Is cooking oil bad for cats? We have prepared a comprehensive guide about all the cooking oils you should use to enhance your cat’s health, skin and help it get rid of dandruff and itchy skin.
People put various cooking oils in their cat’s diets to enhance its health and fur. This practice sometimes results in allergic reactions, dehydration, or diarrhea.
No doubt cooking oils provide essential nutrients, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to your cats, but you should only feed them these oils when recommended by a veterinarian.
Veterinarians will help you understand which fats are better according to your cat’s age, health and weight.
For now, we have prepared a guide on which oils, in general, are beneficial for your cat’s health so let’s check them out.
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How to Apply Cooking Oil to Cats
You can either apply these oils to the car’s fur or feed the cat by putting these in her food. To apply it to the cat’s fur, dip two fingers in warm cooking oil and start rubbing gently until its skin completely absorbs the oil.
Else, you can add a specific amount of oil to your cat’s diet after consulting a veterinarian as he will suggest the best amount according to your cat’s health, weight, and age. Also, the amount of oil that you should feed depends on the type of oil used.
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Is Cooking Oil Bad for Cats?
Are you still wondering if cooking oils are bad for cats? Cats may not digest some cooking oils, but for the others, cooking oils are an excellent supplement to add fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to your cat’s diet.
We cannot say that every cooking oil is good. Neither we can say that all cooking oils are bad. The negative and positive impacts of oil on cats depend on their size, weight, age, and overall health.
In general, cooking oils provide cats with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 helps inflammation and anti-aging, while omega-6 helps reproductive health and improves the cat’s skin and coat.
We have prepared a list of the most nutritious cooking oils to help your cat’s skin, coat and enhance its overall health.
Is cooking oil bad for dogs? Read our guide here.
Best Cooking Oils to Feed Your Cat
You don’t need to worry anymore as we have tested and compiled a list of the best cooking oils to feed your cat and overcome their nutrition needs. Let’s check them out.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, chlorophyll, and antioxidants, which helps to pass hairballs, enhances the immune system, cures ear mites, and reduces cardiovascular disease and diabetes symptoms.
It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help your cat improve its calorie intake and solves weight problems. It is particularly beneficial for small cats who cannot easily digest fatty acids. It can help cure constipation too.
We recommend you sing extra virgin olive oil as they do not go through chemical treatment and are much safer and better quality.
Dosage Instructions:
- Three tablespoons per week for small cats.
- Half tablespoon every day for medium-sized cats.
- One tablespoon every day for large cats.
Please note that the dosage mentioned above is to treat constipation in cats. If you feed olive oil to moisturize your cat’s skin, use half of the quantity mentioned above.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains vitamin E and medium-chain triglycerides that help inflammation, digestion, and bowel movement. They also help improve the brain, boost energy levels, and are a healthier choice to deal with weight problems.
It’s so quickly metabolized and won’t interfere with fatty acid levels in a cat’s diet. We recommend using organic cold-pressed coconut oil as it is the purest among all options.
Dosage Instructions:
- ¼ to ½ teaspoons once or twice a day for medium-sized cats.
- You better start small; ⅛ teaspoons twice a day and then gradually increase the amount.
If you aim to treat hairballs with coconut oil, give the same amount a few times a week.
Fish Oil
Fish oil contains EPA and DHA – the two essential fatty acids. It absorbs quickly in a cat’s skin and helps with inflammation, allergies, itching, and dandruff. If you are looking for fish oil rich in omega-3, use fish oil derived from herring, salmon, sardines, or tuna.
Dosage Instructions:
- Consult a veterinarian as cats may be sensitive to fish oils.
- Too much oil may cause digestive issues.
Store fish oil in the refrigerator to keep it for long.
Hemp Oil
Hemp oil contains vitamins, minerals, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. All of this helps promote healthy metabolism, prevent infections, manage weight, and boost the immune system.
It also relieves muscle and bone pain and eases anxiety. It helps form a shiny coat, reduces hair fall, and is the best remedy for itch relief and skin hydration.
Dosage Instructions:
- Use 3mg of oil every 10 pounds of cat.
You can also massage a small amount of hemp oil on a cat’s fur until it absorbs completely.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil comes with all the essentials to treat allergies, boost kidney function, and helps digestive system issues. It is also known to relieve arthritis and normalize blood pressure.
