Rosa Maria
Being sweet blind, can cats eat honey? Well, most of the time, vets don’t support the answer as yes. But the answer is not any simple.
So, give a read to this guide before feeding honey or anything to your sweet furry feline because Honey can be beneficial and harmful in different cases.
So, this guide will be your escape from myths and misconceptions.
Without wasting time, Let’s start:
Table of Contents
Can Cats Eat Honey?
Just like you are concerned about buying pet friendly products, you want to feed your catto the best, right?
So, all healthy cats can eat honey in its liquid or crystallized form as it is not toxic.
However, overeating honey might cause an upset stomach and dental problems.
Contacting a competent veterinarian is the best course of action if your feline buddy is persistently suffering from diarrhea or appears to be lethargic
Can Cats Digest Honey?
Well, the felines differ in numerous ways from humans. Kitties depend more on the protein that’s based on meat. They do require fiber but in a very small amount as compared to humans.
And they also need minerals, vitamins, and nutrients derived from real meat. But their digestive system cannot process fructose and glucose present in honey, as humans’ can.
Honey isn’t as toxic as almonds for cats however the richness in fructose and glucose makes it difficult for cats to assimilate.
In other words, giving chocolates, sweets, candies, maple syrup is not a good idea. The more you give, the more Cat Litter she would have to use.
On top of that, honey lacks the crucial nutrients that your cats require daily.
It means honey does not have any proteins, fibers, or any kind of vitamins.
Can Sick Cats Have Honey?
Organic honey is not toxic to sick or healthy cats, but the calorie consumption does matter. More honey means more calories that can result in stomach distress. But it varies.
Honey is reported to heal sick cat wounds, but eating honey affects different cats differently.
Read 7 signs that your cat might be dying.
For a sick cat, even a half teaspoon of honey might cause issues in the digestive system, while healthy cats can enjoy occasional half teaspoon honey treats without distress.
As an alternative, you can give cherries to your cats without pits.
Keep in mind the quantity and if you notice your cat is sick with vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or other symptoms of an upset stomach, stop honey completely and consult a vet.
Conditions In Which Sick Cats Can Eat Honey:
Is honey good for sick cats? The answer is yes. In diseases like sore throats and common allergies, it can be given.
Although your feline friend’s digestive system does not work like humans’, yet there are some conditions where honey can be given to your cat. Let’s look at when can we consider honey as one of the cat feedings.
Is your cat clingy? Read more.
1. Sore Throat
Sore throats in cats are similar to human sore throats. Common reasons are bacterial or viral infections or cat flu. If your cat has a sore throat, you may notice her retching or swallowing.
So, as honey treats us well in sore throats, so does it do in cats. Normally it’s difficult to diagnose if your cats have a sore throat, but as mentioned, gagging is one of the signs she has a sore throat.
Is your cat clingy???
Talking about how much honey should be given to cats in sore throats, it’s recommended to give only a few drops.
2. Allergies
Allergy is the immune system’s hypersensitivity to certain things in the environment, including food, pollens, etc
In humans, honey’s benefits are proven in allergies. But luckily, in the case of cats, it’s not forbidden at all too.
Honey, in fact, suppresses the immune system against allergens. If your cats show allergic reactions, you may give honey to her.
Try always raw honey because processed honey loses many of its nutrients. However, this treatment should not be considered superior to your veterinarian’s advice.
3. Anorexia and Stomach ache
Anorexia is a condition in which cats lose their appetites. Although not recommended by veterinarians, honey is still famous for treating stomach aches and loss of appetite in cats.
4. Weight Gain
Honey can occasionally be given to a cat if she is underweight. One teaspoon of honey contains 64 calories, which is a lot for a cat. On the other hand, if she’s already struggling with overweight, honey is a bad thing to give.
Condition In Which Honey is Good for Cats:
The healing power of honey is knowns since the dark ages. Today veterinarians use honey and sugar to treat wounds in pets
An emergency veterinarian, Dr. Maureen McMicheal, says that she and her team keep sugar and a big jar of honey in the emergency room to treat many wounds that their pet patients come with.
She further says that honey has great antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can heal wounds that no other thing can.
How much honey can be given to cats?
Despite the potential risks that honey carries for the cat’s digestive system, it’s recommended to give not more than half a teaspoon of honey, even for medicinal purposes.
In all other cases, a few drops occasionally are perfectly safe to be consumed by her.
How to Feed Honey To Your Cat?
Here are some ways in which you can feed honey to your cat:
1. Raw honey:
A small amount of raw honey will not be harmful for your cat. Unprocessed honey has special antimicrobial properties that helps kitty sustain against germs and viral attacks.
Your cat might want to eat more after you feed her half spoon of honey, however, do not let this treat go more than that quantity.
2. Manuka honey:
Manuka is a flower and with its nectar, manuka honey is produced. Raw manuka honey is also not harmful for your sweet little feline.
Once again, keeping the quantity is a must.
Conditions In Which Honey Is Bad For Cats:
Honey is safe for cats, but it does not mean your furry friend starts enjoying it as her daily meal. Giving your cat honey in a larger amount or regularly for a long period without any ailment or special reason can make her sick.
The following are a few of the issues she may get into if she consumes honey in a larger amount.
1. Counterproductive for Diabetic Cats
Just like humans, cats too fall prey to Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Clinical signs of catching diabetes are weight loss, excessive thirst, and urination.
For the cats who are already fighting with diabetes, the consumption of honey will result in the shooting of blood-sugar levels, which can be fatal if not treated on time.
2. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is an unformed loose bowel movement with increased frequency. More dosage of the honey is said to cause diarrhea in cats. Diarrhea itself is not a disease but an indication of several diseases.
On the other hand, lettuce can be given to fluffy cats to ease their bowel movement if they have constipation or like problems.
3. Botulinum
Honey is also said to cause Botulinum. Although scientifically, it’s not proven, yet cases have been seen where cats eating honey regularly are caught by this disease.
Especially kittens should be kept away from honey, for their immune hasn’t developed fully.
Nutritional Benefits of Honey
Honey has been used since long to heal wounds and fight infectious diseases. Even the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle mentioned honey as being “good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds.”
Talking nutritionally, one tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, 17g carbohydrate in which the entire 17g is sugar, and no dietary fiber at all.
Check interesting guide on black Maine coon cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can cats eat Manuka honey?
With so many benefits of manuka honey, including soothing a sore throat, improving the digestive system, etc., it is normal to think that the same can benefit the cat: but it’s not correct at all.
Because the digestive system of felines is so small that in every stage of digestion, it may cause a problem.
2. Can cats eat Honey Nut Cheerios?
Yes, they can, But don’t mix it with milk while giving it to cats. Instead, give them in dry shape only. Even though it’s not harmful to your cat, yet it’s not recommended to be given regularly.
3. Can Cats Eat Honey-roasted Peanuts?
Peanuts themselves are not toxic to cats, and so does honey. So, anything that’s the combination of both should not harm your sweet feline unless a third element that’s toxic to the cat is added.
Read: Cat cats eat watermelon.
So, if your cat eats one or two honey roasted peanuts, that’s perfectly safe, and you need not worry.
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Conclusion
Besides cat food, everything our cats eat raise our eye-brows. Honey is debatable mainly because its downsides are way too significant to neglect.
And the disadvantages rule out any possible benefits your cat will get out of honey. So, you may give honey to your cat occasionally in a minimal amount.
So, has your cat ever showed interest in eating honey? Let us know in the comments section.