Peanuts are a high source of protein, making them popular for humans to eat since they provide a boost of energy, are easily accessible, and come in lots of flavors! They’re easy to take with you on the go or to enjoy at home.
But are they as good for cats? Can cats eat dry-roasted peanuts?
Peanuts are not toxic to cats; however, they can present a choking hazard and cats can be allergic to peanuts just like humans (although this is extremely rare). Assuming your cat doesn’t have an allergy, is supervised while eating, and only has them occasionally though, dry roasted peanuts can make a good treat.
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Note: We’ve chosen dry roasted peanuts for a couple of reasons:
1. This is a common question pet owners ask since dry roasted peanuts are a common staple in households.
2. Dry roasted peanuts have no salt or extra seasonings to worry about, so pet owners tend to wonder if they are safe, unlike salted or seasoned ones which are a lot less safe. You also don’t have to worry about oils.
So, can cats eat dry-roasted peanuts?
Peanuts are not toxic to cats; however, they can present a choking hazard and cats can be allergic to peanuts just like humans (although this is extremely rare). Assuming your cat doesn’t have an allergy, is supervised while eating, and only has them occasionally though, dry roasted peanuts can make a good treat.
Do Cats Like Dry Roasted Peanuts?
This will really depend on the cat. Some cats will steal a peanut or two, usually because they see you eating them and want in on the snack, and then discover they like them. Others can’t be bothered.
If your cat tries a dry-roasted peanut and likes it, they aren’t precisely unusual because there are plenty of cats out there who enjoy them. There are plenty of anecdotes of cats nibbling quite happily on peanuts. And they certainly enjoy playing with them in the husk because of the rattling!
Do Cats Hate Dry Roasted Peanuts?
There probably are cats who don’t care for dry-roasted peanuts. They may not like the texture or the flavor, or just cannot be bothered eating them. If this is your cat, don’t worry too much about it.
Peanuts are safe for cats to eat, but they won’t lose anything by not eating them either. My cats have never shown the slightest interest in peanuts, but it’s not something I’ve really thought to offer them either!
Can Dry Roasted Peanuts Kill My Cat?
Dry roasted peanuts are non-toxic for cats, meaning that all things being equal, they will not kill your cat. But as usual, the truth is more complicated than that.
First of all, you should only give cats a couple of unshelled dry roasted (or simply raw) peanuts. Supervise your cat while it’s eating them as peanuts can be a choking hazard (and kittens should never have peanuts because they won’t be able to chew them up properly).
Make sure there is absolutely no shell since slivers of shell can cause damage to a cat’s throat if swallowed.
Second, peanuts can cause allergies in cats, ranging from itching and sneezing to digestive problems like diarrhea and vomiting, to severe reactions like trouble breathing, necessitating an emergency run to the vet.
If your cat has any sort of allergic reaction to peanuts, you should never feed them peanuts again as the allergies can get worse.
Allergic reactions to look for:
- Itching
- Runny eyes
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Swelling
- Snorting from an inflamed throat
And in severe cases, trouble breathing.
Fortunately, allergies to peanuts in cats seem incredibly rare, but you never know! You don’t want to be the one to uncover an allergy to peanuts too late simply because you assumed it couldn’t happen.
Finally, while peanuts are a high source of protein, they are a high source of vegetable protein, which is different than animal protein. Cats aren’t evolved to manage vegetable protein, meaning that they don’t get much of anything out of eating them, from a nutritional point of view.
They are also very high in fat (some of which are healthy fats, but still), so a long-term diet of peanuts can lead to your cat becoming overweight and at the same time, a very malnourished pet.
Peanuts are a good source of manganese, niacin, vitamin E, and biotin (as well as healthy fats), but most cats are going to get that from their regular cat food, so peanuts don’t really add much to meeting their nutritional needs. They really are just a treat that cats can have once in a while (assuming there are no allergic reactions).
So, no, peanuts probably won’t kill your cat, but it’s important to monitor them while eating so they don’t choke or have a bad reaction behind your back.
How Many Dry Roasted Peanuts Can My Cat Eat?
Any peanuts that a cat has should have no seasoning on them (not even sugar), and no coatings. Dry roasted or raw are best for this as they are plain. Peanuts should be served without the husk.
Beyond that, it’s rather up to you how you want to let your cat eat them. Most cats probably won’t eat them whole since they’re a bit hard for cats to manage, but if they are chopped into small pieces or ground up is probably going to be more popular.
Cats also like to eat peanut butter sometimes, though that should be served in very tiny amounts and a brand that has absolutely no artificial sweetener in it. If you’re going to go for peanuts, it’s best to do raw or dry roasted because you know exactly what’s in them.
Figure on giving your cat only one or two peanuts every once in a while, perhaps a week. Any more than that and you risk your cat enjoying peanuts too much and ignoring their regular food which isn’t going to be good for them. Cats should be supervised while they eat peanuts (or play with peanuts in the husk!)
Conclusion
Dry roasted peanuts are a bit of an odd thing to think about feeding your cat, but cats get into the weirdest things. Fortunately, if you caught your cat nibbling on a raw peanut, you probably have nothing to worry about. Peanuts are definitely not toxic to cats and they can be an enjoyable little crunchy snack.
Does your cat go after dry roasted peanuts?
Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. This website is where she gets to share her knowledge and interact with other cat lovers.