Is it possible to give cats pumpkin seeds

There is nothing surprising in the fact that the cat eats the seeds. By eating this treat, the pet tries to enrich the body with missing vitamins and nutrients. But when introducing this product into the diet, you should follow the recommendations of veterinarians. If you do not adhere to the feeding rules, violating the norms for the quantity and quality of seeds, you can cause severe harm to your pet.

Composition and properties of seeds

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds contain a number of B vitamins, which ensure normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin A, which is included in the composition, improves vision, vitamin E strengthens the walls of blood vessels, vitamin D is responsible for the strength of bones, nails and teeth. In addition, the seeds contain a large amount of amino acids and polyunsaturated acids, which are a unique antioxidant and also have an excellent effect on the quality and appearance of cat fur.

The seeds contain many micro- and macroelements, such as:

calcium;
zinc;
iron;
iodine;
phosphorus;
sodium;
selenium;
silicon;
magnesium.

All components have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems and help the cat’s body function normally.

How to take: recipes for worms

Recipe name	Preparation	Use
Recipe with honey	Peel 300 g of seeds. Grind in a coffee grinder to a powder. Add water until the consistency of liquid sour cream is obtained. Add 2 tablespoons of honey.	Take on an empty stomach, spread out over an hour. After 3 hours, drink a laxative or do an enema.
Recipe with garlic	Peel 200 g of product and grind in a blender. Grate 6 cloves of garlic on a fine grater. Mix everything and add 3 tbsp. spoons of honey. Leave for 12 hours.	Take 1 tbsp on an empty stomach 3 hours before breakfast. spoon. The course lasts 4 days. Enemas and laxatives are not required.
Recipe with castor oil	Clean 100 g of product.	Eat the seeds, after an hour drink 1 teaspoon of castor oil. A one-time procedure is enough. In case of severe infection, you can repeat 3-4 times.
Recipe with milk	Peel 200 g of seeds, grind in a blender, add a little milk. The consistency should be like thick sour cream.	Consume instead of breakfast. After an hour, drink 300 ml of cold boiled water. After another hour, drink as much water as possible until you feel like vomiting. After 30 minutes, do an enema or drink 1 teaspoon of castor oil. A single use is sufficient for treatment.
Recipe with sunflower oil	Unfiltered oil is used. You need to prepare 2 cups of not fried, but simply dried seeds.	On an empty stomach, take 2 tablespoons of oil. After 10 minutes, eat the seeds. For children under 14 years of age, reduce the dosage by 2 times. After 2 hours, do a cleansing enema or drink a strong laxative.
Recipe for the prevention of helminthiasis	Prepare 50 seeds.	20 minutes before breakfast, eat the seeds with 1 glass of water.

Benefits and harms for cats

This fried product is harmful to animals.
Cats love both sunflower and pumpkin seeds, but they have different effects on the body. Therefore, veterinarians recommend combining both when adding them to the diet. In combination, these products will provide your pet with all the beneficial substances. Veterinarians clarify that only raw seeds can be given to cats; fried seeds are contraindicated for them.

When a cat eats sunflower seeds, it receives a huge supply of vitamins, proteins and microelements necessary for the healthy functioning of the body. Thanks to fatty acids, the pet's coat becomes shiny and thick, and the vitality of the body increases. If a cat loves pumpkin seeds, then this is only good for her. She becomes more beautiful and stronger, more playful and active, and gets sick much less often. The product has the following beneficial properties:

enriches with necessary substances and vitamins;
has a laxative and enveloping effect;
eliminates worms;
removes toxins.

In addition to the benefits, the seeds can also cause harm to the animal’s body. It consists of the following:

Due to the high fat content in the product, cholesterol may increase.
Some cats find this food difficult to digest.
The product may cause an allergic reaction in pets.
Unpeeled seeds sometimes cause intestinal obstruction or constipation.
Poorly cleaned seeds contain toxic substances that are very harmful to cats.

Can cats be given seeds?

The main conclusion is that cats can eat sunflower and pumpkin seeds, but in limited quantities. You should not give fried seeds - during heat treatment they lose useful substances, but accumulate carcinogens and toxins.

Before giving your cat seeds, they need to be peeled, and pumpkin seeds should also be ground into powder. This product will not harm the animal.

However, if your pet doesn’t like seeds, then you shouldn’t offer them to him: the cat can get the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals from other foods.

Many pet owners have seen how enthusiastically their pet eats sunflower seeds.

Sometimes - together with the owner. At the same time, not everyone, even the most caring owner, thinks about whether cats can be given seeds? If so, what kind and how much, can such a delicacy harm the health of your furry pet.

What are the benefits of sunflower seeds?

Sunflower seeds are a storehouse of useful substances. Sunflower seeds contain a lot of fat-soluble vitamins. They are well absorbed in the intestines thanks to the fats in the seeds.

Vitamin A is useful for night hunters because it supports visual acuity, vitamin D is necessary for the strength of bones, teeth and claws, it promotes the absorption of calcium, which is even more in seeds than in dairy products.

