Can Cats Eat Green Beans? Yes, Plain and Cut Small

Why green beans are safe for cats

The ASPCA's guidance on garden produce lists beans, along with carrots, celery, zucchini and peas, among vegetables that pets can eat as snacks in moderation. Green beans contain nothing known to be toxic to cats, and they are mostly water and fiber.

Cats are obligate carnivores, as the Cornell Feline Health Center puts it, so green beans are a harmless extra rather than a nutritious one. Some cats enjoy chewing them; many ignore them. Either is fine.

Green beans are not a diet food for cats

Green beans are sometimes suggested as a filler to help dogs lose weight, but that does not translate to cats. A cat that is fed vegetables in place of part of its food can miss out on the protein and nutrients it needs, such as taurine, which the Merck Veterinary Manual notes must come from animal sources.

Overweight cats need a weight-loss plan from their vet. Cats that eat too little, or are put on a crash diet, can develop serious liver problems, so never cut a cat's food sharply or replace it with vegetables on your own.

How to prepare green beans for a cat

Wash fresh beans, trim the ends and cut them into pieces about the size of a pea. Steam or boil them in plain water until soft, then cool. Raw beans are safe too, but softer cooked beans are easier for most cats to chew.

Frozen plain green beans are fine once cooked. Canned green beans are often salted; if that is all you have, choose no-salt-added cans and rinse them. Avoid green beans cooked with butter, bacon, garlic, onion or almonds.

If you share a safe morsel, offering it from a shallow cat bowl or hiding it in a puzzle feeder keeps the amount small.

How many green beans a cat can have

For an average adult cat of 8 to 12 lb, two or three pea-size pieces of cooked green bean, a couple of times a week, is plenty. Cornell suggests keeping all treats within about 10 to 15 percent of daily calories.

Too many can cause gas or loose stool. If your cat has a medical condition or is on a prescription diet for the kidneys, bladder or gut, ask your vet before adding any vegetable.

Kittens and green beans

Kittens can try a tiny piece of soft, cooked green bean once they are fully weaned, but they need kitten food for growth and there is no benefit to vegetables. Offer one piece and watch their stool the next day.

A kitten that plays with a bean and swallows a long piece could gag on it, so always cut beans small. Keep kitten meals simple and use kitten treats for rewards.

Thanksgiving green bean casserole

Green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving staple, but it is made with cream of mushroom soup, milk and crispy fried onions. The ASPCA warns that onion damages red blood cells and that cats are more susceptible than dogs, and the dairy can cause diarrhea.

Before you make the casserole, set aside a few plain cooked beans for your cat if you want to include it. Keep the dish away from the counter edge, and if your cat ate casserole with onions, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435; a fee may apply.

Signs of trouble and better treats

Most cats that eat a few plain green beans show nothing at all; at most, a soft stool or a little gas. Call your vet if vomiting repeats, diarrhea lasts more than a day, or your cat stops eating. Onion exposure can take a few days to show as tiredness and pale gums.

For a treat that suits a carnivore, a thumbnail-size piece of plain cooked chicken or white fish is the better choice, and cat grass gives a green-loving cat something safe to chew.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.