Did you know that some commercial cat foods use sweet potato as an ingredient for their recipes? That’s a spoiler for you right there! Fortunately, Sweet potato is safe for cats to consume in small amounts. It is also considered as non-toxic by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
That’s the short answer for you if that’s what you were looking for, however, even if cats can eat sweet potato, minding the serving size is crucial for your cat’s well-being. And although it’s non-toxic, it should never substitute any of your cat’s meals. If your cat has known allergies or suffers from any conditions, you should always be wary of introducing vegetables to their diet. Sweet potato is no exception to this rule, that’s why in this article, we will explain the potential benefits of sweet potato for your furry friend, as well as any possible risks for them.
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The Nutritional Value Of Sweet Potato For Cats: Do They Benefit From Eating It?
Understanding what the ideal diet for the average cat looks like, will help us explain the impact of sweet potato in it.
Studies have shown that cats are obligate carnivores. What does this mean? They get most of the nutrients needed for subsistence from meat-based diets, instead of relying on what plants offer. Not enough studies have been made to put plant-based diets over meat-based ones, but what’s known is that vegetables do not hold all the nutrients cats need for a healthy life.
Some suggest that a very well-thought-out and balanced plant-based diet could even be better than the traditional one. However, this does not consider the digestibility factor. The truth is that cats’ digestive systems are not meant to digest vegetables, thus, their systems have a hard time extracting all the valuable nutrients plants may have for us humans, for example.
Even if the nutrients are there, cats may never get to process them correctly, leading to gastrointestinal issues in most cases.
Are Sweet Potatoes Good For Cats?
We already tackled the main question when it comes to introducing new foods to our kitties: Sweet potato is non-toxic for cats. Therefore, sweet potatoes are safe for cats to eat. Great, so… are there any benefits for our furry friends?
Luckily, yes! Although most of them we label as potential since concrete studies are yet to be made:
- Great source of fiber: Fiber is a benefit many plants offer for cats. A healthy amount of fiber helps smooth the digestion process. It slows the digestion process, which makes your cat feel full for longer. Sources of fiber like sweet potato can also aid a constipated cat.
- Helps with hydration: Sweet potato may not be 95% water like zucchini, but it still holds a respectable amount. If your cat is not the water-drinking type, then giving them sweet potato can be a plus.
- Potentially, a source of much-needed nutrients: As is the case with all other vegetables, we cannot confirm how much cats can actually process in terms of antioxidants and other nutrients since studies are yet to prove that. However, your cat could be getting some much-needed protein, This macronutrient should be predominant on your cat’s diet over fat and carbohydrates. Truth is, sweet potato also contains carbohydrates, and your cat doesn’t need too many carbs.
The Drawbacks Of Sweet Potato
Unfortunately, It’s not all sunshine and rainbows with this veggie. Even if sweet potatoes are non-toxic to cats, the amounts make the difference between a harmless treat and a bad meal.
- High in carbohydrates: Carbs are only a tiny fraction of the macronutrient profile a cat needs. This is because cats can’t metabolize that much, eating carbs in excess can cause them obesity and, in extreme cases, even diabetes.
- Digestive issues: Yes, fibers are great to deal with this, but too much can cause the opposite effect, and too much fiber can cause gastrointestinal issues.
- Choking hazard: This is mostly related to how you serve sweet potato to your cat and can be easily avoided if you follow the steps on the next section. However, bear in mind that giving your cat big pieces or uncooked vegetables such as sweet potato can be a choking hazard.
Serving Sweet Potato To Your Cat The Right Way
There are a few ways you can prepare sweet potato for your cat at home:
- Cooking: You can boil it down, then cut it into small, bite-sized pieces, or prepare a mash.
- DO NOT FRY! Vegetable oils are bad for cats and should always be avoided.
- Although sweet potato is non-toxic for cats in all its forms, we highly encourage you to always serve it cooked for them. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest for cats and can cause undesired gastrointestinal issues and diarrhea.
We invite you to try this amazing cat birthday cake recipe made with tuna, chicken and sweet potato when the time comes!
REMEMBER: Any vegetable or other foods you give to your cat, should be plain and unseasoned. Avoid onion and garlic especially, since they are toxic for cats.
Foods & Treats That Contain Sweet Potato:
If you want to go the commercial food route, there are plenty of options available! As we mentioned at the beginning, some foods and treats include sweet potato as an ingredient:
Purina:
- Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural Dry Cat Food
- Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural Pate Wet Cat Food
- Purina Beyond Indoor Grain Free
Evolve:
Merrick:
- Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Natural Dry Cat Food For Adult Cats (Chicken & Sweet potato)
- Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Natural Dry Cat Food For Adult Cats (Salmon & Sweet potato)
FAQ’S
Q: Is raw sweet potato good for cats?
A: No, you should avoid giving your cat raw sweet potato since they have trouble digesting it, thus, causing them stomach upset. Always go with cooked vegetables for easier bites and digestion!
Q: How much sweet potato can I give my cat?
A: If it is the first time you are giving sweet potato to your cat, you may want to see if they like it first. A small bite-sized piece of unseasoned sweet potato might be enough the first time. Never replace their usual wet food or kibble with sweet potato.
Q: Why is sweet potato in cat food?
A: It’s because of all the potential benefits in terms of nutrition it gives. Plus, it is a great source of fiber, which helps cats with the digestion process. Even if it is a good ingredient, bear in mind that sweet potato is high on carbohydrates, and your cat does not need that many.
Q: Can kittens eat sweet potato?
A: No! Kittens should never eat anything outside their diet when they are a few months old. If they are just a few weeks old, they should only be breastfeed by their mom.
Conclusions
We’ve learned a lot about the relation between cats and sweet potato, it offers a healthy deal of benefits, but it comes with drawbacks such as a high content in carbs. Sweet potato for cats is like most of things in life: Good in small amounts, bad in excess! If you measure the servings and your cat likes it, they will love you for providing them an amazing treat. Sweet potato will join our safe vegetables for cats list. have you checked it already?
