No, the sweet potato is not toxic for cats. The sweet potato vine is listed as a non-toxic plant for cats by ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
You can safely have sweet potatoes at home but you should still monitor your felines’ consumption. While sweet potatoes are safe for our feline buddies, there are still restrictions when it comes to feeding them this root crop.
Can Cats Eat Sweet Potato?
Cats can eat sweet potatoes in moderation. Eating excessive amounts of cooked sweet potatoes may cause cats to have digestive issues. Small amounts, however, can relieve constipation due to sweet potatoes’ high fiber content.
Sweet potatoes are used as an ingredient in some cat food recipes. This ingredient is present in a variety of fantastic nutritional options on the market. It is primarily used to aid digestion and regulate the body.
Cats should refrain from consuming raw sweet potatoes. Raw sweet potatoes are difficult for your cat to digest and can cause internal damage. If you catch them eating a raw sweet potato, keep an eye out for symptoms of stomach upset.
What is Sweet Potato?
Tropical regions of the Americas are the sweet potato’s natural habitat. Its scientific name is Ipomoea batatas. Its large, starchy, and sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable. The flesh and skin of sweet potato tubers can be any color due to selective breeding.
Although the plant’s leaves and shoots are edible, the sweet potato’s starchy tuberous roots are without a doubt the plant’s most important product. In some tropical regions, they are a main source of food. The tuber is frequently cooked before consumption to enhance its nutritional value and digestibility.
Sweet potatoes that have been flavored are harmful to your cat and unnecessary. Always serve sweet potatoes plain, without any additional ingredients, if you ever give your cat sweet potatoes.
Keeping Cats Away From Sweet Potato
If a cat frequently visits an area of your garden, you must remove any feces as well as some of the soil. You also consider laying chicken wires on top of your soil or try sprinkling cat repellent in the area. Cats won’t use the soil as a litter box if this stops them from scratching and digging in it.
Try scattering pinecones, brush, or twigs over the soil’s surface because cats hate to step on rough or prickly surfaces. Rose, holly, or raspberry thorny clippings work well as well. They find it challenging to dig in rough mulches like large stones or coarse wood chips.
Keep the soil in your yard moist to discourage cats from digging there. If you catch them in the act, take it a step further and squirt them with a hose. Try installing a motion-activated sprinkler if stray cats are sneaking in at night.
Plants to Avoid For Your Cats
If you are a cat owner and unsure if the plants growing in your yard are harmful to your cats, check out this list of toxic plants for cats. You can also check our list of non-toxic plants for cats.
