Always giving the best food for your furry ball is the dream of any cat parent.
But, sometimes, we may wonder if they can eat the same things as we do. Apparently, it is not so wise to give our food to cats due to health reasons.
However, certain humans consuming vegetables can be exceptional. Green beans are like that. Usually, my cat loves green beans.
Can cats have green beans?
Yes, cats can eat green beans. According to ASPCA, green beans are non-toxic acceptable human food types for cats. Further, it is an excellent protein and fiber source to enhance the cat’s overall health (as a treat).
Are there any precautions to consider before giving green beans to a cat?
Even though it is considered safe cat food, you need to be fully aware of its effects.
It seems giving green beans regularly, could raise several problems.
Therefore, I did a background study on them using several human and physical resources, including research journals, vets, forums, cat parents, and nutrition guides.
The overall findings indicate that green beans are pretty much safe for both kittens and adult cats.
Interestingly, I have found that green beans are a good candidate for cats who are planning to do a diet.
The article by Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM from VCA Animal Hospital, says how you should prepare your cat for a weight loss plan with proper alternative foods such as green beans.
Its fiber and relatively high protein amounts will keep your cat in shape during its diet period.
So, without any doubt, green beans are way much better than giving calorie-laden cheese treats.
But, this does not mean you can provide green beans as much as you want. Nope..!
Nothing will be good if you overdo it.
How to provide a safe green bean meal to my cat?
Due to the fact that canned green beans frequently include additional sodium you can only use fresh or frozen green beans.
The green beans can then be boiled or steamed for a few minutes to help them soften. Because some cats consume raw green beans while others may not like the texture
If your cat doesn’t seem to like the notion of eating a whole green bean, you can try slicing the green beans into smaller pieces.
Always before using green beans in a feline weight loss regimen and develop a medically-approved strategy with your vet.
What happened if you overfeed green beans to your cat?
Overfeeding is always a bad idea for any kind of food, even for cat foods.
Therefore, overfeeding green beans could raise multiple problems such as reduced nutrient digestibility and high weight loss.
Moreover, it is not a fully balanced food item. So do not mistake it for your daily cat food meal.
Vital nutrient digestibility
One of the most critical concerns is reduced nutrient digestibility. In simple terms, it describes the amount of nutrition absorbance capability.
I can explain this using a simple example.
Let us assume we have cat food A and cat food B. Both are marked as containing the same amount of protein content. However, product A has a minimum protein digestibility (60%) than product B (80%).
In this case, if you provide the same amount of cat food (100 g) from each product to the cat, the effectively absorbed protein will be less in product A.
Similarly, overfeeding or continuous feeding of green beans will cause reduced overall nutrient digestibility.
Cats weight reducing ability in green beans
As I mentioned earlier, green beans have an effective effect on reducing weight in overweight cats.
NOTE: You should not replace a daily meal with green beans in order to reduce obesity in cats. Without proper advice from a vet, it could be dangerous.
How to reduce obesity in cats using green beans?
- First, you need to talk with your vet and get his approval to proceed.
- Then you need to supply green beans as a 10% supplement with his regular cat food.
- After that, increase this amount by another 10% in the 5-day period.
- Once, the green beans amount is increased to the level of 50%, maintain that till your cat loses weight to the expected amount.
- Finally, you can reduce the number of green beans using the same method and replace it with normal cat food.
Why do cats like green beans?
Cats are carnivals. Typically, they do not like vegetables.
But, it seems green beans are an exceptional case for them.
Even though we did not know the exact reason, there are lots of supporting evidence available to prove that the cat does like green beans. Both raw and canned green beans.
Maybe it’s the green beans’ unique taste that cats like.
You can see these cats enjoying green beans by themself. You do not need to force them to eat.
Green Beans compounds?
Green beans’ nutrition profile is consisting of two major components, protein, and fiber. One of the best alternatives for meat products.
Further, it’s a good candidate for a weight-loss food pack for cats.
