The short answer is: No, cats cannot eat cayenne pepper. Although it’s not toxic for cats, it can cause burns in your cat’s feet, tongue, and eyes. Most people spray cayenne pepper mixtures in areas where they don’t want their cat. While it may work from time to time, it poses harm to your cat. Thus, it’s much worse if your cat eats cayenne pepper.
But what makes cayenne pepper terrible for cats? Is it true that cayenne pepper can keep felines away?
As a famous spice, cayenne pepper is almost available in all kitchens. With the curiosity of cats, it may or may not be an invitation to unwanted incidents.
For this reason, I compiled specific questions and did some research to clarify and answer them.
Let’s get into it more.
Contents
Is cayenne pepper bad for cats?
To make it short and simple, yes, cayenne pepper is bad for cats.
This widely-used spice isn’t toxic, indeed. But, they can be irritating in small amounts and harmful if taken in large quantities.
Cayenne peppers contain capsaicin, which can also be present on other spices. It’s the component that releases the infamous hot and spicy kick.
While it can be pleasurable and beneficial to us, it can be irritating and harmful to our pets.
Thus, cayenne pepper is bad for felines, whatever the form your pet takes it. Touching and smelling a cayenne pepper can irritate your feline pet. Eating it can cause digestive problems.
With this in mind, it’s no wonder why many people use cayenne pepper as a repellant for kitties and other pets.
Related – What about popsicles? Can cats eat popsicles?
What happens if a cat eats cayenne pepper?
Cats have little to no tolerance when it comes to consuming spicy food.
Thus, if your kitty eats spices such as cayenne pepper, it will be at risk of digestive issues. Such issues include an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Due to the capsaicin in cayenne peppers, this spice not only irritates felines externally. Further, it harms the digestive system internally.
For this reason, you should avoid such risks by preventing your pet from touching things with spices. Avoid feeding your kitty with spicy food and other food containing cayenne peppers.
Some felines can tolerate little amounts of spice and may even enjoy eating it.
You can try to give a little bit and see the reaction. If your feline pet can tolerate spices, you can provide some from time to time.
To ensure safety, though, always do it in moderation. In the case of spices, don’t give it frequently.
Does cayenne pepper stop cats from pooping in your yard?
For some people, it works. Cayenne pepper may or may not stop cats from pooping your yard.
Cayenne pepper is famous for being a repellant. If I were you, though, I wouldn’t risk my pet with it.
Still, if you wish to try, you can always do it. With the same principle, it’s the capsaicin content of cayenne pepper that works as the repellant.
It’s best to lessen its hazard level by diluting it in a large amount of water. Try to create a spray by mixing water and cayenne pepper with a 16:1 ratio. Some say the scent of this mixture is enough.
Thus, if your pet destroys your garden and makes it a litter box, you can spray some in it.
Now, whether it will work or not depends on your feline friend.
Some felines get irritated much just by smelling cayenne pepper that they tend to stay away.
However, for curious cats, the smell tends to invite them to come and play.
Once your kitty touched a sprayed area, it will tend to lick that part. Thus, hurting its tongue in the end as well.
As an alternative, opt for lemons or any citrus to prevent your kitty friend from making your garden its litter box.
The citrus scent is enough to keep cats away from a specific area.
Related – Can cats eat chocolate milk?
Can you use cayenne pepper to keep cats away?
Yes, you can use cayenne pepper to keep cats away.
As I said, cayenne pepper invites adverse reactions from cats. If you wish to keep them away in a specific area, it may work, especially if they experienced it already.
Even so, it’s not an ideal thing to putting your pet at risk by using cayenne pepper just to keep them out of a specific area.
They may be curious animals, but getting hurt in such a manner will most likely affect how they behave.
Felines are intelligent pets, and they can learn to do and avoid things through their owner.
You may use cayenne pepper as a warning, but using it frequently may take a toll on your feline friend.
As a general rule of thumb, always prioritize health and safety. In the end, your pet cat’s health is your responsibility since you’re the owner.
Do you want to know if cats eat vegetable or ducks? Check it out!
In Summary
Cayenne pepper is widely present as a spice to our food. Thus, it can be available in every kitchen and can be a risk for your cat.
This spice, although not toxic, can irritate and harm your pet. Thus, as much as possible, use other means to train it and avoid using such spices as a repellant.
You can always give some spicy treats as long as it can tolerate it.
However, spices and cats don’t go hand in hand. Keep it in moderation, and avoid it if possible.
In the end, it will all be for the good of your pet.
Resources
MDPI study about capsaicin
Image credits – Photos by Callum Wale and Ryan Quintal on Unsplash
