There are many brands of cereal out there, and you may be wondering if any of them are OK to give your cat. Some of them even resemble dry cat food, so it might seem like a good subsitute, especially if your cat has shown that they enjoy it.
But there’s not anything exceptionally good for your cat in cereal, and there are potentially some ingredients that make it fall under the category of things you shouldn’t give your cat. Most sugar these days has too much sugar in it for a cat to have. They’re also made with whole grains and oats, which are things that a meat eating cat doesn’t have any use for. That’s why we recommend against giving your cat cereal.
Sometimes a cat will show a lot of interest in what you’re eating, and other times they will be totally disinterested in your meal. If you find that your cat seems to want your cereal, it may be because they think it’s their cat food that you’re making, if you give them dry food. The box may sound the same, and the cereal might tumble out the same and make the same sound when it hits the bowl.
Can I Give My Cat Cereal? Answer: Not Recommended
Some owners might make the case that the fiber in cereal will help their cat’s digestive system. Many people eat a bowl of cereal each morning as their way of getting their recommended fiber intake. But your cat’s digestive system is different than ours, and they have different daily requirements. For example, they need more protein in their diet than we do, and they require less vegetables and grains than we do.
Too Much Sugar
If you’re considering giving them one of the “sugar bomb” cereals they will probably turn their nose up at it. Cats don’t have a sweet tooth, and if you pour milk on it they’ll probably not want it even more. The sugar that is in most cereals on the market is not really sugar the way it is found naturally. It is heavily refined and processed and not something that you should introduce into a natural creature like a cat, especially if they’re used to having their daily cat food. It will spike their blood sugar levels if they do eat it, and is definitely no substitute for cat food.
Cats and Grains
Cats don’t need grains, especially as a source of fiber. Try as we may, a cat’s digestive system has been evolving for millions of years, and the thousands of years of domestication have not changed the fact that they still need meat or animal proteins in order to function at their best. Kitty kibble that contains mostly grains with a little bit of meat is likely to be one of the cheaper cat foods you can buy. You’ll notice that the more expensive, scientifically formulated brands list meat at the first ingredient, and have some vegetables mixed in as fillers.
Sticking to Cat Food
The best thing you can do for your cat is to stick to their daily regimen of cat food. What’s more, you should try to stick to specific times for feeding them. Their digestive system will adjust to these times and will release the necessary digestive juices in order to process the meal. If you want to put your cat on auto-pilot and not worry about what they can and can’t have, give them the best quality cat food you can buy. That way you won’t have to worry about supplementing their diet with any other foods, because they’ll be getting everything they need from their cat food.
If you still want to give them treats in addition to their food, buy a pack of cat treats for just that occasion. These will contain extra vitamins and minerals so that your cat can have more energy, better looking fur, and fewer health problems. Many cat owners like to give their cats bits of food from what they’re eating, and while it may not seem to have any negative effects in the moment, there’s no accounting for the long term effects, and they’re definitely not doing their cats any favors, health-wise.