Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a high-protein, high-fiber legume.
Garbanzo beans are incredibly versatile and can be used to make dishes with bold flavors that are reminiscent of cuisines from all over the world, including India.
Folate, butyrate, saponins, and B vitamins are just some of the nutrients that can be found in chickpeas.
This legume has been linked to a number of health benefits, including assisting with blood sugar regulation, improving gut health, and even protecting against heart disease.
Is it safe to assume that if chickpeas are good for humans, they must also be safe for cats to eat? Chickpeas: Do Cats Like Them? Are chickpeas unsafe for them to eat?
To cut a long story short, yes, cats can eat chickpeas. But they shouldn’t. Let’s delve deeper into this issue.
Cats Can Eat Chickpeas But …
To begin answering the question of whether or not cats can eat chickpeas, it is important to remember that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they can obtain all of the nutrition they need only from eating animal protein.
As a result, plant foods such as chickpeas are unnecessary for the proper nutrition of cats.
However, occasionally feeding your cat chickpeas is not the worst thing that could happen.
In fact, chickpeas are included in some commercial cat food recipes to boost the protein and nutritional value.
Chickpeas are not the best choice of food for your cat, but they are not toxic and should not cause any harm in small amounts.
Cat Diet
Cats must eat meat in order to survive. Meat is the only reliable source of the nutrients and protein they need.
Small mammals, such as baby rabbits and rodents, fall into this category in the wild. They also hunted and consumed birds, and a small percentage of them ate fish and other aquatic creatures.
The cat wouldn’t go out of its way to seek out plant-based foods like grains, vegetables, and fruits, but it would get what it needs from the prey it eats.
It stands to reason that you shouldn’t feed these to your cat if you’re serious about providing a species-appropriate diet. We will, however, provide reasonable exemptions from this rule below.
Are Chickpeas Good For Cats?
In particular, a large portion of your cat’s recommended daily protein intake will come from meat products. Vegetable protein has a poor reputation for providing adequate nutrition for cats. Therefore, despite the fact that chickpeas are a good source of protein, you shouldn’t eat them.
Chickpeas have trace amounts of essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and folate, but not enough for regular use. Find better, healthier options for your cat.
The garbanzo bean’s main drawback is that it’s tough to break down. Therefore, your cat will not benefit from the bean’s nutritional value.
Food that has not been digested properly can also cause stomach problems. Your cat may experience gastrointestinal distress such as abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Why Your Cat Should Not Eat Too Many Chickpeas
Chickpeas are not toxic to cats in small amounts, but excessive consumption can be dangerous.
To begin, your cat does not require a diet rich in fiber, which chickpeas provide. Excessive fiber intake has been linked to gastrointestinal distress, bowel irregularity, and even diarrhea.
Second, your cat’s commercial food is balanced to meet all of its nutritional needs, not just some of them, and chickpeas take up valuable space in its stomach.
A nutritional imbalance or deficiency may occur if you feed your cat home-cooked meals like chickpeas instead of commercial cat food.
How Many Chickpeas Are Too Many for Your Cat?
In a nutshell, your cat should not be fed more than a couple of chickpeas at a time, and even then only on rare occasions. If chickpeas make up more than a minor portion of your cat’s regular diet, it’s possible that they’re getting too many of them.
Keep in mind that chickpeas are completely unnecessary for your cat’s diet. So, you shouldn’t take any that are offered seriously other than as treats. You can’t count on chickpeas to give your cat the proper nutrition it needs to thrive.
How Should Chickpeas Be Fed to Your Cats?
If you do decide to give your cat chickpeas, make sure they are not salted or seasoned in any way.
Whether raw or cooked, they should be served in their most basic form. You can feed your cat chickpeas in a variety of preparations, including straight from the can or pot, baked, fried, or sauteed.
You can use chickpeas as training treats, incorporate them into your cat’s regular diet, or even mash some of them up and use them as a mask for pills. You can serve chickpeas to your cat however you like.
Alternatives To Chickpeas
There is no justification for including chickpeas in a cat’s diet. They don’t have anything in them that can’t be gotten from a better, more appropriate place.
The following are some suggestions for increasing your cat’s intake of fruits and vegetables:
- Beta carotene is abundant in carrots, and they are also a good source of vitamin K1, vitamin B6, potassium, and fiber. Most foods with an orange hue contain a nutrient that, once consumed, is transformed into vitamin A. Vitamin A helps maintain a healthy coat and skin and is responsible for a cat’s keen night vision.
- Blueberries are a good source of fiber and water, and they are completely safe for cats to eat. Getting a cat to drink water can be challenging, but it’s especially crucial if you feed your cat a dry kibble or dry food diet, as these foods don’t contain any moisture. Antioxidants can also be found in high concentrations in blueberries.
- The vegetable squash, in all its forms, is beneficial for feline health. The high fiber content of this vegetable is worth the effort of peeling and boiling it. Hairballs are less common when your cat’s diet includes plenty of fiber, which also helps your cat feel full on fewer calories.
- Peas — Peas are a common ingredient in dry cat food, where they serve as a grain replacement to help the kibble keep its form. Because of their high fiber content, low calorie count, and abundance of essential vitamins and minerals, they can be used in both homemade and commercial pet food.
- Vitamin-rich spinach is fine for most cats unless they are experiencing urinary or kidney issues. Vitamins A, K, B6, B2, E, and C are all present. It is low in calories and contains beneficial nutrients like fiber and minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Spinach has some omega-3 fatty acids, though not nearly as much as fish.
Conclusion
Chickpeas are a common and well-liked food item in many kitchens. You can safely find them in dog food, and they’re delicious in dishes and salads.
However, cats shouldn’t eat them. They are not a good substitute for a regular diet of meat, cause itching and indigestion, and don’t offer many health benefits.
Cats can enjoy a small amount of softened chickpeas as a treat every now and then, but they shouldn’t have to survive on them.
If so, does kitty approve of chickpeas? Since most cats tend to ignore them, we’re curious!