Are there any differences between types of beans in terms of safety for your cat’s digestion? Here, we look at some of the most common types of beans your kitty may come into contact with.
Garbanzo beans
Garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) are not toxic for your cat to consume. The best way to give your cats garbanzo beans is cooked and plain with no seasonings. But like other types of beans, chickpeas should be a rare treat for your kitty.
Black beans
Your feline can have black beans in moderation: no more than a tablespoon once or twice a week. Again, it’s important to make sure your cat isn’t ingesting any added spices that may have been mixed in with the beans, so be sure to always cook the beans plain if you’re giving your cat a little. Avoid giving your cat any black beans that come from a can, as the excess juices, artificial sweeteners and seasoning soaks into a canned bean.
Refried beans
Giving your cat refried beans is not recommended. Refried beans are generally cooked with too much salt than is safe for a cat, along with lots of spices and other ingredients such as garlic and onions. Both garlic and onions are highly toxic to cats and could result in death. The only exception to giving your cats refried beans is if you cook them yourself without any added ingredients or spice.
Green beans
This one’s a bit of a trick, as green beans are technically not beans, but vegetables. And here’s another surprise: green beans are actually a good snack for your cat! Green beans contain added vitamins and other nutrients found in green vegetables that are healthy for your kitty to ingest. Cats typically don’t care for eating green vegetables, so don’t be shocked if your kitty turns her nose up at green beans. But if she does enjoy them, just be sure to serve her plain beans.
Pinto beans
While cooked pinto beans are also not toxic for cats, they’re another food that cat owners should be sure to serve plain to their furry friend. It is never safe to give a cat a raw bean of any kind. Raw beans may contain pesticides, bacteria such as E. coli and staphylococcus, and other toxins on their outer coat. Soaking raw beans overnight and boiling them cooks off these toxic elements.
White beans
A plain, cooked white bean such as a navy bean is safe to give your cat as a rare treat. But, like other types of beans, they should be given in small quantities and not on a regular basis.
🚨 One “bean” that is always dangerous for your cat to ingest is a cacao or coffee bean.
While technically a seed, never let your kitty eat them in any form. Coffee beans and cacao beans contain caffeine, and cacao beans (also known as cocoa beans) also have theobromine. Both caffeine and theobromine are highly toxic and can be deadly to both cats and dogs. If your pet has ingested a coffee or cacao bean, get them to an emergency veterinarian immediately.
While cats can safely consume a very small amount of beans once or twice a week, veterinarians don’t recommend beans as a regular snack. The potential risks far outweigh the minimal health benefits your cat might receive. Consider instead some healthier alternatives Trusted Source Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Veterinary school. Go to source to give your furry friend, and keep your kitty on a protein heavy diet to meet her obligate carnivore needs.