Can Cats Eat Kale? All You Need To Know

Kale is super healthy food for humans. But, what about cats? Can cats eat kale?. It is difficult to answer this query since there is no yes or no answer. Even though kale contains many nutritional benefits, some studies don’t support cats eating kale.

Do you wonder what the reason is? You need to know many things about feeding kale to cats, disadvantages, advantages, and reasons. So, if you are a cat owner, you should know about all these things.

We will aid you with all your possible queries. Keep reading this article to know more about cats eating styles, diet, what to be included, and what not to be? What are the benefits of kale etc.?

Can Cats Eat Kale?

Yes, cats can eat kale. They can safely eat kale in raw and cooked form. However, kale isn’t entirely safe for your kittens. Your cats can eat a little kale, but not a lot of kale. Overeating kale would cause health complications in them.

Apart from that, kale contains lots of nutrition. It is rich in antioxidants and fiber, and other elements that are beneficial to your cats. It is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable. Also, kale contains low calories, so it is one of the best vegetables for your cat pal. 

But, there is some information you need to know before feeding them kale. There could be other health complications coming after your cats consume kale. So, it is advised to feed them kale in a moderate amount.

Kale Nutritional Stats

Kale has amazing Nutritional benefits. The nutritional composition of kale is as follows,

A 100 g kale contains,

Calories – 35 Kcal

Fat – 1.5 g

Sodium – 53 mg

Carbohydrate – 4.4 g

Protein – 2.9 g

Iron – 1.6 mg

Kale Nutritional Facts

One cup of raw kale that is approximate 20.6 g kale provides nutritions as listed below,

Calories: 7.2

Fat: 0.3g

Sodium: 10.9mg

Carbohydrates: 0.9g

Fiber: 0.8g

Sugars: 0.2g

Protein: 0.6g

Vitamin A: 49.6mcg

Vitamin K: 80.3mcg

Vitamin C: 19.2mg

Potassium: 71.7mg

Calcium: 52.3mg

Kale is a low-calorie vegetable, and it is rich in fiber. One cup of raw kale is sufficient to get all the nutrients and vitamins. It provides vitamins such as vitamin A, K, and C. Also, kale is rich in potassium and calcium.

Health Benefits Of Kale For Cats

There are lots of health benefits in cats eating kale. It improves digestion and prevents diseases in cats. Since kale contains lots of dietary fiber, it boosts the health of the cat’s digestive tract. It helps the cat’s feces thicken up. 

Also, the fiber in kale helps the cats in gastrointestinal disorders like constipation, indigestion, bowel incontinence, and diarrhea. 

Also, you can help them in stopping weight gain. Kale makes the cat feel fuller, so sprinkling kale on its regular meal will make them feel full and not eat any other food. So it will prevent them from gaining weight.

Kale enhances heart and circulatory system functions. It removes the bad cholesterol from your cat’s bloodstream. Kale is also rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta carotene, and others. 

These antioxidants keep your cat from developing chronic illnesses, and kale prevents numerous feline ailments. 

Kale reduces the blood sugar level and cholesterol level. Since kale is high in vitamin A, it can also improve your cat’s vision. So, indeed kale is beneficial to your cat.

Can Cats Have Kale?

The answer is yes and No. Because kale contains lots of vitamins and minerals suitable for your cat, it contains vitamin A and copper, suitable for your cat. But kale can be bad for cats too. 

Since cats are carnivores, adding kale to their daily diet would make them malnourished since they don’t get enough nutrients from green vegetables. Secondly, kale can cause Heinz anemia in cats. 

So, you should pay attention to the quantity of kale you are providing to your cat. Feed them only a moderate amount of kale. Feeding too much would lead to several diseases in cats.

Can Baby Cats Eat Kale?

Yes, baby cats can eat kale. But not every day. Baby cats can have tiny kale like adults cats to get essential nutrients. You can serve raw kale to your baby cats or steam it to make it easy for your kittens to digest the kale. 

But, whether cooked or raw, you should only feed them a small amount of kale. And if your cat is very young, you should only feed them fresh vegetables instead of canned or packaged ones. 

Kittens have a minimal digestive system, and they have smaller body masses when compared to adult cats, so it will take time for them to process the kale and would lead to several negatives. They won’t be having enough enzymes to digest these greens.

And, if your kittens have eaten kale, you should not allow them to engage in strenuous activities since it would lead to digestion problems and choking. So, you can feed your kitten’s kale in smaller amounts.

Is Kale Safe For Cats?

Yes, kale is safer for cats, and it is not toxic to them. There are many advantages to your cats consuming green leafy vegetables such as kale. But, kale is considered human food, and your cats won’t get lots of nutrition from them. 

Kale isn’t much nutritious to your feline partner. As we all know, felines are carnivores, and hence they need meats and insects in their diet to get sufficient nutrients. If they eat only leafy green vegetables, they will suffer from a lack of nutrition. 

You can’t offer them only a minimal amount of vegetables. Consuming too much kale would also lead to several issues, such as diarrhea and abdominal distress in your cats.

Is Kale Good For Cats?

Kale is suitable for cats. Since kale contains lots of antioxidants, it prevents damage from free radicals. 

Not only this, there are many other minerals, which help cats in improving their heart health. Calcium in kale can reduce the risk of developing plaque buildup in the cat’s arteries.

