Grains & Nuts

Cats have very little need for grains; oats can cause bloating or loose stools and add no required nutrition.

Cats tolerate fatty foods poorly, peanuts offer no required nutrition, and the choking and mould risks apply just as much.

Cats tolerate fatty foods poorly; nuts commonly cause diarrhoea and vomiting and offer no nutritional benefit.

Cats tolerate fat poorly and cashews are about 44% fat, so even a few can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; cashews are not part of a cat's required diet.

Cats do not need grains, so a teaspoon of cooked brown rice is at most a novel treat adding a little carbohydrate and fibre.

Cats have no need for grains, so a quarter teaspoon of soft cooked quinoa is at most a novel garnish with a little carbohydrate and fibre.

Cats tolerate fatty treats poorly, so too many sunflower seeds cause loose stools; shells add a choking risk, and salty seeds are a bigger burden for a small animal.

Cats handle fatty foods poorly, so hazelnuts can cause digestive upset; whole nuts are a choking risk, the mycotoxin concern is the same, and cats gain nothing from them.

Cats tolerate fat poorly and pistachios are about 45% fat, so even a few kernels can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; whole nuts and shells are a choking risk, and pistachios add nothing a cat needs.

Cats handle fatty treats poorly, so too many pumpkin seeds cause loose stools or diarrhoea; whole seeds in the shell can choke or pass undigested, and salty seeds are a bigger burden for a small animal.

Reported cases are almost all in dogs and data for cats are limited; with no reliable safety basis, they should not be fed at all.

Cats handle fat poorly and sesame is about 50% fat, so even a pinch can cause vomiting, loose stools and possibly pancreatitis; whole seeds pass undigested, and **sesame is a common cat allergen as well**.

The **cyanogenic glycosides** in flaxseed are a safety issue for cats too, especially raw seed or large amounts; cats are carnivores with no need for flaxseed, and its high fibre easily causes loose stools and bloating.

**Dry chia is risky for cats too**: the seeds swell into a gel and can block the oesophagus; cats are carnivores with no need for chia, and its heavy fibre load easily loosens the stool and bloats the gut.

Cats tolerate fat poorly and pine nuts are about 68% fat, so even a few kernels can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; whole nuts and shells are a choking risk, and pine nuts add nothing a cat needs.

Cats have very little need for grains, so a small spoon of soft cooked buckwheat is at most a novel treat with a little carbohydrate and fibre.

Cats have very little need for grains, so a small spoon of cooked-soft millet is at most a novel treat with a little carbohydrate.