While they may love dairy products like milk, yoghurt, butter, etc, no dairy is good for cats! Research has shown that cats are mainly lactose intolerant; thus, their bodies find it hard to process dairy products in general. If you find your furry friend showing any symptoms connected with diabetes or lactose intolerance, consult a vet immediately. Rather than search for butter-healthy alternatives, be more interested in providing all your cat's nutritional needs and treats. Feed them with top-notch cat meats, foods, unsaturated fats, and some fatty acids like arachidonic acid.

We hope you found this article helpful. Do not pass by our best pet products reviews, as there you will find everything that fits your budget and taste.

FAQs

What should I do if my cat ate butter?

If you notice your cat has eaten butter, there's absolutely no need to fret! As long as your cat has no dairy allergy, it'll tolerate it well enough. Just watch out for signs of an upset stomach. However, if the cat has eaten a lot of butter, then you should consult a vet, especially if it seems sick.

Can cats be allergic to butter?

Cats can be allergic to butter. Over 10% of cats are allergic to casein, the protein in milk. Don't give cats with a dairy allergy any butter, milk, cheese, and/or yogurt.

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