Pumpkin for Cats

Your cat would be over excited to have a bite of the several pumpkins gracing your home on the occasion of Halloween. Though you cannot give it the leftovers on which Jack-O-Lantern’s face was carved since they have been decayed with bacteria, a spoonful of freshly, cooked pumpkin, canned varieties, and seeds would be fine when given in a measured way.

Pumpkin for Cats

How is pumpkin good for cats

Pumpkin, being high in several nutrients, obviously benefits the cat’s health in a positive way.

Rich in fiber

Since they are high in fiber, pumpkin is useful for felines suffering from constipation, and diarrhea, hence regulating their bowel movements. It also brings in the sense of fullness, therefore being beneficial for those who have trouble in keeping their weight under control. Fiber-rich food also plays a significant in treating hairballs in cats, as, if the bowel movements are regularized and the gut functions well, swallowed hair may be ejected out of the body. Introducing pumpkin to your feline’s diet would indeed be a beneficial option in this regard.

High in vitamins

Being high in vitamins (A, B, C, and E), pumpkins, when added to a cat’s diet contributes towards maintaining its overall health.

High moisture content

As this veggie contains 90% of water, adding it to the cat’s food on a routine basis would help to keep it hydrated also reducing its body heat. Its moisture content is also said to be beneficial in lessening incidences of urinary tract infections in cats.

Besides the vegetable, its seeds also come with a whole lot of benefits like rich protein content, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, thus acting as an effective home remedy in lessening several ailments in cats like kidney disease, digestive concerns and so on.

Ways to give pumpkin to cats

  1. Fresh pumpkin which has been baked well so that it is soft enough and is devoid of the seeds as well as salt and spices.
  2. Canned pumpkin that comes without spices, sugar, filler, and additives.
  3. Fresh pumpkin seeds, sans spices and salt that has been roasted for an hour at 350 °F grounded and sprinkled upon the cat’s food.

How much pumpkin to give the cat

Many cat owners, however, have mentioned of giving their kittens half teaspoon of fresh or canned pumpkin and increasing the amount gradually based on the requirements. Older felines, on the other hand, are provided with one or two tablespoonfuls of it.

However, it is always recommended to consult your veterinarian if you are planning to give your cat pumpkin for diarrhea, constipation or any other health problems.

Pumpkin treat for cats

While giving your cats treat, make sure you do not opt for pumpkin pie filling high in sugar and a host of spices, as it may hamper the cat’s health. Either buy pureed cat treats from the market low in sugar and spices or make a healthy one at home. Of the several tasty treats, you can make one of them would be pumpkin pie cookies, which they can munch away in joy.

Recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cookies

Ingredients

  • Grated carrots (1 cup)
  • Unsweetened applesauce (1/2 cup)
  • Canned pumpkin (1 cup)
  • Rice flour (2 cups)
  • Oatmeal (1/2 cup)
  • Flour (1/4th cup)

How to Make

  • Preheat your oven to a temperature of 350 °F
  • Blend the applesauce, pumpkin and carrots till they become smooth
  • Take the oatmeal and rice flour together and mix them in bowl
  • Add the dry and wet ingredients together to prepare a dough
  • Place the dough on a breadboard sprinkled with flour and roll it to a thickness of 1/4th inch
  • Give them shapes using a cookie cutter.
  • Put them on a greased sheet and bake for about 7 minutes at first.
  • Flip the treats over and continue baking for 5 more minutes.
  • Take them out of the oven and cool well.
  • You can store them in the refrigerator for months.

How to preserve fresh or canned pumpkins

If you have cooked and baked quite an amount of pumpkin that could not be used up in a day, then refrigerate it well. In case of canned pumpkins, you can take out its contents, put them in the ice cube tray and place it in the freezer. Place the cubes in the freezer bag after they have frozen. The next time you desire to feed your kitty with pumpkin, thaw the scoop by keeping it in a glass.

Can pumpkins be bad or poisonous to cats

They are not toxic to cats unless consumed in excessive amounts in one go, leading to stomach ailments. Moreover, eating it in its raw form may also trigger digestive troubles as well as choking hazards.