Can Cats Eat Peanuts? Not Toxic, but Not a Good Treat

Why peanuts are a poor fit for cats

Peanuts are legumes rather than true nuts, and they are about half fat by weight. Cornell's Feline Health Center notes that cats are obligate carnivores, so the plant protein and fat in a peanut offer them very little, while the calories add up fast in a small animal.

The ASPCA's guidance on nuts is that their high oil and fat content can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in some pets. A cat that eats one plain peanut is unlikely to have a problem, but a handful of mixed nuts off the coffee table is a different story.

Choking, shells and coatings

A whole peanut is a hard, round piece that a cat may try to swallow without chewing, so whole nuts are a real choking hazard. Shells are worse: they are hard, fibrous and can irritate or block the gut, so never leave a bowl of in-shell peanuts where a cat can reach.

Coatings change the picture. Salted peanuts add sodium, honey-roasted ones add sugar, and chocolate-covered peanuts contain theobromine and caffeine, which can poison cats. Trail mix may also hide raisins or macadamia nuts. If your cat ate chocolate-covered nuts, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

If your cat ate peanuts

For one or two plain peanuts, check your cat is breathing and swallowing normally, put fresh water out and watch for vomiting or a soft stool over the next day. Most cats need nothing more than that.

Call your vet if your cat is gagging, retching or pawing at its mouth, ate shells or a large amount, or ate a mix that included chocolate, raisins or other nuts. Have the packaging handy so you can tell the vet exactly what was in it.

How much is okay?

If you want to share, crush a single plain, dry-roasted, unsalted peanut and offer a crumb or two, no more than occasionally. Never give a whole nut. Cornell recommends keeping all treats under 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories, and one peanut uses up a surprising share.

Cats that are overweight, have had pancreatitis or digestive problems, or eat a prescription diet should skip peanuts altogether. There is no health benefit to make the risk worthwhile for those cats.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

Kittens and peanuts

Kittens are at the greatest risk of choking because their airways are small and they tend to bolt food. Their stomachs are also more sensitive to fatty foods, so a piece of peanut is more likely to cause vomiting or diarrhea in a kitten than in an adult.

There is no need to give a kitten peanuts at all. Keep bowls of nuts, trail mix and snack bags off low tables and counters, since kittens love to bat small round objects around and will often end up chewing them.

Signs to watch for and when to call a vet

After eating peanuts, an upset cat may vomit, drool, have a soft or greasy stool or lose interest in food, usually within a few hours. Mild signs that settle within a day are the most common outcome.

Get your cat seen the same day for repeated vomiting, a painful or tense belly, hiding, lethargy, refusing food for more than a day, or any trouble breathing. Labored or noisy breathing after swallowing a nut is an emergency, so go straight to the nearest vet.

Better treats than peanuts

Meat-based treats suit a cat far better. A small piece of plain cooked chicken, turkey or fish with no bones or seasoning, or a freeze-dried meat cat treat, gives your cat the protein it is built to use.

If your cat is fascinated by your snack, a toy stuffed with a few kibbles or a short play session with a wand toy often satisfies the urge to investigate without any food risk at all.

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