Although cats are obligate carnivores, they often look desperate to try everything humans eat, and cat owners would agree with this. For example, they might make every effort to sneak a bite of grilled mushroom or have mushroom soup with you. It is because of their love for mushrooms.
At this point, you must be wondering, “can cats eat mushrooms?”. Yes! Cats can have this plant-based food occasionally in a small quantity.
Can Cats Eat Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are found in various species, but only a few of them can be given to feline members. Giving mushrooms to your pet without knowing their health effects is not wise. Without further ado, let’s discover the edible and non-edible types of mushrooms, their effects on feline health, and much more in this article.
Why Do Cats Like Mushrooms?
It is very surprising to see a cat eating mushrooms eagerly while knowing that it is against the nature of a carnivore. Then what could make them like mushrooms so much?
The answer is the umami flavor of amino acids present in mushrooms. Luckily, cats have the ability to recognize this flavor. This is why mushrooms are no less than a treat for cats.
Apart from the flavor, cats also love to chew on mushrooms due to their similarity in texture to meat.
Can Cats Eat Button Mushrooms?
Yes, button mushrooms are safe for cats only if consumed once in a while in small portions. This is favored by the low-fiber content available in this type of mushrooms, which aids digestion.
Can Cats Eat White Mushrooms?
White mushrooms are not only safe to eat but also nutritious to some extent. These are good sources of riboflavin and niacin that strengthen a cat’s immune system and improve its fur quality. To achieve the best results, make sure to offer this mushroom as just an occasional snack.
Can Cats Eat Shiitake Mushrooms?
Like white mushrooms, shiitake also contains riboflavin which plays a significant role in nutrient absorption and supports the immune system. Thus, you can share shiitake mushrooms with your feline friend. However, you will have to avoid adding spices to the meal served to cats.
Can Cats Eat Baby Bella Mushrooms?
If your cat ingests baby Bella mushrooms, there is no harm as long as the servings do not exceed the recommended values.
Can Cats Eat Portobello Mushrooms?
Portabella mushrooms have no significant side effects. In fact, these mushrooms are easily digestible.
Can Cats Eat Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
Not only are lion’s mane mushrooms tasty for cats, but these also have a good impact on their health.
Can Cats Eat Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are not only safe to eat but also liked by many cats. Best of all, their soft texture makes them suitable for a cat’s stomach.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Mushrooms?
There is no better way to introduce this food to feline members than by giving them cooked mushrooms. You can grill, roast, saute, or boil mushrooms. Compared to raw mushrooms, cooked ones are tender and easier to digest. Wash them thoroughly before cooking to remove bacteria. Also, keep the food free from salt, spices, artificial flavors, and toxic vegetables like onion and garlic.
Can Cats Eat Store Bought Mushrooms?
Store-bought mushrooms are a hundred times better than lawn mushrooms. Unlike wild mushrooms, these are free from the risk of parasites.
Can Cats Eat Mushroom Soup?
Plain mushroom soup without spices and salt can be served to cats. Avoid artificial flavors as these will hurt their stomach.
Which Mushrooms Are Not Safe for Cats?
Many kinds of mushrooms pose a severe threat to your pet’s health. Even a single bite of such mushrooms can upset a cat’s digestive system.
Among all, wild mushrooms are the most hazardous to felines. Wild mushrooms further include psilocybin, death cap, panther cap, fly agaric, hydrazine, and psychedelic mushrooms. The presence of psychoactive compounds makes these mushrooms poisonous. They are harmful to humans as well as cats.
Eating any of these mushrooms can lead to tremors, hallucination, lack of coordination and balance, and drooling. Depending on the intake of mushrooms, the side effects may take from a few hours to a week to appear after consumption.
Therefore, being a responsible cat owner, you need to keep your kitty away from these mushrooms. If the cat accidentally feeds on any of these mushrooms, rush to the vet instead of waiting for the symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning in Cats
Like humans, cats also incur various health problems whenever they eat something they should not. Various health issues arise when a cat eats poisonous mushrooms.
Gastrointestinal disorder is the most common reaction of a cat’s body to unhealthy mushroom consumption. Cats may start vomiting and get diarrhea after some hours of feeding on toxic mushrooms. This often leads to dehydration accompanied by electrolyte imbalance.
Feeding on muscarinic mushrooms causes damage to the parasympathetic nervous system. This disorder refers to the condition of excessive and continuous drooling and low heartbeat.
Sometimes, uncontrolled mushroom consumption causes poor neurological conditions. Consequently, the pet loses stability in walking, becomes extra sensitive to touch and sound, shows agitation unnecessarily, and shakes involuntarily.
Loss of appetite, paleness of skin and sclera, and malfunctioning of the liver are also associated with mushroom poisoning. Leaving these symptoms untreated can make your pet face severe consequences, such as liver failure, coma, or death.
Therefore, it is strictly recommended to observe the pet’s overall condition for some weeks after feeding it mushrooms for the first time.
FAQs
Is it ok if cats eat mushrooms?
The answer depends on various factors. To conclude, eating non-toxic mushrooms in a certain amount is acceptable for cats. Innocent feline pets should not be allowed to sneak wild mushrooms. It is also essential to consider mushrooms as an occasional treat and only feed it to cats in small amounts.
Can cats eat mushrooms from the garden?
The mushrooms growing in a garden are mostly wild, with numerous bacteria and parasites thriving on them. These microorganisms are dangerous for cats. So, save your pet from eating garden mushrooms.
Can cats eat mushrooms from pizza?
Pizza has many layers of sauces and toppings of cheese and herbs. These ingredients also make the mushroom chunks flavorful. Therefore, cats should not be ingesting these flavored mushrooms.
Why can’t cats eat mushrooms?
Mushrooms are edible for cats, except for a few types that contain poisonous compounds. Such mushrooms cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. In severe cases, poisonous mushrooms can damage kidneys, heart, and liver. Cats should never eat these mushrooms.
The edible mushrooms should also be fed only in limited quantities occasionally. Ingesting mushrooms in large quantities can also make safe mushrooms bad for feline health.
Conclusion
Mushrooms do not meet the nutritional needs of a cat, but you can still offer them as an occasional snack. Because of the umami, cats also like this vegetable. While some types of mushrooms are suitable for cats, there also exist some mushrooms that are toxic to them. Wild mushrooms are the most dangerous of all mushroom species. Also, we recommend feeding cooked mushrooms over raw ones to your kitty.
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