If your cat eats a cactus, the the consequences might not be worth it.
Although cactuses aren’t harmful to cats, they might cause diarrhea. You can contact your vet for advice on how to handle this particular situation.
So, can cats eat cactus?
Cactus isn’t poisonous to cats, but it can cause them to have diarrhea and vomiting if eaten in large enough quantities.
A few cactus pads that are consumed are unlikely to cause problems for cats.
However, if your cat eats an entire cactus or gets cactus spines stuck in its paws or mouth, you should contact your vet for advice.
Can Cats Eat Cactus?
Even while practically every cactus plant isn’t poisonous to cats, cacti are generally high in oxalates – a naturally-occurring substance that can harm your kitty’s body if ingested.
While cacti are unlikely to pose any danger to your cat if ingested in small amounts, consuming large quantities of these succulents can cause an array of complications in felines.
These may harm your cat’s mouth, stomach, throat, and kidneys.
Cacti have bristles that discourage animals from eating them; however, those bristles aren’t present on every cactus species.
Is Cactus Healthy for Your Cat?
While cactus aren’t inherently hazardous to a cat’s health, the sticky pads of cacti can be harmful if ingested in large amounts.
There’s no incentive for your cat to eat cactus, so remove these from your feline’s environment if you see your feline playing with them.
Keep them on their regular feed schedule and do not feed them between meals.
Why Can’t I Feed Cactus Fruit to My Cat?
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require meat as their primary source of nutrition.
Their digestive systems aren’t built to breakdown plant matter and digest the nutrients within.
Though many commercial foods include fruits and grains as ingredients, these are not adequate for cats’ nutritional needs and shouldn’t be fed to your pet on a regular basis.
Plant material is nutritionally inadequate for cats since they can’t break down and digest plant matter.
That is not to say that modest amounts of nontoxic fruits, vegetables, and grains can’t occasionally be included as part of a balanced diet for cats.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Paprika?
What Succulents Are Poisonous for Cats?
Kalanchoe
The devil’s backbone, also known as the asparagus cactus, is poisonous for cats.
The most frequent symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.
Euphorbia
Although not all euphorbia plants are harmful to cats, certain species can cause felines to experience mouth and throat irritation if ingested or rub against their bodies.
Aloe Aloe plants contain saponins that can cause stomach upset in cats.
Apocynaceae (dogbane) Apocynaceae plants are toxic to cats and can cause severe gastrointestinal pain if ingested.
Toxic plants of the Euphorbia family (included in flower arrangements) might on occasion be found at florists and garden shops.
They may irritate the skin of cats, causing a rash or even burns.
The poinsettia, which is somewhat harmful or non-toxic (depending on the species) for most cats to eat, is often included in flower arrangements and is considered a holiday decoration in homes across America.
Jade
Because of how simple it is to simply break up a jade plant, many home owners think that it is safe for their pets to nibble on or chew on.
It has thick leaves that people like to suck on when it’s cut open, or to nibble on the little white flowers that bloom in spring, and some people just enjoy the way it smells.
The difficulty is that eating this succulent plant can have serious consequences for cats and other pets that ingest it.
Conclusion
Cactus are not harmful to cats and should in general not be associated with concerns over toxicity or long-term health damage.
However, the sticky pads of cacti can cause digestive upset if consumed in large amounts and could occasionally get stuck in the paws and mouth of a curious cat.
Contact your vet if your cat consumes a cactus as an emergency measure to minimize any risk of nausea or vomiting.
Cactus contain defensive spines that might injure your curious pet if eaten in large amounts or if broken off and ingested whole.
