Can Cats Eat Celery? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ
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Celery is a popular chips-and-dip accompaniment, and while your cat definitely shouldn't have the chips or the dip, what about the celery itself? Can cats eat celery? In fact, there's nothing wrong with giving them a few celery stalk pieces to munch on. Though cats are obligate carnivores and need a principally meat-based diet, certain vegetables, including celery, are fine to offer from time to time and may even give them a little nutritional boost.
That said, everything in moderation is key to preventing some unpleasant aftereffects—remember that cats aren't built to eat large amounts of vegetables. In addition, celery should be prepared in a certain way for safety reasons. In this guide, we'll get into the full details.
Why Can Cats Eat Celery?
As an occasional snack, celery may offer cats some health benefits because it's a source of antioxidants that fight bacteria, viruses, and inflammation. Luteolin and apigenin are two of the antioxidants contained in celery.1 Celery is also a source of various vitamins including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, so all good stuff for your cat.
In addition, the fact that celery contains 95% water and is a source of fiber may contribute to digestive health and keeping constipation at bay.
That said, cats shouldn't eat a lot of celery because then it tips over into being not so good for them, so the nutritional benefits they can reap from celery are only minor. Nevertheless, cats can have celery in bite-sized pieces from time to time if they enjoy it (no guarantees they will!).
Dangers of Feeding Celery to Cats
Though cats can have celery, and though it's safe when offered in the right amount and not too often, there are some dangers involved. Here, we explain further.
- Choking: Celery should be cut into small pieces to reduce the risk of choking. The same goes for other vegetables like carrots.
- Toxic Additions: If you feed celery to your cat, you should feed it plain, not seasoned with other ingredients like garlic, onion, salt, butter, or some kind of dip. These ingredients can make your cat sick, and dips can contain ingredients like these and others that are toxic to cats.
- Stomach Upset: If your cat eats too much celery or too many celery leaves, they could experience gastrointestinal upset due to the high fiber content. As we touched on in the intro, cats are obligate carnivores, so shouldn't be allowed a lot of fruits or vegetables.
- Celery Seeds: Avoid giving your cat celery seeds without getting the green light from the vet first because these herbal supplements can be bad for your cat if they contain high amounts of certain compounds.
How Much Celery Can My Cat Eat?
At least 90% of a cat's diet should be made up of a complete and balanced, high-quality food formula suitable for the cat's age range and weight. A maximum of 10% can be made up of treats—the category into which celery falls—but less is better. In fact, vets at VCA Animal Hospitals recommend aiming for 5% rather than 10%.2
It's best to introduce small pieces of celery gradually to help prevent a stomach upset. As for the amount itself, this depends on the cat and it's best to check with the vet, but about a tablespoon's worth for one serving is an estimate.
Can Cats Have Peanut Butter on Celery?
Yes, celery dipped in a bit of peanut butter is okay for cats as long as you don't overdo it and as long as the peanut butter you offer doesn't contain toxic ingredients like xylitol. In addition, peanut butter is high in fat and doesn't offer cats much nutritional value, which is why it shouldn't be a regular part of your cat's diet.
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Conclusion
So, while not every cat likes crunchy celery, if yours does, you can feel free to indulge them in moderation—it may even help their digestion. A small amount of peanut butter on top is fine, too, but stay away from dips and seasonings as these could contain toxic ingredients for cats.
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented various furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with animals, Kit can be found doodling in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
