Corn is one of the most popular cereals in the world. It is a good source for many valuable nutrients, and it also tastes great. If you like corn or corn-based foods, then you may be tempted to feed your cat some corn too. However, cats can eat corn?
Can cats eat corn?
In short, the answer is yes, corn is safe for your cats to eat, but only in moderation.
It is also necessary to consider the fact that corn allergy is one of the most common food allergies in cats. So before you feed your cat some corn, popcorn, cereal or anything else that contains corn, make sure your cat is not allergic to this grain of cereal.
Corn Allergy in Cats
Studies have shown that maize is one of the most common dietary ingredients to cause allergies in your cats. That’s why you need to be extremely cautious when feeding your lovely cat corn or something that contains corn.
What I recommend to do is give your cat just a tiny amount of corn and then wait to see if your lovely cat shows all the signs of a food allergy. The most common allergic reaction to maize would be the constant scratching of the skin. Other common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If you notice any of the above samples in your cat after you have fed him some of the corn, then it is very likely that your cat will be allergic to corn and you should not include corn or foodstuffs containing corn in your diet.
However, if your cat does not show signs of food allergy after having had a little corn, then it is okay to eat a little corn from time to times.
Cats can only eat corn in moderation
But, If your cat is not allergic to corn, then you may think that she can eat as much corn as you want, but that is not true. Cats are obligatory carnivores, which means they need animal feed supplies to get all the nutrients they need.
If you mainly feed your corn cat or other grains and vegetables, then it would soon suffer from malnutrition, which can cause serious health problems for your pet.
This is why it is not recommended to let the cat fill with corn or other grains and vegetables. These types of food can be fed as occasional treats, but not as a main dish.
Can cats eat popcorn?
Undoubtedly, one of the best things we’ve learned how to make corn is popcorn. Popcorn makes a delicious appetizer that is perfect for enjoying while watching a movie. However, when you are watching a video and enjoying your popcorn bag, your cat may show interest in what you are eating and start begging to share it with her.
Can cats eat popcorn? The answer is complicated. When one or two pieces of pure popcorn are approved for cats, many of the flavoring ingredients we like to use in our popcorn make popcorn dangerous for cats.
Chocolate-flavored popcorn is off the menu for cats because chocolate is poisonous to cats. It is also better to avoid giving your cat salt popcorn because the cat can’t tolerate salty food.
Corn in cat food
If you take a look at the list of ingredients on the back of a cat food package that you bought for your feline friend, then you may be surprised to find that it also contains corn. That’s not a good thing.
Many cat food companies use corn in Jack foods because corn is much cheaper than animal muscle meat. Therefore, using corn instead of meat from animal muscles, companies can sell the final product cheaper than competitors who do not use cheap fillings like corn.
However, cat food containing a lot of corn is far from good for your feline friend. Cats have a short digestive tract that is designed to digest high energy foods like meat.
Cats are also not able to produce many of the essential amino acids and vitamins in their own bodies so they need to get them from food. However, corn and other grains would not provide your cat with all the essential amino acids, and that’s why your cat’s food should always include a lot of animal protein.
Conclusion about cats can eat corn
Although it is OK for cats to eat a little corn from time to place, it would be best to avoid making the corn a regular part of your cat diet. That means it is also for the best to not feed your cat’s commercial cat food containing a lot of corn.
