Cats can eat beans, but there are some exceptions that should be taken into consideration.
First off, beans are high in protein and low in fat which is an ideal diet for cats. However, the problem is that many types of beans contain compounds called lectins which can make your cat sick. Lectins act like potent fertilizers, binding the intestines to the walls of their intestine and preventing nutrient absorption.
These “bean binds” can cause vomiting or lack of appetite if moderate amounts are consumed. If your cat is an avid bean consumer, you can feel confident they are getting adequate nutrition.
There are some beans that are safe for cats, but it is best to avoid them until you talk to your veterinarian. Black and fava beans contain harmful compounds called leonine and vicine lectins, but there is no evidence that they will cause serious illness in small amounts (this means a little cup won’t hurt). However, red kidney beans contain a deadly toxin which will make your pet really sick. Red kidney bean poisoning can be fatal.
Another problem with beans is the fact that many varieties contain glycoproteins. These proteins break down into sugars which can lead to a cat developing diabetes. Giving your cat beans could increase their risk of getting diabetes.
If you do decide to give your kitty a little bean treat, make sure to give them only small amount and don’t give it too often. Otherwise, you could end up with a sickly kitty on your hands!
How to cook beans for cats
Many types of beans are safe for cats, so it’s okay to give them to your kitty. However, you may need to boil the beans first if they have a high lectin content.
*Fava Beans can be boiled in water or made into a purée which is more convenient and safer for a cat. But this will require proper cooking so remove the stems and any dirt/decomposing leaves from the fava beans prior to cooking.
Fava beans have been shown to have some lectins in them but not very much. It is recommended that you purchase fava beans without rocks/stems since these tend to get stuck in their food tummies and cause problems with vomiting and diarrhea.
After cleaning them, you can boil the fava beans in water until they are soft enough to eat. About 20 minutes of boiling should do it. Once the beans are tender, drain the water and give your kitty some yummy fava beans!
*Green Beans are another variety of bean your cat can eat. Green beans are easy to cook for cats because you don’t need to peel them or remove their stringy fibers. You can basically just toss them in some hot water and let ’em boil. Steaming is also an option if you’re worried about having a stray fiber get caught on its tongue or throat after eating. Remember, green beans are best for cats that are less than four months old.
Remember to never give your cat kidney beans since they contain a toxin which can be fatal to your feline friend. Beans also contain high levels of phytic acid which binds to magnesium, iron, and zinc in the intestines thus preventing their absorption.
The consumption of too many beans could cause anemia, lack of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. Consuming large amounts of cooked beans can also lead to gas and flatulence due to excessive consumption of fiber. These problems may be especially severe in young, growing cats where the bowel is relatively immature and unacclimatized to quantity ingestion of fiber-rich foods like beans.
Related: Can cats Eat Chocolate? A Straight-up Answer
What types of beans can cats eat?
There are a few varieties of beans that are safe for cats. The only problem is that they all contain some sort of lectin in them. Beans can be boiled to remove most of their lectin content which means it’s okay to feed your kitty a little bit of this healthy food once in a while.
1. Can cats eat black beans?
Can cats eat black beans? The answer is YES – but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding water and then rinsing the black beans will reduce their lectin content.
Black beans contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the black beans for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked black beans. Most canned varieties of black beans should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label). However, uncooked refried or whole black bean varieties should be thoroughly boiled before feeding them to your feline friend.
2. Can cats eat green beans?
Can cats eat green beans? The answer is YES – but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking green beans at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding water and then rinsing the green beans will reduce their lectin content.
Green beans also contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the green beans for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked green beans. However, not all canned varieties of green beans should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label). For example, some cans of organic refried or whole green bean varieties may need to be boiled before giving them to your feline friend.
3. Can cats eat mung beans?
Can cats eat mung beans? The answer is YES – but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking mung beans at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding water and then rinsing the mung beans will reduce their lectin content.
Mung beans also contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the mung beans for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked mung beans. However, not all canned varieties of mung bean should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label).
Can cats eat raw beans?
Can cats eat raw beans? The answer is YES. Raw beans are very nutritious but you need to make sure that you don’t give them to your cat when they are extremely hungry since the presence of gas-producing bacteria in uncooked beans can cause flatulence in cats.
Can cats eat cooked fava beans?
Can cats eat cooked fava beans? The answer is YES- but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking fava beans for at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding the water and then rinsing the fava bean will reduce their lectin content.
Fava Beans contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the fava bean for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked fava beans.
However, not all canned varieties of fava bean should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label). For example, some cans of organic refried or whole fava bean varieties may need to be boiled before giving them to your feline friend.
Can cats eat red beans?
Can cats eat red beans? The answer is YES- but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking red beans at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding water and then rinsing the red bean will reduce their lectin content.
Red beans also contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the red beans for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked red beans.
However, not all canned varieties of red bean should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label). For example, some cans of organic refried or whole red bean varieties may need to be boiled before giving them to your feline friend.
Can cats eat Lima Beans?
Can cats eat Lima Beans? The answer is YES- but only if the beans are properly cooked. Cooking Lima Bean at least 30 minutes in boiling water, discarding water and then rinsing the Lima bean will reduce their lectin content.
Lima Beans contain certain types of lectin which can cause GI tract problems in humans and animals. Cooking the beans for 30 minutes in boiling water should eliminate most of this lectin present in uncooked Lima Beans.
However, not all canned varieties of Lima beans should be okay for your cat without having to re-cook them again (check label). For example, some cans of organic refried or whole Lima bean varieties may need to be boiled before giving them to your feline friend.
Also Read: What Cats Can and Cannot Eat: What Can Cats Eat Guide
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article will help you make some informed decisions on whether or not your cat can eat raw beans. As I said at the beginning of this article, one of the best things you can do for your pet is to make sure that they are eating a healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables.
Raw foods should be a small part of their diet, but they are still important because they give your cat all-natural nutrition that he or she needs. If you have any questions about this article on cats eating beans please leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them.