Vitamin E strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the pet’s nervous system and normalize metabolic processes. The seeds contain vitamin B1, which reduces the risk of developing heart pathologies and maintains the health of the circulatory system.

The seeds contain many amino acids necessary for the animal's body. Arginine plays an important role in maintaining the health of the animal's cardiovascular system and strengthens blood vessels and arteries. by strengthening blood vessels and arteries.

Another useful amino acid is methionine. It plays an important role in the functioning of the nervous system and has an antitoxic effect.

Methionine carries out the work of transporting fat from the liver; as part of proteins, it participates in the most important metabolic processes in the cat’s body.

The amino acid ensures the removal of heavy metals, protects the animal’s body from the effects of harmful chemical compounds, binds free radicals and histamine, and restores liver and kidney cells.

Sunflower seeds are rich in minerals - in addition to calcium, they contain magnesium, iron, zinc, and fluorine. Moreover, there is six times more magnesium in seeds than in rye bread, which is considered the main source of the mineral. Magnesium, together with calcium, is involved in the metabolism of bone tissue.

It maintains normal intestinal and gallbladder functions, has vasodilating and anticonvulsant effects. Iron is the main element of redox processes in the body; it is involved in the delivery of oxygen to tissues and the removal of carbon dioxide from them.

Seeds contain unsaturated fatty acids, which play an important role in ensuring the health of the cardiovascular system, help normalize cholesterol metabolism and reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol in the body.

Important!

Thanks to the rich composition of nutrients, sunflower seeds also have a positive effect on the cat’s appearance – the pet’s coat becomes thicker, silkier and shiny.

Harm of seeds for cats

However, all of the above does not mean that a cat can eat a glass of seeds – peeled or with the husk – without harm to health. Especially the unrefined ones.

The cat's stomach is not able to digest the husk, and it, accumulating in the intestines, can lead to constipation at best, and obstruction at worst.

The pathological condition will require veterinary care, otherwise there is a high risk of death.

Unpeeled seeds can cause injury to the gums - damage to the mucous membranes allows pathogenic bacteria to enter the body, which will cause inflammation. Injuries to the esophagus are possible, which can also end sadly for the animal, and if the intestinal walls are damaged, over time the cat may develop malignant tumors.

The seeds are rich in fat, which for furry creatures leading a sedentary lifestyle can lead to excess weight and liver problems. The product contains a lot of phosphorus, which is harmful for animals because over time it can lead to kidney failure, the formation of stones and the development of urolithiasis.

Important!

Cats are carnivores by nature, and their digestive system is more suited to digesting animal foods rather than plant foods.

There is a category of domestic cats that should never be given sunflower seeds. These include:

pets with chronic liver pathologies;
those who are allergic to sunflower oil;
animals with gastrointestinal diseases, peptic ulcers.

You should not give seeds to a pet with inflammatory diseases of the gums and oral cavity. In kittens up to six months of age, seeds (even peeled) can cause intestinal obstruction, so keep seeds away from curious animals.

In general, sunflower seeds in small quantities should not harm your pet’s body, but it is recommended to limit their consumption and give only peeled kernels - no more than 1 tablespoon 1-2 times a week.

Pumpkin seeds for cats

Pumpkin seeds contain many beneficial components for animals: fiber, which stimulates intestinal function, a whole complex of proteins and amino acids, polyunsaturated fats, vitamins A, groups B, C, D, E, minerals calcium and magnesium, iron and phosphorus, fluorine and iodine and others.

Pumpkin seeds have a laxative effect on the body and have an enveloping property. In addition, they are known as an effective antitoxic agent.

Pumpkin seeds have a detrimental effect on many types of intestinal parasites, while deworming occurs painlessly for the animal.

They act on both worms and their eggs, protecting the body from toxins that are released when the helminths die.

Important!

Due to their nutritional value, pumpkin seeds can be used as a feed additive for sick and weakened animals.

However, even such healthy seeds cannot be given to animals in unlimited quantities. They can be difficult food for your pet's gastrointestinal tract, so you should grind the hulled kernels before giving them to your cat.

This product is prohibited for animals suffering from liver pathologies.

Some substances in the seeds contain substances that are not digestible by the pet’s body, and the thin film that covers the kernel under the husk contains toxic substances that can harm the animal’s health.

Pumpkin seeds can also cause an allergic reaction; if consumed in excess, they can cause constipation and intestinal obstruction, and cause irritation. It is safe to give your pet no more than five kernels per day, peeled and film-free, crushed into powder.

Important!

Neither sunflower nor pumpkin seeds should be given to animals fried - they accumulate carcinogens, and when heated, many vitamins and nutrients are destroyed.⁠

Source: https://kupipet.ru/articles/mozhno-li-koshkam-davat-semechki.html

Can it be given to cats?

Sunflower seeds

It is important for the animal to consume a purified product.
Veterinarians disagree on the need to feed cats seeds. However, one thing is clear - if given, it will be in strictly limited quantities. When offering sunflower seeds to your pet, you need to remember the following recommendations:

The seeds must be well dried.
It is not allowed to use rotten kernels.
Before feeding, the product must be thoroughly cleaned of husks.
Well crushed seeds should be given.
You can feed no more than 10 seeds at one time. This can be done no more than 3 times a week.

