Are you wondering whether your cat can safely eat macadamia nuts?
This nut is known to contain high amounts of phosphorus, a mineral that can lead to bone disease in dogs.
Cats need calcium for strong bones and teeth, so it’s important to keep your cat away from this nut.
In this article, I’ll show you how to heal your cat’s digestive tract after the ingestion of a macadamia nut.
Preventing ingestion is the simplest and most effective way to prevent your cat from developing problems after consuming macadamia nuts.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to prevent all accidents.
If your cat accidentally eats macadamia nuts, you will need to follow my instructions to reverse their gastrointestinal upset and protect their health.
Can Cats Eat Macadamia Nuts?
Macadamia nuts are not safe for cats and can cause a wide range of different side effects.
Keep reading to learn more about the potential side effects of macadamias and how to ensure they are safe for your feline friend.
Are Macadamia Nuts Bad For Cats To Eat?
Although macadamia nuts contain significant levels (20 to 25 percent) of the fat called unsaturated fatty acids, they contain too much energy for a healthy cat to consume without gaining weight.
As little as 2 ounces of macadamia nuts can cause a cat to gain weight. Macadamia nuts are high in fat and calories, but contain few vitamins or minerals.
Because their systems can’t absorb the nutrients, cats that consume diets rich in phosphorus lose weight and get diarrhea.
Together with our veterinarian s advice, we have gathered the following list of foods your cat should not eat.
This list is in cooperation with our veterinarian s advice, so consider consulting with your vet about adding or removing certain foods.
Why Are Macadamia Nuts Bad For Cats?
For dogs, we’re aware of the dangers of eating macadamia nuts because they’ve been around for over 100 years.
Macadamia nuts have been in the human diet for even longer than that (they’re native to Australia and New Guinea). However for cats–especially those in the United States–macadamias may be relatively new to their diets.
“Macadamia nuts are very poisonous for cats.
However, we are still not exactly sure why these are bad for you cat.
Cats and macadamia nuts are an incompatible food combination.
Macadamia nuts have been shown to cause a number of severe reactions in dogs; however, in some cats they have little to no effect at all.
Macadamia nuts contain a substance called thiaminase which is toxic to dogs. Thiamine is an essential nutrient that acts to regulate energy production in our body.
Cats and dogs have enzymes in their liver that break down thiaminase and make it harmless to them.
In general, if a cat consumes nuts, it should not eat another nut again unless it has been cleared by a veterinarian.
It is also possible for cats to inhale the nut and choke on seeds or shells left behind. As for macadamia nuts causing tremors and other symptoms of poisoning in cats, we still have no clue.
Are there any benefits to macadamia nuts?
Well yes – the nut is nutritious and is considered high in nutritional value!
Macadamias contain high levels of manganese and iron, as well as vitamins E and B6. Since cats cannot metabolize excess iron levels well, this can cause health problems for cats.
Eating macadamias can also result in feline diabetes mellitus.
The most immediate and serious danger in a cat ingesting macadamias is gastrointestinal blockage.
This is relatively rare in cats compared to other animals, but can occur if a large nut is ingested and gets stuck in the throat when the cat is eating or grooming themselves.
Cats may become lethargic and depressed if they have consumed too much macadamia nuts or oil from nut consumption. In very rare cases they may become seriously ill or die.
Symptoms Of A Cat Eating Macadamia Nuts
Lethargy, vomiting (with or without blood), overheating, or collapse can be fatal if not treated.
Other more serious symptoms include coma, tremors, seizures and cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Macadamia nut toxicity can result in kidney failure and in severe cases cause death.
Ataxia, weakness, and unexpected collapse are signs of poisoning from high fat content in food (the fat in the nuts causes inflammation in the liver).
Macadamia nuts also contain oil in the shell which can block the intestinal tract causing intestinal blockage. Macadamia Nuts are high energy and very rich in fat.
How Much Macadamia Nuts Can A Cat Eat?
Even if a few macadamia nuts won’t hurt your cat, nut allergies are common and can cause serious health problems in cats.
While a small number of macadamia nuts are unlikely to do any harm, macadamia nut ingestion can trigger allergic reactions in cats.
While these are not common, affected cats may experience gastrointestinal problems as the body tries to attack the allergen.
Other symptoms of a macadamia nut allergy include atopic dermatitis and respiratory problems.
Immediately call a veterinarian or animal poison control center if your cat eats macadamia nuts and experiences nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
Macadamia nuts can be toxic to dogs as well. Oftentimes cats like to snack on dog snacks that might not be good for them, like rawhide chews.
If your cat eats dog food, refrain from feeding it any nuts.
Inducing vomiting or boosting fluid intake is typically done until the poison has been eliminated from the body or neutralized, which may take up to a week.
Veterinary attention may be recommended if your cat displays any of the following symptoms: vomiting or loose stool, difficulty swallowing or swallowing saliva excessively (which may indicate a strangulated intestine), lethargy or dehydration.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Brazil Nuts?
What Should You Do If Your Cat Eats Macadamia Nuts?
Be on the lookout for any diarrhea or vomiting over the next couple of days and contact a veterinarian if these symptoms appear.
Varying from cat to cat, the response to macadamia nuts may vary considerably and may include anything from minor illness to severe complications.
Unfortunately, there’s also no surefire way of knowing if macadamia nuts will cause problems or not.
When it comes to felines, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding any nuts to them.
Diarrhea, vomiting, and feeling fatigued could show up in a very short space of time and in extreme cases require emergency vet care.
In many cases, the prolonged consumption of macadamia nuts leads to weakness, weight loss, and nausea – similar to when the nuts are eaten in excess by anyone.
If your cat has eaten an excessive amount, you should act fast by inducing vomiting or waiting for up to 24 hours for the macadamia to leave the stomach before offering food.
A cat’s digestive system might have a hard time handling macadamia nut compounds such as disulfides and glycosides.
If macadamia nuts are ingested by your cat, you might notice various symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy.
