Can Cats Eat Walnuts – Are They Safe?

If you are a cat owner, you must know how important it is to provide healthy and nutritious food to your cat, and you must also be worried about the specific food items that your cat craves while you have them on the couch. Walnuts are considered suitable for us, but the one question which comes to mind before giving it to the cats is: can cats eat walnuts?

Cats shouldn’t eat walnuts. Walnuts are high in fat and can make your cat lethargic or lead to diarrhea or vomiting. However, if your cat had a small number of walnuts in a day, that will not be a significant problem, but it should not be made a habit. 

In this blog, we will discuss in detail questions like, is it okay if your cat had a walnut, what happens when your cat eats walnut, is the walnut shell bad for cats, what to do if your feline ate a walnut, and many others like that.

Is It Ok for Cats to Eat Walnuts

It is not a significant problem if your cat has a walnut, but make sure that it does not become regular. As mentioned earlier, walnuts are not a good option for cats, and they should be avoided. 

Now, the question arrives: why are walnuts not recommended for cats even though they are good for humans. The answer is simple. Cats usually obtain all their proteins and the required amount of fat from lean meats and other canned cat food. They do not need walnuts to load them with fats. Nuts are generally higher in fats which can make your cat fat if consumed daily. 

Walnuts can even lead to conditions like diarrhea and vomiting in cats. In case the walnut is a bit molded, then it becomes more harmful for your fluffy friend. Molded walnuts are poisonous and can lead to several diseases in your cat; thus, avoid them altogether.

What Happens If My Cat Eats Walnuts

If your cat accidentally eats walnuts, it will not die immediately, which sounds like a sigh of relief, but it isn’t really. Generally, cats are not very much fond of eating walnuts. In addition, walnuts have higher fat content in them, and these fats are not of the type your cat loves or needs.

If a cat eats walnuts, it will hurt its digestive tract because cats have a smaller digestive tract than humans. Thus, she will feel discomfort, digestive upset and will not be able to digest walnuts comfortably. In some instances, it leads to problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and even kidney failure. 

It can even get worse and lead to conditions like pancreatitis in case your cat ate too many walnuts. Thus, it is strongly recommended not to feed walnuts and, in general, any nut to your four-legged feline friend.

Is Walnut Shell Toxic For Cats

Walnut shells are not toxic, but they can result in choking your cat due to their sharp edges. Hence it is best to avoid them. Cats cannot chew these hard shells, and even if they break them into small parts, they can still choke the cats, which is a problem.

The shells of walnuts are hard to digest even. Your feline friend has a small digestive tract, and these shells, if swallowed, can be struck in the tract. This can cause a blockage, which will cause discomfort, uneasiness, and you might even need to take the cat to a vet. Thus, it is better to keep away walnut shells as well as walnuts from cats.

What To Do If Cat Eats Walnuts

If your cat has eaten a walnut, it will not be a major problem, and you do not need to take her to a vet, but there is more to it. If your cat has eaten only a single walnut, it is not very dangerous until it starts showing specific symptoms of distress, discomfort, or uneasiness in the stomach. If she does, then you need to take it to the vet.

In case your cat has eaten salted or chocolate-covered walnuts, then it might cause a problem. This is because salt is poisonous for cats, and chocolate is no better. Thus, you need to contact a vet. Similarly, if your cat has eaten a larger number of walnuts, then it is recommended to take her to the vet at the earliest.

What Kinds of Nuts Can Cats Eat

Cats can eat cashews, chestnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts but in a small quantity only. Almost all nuts are high in fats and oil and do not provide the felines with much nutritional value. They can also lead to weight gain and other problems, but some nuts can be given in smaller quantities to the cats, sometimes.

Cashews are considered generally safe for cats but only when given in tiny amounts. Chestnuts are low in fat, making them a better option overall, but they are high in carbs and thus, should be given in smaller quantities only. Pecans and hazelnuts are also safe if given moderately.

Things To Consider

Walnuts are not a good choice to feed your feline not because they do not have any nutritional value but also because they are rich in fats and proteins, which can cause hyperthermia, tremors, or lethargy in your cat. In general, nuts aren’t suitable for cats and should not be substituted for their normal food or snacks.

However, some nuts like chestnuts, cashews, almonds, and others can be given in a minimum quantity to the cats. They are good sources of fiber, proteins, vitamins, healthy fats, iron, copper, potassium, and others. They can result in some of the health benefits like a strong immune system, reducing fatigue, improving blood circulation, and relieving constipation. 

But this nowhere means that they should be added to the regular diets of cats. These benefits can only be seen with moderate amounts, whereas large amounts will make you rush to the vet with your feline. Thus, avoid this, and as far as walnuts are considered, they should not be given to cats.