Can cats eat sweet potatoes? Is it okay to give sweet potatoes to cats? The safe amount and the correct way of giving

Is it okay to give sweet potatoes to cats? The safe amount and the correct way of giving

Cats want sweet potatoes, but many owners are worried about giving them. Is it okay to give sweet potatoes, which are human food, to cats? I will introduce whether it is okay to give sweet potatoes to cats, along with the advantages and disadvantages, and how to give them.

Can Cats Have Sweet Potatoes

 Can Cats Have Sweet Potatoes 

Is it okay to let cats eat sweet potatoes?

Can I give my cat sweet potatoes? The answer is YES.

In general, if you divide the food that humans eat into what you can give cats and what you can't give, sweet potatoes are classified as foods that you can give.

You don't have to force your cat to eat sweet potatoes

However, when I asked the veterinarian, "Can cats have sweet potatoes?"

Cats can generally get all the nutrients they need from cat food. Of course, there are times when you need to replenish the necessary nutrients to deal with a constitution or disease, but even in that case, it is safe and reliable to use products specifically for cats.

Can I give sweet potatoes to relieve constipation in cats?

If your cat loves sweet potatoes and gives them a small number of treats occasionally, there is no problem. Let’s do it!

What other foods contain sweet potatoes for cats?

Many cats like to eat sweet potatoes because of their sweet and fragrant taste. Because it is highly palatable, it is often used as a homemade food for cats.

However, be careful not to give sweet potatoes that are in sweet buns or cooked sweet potatoes such as sweet potatoes and daigakuimo.

 Effects of feeding sweet potatoes to cats     

Sweet potatoes contain many nutrients that cats need.

It seems that some cat food contains sweet potatoes. Dietary fiber, which is especially abundant in sweet potatoes, can be said to be a necessary nutrient that leads to constipation relief for cats with constipation.

Nutrients in sweet potato

  •          Dietary fiber
  •          vitamin
  •          mineral
  •          potassium

First of all, important nutrients for cats are proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. What kind of nutrients does sweet potato contain?

Dietary fiber in sweet potatoes helps relieve constipation

  •          Intestinal function
  •          Helps relieve constipation

After all, sweet potato is famous as a food that contains a lot of dietary fiber. Since dietary fiber is not digested, it does not become nutrition in the body, but it is said to have an intestinal regulation effect.

It can also improve the intestinal environment and relieve constipation. For that reason, many pet owners give sweet potatoes to relieve constipation.

Boost your immune system with sweet potato vitamins

  •          keep skin healthy
  •          activate the immune system
  •          maintain blood pressure
  •          suppress cancer

Sweet potatoes contain abundant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

Vitamin A, in particular, is considered an essential nutrient that cats need to obtain from their diet.

These are said to have effects such as maintaining skin health, activating immunity, maintaining blood pressure, and suppressing cancer.

Control of body fluid concentration with sweet potato minerals

  •         skeletal structure
  •          nerve transmission
  •          Control of body fluid concentration

Sweet potato is a food that contains plenty of minerals necessary for cats.

Minerals refer to calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc., and their main functions range from skeletal structure, nerve transmission, and control of body fluid concentration.

Be careful not to overdose the minerals contained in sweet potatoes in cats

However, since minerals have a very complicated relationship, they try to supplement other minerals or reduce them, so it is also a troublesome existence that should not be too much or too little.

For example, excessive intake of phosphorus and insufficient calcium can lead to health problems such as decreased bone density. Therefore, it is important to have a well-balanced intake of minerals.

Sweet Potato Potassium Controls Salt Concentration in the Body

·         prevent high blood pressure

·         diuretic

Potassium prevents high blood pressure, integrates salt in the body with water, and has effects such as making it easier to excrete as urine.

Beware of excessive intake of potassium contained in sweet potatoes

However, like minerals, it is necessary to take them in a well-balanced manner, and excess or deficiency may cause hyperkalemia or hypokalemia.

As mentioned above, sweet potatoes contain many of the ingredients that cats need.

Looking at this, it seems that giving sweet potatoes to cats has only advantages, but are there any disadvantages?

  Precautions when giving sweet potatoes to cats 

There are four main disadvantages to giving sweet potatoes to cats:

Obesity due to eating too much sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are also a source of energy for cats, but they are considered less important. Too many carbohydrates lead to obesity in cats.

Sweet potato allergy

Although sweet potato is a food with relatively few allergies, it does not mean that you will not experience allergic symptoms. When giving sweet potatoes for the first time, give them in small amounts while observing the situation.

Sweet potato indigestion

By giving food that they are not accustomed to eating, they may vomit or have diarrhea because they cannot digest sweet potato skins well.

Be careful when giving sweet potatoes to cats with weak stomachs or cats who are sensitive to changes in their diet.

Excessive intake of nutrients contained in sweet potatoes

Regarding the merits of sweet potatoes, I mentioned that excessive intake of the minerals and potassium contained in sweet potatoes can be detrimental to health.

Sweet potatoes are full of nutrients, but be careful not to overdose.

  How to give sweet potatoes to cats 


  •         Boil the sweet potato and give it to the cat
  •          Steam sweet potatoes and give them to cats

Basically, it's okay to give your cat raw sweet potatoes or sweet potato skins. However, indigestion can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

The nutrients in sweet potatoes do not break down even when heated, so it is best to boil or steam them to make them soft and easy to digest.

 How much sweet potato to give to cats? 

As for the amount, try to give a small amount, about a spoonful, and even if it is a small amount, avoid giving it every day, and at most once a week.

Sweet potato skin

The skin of the sweet potato contains anti-cancer properties, so it's a good idea to chop the sweet potato into small pieces that have been cooked until the skin is soft and add it to your usual dry food as a topping.

 Summary 

I introduced whether it is okay to give sweet potatoes to cats.

My cat loves sweet potatoes. is it okay if I feed her? It seems that there are many owners who are worried about it, so I would appreciate it if you could refer to it.

I found out that sweet potatoes are a food that is beneficial for cats, but it seems that it is just right to incorporate them as a snack once in a while!

Let's take in sweet potatoes for a change while being careful not to give too much.

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