Can cats eat mushrooms? The quick answer: no, cats can’t safely eat mushrooms. Especially wild mushrooms can be highly toxic to cats. However, store-bought mushrooms are not harmful, if fed plain to cats in small quantities.
Store-bought mushrooms can sometimes be — an occasional treat at most. But before that, ask your vet when sharing human foods with your cat.
But what even are mushrooms? Can you give mushrooms to your cat as a flavorful treat? Do cats even like mushrooms?
Let’s find out!
Can Cats Have Mushroom?
The short answer is no, cats can’t safely eat mushrooms. In fact, many wild mushrooms can be toxic to cats, as per veterinarians and the North American Mycological Association. However, most store-bought mushrooms are safe and cats can eat cooked and “people-food” mushrooms in small amounts.
Your cat may even show some interest when you are making some home-cooked fried mushrooms. While some cats may not like them.
On the other hand, some cats would love the taste and texture of cooked mushrooms. Since mushrooms are full of umami-rich ingredients, cats can detect these savory flavors, and enjoy them too!
But what are mushrooms? They are neither plants nor animals. Mushrooms fall into an entirely different category — Kingdom Fungi. So, it might come as a surprise that some cats do like mushrooms.
But, do mushrooms have any nutrition to offer?
Are Mushrooms Good for Cats?
Mushrooms make great food for us humans. They are low-calorie, rich sources of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. But can these nutrients extend to our feline’s health benefits? Well, not really.
This might not be new to you, but there are, in fact, certain foods that are not necessarily nutritious for your cat. However, cats can eat store-bought mushrooms and still be right as rain, but in moderation, of course.
Store-Bought Mushrooms
Most of the shop-purchased mushrooms are safe for cats to eat but in small quantities. They are intended for human consumption.
However, if you want to feed a tiny bit of a mushroom, they should be fine for your cats. One thing to note before feeding is that they should not contain any seasoning; mushrooms should only be fed plain.
Why Mushroom Can Be Bad for Cats?
Mushrooms are not entirely safe for cats to consume. Although feeding store-bought mushrooms in small quantities as an occasional treat cannot do any harm, it is best to avoid feeding mushrooms to your cat.
In addition, cats are obligate carnivores, so they don’t have to depend upon plant-based items.
Wild Mushrooms
Wild mushrooms are extremely toxic for your cats. It’s best to restrict your sweet feline from getting near those. Wild mushrooms usually grow outdoors among weeds, but they can also appear inside the house in dark, remote areas.
Some of the most deadly known mushrooms can be found in the genus Amanita.
In case you find your cat snacking on wild mushrooms, you can assume the worst. If there are any signs of severe symptoms, speak to your veterinarian instantly.
It can include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Liver failure
- Excessive thirst or urination
- Decreased heart rate
- Drooling
Mushroom Poisoning
Wild mushrooms contain many harmful toxins that can be deadly to felines. Mushrooms give off a fishy smell, and your cat may seem interested to take a whiff or two. It may not be harmful to humans to sniff on it, but if pets like cats and dogs take a whiff, it can cause lethal side effects and even death in some cases.
Toxins such as ibotenic acid and muscimol in the mushroom are known to cause the poisoning. Only a small whiff can have such lethal effects, then you can imagine what happens if your cat eats wild mushrooms.
Why Do Some Cats Crave Mushrooms?
It is remarkable how some cats may ignore mushrooms, while some may go bonkers over them. That makes it more strange because cats are carnivores. But it is not the fungi part that they are after, it is something else.
NPR states that cats are attracted to protein — or more particularly the “umami flavor of a wide variety of amino acids in the protein.”
Safest Method to Serve Mushroom to Cats
If you insist on feeding mushrooms to your cat or if she shows interest in them, then you should do so only the right way.
Types of mushrooms that can be safe for cats as treats include shiitake, cremini, portobello, and button mushrooms. However, this by no means indicates that mushrooms are healthy for cats.
Here’s how you can safely feed mushrooms to your cat without causing any severe complications:
Feed in Moderation
So now that you know why some cats show cravings for mushrooms, you should feed them in strict moderation to your cat. Just give a few bite-sized portions of cooked store-bought mushroom, and that should be fine. If you feed more than that, it may put your cat’s health in jeopardy.
Serve It Plain
If you are going to feed store-bought mushrooms to your cat, you should only do so if they are plain and simple. This means no seasoning or flavorings.
You would not want to take a mushroom topping out of that leftover pizza and feed it to your cat. Seasonings can be harmful to felines, so make sure you only feed plain mushrooms.
Can Kittens Eat Mushroom?
Now that you have learned can cats eat mushrooms, I am sure you might be wondering that does the same answer applies to kitten too or not!
Here’s an end to your question!
No, kittens cannot safely eat mushrooms. We do not recommend feeding mushrooms to your kitten. Instead, you should look for better treat alternatives, which are better suited to young cats.
Final Verdict
Can cats eat mushrooms? The answer is no, cats can’t safely eat mushrooms. Wild mushrooms contain deadly toxins and cats should not even go near them.
But if it is a store-bought mushroom that is either shiitake, cremini, portobello, or button, then feeding it unseasoned in a bite-sized amount is understandable.
However, it is best recommended that you do not feed mushrooms to your cat. On the other hand, letting your cat even near to the wild mushrooms is a big no-no. So keep that in mind!
Approved by Veterinary – Anthony Brooks, DVM!
References
- Can Cats Eat Mushrooms | Are These Good or Bad for Your Cat – Cat How
- Kingdom Fungi Interesting Facts – Lewis Ginter
- Mystery Solved: Why The Cat Craves Mushrooms (And People Do, Too) – NPR