If you’re one of those people who love adding arugula to your salads, bruschetta snacks, and pretty much every other meal – you’ve come to the right place! You might be wondering whether you can share your favorite herb with your favorite picky eater. Can cats eat arugula?
This leafy green is incredibly popular among humans, and who can blame us? It has a peppery, spicy, and slightly tart flavor which makes it a mouth-watering addition to any salad.
Not only does it pair well with salty cheeses and bright citrus fruits, but it also brings an array of nutritional and health benefits to the table. So, if you’re wondering whether your mischievous food thief would enjoy such a delicacy, wonder no more.
Arugula is an excellent choice for your cat if you’re trying to spice things up a bit. It enriches their regular diet, makes a great substitute for tasteless grass, and gives them the feeling they’re munching on their human’s sustenance.
So, can cats eat arugula safely? The answer is a resounding yes!
However, just like with any other food, you should take a couple of things into consideration before adding arugula to your cat’s food bowl. How often and how much are only some of the questions you might want the answers to. So, let’s dive in!
Reasons why you should feed arugula to your cat
Cats are strict carnivores which means they thrive on anything that contains animal protein. You might have guessed it beforehand, but arugula certainly isn’t one of the most popular food choices in the feline world. Trust me, your precious pet would rather eat nothing than agree to a vegan diet!
All jokes aside, you might have noticed your cat munching on grass every once in a while. It’s only natural to wonder whether she would prefer something spicier like arugula.
This flavorsome herb isn’t toxic to cats. Still, introduce it as an occasional treat rather than a substitute for anything else in your cat’s regular diet. Believe it or not, your picky eater doesn’t need that many plants in her stomach!
Either way, if you’re wondering whether cats can eat arugula you might want to brush up on your knowledge about this miraculous leafy green. If you’d like to uncover some of the nutritional and health benefits this remarkable superfood brings to the table, keep on reading!
1. Folic acid
Folic acid, also known as folate or folacin, is a B vitamin that comes with an array of benefits for your precious pet. It helps elevate blood oxygen levels and the production of oxygen which is incredibly important for any living being!
Not only that, but folic acid is also a great assistant if you’re dealing with a chunky kitty that loves to munch on everything within the reach of her paws. This vitamin helps break down fat and ensures healthy metabolic function.
Arugula isn’t the only food rich in folic acid, yet many cats struggle with ingesting the necessary amount. Unfortunately, if your cat doesn’t consume enough of this vitamin she might experience serious health issues like the production of abnormally large red blood cells that can’t function properly.
Since arugula is a great source of folic acid, the only thing you need to do is leave some in your picky eater’s bowl. Chances are your cat won’t even question the difference between this flavorsome herb and regular grass. It doesn’t hurt to try!
2. Potassium
Potassium is an essential mineral in your cat’s body. Fun fact – potassium is sometimes referred to as an electrolyte because it sends a small electrical charge throughout your cat’s body (or yours) activating various cells and nerves.
In fact, potassium is extremely important in your mischievous monster’s diet because it ensures the proper nerve function. Not only that, this astonishing mineral can help reduce your cat’s blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and fight against osteoporosis.
Luckily for you, one leaf of arugula contains about 75 milligrams of potassium. Next time you’re making a mouth-watering salad for dinner, make sure to throw in some extra leafy greens for your precious purr machine!
If you’re still wondering whether cats can eat arugula, this is the answer you’ve been waiting for. This tangy herb can enrich your feline friend’s diet with heaps of potassium.
You shouldn’t let her get into your secret arugula stash, but you can always throw a couple of leaves into her regular meal.
3. Calcium
As if you needed another reason to include arugula into your cat’s box of treats! Arugula contains 32 milligrams of calcium (per leaf) which makes it one of the best ways to introduce more minerals into your precious pet’s everyday life.
While your cat might get most of its calcium from animal sources, leafy greens can be an excellent choice for cats dealing with calcium deficiency or hypocalcemia. Believe it or not, calcium is considered an essential nutrient in your cat’s body.
In fact, adult cats need 0.6% of their total diet to be calcium. Since your mischievous monster doesn’t consume crushed animal bones or skin tissue on a daily basis, she’s at risk of developing a calcium deficiency.
You might want to keep an eye out for symptoms like weakness, irritability, muscle tremors, and hypersensitivity to touch and sound. And if you do notice your cat’s experiencing any of these symptoms you might want to contact your vet and schedule a consultation.
Other than that, you can always include a couple of arugula leaves into your precious purr machine’s regular diet in hopes of preventing this terrifying condition.
4. Fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that isn’t digested by a cat’s gastrointestinal tract. It’s incredibly helpful for your furry friend when she has digestive issues, frequent constipation, or diarrhea.
It basically helps maintain the proper amount of water in your cat’s intestines (not too runny, and not too dry!).
