Sometimes, a cat’s curiosity gets the best of them and they want to try something new. But just because a cat wants to try and eat something doesn’t mean you should give it to them.
The good news is that you can feed your cat asparagus, but you should only feed it to them in moderation. But how much is too much, and what else do you need to know? We’ll answer those questions and more for you here.
Do Cats Like Asparagus
While some cats can’t get enough of asparagus, others don’t really care for the stuff. Each cat has their own personality, so the only way to figure out if your cat likes asparagus is to let them try some. If your cat doesn’t want to eat the asparagus, it’s not a big deal. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that while they can technically eat fruits and veggies, it’s meat that they really need to survive.
The 3 Reasons Your Cat Might Like Asparagus
While not every cat likes asparagus, if your cat keeps trying to chow down on it, there are a few different reasons they might like it.
1. It’s New
Cats are naturally curious, so if they’ve never had asparagus before, they might want to try a bite. However, while this is enough to get them to try it for the first time, it’s not enough to keep coming back for more if they don’t like it.
2. It Has a Unique Texture
When was the last time you fed something with a long structure and a crunchy taste to your cat? It’s likely been a while since most foods don’t have the same shape and texture as asparagus. But just because your cat doesn’t get it all the time doesn’t mean they don’t like it. Sometimes your cat doesn’t care too much about the taste. Rather, they just find the shape and texture of asparagus fun to chew on.
3. It Tastes Good
Why do you keep grabbing the same foods over and over again? There’s a good chance it’s because you like the taste! The same is true with your cat. If your cat likes the taste of something, they’ll keep coming back to it, and it seems that many cats like the taste of asparagus.
Benefits of Asparagus for Cats
If your cat does like eating asparagus, there are some nutritious benefits to letting them eat some asparagus occasionally and in moderation. Just ensure you don’t give them asparagus with seasonings, that you thoroughly cook it, and that you chop it up into bite-sized pieces for them.
Aids Digestion
With lots of fiber, asparagus is a great vegetable to help your cat’s digestion. It’s not always fun to think about, but your cat needs fiber for bowel movements, and asparagus has lots of it to help them with this.
Tons of Nutrients
There are tons of nutrients in asparagus, including plenty of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, and so much more. While asparagus won’t meet all of a cat’s nutritional needs, they can offer a healthy boost on occasion.
Concerns With Asparagus
While there are quite a few health benefits to asparagus, there’s a reason you need to moderate how much your cat eats. Below, we’ve highlighted three of the most serious concerns you need to look out for when feeding your cat asparagus.
Alkaline Content
The primary concern of feeding your cat too much asparagus is the high alkaline content. If your cat eats too much, it can change the pH level of their urine, leading to urinary tract issues.
Choking Hazard
While cats love chewing on things, sometimes they bite off a little more than they can chew with asparagus. The stalks are hard, and if your cat doesn’t chew them up enough, they can choke on them.
Because of this, we always recommend thoroughly cooking the asparagus to help soften it up, removing the hardest parts of the stalks, and chopping it into bite-sized portions for your cat.
Asparagus Ferns
While your cats can eat asparagus, they cannot eat asparagus ferns. The ferns are toxic, and you should never feed them to a cat. However, you won’t find asparagus ferns in a grocery store, so this is really only something to watch out for if you grow your own asparagus.
Knowing exactly what your feline companion can and cannot eat will help you become the best pet parent. Recognizing that not all cat bowls are equal is also key! The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl sets itself apart from traditional options by catering to the specific needs of cats. The innovative design offers whisker relief via shallow dishes and promotes digestion with a slight bowl elevation. Find out if the Hepper NomNom is right for your cat by clicking here.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Final Thoughts
If your cat wants to eat some asparagus and you have some you need to use, there’s no reason they can’t have some occasionally. Just ensure you follow some basic safety precautions when preparing it, and don’t overdo it since they can eat too much of it.
Featured Image Credit: ulleo, Pixabay
