Can cats eat collard greens? You might have wondered this if your cat begs for a bite while you’re preparing some collard greens in the kitchen to serve up the traditional way, alongside a bowl of grits. If humans can eat collard greens, can cats safely eat them too?
There is no short yes or no answer as to whether cats can eat collard greens safely. While collard greens aren’t usually toxic or poisonous to cats, there is a theory that they could potentially bring on a case of Heinz Body anemia.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your favorite feline, including collard greens. Here’s what you need to know about collard greens and cats.
When Are Collard Greens Okay For Cats To Eat?
When it comes to the health benefits of collard greens, the vegetable confers a good amount of the vitamins A, C, and K, along with providing iron and magnesium. They’re also high in fiber, which can help keep your cat digest properly.
If you decide to serve collard greens to your cat, it’s best to serve only the actual leaves and not the tougher and more fibrous stems. This is because the stem is harder to digest and could also pose a choking hazard.
When feeding your cat some collard greens, you might want to steam the leaves for about 30 seconds to help soften them up. Feel free to chop the leaves up into small pieces too.
When Are Collard Greens Bad For Cats?
First of all, cats are obligate carnivores who need the majority of their nutrition to come from protein. So, while collard greens do have a number of positive health benefits, they should never become a large part of a cat’s daily diet.
Secondly, in some cases, it has been theorized that feeding collard greens to a cat could bring about a case of Heinz Body anemia. This is a condition that can cause the red blood cells to stop working as they should.
So while you might want to occasionally serve your cat a small amount of collard greens as a treat or a snack, it’s best to avoid adding collard greens to your cat’s diet on too regular a basis.
Does your cat love getting a taste of your collard greens? What other foods does your cat enjoy? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
