Corn happens to be one of the most popular cereal grains in the world. It contains valuable nutrients that are all good for you. If you enjoy corn and corn snacks, you may just be tempted to feed some to your cat every now and again.
After all, something that is packed full of goodness for you has to be good for your cat too, right?
However, before you do so, ask yourself, Can Cats Eat Corn?
About Cats and Corn – Facts you need to Know
Before attempting to feed your cat corn, remember that corn allergy is among the most common allergies in cats. So before trying to give your cat corn flakes and popcorn, try to find out whether he is allergic to corn or not.
Try to give your cat a small amount of corn and wait for a reaction. If he experiences and shows signs of sneezing, wheezing and coughing, then he most probably is allergic to corn. If he doesn’t display any of these signs, then it’s okay to give him corn every now and again.
Corn should be fed in moderation and only as a treat. You would think that since it is so good for humans that it must be equally good for cast. This is not a fact or one simple reason – cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they are natural meat eaters. Their bodies are designed to ingest and digest meat easily. They also get all the nutrition they need from eating meat.
So they do not need any other form of nutrition. If you think that feeding them vegetables and corn will make them healthier, you are mistaken, they will in fact suffer from malnutrition without their meat sources.
So feed them corn as a treat once in a while and not as a meal or meal replacement. They should be able to tell the difference and know what food make up their diet.
Whether corn contains nutritional value for your cat or not remains debatable. Some people are under the impression that corn contains essential vitamins and minerals, while insist that it is just a filler, used in pet food.
Can Cats Eat Corn?
Yes, Cats can in fact eat corn. It is a widely used ingredient in most types of cat food. Corn is used by many pet food companies as a substitute for animal muscle meat. It is much cheaper than animal muscle meat, which means that these companies are able to sell the end product much cheaper than most of their competitors.
However, too much corn could be bad for your cat. They have a short digest tract, meaning that it is designed to digest high energy food sources such as meat. Also since they cannot produce an adequate amount of amino acids and vitamins, they actually depend on getting this from the food that they eat.
This is why you should ensure that your cat’s diet contains plenty of animal protein. You can include foods such as corn, grains and vegetables, but ultimately, the animal protein is key to a healthy diet.
Many experts also insist that corn contain vitamins and essentials for your cat. So it is important to take this into consideration when feeding it to your cat, while at the same time gradually introducing it to the diet.
It is best to serve it to them occasionally. You should serve it in small quantities and only as a treat. If your cat is not allergic to it, that is great and it will make an ideal treat for him now and again.
Corn – Are there any Benefits?
According to experts corn does contain nutritional value for your cat.
- It contains highly digestible carbohydrates to give your cat energy
- It has essential fatty acids, to give him a healthy skin and coat
- It also has powerful antioxidants such as Beta- Carotene, Lutein and Vitamin E
- Promotes muscle and tissue growth due to having quality proteins
Corn has mostly been referred to as a filler or hot grain, meaning that it contains no nutritional value. However, lately researchsuggests that it contains essential nutrients for your cat. It is also not a hot grain because it is easily digested and so it does not contain gastrointestinal upset. Research also suggests that corn causes fewer allergies than other food types such as chicken, eggs, wheat, beef and dairy products.
So essentially, corn is a natural and wholesome product that provides your cat with essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein and antioxidants. It is also not a frequent cause of allergies in cats, according to many experts.
No single type of food will contain all the essentials that your cat needs to be healthy, so you will have to supplement the diet with different types of food. Corn makes an excellent addition to any diet with all vitamins and minerals that it contains.
Most experts say that the antioxidants in some foods such as corn may reduce the risk of cancer, arthritis, heart disease, strokes, and cataracts and may also slow down the aging process.
The carbohydrates in corn are an excellent source of energy for your cat, ensuring that he is active all day long. The essential fatty acids in corn are also great for giving your cat an excellent coat and healthy looking skin.
How to Serve Corn in your Cats Diet?
If you are concerned about how you are going to serve corn to your cat, you should take a look at the ingredients listed on the back of your store bought cat food and you will soon realize that most cat foods contain corn.
Although some people insist that it is a hot grain or filler in cat food that make production cheaper, it does contain lots of goodness for your cat as well. According to many experts it has lots of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and so on for your cat.
