Spinach is an annual vegetable that can be eaten in a variety of ways. This is unusual because it was domesticated during historical times. Because of this, there is a wealth of information about its spread from the beginning. Spinach, for example, appears to have been domesticated as early as 2,000 years ago in ancient Iran. By the 7th century it was introduced to China and India, and by the 9th century it was introduced to the Mediterranean. Eventually, spinach appeared in England and France in the 14th century, where it began to become very popular because it was available in early spring, whereas other vegetables were not available until later. Today, its popularity can be seen in the way people around the world eat it, which in turn makes it natural for cat owners to wonder if their cats can eat this stuff.

​​​​​​​

1. Can cats eat spinach?

Unfortunately, this is a question with no simple and clear answer. First, spinach is not toxic to cats, so eating it is not guaranteed to cause harm or worse to your cat. Unfortunately, cats are obligate carnivores. Therefore, fruits and vegetables should not be just their occasional snack. Additionally, while most cats can eat spinach, there are some cats that cannot eat spinach due to health issues. Therefore, interested individuals need to be aware of this as well.

　2. Ask the veterinarian

First and foremost, cat owners who plan to feed their cats spinach should ask their veterinarian whether it is safe to do so. As mentioned before, some cats cannot eat spinach due to health issues. Their veterinarian should be the best person to tell them if their cat has any of these health problems. In addition to this, veterinarians are also an excellent source of information on how they should feed their cats spinach, how much spinach they should feed their cats, and other related topics.

3. Feed cats appropriately

Cat owners should start by feeding their cats small amounts of spinach. Even if they do a check-up with a veterinarian, they can't be 100 percent sure of the results. To be on the safe side, cat owners should feed their cats small amounts of spinach and see what happens. This way, even if their cat has a negative reaction for any reason, they should be able to reduce its severity.

4. Spinach does contain nutrients that are beneficial to cats

Regardless, many people love spinach because it is a superfood. This means that many cat owners are interested in feeding spinach to their cats because they are curious whether cats can also benefit from these nutrients. If so, they should know that it is. For example, spinach contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals, including but not limited to vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and potassium. At the same time, spinach contains a considerable amount of fiber, which is beneficial in moderation and harmful in excess. Moderate dietary fiber can help catsdigestion; if consumed in excess, fiber can cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems. Plus, spinach is low in calories. This is great for overweight cats.

5. Spinach contains calcium acetoacetate

One of the biggest problems with spinach is that it contains calcium acetoacetate. This shouldn't be a big problem for adult cats in good health. However, if your cat has kidney or urinary tract problems, he should avoid anything containing calcium acetoacetate, as this material can form crystals where they shouldn't.

6. Both raw and cooked spinach can be eaten

People often eat spinach both raw and cooked. The same principle applies to cats. Of course, if people choose to feed raw spinach to their cats, they should make sure to wash it thoroughly. This means holding each leaf under running cold water to remove dirt and other unwanted materials. Additionally, this means soaking the spinach in a large container filled with cold water for five to ten minutes to remove any residue. Afterwards, people should remove the leaves one by one before pouring out the water, which may contain harmful substances.

7. Don’t season spinach with anything

Whether cat owners choose to give their cats raw or cooked spinach, they should avoid seasoning it with anything. Spinach is probably fine. However, there is no guarantee that anything they use will be good. This means cat owners should also keep spinach prepared for them and spinach prepared for their cats separate. There are so many ingredients that are safe for humans but not for felines, including some very popular spinach relishes. For example, garlic is poisonous to both cats and dogs. Therefore, cat owners should stick to eating pure spinach to make their lives easier.

　8. Conclusion

In short, spinach can be fed to some cats, but not to others. This should be fine for most cats, as long as everything is done in moderation. Unfortunately, this can change if your cat has or has had problems with her kidneys or urinary tract, as this can make the situation worse. Therefore, it is more important for people to check with their veterinarian before feeding spinach to cats than other foods. Veterinarians are an excellent source of information about feline health, so it makes sense to utilize them when the situation calls for it.