Do you want to add a “seasoning” to the usual food of your beloved feline? Let’s see if the cat can eat dill.
In our kitchens there are many aromatic herbs, often used to season and make some dishes special. Dill belongs to this category and is often used as a condiment for potatoes, fish, meat and also to flavor soups.
However, as often happens, those who live with a furry friend wonder if this herb could also be excellent for “seasoning” the food of their cat. In the following article we will see if the cat can or cannot eat dill.
Can the cat eat dill?
Dill, scientifically known as Anethum graveolens, is an aromatic herb that we can find all over the world.
This herb is used both fresh and dried, to give a unique flavor to dishes such as: soups, minestrone, meat and fish. Many people tend to grow dill indoors, as it is very beneficial to human health.
However, those who share their life with a feline could easily wonder if this herb could be harmful to Kitty’s health.
It is good to know that dill is not a poisonous herb for our four-legged friend, but it does contain vitamins and antioxidants that can help our furry friend. Among the antioxidants we find:
- Flavonoids: useful for fighting heart or brain diseases of the cat;
- Tannins: useful for strengthening the feline’s immune system;
- Terpenoids: useful for protecting our four-legged friend from diseases that can affect the heart, liver and other organs that are important for the cat’s survival.
Furthermore, dill can be useful for regulating the blood sugar levels of our beloved feline.
However, being the cat, an obligate carnivore, it is advisable to give the feline the dill with caution and always asking your veterinarian for advice first.
Dill to the cat: the risks
As previously mentioned, cats are obligate carnivores, so their diet is mainly based on meat intake. Although dill is not toxic to our four-legged friends, a large amount of dill can create feline health problems, such as:
- Diarrhea in cats
- Swelling
- Flatulence in cats
This is because cats lack the enzymes needed to digest vegetables and fruit. In addition, our four-legged friend may also have an allergy to this type of grass.
How and what kind of dill can I give the cat
Having established that dill is not a toxic herb for the feline and that although it has many benefits for the latter, we must pay attention to the quantities, how can we give this herb to the Kitty?
Like any other type of herb, dill features the stem, leaves, seeds, and flowers. The “safe” parts for our four-legged friend are the leaves, which can be both fresh and dry, and the flowers.
While the stem and seeds can be dangerous for the feline, as they are more difficult to digest and can cause suffocation in the cat. Furthermore, dill essential oil can also be harmful to the health of our furry friend.
But how can we give the kitty dill? Once your veterinarian has consented to your cat’s intake of this herb, steamed or boiled dill can be given and mixed into the feline’s food. It is also possible to mix fresh dill in cat’s lunch, always paying attention to the quantities.
