Giving your cat pumpkin, especially canned pumpkin, is often mentioned as a way to help them through a case of diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach. Several owners swear by it, but it’s not easy to find a vet that will lend their support to the idea. That’s why it’s always best to check things out with your vet before trying something new.
Overall though there doesn’t seem like there are too many drawbacks to giving your cat pumpkin. It’s a natural item, and as long as you don’t get the kind that is seasoned with spices it’s pretty much like pureed pumpkin and is well tolerated by most cats. The nice thing about it is that no matter what sort of trouble your cat is having, this can work to restore balance.
It’s important to note that you don’t want to get into a daily habit of giving them pumpkin, as they should be getting all they need to stay regular in the cat food you’re giving them. It’s a better idea to upgrade their food rather than buy something that is causing digestive trouble and then try fixing that trouble by giving them pumpkin. It should only be used in a pinch when they seem to be having trouble with going too much or not enough.
Can I Give My Cat Pumpkin? Answer: Yes.
The reason why pumpkin gets the go ahead is mostly because it’s an all natural remedy and helps you avoid giving them an over the counter drug made for humans. The moisture is said to help lubricate their digestive system which helps if they’re constipated, and the fiber gives bulk to their stool, helping out with diarrhea. Either way it’s helping, and so it’s just a matter of figuring out how much to give them.
You don’t want to give them so much that it causes an imbalance in their digestive system, nor do you want to give them too little that it becomes ineffective. The general rule of thumb is to go by the weight of your pet, adjust the serving size according to how big they are. But at no time would you ever want to exceed the amount of food that they normally eat in one sitting. It’s best to err on the side of caution here and only give them a little bit at first, giving them a bit more if you don’t see an improvement.
A Potential Alternative
One way to help your cat with stomach trouble is to just do nothing. The reason is that by the time you recognize that they’re having a problem they’re already likely more than halfway through it. By the time you intervene and the pumpkin has time to work its way through their system, they might have been fine without it. Cats have a much faster metabolism than humans, so their stomach discomfort is short lived, it doesn’t linger on for hours like it can with us.
Very rarely has a cat owner regretted taking no action. Most times they end up regretting getting involved because it’s easy to make a situation worse than it already is. Cats still maintain that close connection with nature and they don’t get caught up in the notion of treating every little malady that befalls them. It’s worked for thousands and thousands of years, and continues to prove effective if you take a look at their big cat relatives in the wild.
As Always, Best to Get Professional Advice
If your cat has a spotty medical history this is one of those times you’ll want to give the vet’s assistant a ring and ask them what they think you should do. It could be that giving your cat pumpkin is not a good idea, and they’ll be able to advise you on the best practices for your particular cat.
The best course of action for your cat can sometimes be tough to determine, but always trust your instincts since you know them best. You’ll develop a sort of sixth sense or an owner’s intuition when something isn’t right, and that same feeling can guide you to the next best step to help treat them.
Due to my cat’s weight and all the recommendations for pumpkin, I decided to give it a try. Bad idea! My cat now has an extreme case of the runs! My house stinks and poo is everywhere!
I will never give my cats pumpkin again. I gave them less than 1 teaspoon of 100% pumpkin mixed with food in the morning and night. It was shared by two cats. Two days later: DISASTER!