Can Cats Eat Bird Seed?

Cats are natural predators of birds.

They often lurks in your bird feeder and waits for the birds to feed. Once it spots a sparrow or Cornell grackle it has no intent on ever leaving your homestead.

It can bite or paw at the birds, forcing them away from the feeder. So, can cats eat bird seed?

Cats can eat many things other than your bird seed; however, bird seed is not one of those things! Cats must consume a high protein diet of meat in order to stay healthy and fit.

Birds are high in protein and fat with a little carbohydrate thrown in. Cats cannot digest carbohydrates very well and meals that contain carbohydrates can cause problems for feline bodies.

Therefore, your cat is not getting the proper nutrients it needs if it tries to eat your bird seed! Instead, try feeding your cat other high protein foods, such as eggs, chicken, fish, and beef.

Let’s dive in.

Can Cats Eat Bird Seed?

Cats are not poisoned by seeds from bird feeders.

That does not, however, imply that they should not be fed from bird food options on a regular basis.

That being said, it’s perfectly OK if your cat loves to eat your birdseed.

What Is In Bird Seed?

Bird seed is often made up of a mixture of various elements.

Sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, dried beans and other seeds are often included in a bird feed recipe designed to attract feathered friends.

The specific components in a given bird seed are of particular importance when determining what types of birds will be able to indulge their hunger pangs on this treat.

Is Bird Seed Healthy for Cats?

Even if the components in bird seed are not toxic to cats, cats simply do not have the ability to digest the seeds properly.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which implies they need animal-based protein to survive and thrive.

The most essential nutrient for animals is protein because proteins provide all of the building blocks required to sustain life.

Meat protein and plant food protein are not the same and your carnivorous cat cannot break down plant protein into its constituent amino acids and make use of them.

That said, the seeds and nuts found in bird seed are still nutritious and safe for cats to consume.

Meat has a comparable protein composition, with about 70 percent being carbohydrate and 5-10 percent being things like water, protein-bound water and minerals.

Why Do Cats Like Bird Seed?

Cats may sometimes consume unfamiliar foods just because they enjoy the taste of them.

Bird seed and other plant materials are an important part of a cat’s nutrient intake, but ingested in small quantities, bird seed is harmless for your cat.

Although their regular cat food should give all of your cat’s nutritional needs, feeding foods that are not part of their typical diet should be considered a special treat or supplement.

Eating plant materials is also known to assist cats with oral hygiene.

Plants are also high in carbohydrates, which cats can convert into glucose to use as energy.