You guessed it – arugula is rich in fiber which makes it an excellent ally in maintaining a healthy bowel. In fact, one leaf of arugula contains about 0.3 grams of fiber. Since your cat only requires a couple of leaves every now and then, providing her with appropriate fiber levels shouldn’t break the bank.
There’s one tiny piece of information worth mentioning… Too much fiber in your cat’s diet can lead to a reverse reaction!
Unfortunately, if your cat breaks into your secret arugula stash she might experience digestive issues followed by an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
5. Vitamins A, C, and E
You’re probably wondering can cats eat arugula since this plant has nothing to do with meat-based protein. But the thing is that this leafy green contains heaps of vitamins!
This is great news for your feline friend because she can’t get many vitamins in her regular meaty diet. Without vitamins, many enzymes that are essential for her metabolism wouldn’t be able to function properly.
Firstly, vitamin A is considered an essential vitamin in the feline world. You can promote your cat’s overall health by adding this vitamin into her regular diet.
Skin, coat, muscles, and nerves all require vitamin A for proper function. Luckily, arugula contains about 0.012 milligrams of vitamin A.
Secondly, vitamin C is important for your cat’s immune system. Arugula contains about 3 milligrams of vitamin C. This makes it an excellent choice for any pet owners who are dealing with sensitive purr machines.
Lastly, vitamin E is also important for your cat’s immune system. Not only that, this miraculous vitamin helps battle inflammatory diseases as well as coronary heart disease.
Arugula contains about 0.08 milligrams of vitamin E. It’s safe to say cats can (and should) eat arugula!
6. Low sugar levels
While sugar isn’t toxic to cats, it certainly isn’t something you want to include in their regular diet. Your cat’s digestive system isn’t designed to break down carbohydrates. So, if your cat ingests too much sugar she might experience stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Luckily for you (and your cat), arugula doesn’t contain too much sugar. You can find about 0.4 grams in one arugula leaf which is pretty insignificant. You’d be surprised how much sugar is in regular, prepackaged cat treats!
Too much sugar leads to various gastrointestinal issues, and it can also play a major role in promoting feline obesity. You might think your chunky kitty looks adorable with all that extra cushion, but keep an eye out for any health complications. A healthy kitty is a happy kitty!
Reasons why you shouldn’t feed arugula to your cat
Let’s be honest, there aren’t many reasons why you shouldn’t include this incredible leafy green in your cat’s diet. If your precious purr machine loves eating everything she sees on your plate, this is a great opportunity to trick her into eating some arugula.
But, it’s always better to familiarize yourself with potential risks before introducing anything new to your cat’s diet. First things first, you should contact your vet. He’ll be able to bring more clarification and give you a nudge in the right direction.
Apart from that, you should take a couple of things into consideration before jumping up and down from happiness because you found another healthy treat for your shameless shadow.
Arugula can be surprisingly problematic for your cat if you don’t take proper precautions. Your mischievous monster doesn’t have the proper enzymes to break it down and digest it completely.
If she eats too much arugula your cat might experience stomach discomfort, diarrhea, or even vomiting.
A leafy greens-based diet is never a good choice for your cat. No matter how many amazing nutritional benefits arugula brings to the table, you should never forget the fact your cat thrives on a meat-based diet and requires heaps of animal protein.
Trust me, your cat doesn’t like green beans!
Believe it or not, too many vitamins can cause serious damage to your cat’s body. Vitamin A, in particular, can lead to vitamin toxicity if you’re not careful. You should always keep an eye out for common symptoms like muscle soreness and hyperesthesia.
Lastly, don’t let this tiny setback discourage you from experimenting with this incredible leafy green! The best thing you can do is consult with your vet, and be mindful of the amount.
Can cats eat arugula?
Cats can eat arugula! If you’re dealing with a picky eater you might want to look into feeding your cat some leafy greens as an occasional snack. Cats are notorious for getting bored with their regular food, so arugula might be your way of dealing with such a sticky situation.
Let’s revise, shall we?
Arugula is an incredible plant with numerous nutritional and health benefits. It contains lots of minerals, vitamins, and fiber which makes it an amazing addition to any dinner table. Not only that, it has a distinctive flavor which makes it a much better option for your cat than the regular tasteless grass!
It’s no surprise your precious purr machine makes goo-goo eyes at it every time she sees you enjoy a delicious salad. Next time you decide to make a healthy dinner, don’t shy away from throwing in a couple of extra arugula leaves for your cat to enjoy!
Obviously, you should always be mindful of any potential risks of introducing new foods into your cat’s diet. Make sure to consult your vet, keep an eye on the amount, and use it as an occasional treat rather than an everyday meal.
Who knows, your mischievous monster might make goo-goo eyes at you this time around! Good luck!