Dosage Instructions:
- ½ teaspoon daily for an average-sized cat.
If you don’t have flaxseed oil, we recommend using ground flaxseed as it is the best and the safest option.
Sunflower Oil
People commonly use it to keep the cat’s skin moisturized and healthy. It contains essential vitamins, Omega-3 and Omega-6, that promote energy, promises healthy heart and organ function, and boost the immune system.
Dosage Instructions:
- Use it with a home-cooked diet.
- Use it according to the veterinarian’s instructions.
Sunflower oil does not have arachidonic acid. Hence, you should only feed it as a source of fatty acid.
Krill Oil
Krill oil comes from shrimps and hence, is less likely to contain mercury. You can use it as a fish oil alternative.
It helps liver function, prevents cardiovascular diseases, and supports the vascular function. It also helps fight free radicals and maintain overall good health.
Dosage Instructions:
- Use it according to the veterinarian’s instructions.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is enriched with vitamins A and D. It maintains heart health, strengthens immune and digestive systems, heals skin, and aids fat storage.
Dosage Instructions:
- Mix and use it with the cat’s food.
- Consult a veterinarian to know about the amount you should feed your cat.
In What Conditions You Should Not Feed Cooking Oil to Your Cats?
If your cat is suffering from the following conditions, do not feed him cooking oil:
- Gastroenteritis – your cat will have diarrhea if you feed him cooking oil on gastroenteritis.
- Obesity
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting – cats won’t be able to digest cooking oils properly in this condition
- Pancreatitis.
Feeding cooking oil under the following conditions will make your cat’s health condition worse.
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FAQs – Is Cooking Oil Bad for Cats?
Below are some frequently asked questions that tell if cooking oils are bad for cats. Stick around, so you decide and do the best for your cats.
What If My Cat Does Not Like Cooking Oil?
You can replace cooking oil with fatty acid supplements. These supplements provide all the essentials found in cooking oil. Also, they are safe to use.
However, you need to take care not to overfeed the supplements as they may cause blood clotting. Make sure to check the fatty acid ratio before buying them.
What If I Feed Too Much Cooking Oil to My Cat?
Feeding too much cooking oil may cause diarrhea, vomiting, greasy stools, obesity, and liver diseases.
Before feeding any oil, do ask your veterinarian about it. He will suggest cooking oil according to the cat’s health, weight, age, and size.
Also, start feeding small and gradually increase the amount of cooking oil to feed. This way, you can see how it affects cats and stop feeding immediately if you notice any negative impacts.
Can Cooking Oil Prevent Hairballs in Cats?
Hairballs can be unforgettable and messy for your four-legged friend. You can feed your cat sunflower oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or fish oil to treat or prevent hairballs. Although other cooking oils can help, too, the oils mentioned above will work best of all.
How to Wash Cooking Oil Off Cats?
Has your cat bathed itself in cooking oil? Worry no more. Follow the bathing guide below to wash off any greasy substance that falls onto the cat:
- Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to form a thick paste.
- Apply this paste to the greasy areas on the cat’s fur.
- Let the baking soda paste dry.
- Brush off the dried baking soda.
- Pour warm water over the cat’s body.
- Mix cat shampoo and five drops of dishwashing liquid in a bowl.
- Rub this mixture on the whole body of the cat.
- Let it soak for 6 minutes.
- Rinse the soap with water and dry with a clean towel.
If you still see grease, apply soap and wash again.
Time’s Up
Is cooking oil bad for cats? Well, now you know. Olive oil, coconut oil, fish oil, hemp oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, krill oil, and cod liver oil are the best oils for a cat.
These oils help give your cat energy, essential nutrients, shiny fur, and healthy, moisturized skin. If you want to feed your cat any of these, make sure you consult a veterinarian first. He decides what is better for your cat, keeping in mind its height, weight, age, and size.
Also, make sure you don’t exceed the recommended dosage. Else, your cat may suffer from diarrhea, obesity, and other diseases. If you feel any allergic symptoms after feeding your cat cooking oil, stop immediately and run to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Meta Description: is cooking oil bad for cats? You need to keep in mind all these factors and consult a veterinarian before you conclude – read more.