Pumpkin seeds

When choosing a pumpkin for preparing a product, you need to pay attention to the ripeness of the melon vegetable. Unripe pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of chenille substances, which can cause poisoning in a cat. After removing the seeds, you need to dry them well. Then they need to be peeled and filmed, chopped and treated to your pet. The daily norm is 5-6 pieces. Just like sunflower seeds, you can give them no more than 3 times a week.

Such seeds can be combined with pumpkin pulp.

It has been proven that vegetables that cat owners add to the menu are of great benefit. Therefore, you can add finely chopped pumpkin to the cooked seeds. The animal will definitely like this treat and benefit it. When feeding pumpkin seeds, you need to carefully monitor the physical condition of your pet and monitor the digestion process. If constipation or diarrhea occurs, such meals should be discontinued.

What is the danger

This product does not pose a lethal threat to animals, but should be avoided when feeding certain species in certain situations. Pay attention to heat treatment of seeds.

For cats

Sunflower or pumpkin seeds are not prohibited for cats, but it is better to clean them first. As for the possible harm caused to the health of cats, the following factors are distinguished:

Any form of this product contains a lot of fat, which increases the level of cholesterol in the animal’s blood.
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds are difficult for the human body to digest. As for the animal, their digestive system is vulnerable to the consumption of unusual foods with large amounts of carbohydrates and fats. Therefore, if you want to eat fruits, give them to your pet for food, a small amount is required. This is recommended for a kind of test of the animal’s food sensitivity to the presented product.

Often the nuclei provoke the development of an allergic reaction in animals. In cats, this is manifested by involuntary sneezing, strong scratching of the ear and other unusual manifestations.

If a cat eats unhulled seeds, it may experience intestinal obstruction. The owner will have to help - the pet needs to be shown to a veterinarian.
Unpeeled fruits contain toxic substances that are harmful to the health of the animal and can cause poisoning.

These are only the most common reactions in a pet from eating sunflower or pumpkin fruits. It is better to refuse to feed cats with the presented product or give it in small quantities and in purified form.

For dogs

Peeled sunflower and pumpkin seeds should not be given to dogs at all or in large quantities. Here are the reasons for the bans:

The high caloric content of the product leads to obesity of the animal. And we’re not just talking about subcutaneous fat. In dogs, digestion is designed in such a way that excess incoming calories are deposited on the internal organs. The accumulation of fat puts pressure on the heart, which becomes fatal for the animal.
The kernels cause disorders in the digestive system. This is vomiting, severe diarrhea, or constipation. Stomach or intestinal disorders have a bad effect on the dog’s health - disturbances in the functioning of other internal organs occur.
Plant products in the fields absorb large amounts of nitrates and other poisons. As a result, their consumption by pets can lead to poisoning of the body, which, unlike humans, has increased susceptibility.

Helpful advice: if your dog loves seeds and feels good after eating them, you can solve the problem with nitrates and poisons. To do this, the product is grown independently in the private sector. It is recommended to avoid treating crops with pesticides and other toxic solutions in order to protect them from insect attacks.

For parrots

Surprisingly, sunflower fruits are included in most parrot foods. We are talking only about raw kernels, but you need to forget about fried seeds for the parrot. This is explained by two factors. The first is the lack of useful microelements and vitamins in fried seeds. They simply evaporate during heat treatment. The result is a useless product from the point of view of improving the health of the parrot.

The second factor is the release of various poisons during frying of seeds in vegetable oil. The amount of toxic substances will not harm a person, but for a small organism they can become deadly.

Restrictions

You should not feed cats pumpkin or sunflower seeds if they have high cholesterol, allergic reactions to fats, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, inflammation of the mouth and gums. Treats should not be given to kittens under 6 months of age. Such feeding can cause intestinal obstruction in babies. The seeds must be well cleaned, since if even a small amount of husk gets into the animal’s stomach, intestinal blockage can occur. You should not feed cats commercial pastes made from certain seeds. When making these products, manufacturers add sugar, which is very harmful to the cat's body.

So is it possible or not?

There is no clear answer to this question. Most veterinarians are inclined to believe that pumpkin and any other seeds can harm a cat. However, if the pet owner carefully cleans and grinds the seeds, then a small amount of them can still be added to food. The use of pumpkin seeds is also supported by the fact that the cats themselves, having smelled them, beg the seeds from the owner and eat them with pleasure. And, as you know, if an animal’s body needs certain substances, then the pet itself chooses a product that covers these needs.

Skepticism about the consumption of pumpkin seeds by cats is based on the fact that the predatory organism is simply not adapted to most plant foods. To digest such a highly nutritious product as seeds, a certain set of enzymes is required, as well as a long intestine, like in herbivores, neither of which cats have.

In addition, cats are very sensitive to some substances contained in the seeds. Attentive owners who gave their cats whole pumpkin seeds noticed that they left the body undigested.