Can Cats Eat Rice? (Or Is Rice Bad For Cats?)

Rice is a staple diet among several cuisines around the world. We have whole grain rice, white rice, brown rice, rice cakes, rice pudding, and even, one of the kid's favorites,  Rice Krispies! 

We are literally surrounded by RICE!

It's used in a huge number of dishes. With, the main two types being white and brown rice. White rice is prepared by removing the bran and then processed so its taste is improved. 

This also helps improve its shelf life. Brown rice, on the other hand, is the entire whole rice grain, which is rich in fiber. Both white rice and brown rice have their own pros and cons for human beings, but neither of them is toxic for us. 

But is rice good or is it toxic for your cat? Will it harm them?

Can Cats Eat Rice?

Many cat and kitten foods already actually contain grains like rice, wheat, and corn. It is safe for cats to eat rice, as long you are feeding rice to them in lesser amounts. It is not toxic for your feline friend, as other foods are. Rice is full of carbs so will have a nutritional benefit. But saying that, carbohydrates can cause weight gain and you shouldn’t make it a regular part of your diet. 

Cats Are Carnivores! 

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they need animal-based protein to meet their nutritional needs. 

This includes chicken, beef, lamb, liver, and fish-based protein sources, such as tuna or salmon. 

So, providing them with those foods, which can either be cooked by you or through commercially available quality cat food, is the best way. Rice would not give them the nutrients they would need to remain healthy. 

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Can Cats Eat White Rice?

Considering that the white rice is completely removed from the bran, it makes the grain softer. This means your cat would be able to chew the rice without much trouble. It’s also bland and has low dietary fiber, making it easy for your cat to digest the rice. 

You should ensure the rice is boiled and cooked, however. Eating raw rice would not be good for your cat, as it can also become a choking hazard. 

You should also make sure that you don’t add any other ingredients to the cooked rice, such as salt when giving it to your cat. 

If you want to add some other vegetables such as carrots or peas, you should first check with the veterinarian before adding that to your cat’s diet. 

Can Cats Eat Brown Rice?

Brown rice is not only healthy for humans as well as pets as it has all three edible parts, unlike white rice. It also provides nutritional value to your cat. Since brown rice remains in its true form, it has more nutrients and vitamins. 

But they’re a bit more difficult for your cat to digest compared with white rice. 

Can Rice Help With Diarrhea For Your Cat?

When humans have diarrhea, we tend to go for bland food that helps with digestion issues. But when your cat is sick, it's very unlikely it would want to eat cooked rice. Adding other ingredients such as butter or any other type of gravy to improve the taste would only end up increasing the fat content in the food. 

This won’t be helpful for your cat’s digestion issues as fat takes a lot longer to pass through the digestive tract. This only ends up causing more digestion problems. 

If you’re looking to help your cat when it's vomiting or has diarrhea, then rice isn’t the way to go. 

Instead, you should look for prescription foods you can get over the counter that are specifically designed for such issues. They tend to have the fiber that will help your cat’s gut bacteria and bring the digestive system back to normal. 

Also, if your cat is suffering from digestion issues, it could also be a sign of something more serious. It could be that your feline friend ate something toxic or is suffering from intestinal worms. You should take them to the Vet so that they can be checked properly for any issues. 

Read this next: Can Cats Eat Garlic? (Or Is It Toxic For Kitties?)

Is Rice Bad For Cats?

Before you give rice to your cat, you should be able to figure out if your feline friend is sensitive to new food. Especially in cases when cats are not used to eating grain, eating rice for the first time might end up causing them to vomit. 

Their digestion system is not designed for plant-based food and so may not readily digest rice and other such non-meat food. This would likely upset them when they eat for the first time. If rice continues to cause problems, avoid giving your kitty anymore. 

You should also not give too much rice to your cats. A study showed that if a cat’s diet had more than 25% of rice bran, it would cause a taurine deficiency in your feline friend. This is a particularly important amino acid that your cats need, which they usually get from animal protein. 

By reducing animal protein in your cat’s diet, you end up reducing the amount of taurine they get. Rice also has a high amount of fiber, which can end up causing your cat to be constipated. 

A cat should not be given uncooked rice.

This would cause various problems such as bloating and gas. It can also cause an upset stomach and your cat could even end up with abdominal pain. Uncooked rice also usually has a pesticide named lectin. 

This causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. If you see your cat is in pain for more than a day after eating uncooked rice, you should take them to the doctor immediately. 

Read this next:  Can Cats Eat Onions? (Are Onions Bad Or Toxic For Cats)

Can Cats Eat Rice? The Verdict

Can cats eat rice? Well yes, but in small amounts only. When you do give your cat rice, make sure there are no additions such as salt, onions, spices, or garlic. In fact, nothing should be added as an additive when your cat is given cooked rice. 

Onion and garlic have a poisonous compound that can cause damage to your feline friend’s red blood cells. Garlic specifically can cause gastroenteritis in your cat, which can cause oral irritation and diarrhea. Sometimes, it can also cause vomiting. 

Giving your cat too much rice may also end up causing obesity in your cat. This could also end up causing diabetes. Eating a lot of rice will end up causing your cat to be malnourished as well. 

Cats should only be given a small amount of rice and should only be given as an occasional treat. Make sure it's cooked rice and has no additives when you give it to them.