The following table was derived from the data of U.S. Department of Agriculture.
| Nutrient Profile | One cup of green beans (100 g) |
| Calories | 31 |
| Sodium | 6mg |
| Carbohydrate | 7g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| Sugar | 3g |
| Protein | 2g |
| Calcium | 36mg |
| Iron | 1mg |
| Potassium | 212mg |
The above table values are for fresh green beans only. Those values can be different for canned and cooked green beans.
Different types of Green beans available in the market
Green beans can be divided into several types. It’s better to have an idea about these types available in the market. Otherwise, you may end up with a green bean type that may not be healthy for your cat.
- Fresh (raw) green beans – This is the typical type that we used to cook. You can use fresh green beans without any problem. But, if there are stored in a cooler, you need to slightly warm them before providing them as cat food.
- Canned green beans – One of the most convenient ways of getting green beans. But there are a few things that you need to be aware of.
When selecting a canned green bean pack, you need to select one without sodium. Also, canned food items come as seasoned or flavored types. You need to avoid these types too. The added chemical can harm your cat in a terrible way. - Frozen green beans – Raw or canned, both types can be stored as a frozen product. If you happened to come across such a product, the first thing you need to do is warm them up. Do not give frozen green beans to your cat.
Beneficial of green beans as a meal for cats
The most important benefit is the ability to reduce body weight without affecting the cat’s overall health.
With proper administration (under a vet), you can use green beans as the main supplement for your cat’s weight, reducing your diet plan.
It will be an economical choice for you too. You may not need to go for pricey food products for that purpose.
Other than this, green beans are a reliable vegetable that can produce a high amount of protein and fiber.
There are several cats who are allergic to meat products. In that case, it’s hard to fulfill their protein need just from meats.
To address such problems, you can use green beans as an alternative protein source.
The proper way of giving green beans to your cat
If you are with me up to this level, that means you do have a proper understanding of the effect of green beans on your cat’s health.
So now, you may wonder to find the best way to give green beans to your cat without damaging her health.
To do that, first, you need to know your end goal.
- If it is to reduce weight, then you can follow the instruction that I have mentioned in the above section under the title, ‘Cats weight reducing ability in green beans’.
- If it is a regular meal, then you should give green beans as a treat—nothing else.
Do not replace regular cat food with green beans. It is not a balanced food place.
If you tend to give green beans regularly, it will cause health problems due to limited nutrition.
TIP: When giving canned green beans, first warm them slightly. Cats love warm green beans.
Green beans feeding related common problems
I think, now, I have answered most of your green bean-related cat problems—especially the ones related to nutrition and safety.
However, I have noticed; still, there are various questions being asked in the google search.
So, I’ll add some answers for them here as supporting information.
Frequently Asked Questions
can cats have canned green beans?
Yes, cats can have canned green beans as long as they are plain and unsalted. It is important to check the ingredients list to make sure the green beans don’t have any added seasonings or sweeteners before feeding them to your cat.
can cats eat cooked green beans?
Yes, cats can eat cooked green beans. However, they should not be a regular part of a cat’s diet and should only be given as an occasional treat.
can cats eat green beans raw?
Yes, cats can eat raw green beans. However, it is best to consult with a veterinarian before feeding any new food to your cat.
can kittens eat green beans?
Yes, kittens can eat green beans in small amounts as a treat. It is important to note, however, that green beans should not make up a large portion of a kitten’s diet, as they are not a complete source of nutrition.
can cats eat string beans?
No, cats should not eat string beans as they can be difficult to digest and can cause digestive upset.
Final Thoughts
All the findings and expert opinions indicate green beans as a good choice of vegetable for both kittens and adult cats. Especially, it’s been used as a diet meal for reducing weight in overweight cats. For regular use, it is advisable to give green beans as a treat.
References
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA
- Creating a Weight Reduction Plan for Cats, VCA Animal Hospital
- Green Beans, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE