Can Cats Eat Mashed Potato?

Can cats eat mashed potato?

Cats can eat mashed potato in moderation as long as it doesn’t contain onions, chives or garlic which are toxic to cats. Potatoes are a good source of vitamins B1, B3 and B6, vitamin C, iron, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and fibre.

As cats are obligate carnivores, the majority of their diet must be made up of complete and balanced cat food. Snacks and treats should make up no more than 10% of a cat’s diet.

Related: Can cats eat potatoes?

Can all cats eat mashed potato?

Not all cats can eat mashed potato, which includes:

• Cats with known allergies to potatoes
• Unweaned kittens
• Cats on a food trial
• Cats on a prescription diet to prevent or manage a health condition
• Obese cats
• Cats with a history of pancreatitis (the fat content can potentially trigger a flare-up)

Caution: As mashed potato typically includes milk and butter, be mindful that some cats may experience gastrointestinal disturbances due to the lactose in these ingredients.

Limit salt which can be toxic to cats in high levels. Typically, salt is added to water during the boiling process, if you are planning to give some mashed potato to your cat, it is safer to prepare the mash without. Salt can be added to your own mashed potato once it has been plated.

Safety

Do not allow a cat to eat any other part of the potato including the leaves and skin which can be deadly if green. This is because green potato skins may contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid neurotoxin. Solanine develops when the potato is exposed to light and has both fungicidal and pesticide properties, making it a natural chemical defence. Solanine poisoning induces gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.

Can cats eat mashed sweet potato? 

Mashed sweet potato is safe for cats to eat. In fact, mashed potato with sweet potato added is a great alternative to plain mashed potato.

Feature image: Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock