Can cats eat pepper?

Peppers are common spices or seasoning ingredients. They have a wide range of applications, from soup, stew to salads. Because of their frequent use, cats are likely to come across them at some point. Peppers are nutritious, but before we share peppered meals with our kitties, we should ask ourselves, “Can cats eat pepper?” 

Can cats eat pepper?

Some species like bell pepper are entirely harmless and can be safely consumed by your cat. Other species like jalapeno are not suitable and can wreak havoc on your feline’s digestive system. It is quite unlikely your cat will develop an interest in peppers as peppers have no strong smell or taste.

Specific concerns with cats eating pepper

Bell peppers are common in the human diet because of their richness in vitamins. To cats, the vitamins may be quite useless. Cats can readily manufacture these vitamins on demand. They are also unable to absorb vitamins from vegetables. Bell peppers do not have any effect on your feline friend. Therefore, you can serve them in small pieces. 

Jalapeno peppers and other spicy peppers (hot pepper) are an absolute no for your cat. They contain capsaicin chemical that makes eye, oral, and nasal tissues to burn. Cats may be affected farther by capsaicin, to the point of becoming very ill.

Healthy measures on the ingestion of peppers.

In case your cat shows a keen interest in bell peppers, a treat of a few slices now and then will not do any harm. If your cat bites on a hot jalapeno pepper, it is likely to spit it out. If it swallows the pepper, give it bland food and a lot of water. Closely monitor the cat for any symptoms.

Conclusion

It is rare for your cat to develop an interest in peppers. Even in rare circumstances, there are minimal adverse effects or benefits. To satisfy your cat’s curiosity, a few slices of bell pepper will do the trick. Therefore, the answer to the puzzle, “Can cats eat pepper?” is yes. 

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