 Peanuts make an excellent, readily available snack for people around the world. They are sold in many varieties and are seasoned with different spices depending on where one lives. But can cats partake in these treats? Cats are true carnivores, so the bulk of their nutrition will be sourced from animal proteins and fats. And as pet owners, we love to share fun treats with our cats. But it is important to remember that your cat's digestive system is very different from yours, and the snacks and treats we enjoy are not always ideal for cats. Can cats eat peanuts? Yes, cats can eat peanuts. There is nothing toxic in shelled, unsalted peanuts for your cat. Still, you should not feed peanuts to cats because they are many health risks involved, including obesity, diarrhea, and peanut allergy you should read more about the potential risks before your cat eats peanuts. It should also be noted that peanuts are not a viable source of nutrients for cats or kittens, plus they have a large amount of monounsaturated fat, which cats are not equipped to digest. This poses a health risk that we will discuss later. Contrary to popular belief, peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes. And since legumes are plants, it is easy to understand why peanuts should not be part of the cat's natural diet. Cats are carnivores, and to keep them healthy, you need to offer them a balanced diet of high-protein cat food. Other food should only be served as treats, making up about 5 to 10% of their daily food intake. As you can see, it's not just a matter of yes or no. The peanut itself is in no way toxic, but there are health concerns in feeding them to your kitty. And, of course, there are many types of peanuts available are they all a health risk? When it comes to cats and peanuts, you will be glad to know that unsalted, plain peanuts you buy at the grocery store are not toxic to cats. It will not hurt your cat if a plain peanut is dropped on the floor, and they come over and eat it. If a kitten were to come over and eat such an item, it would not harm them, either. It just may be hard for them to chew and digest as they are not as developed as adult cats. The variety of peanuts served matters. The variety of peanuts served matters, though. Only unsalted, roasted peanuts are okay. This is because a small bit of salt on a single peanut won't hurt, but salt in large amounts is toxic and should not be voluntarily served to your pet. This makes an unsalted peanut a far better choice if you want your cat to have a taste of peanuts. When it comes to other varieties of peanuts, such as boiled peanuts or candied peanuts, things get a bit dicey. Boiled peanuts are okay. After all, a single boiled peanut is soft and won't harm your cat, but peanuts with honey roast, chocolate or yogurt coating, or spices are not a good idea. For starters, sugar is not favored by cats as they lack the receptors to taste the sweetness. Chocolate is toxic to cats, and peanuts with seasonings contain additives that are not healthy for your cat. Now, on to shelled peanuts. Never give your cat a shelled peanut. The shell is hard for cats to digest if swallowed and could lead to digestive system damage. Remove and discard all shells before offering your cat a peanut. Furthermore, the shells are often coated with salt, which can cause dehydration, poisoning, or extreme thirst in your cat. Lastly, do cats really even like peanuts? It depends on the cat. Some owners report their cats are right there to snap up the peanut, while others say their cat sniffs it and moves on, totally uninterested. In any case, when it comes to many human foods, the quantity served, the type you offer, and how often you allow your cat to consume it matters just as much. Continue watching to explore all the health risks and caveats associated with cats eating peanuts. Are peanuts good for cats? There are no benefits to giving your cat peanuts. Cats are carnivores and require protein and animal fats from quality pet foods in order to maintain their health. Peanuts simply cannot provide this type of nutrition. Even the fats they offer, monounsaturated fats, are hard on the feline digestive system to handle. For these reasons, we don't recommend feeding peanuts to your cat. Although they are not toxic to your kitty, they do come with a few health risks. Hello. This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out BeemixPets.com. Use coupon code KittenLife, to get 20% off. Peanut allergy. Although peanuts are not toxic to cats and peanuts are actually a legume, they may cause nut allergies, which are not uncommon in cats. If you serve your kitty a peanut for the first time and she experiences diarrhea or vomiting as a result, chances are it is only due to the feline's inability to digest the nut properly. It takes time and repeated exposure for a food allergy to show itself. So if your cat has eaten peanuts in the past, but you begin to notice sneezing, vomiting, or swelling, it's likely she has an allergy. In addition to these symptoms, cats with a nut allergy often have itching, which may lead to bald spots. Food allergies in cats can be overlooked because the symptoms are similar to other less worrying things like scratching because of dry skin or vomiting hairballs. Actually, since nut allergy is one of the most common reasons for itching in cats, if you witness any excessive scratching, you should always contact a vet to assess the need for more tests. Diarrhea. Diarrhea and vomiting can also come about as a result of the fat contained in peanuts. The feline digestive system is not equipped to handle such large amounts of fat, which can result in your cat experiencing these unpleasant side effects. Weight gain. The fat of these nuts brings about another risk, that obesity. Cats, especially those who are indoor felines, run the risk of not getting enough exercise and eating too much food. This leads to obesity, which can cause diabetes in your cat. The symptoms of feline diabetes include thirst, increased urination, weight loss, increased appetite. Sometimes these symptoms go unnoticed, although diabetes needs to be treated properly to ensure a good long life. If you're worried about any signs your cat may be showing, contact a vet to evaluate the symptoms. Shells are dangerous. Shells are another hazard we've briefly touched on. Peanut shells are hard for your cat to chew. As a result, your cat could try to swallow a particularly large chunk and end up choking on it. And not just the shell, the peanut itself also poses a choking hazard. Although cats are rarely voracious eaters, it is not impossible for a cat to try to swallow an entire peanut. Also, the shells are very sharp when broken into pieces or chewed. It can result in your cat tearing their stomach lining or their throat. It's also important to be careful if you drop a shelled peanut on the floor. It might be funny to watch your cat bat it around, but if they decide to bite, the consequences could be dire. Lastly, peanuts do nothing for cats as far as nutrients go. They don't offer your pet any animal fats or proteins cats need to thrive. It's like candy for humans, harmless if eaten in small quantities but offers no nutritional benefits whatsoever. Salt poisoning. Even though a cat's body needs salt, sodium, to function, too much salt is very harmful and may cause salt poisoning. When there is too much salt in the body, it causes an imbalance in the electrolytes and prevents the body from functioning normally. Vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, urination, and excessive thirst can be signs of salt poisoning. In severe cases, it may lead to tremors, seizures, coma, kidney damage, or even death. One or two salted peanuts will not harm your kitty, but keep in mind that cats are small creatures, and even a small amount of salty foods may affect their health. If you're worried your cat might be getting too much sodium in its diet, you can contact a vet for peace of mind. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button. Also don't forget to subscribe with notifications on, so that you don't miss out on videos like this. Thank you for watching.