Examine the ingredients of healthy cat foods and notice the ingredients-sometimes they tout “Real chicken, beef, rice, grains…” which leads us to wonder, “Can Persian cats eat rice?”- The answer is yes.
Can Persian Cats Eat Rice? Brown rice is known as a whole grain which is good for cats, they contain a full serving of vitamins plus fiber and iron that are beneficial for Persian cats. Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal are actually very good for cats, the former a natural way to heal diarrhea.
That answers the question to satisfy your curiosity-but to get the full answer, keep on reading and you will know all of the benefits of brown rice for your cat.
Why Brown Rice?
Rice is a staple food in all nations of the world. It is high in calories and carbs, giving people the energy, they need to get through their day. You can also get manganese and iron out of this grain.
Plus, it is cheap, easy to store, and goes with just about every meal. But is it really that good for cats?
Not white rice. Not all carbohydrates are created equal, and white rice is an example of this. White rice is a simple carb, and cats have no need for them thanks to how their bodies function.
Cats lack the enzymes needed to break down carbs, and they cannot taste sweet foods. Some carbohydrates can actually be harmful to cats, spiking their insulin and blood sugar levels.
Some carbs, like oatmeal and barley, are great for cats as they provide fiber. Even some fruits and veggies that contain carbs are okay to be included in cat food.
Brown Rice Is Okay in Small Amounts for Our Feline Friends
Even if your Persian does eat some white rice, it will not harm her-it just provides no nutritional value. Rice is, after all, a grain, and some cat food brands pride themselves on being grain-free. Yet, some grain is needed as it aids in the health of your Persian’s digestive system.
For instance, we mentioned that some grains provide fiber, which helps the small intestine modify its bacterial population. This, in turn, helps keep diarrhea under control.
Fiber sources should be moderately fermentable as it will aid your Persian cat’s gut health, stimulate good bacteria production, and keep blood glucose stable. Good sources are grains like rice, wheat, and beet pulp.
All Cats Have Sensitive Stomachs
Even if your cat is perfectly healthy, they still are at risk of digestive troubles. Diarrhea is one such issue that is common among cats and can also lead to dehydration.
Grain-free cat foods do not aid in alleviating liquid stool produced by cats. Meanwhile, rice can help greatly.
Mixing in a small amount of cooked brown rice in with your Persian’s usual pet food can aid in digestion when it comes to making stools firmer and putting an end to diarrhea, and therefore stopping the risk of dehydration. Make your brown rice soft and moist for easy chewing and digestion.
Brown rice is totally natural and safe, and if given in small quantities will not harm your Persian cat at all. Plenty of quality cat foods already contain rice and other grains. It’s OK to give your cat a small bit of the grain here and there.
What to Avoid About Serving Rice?
Remember, cats are carnivores. They only eat meat. Cats thrive on protein and have no need for carbs thanks to how their body functions. Therefore, rice should not be given often, as it provides very little protein that your Persian cat needs for healthy living.
Given that it has such little nutritional value, do not feed it to your cat as a primary meal.
The best thing to do is feed your cat quality foods that contain real meat as the first ingredient, and supplement with rice when it is necessary, such as if her stools are becoming more liquid in nature.
Owners who choose to make their own cat food may also supplement the mix with brown rice.
Serving your cat rice as a primary meal would lead to the animal being malnourished. This would obviously have a negative effect on your Persian’s quality of life and health. Cats may also become gassy and bloated, two very uncomfortable feelings.
Cats are not built to digest grain type crops. Rice and other grains have their place, but they mostly serve as a type of filler. For cats, these are not nutrient-rich and eating too many is hard on the digestive system of your Persian cat.
And similar to when you feed your pet a new food without slowly transitioning away from the old one, if your cat is not used to rice, he may vomit it back up. It should also not be given to kittens or newborn cats as it results in stunted growth.
The point is to be very cautious about how you use brown rice for your cat. It should be given sparingly and only to adult cats who need help in resolving diarrhea.
How to Serve It?
We cannot stress enough that you must cook the rice very thoroughly when serving it to your cat. Uncooked grain type crops must NEVER be given to cats of any age or breed.
Mix in very small servings of rice to a food your cat is used to ingesting, and ONLY if you need to aid her in healing diarrhea.
If your Persian cat were to eat rice for the sake of eating it, or as a main dish, she would run the risk of those yucky side effects we discussed earlier: bloating, gassiness, and worst of all, becoming malnourished.
Perhaps the most important thing we can mention is this: If your cat is suffering from diarrhea, small servings of cooked brown rice can be a fine and natural way to help while waiting to see the vet. It should NOT be a substitute for a professional’s diagnosis on your Persian’s health.
Related Questions
Can Persian Cats Eat Eggs?
Raw egg yolks are beneficial to Persian cats, but the whites should be discarded. The raw egg yolk will help your Persian’s beautiful coat to shine.
What Can I Feed My Persian Cat?
Some great Persian cat foods include Royal Canin Persian Cat food, Blue Wilderness Cat Food, and Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Formula. Other great ones are Royal Canin Persian Kitten Food, Purina Pro Plan Focus, and Iam Proactive Specialized Cat Food.
Is Tuna Good for Cats?
Tuna is OK in moderation for cats. You can serve it as a special treat. However, too much canned tuna can harm your cat. It is not nutritionally adequate and contains high amounts of mercury compared to other fish. Tuna is also very high in unsaturated fats and can lead your cat to become deficient in Vitamin E.
Conclusion
Serving cooked brown rice to your Persian cat is perfectly fine, but ONLY for the purposes of aiding in the relief of diarrhea for your cat. Be sure you serve it mixed with food she is used to eating, and also in very small amounts while you wait to be seen by your vet.
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