I know you’re here means questions might have popped up in your mind “can cats eat rice“.
I also had the same questions, when I researched for it, I did not get an accurate answer on the internet.
Then I started gathering knowledge & experiences from the cat owners & complied them in one blog only for your convenience.
We all know rice is one of the most popular cereal grains & is a fantastic filler food for us humans. However, you can feed rice to your cats, it is a very good source of carbohydrates. In fact, this grain offers a small amount of vitamin B, manganese, and iron.
Did you know that conventional cat food manufacturers use rice in their products? Keep reading to know more.
Can Cats Eat Rice?
Yes, cats can eat rice, but in limited quantity. Rice is packed with carbs and it is not toxic to cats or any other pets.
However, if you provide a balanced diet to your felines then it might be beneficial for them in the longer run.
If you are a cat owner then you might know that cats belong to the obligate carnivores family. They meet their nutrient requirements with meat.
I would like to say that feeding rice to your cat won’t give any beneficial results to them. Besides, if you feed your cat rice more than a certain limit. Then your cat may suffer from an upset stomach.
However, you should consult your veterinarian & take advice on feeding rice to your cat.
Is There Rice in Cat Food?
If you have seen the package label of cat food then you might know that they use carbohydrates in their kibbles. It is to provide your cat with a better-balanced diet, also the body needs carbs to convert them to energy.
The cats are carnivores & they depend on protein nutrients from meat. However, rice is not a good source of protein.
Moreover, rice is a good source of simple carbohydrates, which give quick energy to your body.
If you are feeding conventional cat food to your furry feline then there is no need to provide rice in their meal. The cat food is made by guidelines for how much of each nutrient should be included to meet the minimum requirements.
How Much Rice Is Safe For Cat?
If you want to feed your cat rice, it should be a rare treat for your furball. You may know that rice is rich in carbohydrates & it may cause bloating or diarrhea.
You should only provide 20% of carbohydrates from their daily calorie consumption. Most cats need 200 calories to maintain their body at its current state.
So it may be around 40 calories from carbs, In fact, I would like to suggest you should visit your vet before you feed anything to your cat other than its diet.
If you are feeding conventional cat food then you should not feed your cat rice as it may lead your cat towards obesity. If your cat eats more carbs than needed then it will be stored by the body as a form of fat.
Also Read: Do Cats Eat Salmon?
Can Cats Eat Brown Rice?
Brown rice is considered more beneficial for humans as they are raw & packed with all the necessary nutrients. A few of them are B vitamins, folate, iron, selenium, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.
Although brown rice is unprocessed white rice, it contains lots of fibers. This will make it more difficult for your feline to digest brown rice.
Be it brown rice or white rice it is safe if your cat if you prepared it properly. Make sure that you are providing them in very small quantities.
How to Feed Rice to Your Cat
Many of you know that rice is rich in carbohydrates, Moreover, rice does not offer any nutritional benefits to cats.
If your cat is suffering from diarrhea then rice might be helpful as it contains good fibers. However, you should keep in mind that it is cooked properly & doesn’t contain any spices.
If we talk about serving then you should not feed more than 25% of your cat’s complete diet. Your cat may not eat only boiled rice, so you may have to include 75% meat.
I would say there are many ways to cope with diarrhea, so you should consult a veterinarian & take the advice of feeding rice to your cat.
FAQs
Is white rice OK for cats?
However, be it white rice or brown rice it is safe for cats, & it won’t harm your cats. Many researchers say that cats are carnivores & rice won’t be beneficial for them.
How to prepare rice for cats?
1. You have to boil 2 cups of rice in water.
2. Increase the heat & keep it boiling for 5 minutes then you can reduce the heat.
3. Let it simmer for 35 to 40 minutes.
4. Now let it cool for some time then mix the ingredients kibbles & chicken gravy in rice.
5. You can keep the extra mixture in the freezer, & feed them in the evening meal.
Can you give cats rice for an upset stomach?
Yes, you can provide your cat rice if she has an upset stomach, as rice contains fibers it will harden the stools. If your cat has not eaten rice before then you should start with a small amount.
If still, your cat is not feeling well then you should visit the veterinarian, they will give you the right medicines.
Final Verdict
I would like to finish this “Can Cats Eat Rice?” blog here, I hope that now you have no questions related to Cats Eating rice?
In this blog, I tried my best to cover all the aspects of the most common question “can cats eat rice” and I tried to share my experience & knowledge with other cat owners.
Here in this blog, I tried to cover whether can cats have rice, how much rice is safe for cats, can cats eat brown rice, & is their rice in cat food.
If still, you have any doubts related to feeding rice to your cat then you can comment down below your question. We will get back to you as soon as possible with the best answer.
If you are feeding rice to your cat then you can let us know your experience in the comment section we all would like to hear your stories.
Also Read: Is Chicken Safe for Cats?
Reference
- Rice is used in Cat foods – Cornell UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine
- Choosing The Best Diet for Your Kitten — Texas A&M University
- Is Grain-Free Cat Food Better — PetMD