But while it contains all of this goodness, you should remember that everything you give your cat must be served in moderation. This is because you feline friend has a tiny body and digestive system, so don’t ever over feed him. Always give them just the right amount.
In this case, corn must be served as a treat and not a meal, which means that you can crush it and serve it in very small quantities. Crushing ensures that it doesn’t get stuck in your cat’s throat. However if you would prefer not to crush it, just ensure that it is soft enough so that it is swallowed easily by your cat.
Some people may prefer to feed their cats processed corn such as cereals. This may not be such a good idea since these cereals usually contain additives and artificial flavorings. One of the key ingredients that these corn based snacks could contain is sugar.
Now cats cannot digest sugar and this is something that every responsible cat owner should know. So do not under any circumstances feed your cat anything that contains sugar. This goes for all types of cereals, snacks, biscuits and so on with artificial sugar.
If you really want to serve it in its purest form, simply boil the corn and have a small amount mixed into your cat’s food at mealtime. This is just one simple way of doing it. However, if would like your cat to actually taste the corn, you can serve it to him boiled and cooled.
Are there any Side Effects from Eating Corn?
Some cats may suffer from corn allergies; however, there is only one way to truly find out. You should start by giving your cat just a small amount of corn and then observe his reaction. Refrain from giving him any more for the next couple of hours and if needed, wait for at least 24 hours to see whether he has any negative reactions.
If he is allergic to corn, you should notice sneezing, coughing and in some cases, wheezing, vomiting and diarrhea. If one or more of these symptoms are present then, you r cat is having an allergic reaction to the corn you fed him. However, you should follow the steps below to get him the medical attention that he needs:
- Contact your vet as soon as possible
- Try move as quickly as you can
- Describe the symptoms that your cat is experiencing to your vet and ask his advice on what you should do
- If the vet gives you advice over the phone, try to follow it as precisely as possible.
- If your cats condition is more serious, your vet will advise you to bring him in
- He may also ask you to take along a sample of the cats vomit or stools for further testing.
- Once at the vet, he will conduct a thorough examination of your cat to determine the extent of the damage.
- If he is in a bad condition, the vet will advise you to leave him at the vet for a few days, until he recovers
- Alternatively, if he is not that bad, he will be sent home with you
- Your vet should give you some medication to help ease the symptoms that your cat is experiencing.
- You will be advised to keep him under close supervision while at home
So as you can see, if your cat has an allergic reaction to corn, it could turn out to be quite a hectic thing for you and your feline friend. However, in most cases cats are not allergic to corn as much as they suffer allergic reactions to wheat, chicken, eggs and so on.
To be on the safe side, only give your cat a small amount of corn, if it is the first time that you are feeding it to your cat. You should then take the time to monitor his behavior throughout the day. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to leave everything aside and watch your cat. But try to keep one eye on him no matter what you are doing throughout the day. The sooner you can pick up on these symptoms, the sooner you can get help for him.
This could be the difference between having a cat with mild symptoms and having one with severe symptoms from ingesting corn. The sooner you react to your cats discomfort and pain, the sooner he can get relief and you can have peace of mind as well.
So it is possible for your cat to suffer allergic reactions to corn and experience side effects, however, as a vigilant owner, your role in the situation is to get help for him as soon as possible. Your feline friend depends on you for more than just companionship, but help as well. So be a responsible owner and take care of your cat at all times.
Most owners grow very close to their pets over the years and the thought of losing their beloved pets unsettles them. This is what motivates pet owners to be responsible and look after their pets.
Bottom Line – Can Cats Eat Corn?
Yes, cats can eat corn. It has lost of nutritional value for your cat, however, as with all things in life, you should feed it to your cat in moderation. Don’t ever over feed your cat. This is especially true if it is the first that your cat is eating corn. Small quantities are best for your cat, even if it is not the first time he is eating corn.
While some cats may experience allergic reactions to eating corn and it is unfortunate that they cannot eat it, however for those who eat it without any problems. The essential vitamins and minerals can keep your cats coat and skin healthy and shiny. It also enhances muscle and tissue growth and provides much needed antioxidants.
If you enjoyed reading this article, please let me know in the comments section. If you would like to share it with people you know, feel free.
