Can Cats Eat Spinach?

It’s jam-packed with vitamins, after all.

December 10, 2024

Spinach is a well-known superfood that is often celebrated for its numerous health benefits, and the good news is that your cat can benefit from eating spinach every now and again, too. Not everyone loves the taste of spinach, including many cats. However, if you do have a cat that is spinach-curious, you’ll want to read on to learn more about how to safely share spinach with your cat.

Nutrition facts: Spinach for cats

Spinach comes from the edible leaves of the Spinacia oleracea plant. This plant is native to Asia and the Middle East, and is now cultivated worldwide as a crop. It can be eaten raw or cooked and may be found fresh, frozen, or canned à la Popeye in most grocery stores. Spinach is considered a superfood because it has many important nutritional properties. This includes lots of fiber, important vitamins and minerals, and potent antioxidants.

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Is spinach good for cats?

Overall, spinach is a healthy treat for cats and can be safely shared in moderation. It’s important to focus on feeding cats a complete and balanced cat food diet, primarily. As carnivores, they have unique nutritional needs and don’t have much need for plants in their daily diet. That said, there are quite a few ways they can benefit from occasional spinach snacks including:

Fiber: Spinach is a high-fiber food containing mostly insoluble fiber. This kind of indigestible plant material helps to bulk up the stool, create feelings of fullness, and may prevent constipation.
Water: Like many fruits and vegetables, spinach contains a lot of water. Cats rarely drink much water so many cat parents are on the lookout for creative ways to increase their cats’ water intake. Cats with certain health problems, like kidney disease or urinary problems, may really need to increase their water intake, too.
Vitamins and minerals: Spinach is rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin B9, all of which are critical to normal biological functions. Complete and balanced cat foods contain enough of these vitamins and minerals to meet a cat’s daily requirements, so anything they get from their snacks is an added bonus.
Antioxidants: Spinach is especially packed with antioxidant plant compounds which are believed to protect the body against oxidative damage from free radicals. They may play an important role in reducing inflammation and decreasing the risk of certain chronic diseases and types of cancer.

Domestic Black Cat Begging for Tomatoes.

Can Cats Eat Tomatoes?

A little tomato’s safe — with some important caveats.

Can cats eat any part of the spinach plant?

Yes, the spinach plant is considered non-toxic and safe for cats to eat. Make sure to thoroughly wash any fresh produce you plan to share with your cat before offering it. This helps to remove items that may not be safe for your cat to eat, such as dirt, pesticide residues, or other contaminants. If your cat is munching on spinach out in your garden, be sure to watch them closely to make sure they don’t accidentally ingest other non-edible items in the garden such as plastic plant markers, mulch, pesticides, toxic plants, and more.

Is spinach completely safe for cats?

Spinach is generally considered safe for cats in moderation. There are a few important points to keep in mind if you plan to share spinach with your cat:

High in fiber: As you may know from personal experience, spinach is a very high fiber food. Since most cats are not accustomed to eating lots of high fiber foods, they can be susceptible to digestive upset like bloating, gas, vomiting, or diarrhea from eating too much fiber in one sitting. It is a good idea to start with just a small bite or two of spinach and other high-fiber foods and see how your cat tolerates it.
Other ingredients: Remember to check that all the ingredients are safe if you are sharing a prepared dish containing spinach with your cat. Many times, dishes with spinach may be prepared with unsafe or toxic ingredients like garlic, onions, or high fat dairy products like butter or cream. Since these are not safe for cats, it is best to share fresh spinach or plain, steamed spinach with your cat instead.
Calcium oxalate crystal formation: Spinach contains oxalates, compounds which can form crystals when combined with calcium in the body. For the typical healthy cat that eats a very small amount of spinach, this is not a cause for concern. However, some cats already have high levels of calcium oxalate crystals in their urine or have had a history of urinary blockages, bladder stones, or kidney stones. If your cat has had any of these medical problems, be sure to consult your vet before making spinach a regular part of your cat’s snack routine.

Other foods that are dangerous for cats
Garlic and other plants in the Allium family are toxic to cats.
Grapes and raisins are also off-limits as they are considered toxic to cats.
Hot dogs and other cured meats are not healthy for cats, especially if they are prepared with potentially toxic ingredients like onions, garlic, and lots of salt.

The bottom line: Can cats eat human food?

There are many human foods that you can safely share with your cat, and this can be an enriching way to bond, too. Of course, not every food is safe to share and pet parents should double-check that all new foods are safe and healthy for cats before doing so. It is also important to remember that cats are obligate carnivores and their nutritional needs are very different from ours. What constitutes a healthy, balanced diet for us may be severely lacking in critical nutrients for your cat. This is why cats really need to get the bulk of their diet from a complete and balanced cat food diet that is tailored to meet their specific needs.

As long as your cat gets about 90 percent of their diet from their cat food, you can reserve that remaining ten percent for treats and safe table snacks. Be sure to factor all the little treats and snacks into their daily caloric intake to avoid accidentally overfeeding them. Since indoor cats tend to be more sedentary, they can be at a higher risk for obesity, especially if they have access to more food than they really need. Incorporating daily play sessions and mental enrichment into your cat’s routine along with a balanced diet is a great way to ensure they stay strong, healthy, and content.

What Can Cats Eat Besides Cat Food?

Good news for your begging cat: Some of your favorite snacks are safe to share.

FAQs

How much spinach can a cat eat?

A small snack of spinach is safe for cats, but large amounts may cause digestive upset due to the high fiber content.

Is it OK to give cats spinach?

Yes, spinach is nontoxic and safe for cats to eat in small amounts.