Kale is also rich in vitamin A and C. These can ward off oxidative stress. And kale will also supply a massive amount of vitamin A to the cat’s body. Vitamin A helps in the vision and skeletal normalities of cats.

So, overall, kale is suitable for your cat. It also contains iron which builds healthy red blood cells. So, feed your cats kale without worries. But only feed them in moderate amounts.

Is Kale Bad For Cats?

Kale is not bad for cats, but if you do not feed them in moderate amounts, it would be awful to your cats. Since cats are carnivores, they require meat to stay healthy and nourished.

Cats should get proteins to get nourishment. Kale should not be a significant component of their diet; it should only be a minor component of their overall diet. You should serve the kale to them carefully. 

According to experts, if cats eat kale, it would lead to Heinz Body Anemia. In this condition, red blood cells will stop functioning. Therefore, you can feed your cats these foods as a snack or treat occasionally. Never include kale in their staple diet.

Do Cats Like Kale?

Yes, cats like kale, and they can eat kale. However, some cats dislike kale because of its smell and taste. If that’s the case, do not force them to eat kale. Kale isn’t toxic to cats, and it provides nutrients to cats.

If your cat snatches away kale from your hand, you don’t have to worry and tense about it. Nothing will happen if your cat eats kale and likes to consume it.

A small amount of kale can provide many health benefits to cats. Kale is suitable for cats, even though it is human food. Kale contains antioxidants, fiber, and other essential nutrients, so your cats will like to have the kale.

can cats eat kale chips?

Cats can eat kale chips. But, we don’t recommend feeding them Kale chips. Since kale chips are seasoned and added with extra salts, they would like to have them. But, extra additives and seasonings may make your cat fall sick.

So, we don’t recommend you feed them Kale chips. However, you can feed them Kale chips in tiny amounts. But, not many kale chips. It would cause digestion-related problems in them. So, feed them Kale chips moderately or do not feed them at all.

can cats eat spinach and kale?

Yes, cats can eat spinach and kale. Spinach has numerous benefits for cats. It is safer to feed them both spinach and kale since they are not toxic or poisonous to your cats. Spinach is insignificant in calories and has many vitamins and minerals. 

So spinach is an excellent green vegetable for your cat. Spinach contains glycolipids, which protectively act on the mucous membrane of cats’ digestive tract in the case of any inflammatory process.

And kale is too good for your cats. Kale contains nutritions and vitamins, which are suitable for your cat too. Serve both kale and spinach without any worries, only in moderate amounts.

How Many Kale Can A Cats Eat?

While feeding kale to the cat, keep the portions low. You cant incorporate kale into a cat’s staple diet. The cat can only consume it as an occasional treat; you can feed them kale only two to three times per week.

So, while feeding kale to the cat, please do not go in bulk but rather feed them in bits and pieces. They only need a low amount of kale as a treat, not the whole bulk of kale. 

Since cats are carnivores, they won’t much benefit from kale. So, keeping the portions down is suggested.

How Often Can A Cats Eat Kale?

Cats can consume kale only in moderate amounts that too infrequently. They can’t have kale every day. Since kale is a green vegetable, it won’t supply enough nutrients to cats, and consuming too much kale would cause digestion-related problems. 

So feed them kale only twice or thrice a week. Kale can only be served as a snack or treat on occasion. It is not a food you can include in a cat’s staple diet.

It isn’t good for them to consume every day. So, please do not feed them kale every day. Try to feed kale as a rare treat. You don’t want your favorite kitty to suffer from digestion problems.

How To Feed Kale To Cats?

Cats can eat kale in both raw and cooked form. But, you should avoid feeding them raw kale. 

It is because raw kale could contain microorganisms and parasites on it, which will lead to gastrointestinal irritation in your cats. So, if you plan to feed your cats raw kale, then wash the kale thoroughly to remove all the hazardous germs in it.

You can boil or steam the kale and feed it to your cats. You can eliminate all the parasites in kale and preserve the nutrients by doing these.

And, when the vegetable is done, you should serve it to them without adding salt. And, the serving size of kale should be small too. Feed them kale only twice or thrice a week. Do not overfeed kale.

Does Kale Affect The Digestive System Of Cats?

Kales won’t affect the digestive system of cats if eaten in moderate amounts. But, if your cats consume lots of kale, it would affect the cat’s digestive system. They will even lose their appetite due to consuming kale. 

Kale will cause gastrointestinal distress in cats if it consumes too much kale. Since the vegetable will have a laxative effect if consumed in more significant amounts, it will lead to diarrhea and dehydration in cats because their bodies aren’t designed to have these types of foods.

So, please do not feed them too much kale to prevent stomach upset, vomiting, lethargy, and other gastrointestinal problems. So feed your cats kale in moderate amounts.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, cats can have kale and these types of leafy greens as a snack or treat on occasions. It is safe and healthful to feed your kitty. You can feed them a few leaves twice a week. There is no harm in it.

But, if your cat is showing disinterest in having kale, and you want to feed them kale since it benefits them, chop the kale into smaller pieces and add it into their diet. Kale is good for them, and it is not a compulsory food to have in their diet.

So, if your cats don’t like to have kale, don’t force them. Even though kales contain many vitamins and minerals, they won’t benefit the cats much. It will supply vitamins to them, but it won’t equal the nutrients provided by meat.

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