Are you looking for ways to improve your cat’s health? Fruits are great for cats because they provide them with vitamins and minerals.
Some fruits also contain antioxidants that can strengthen their immune system.
However, if you’re interested in giving your cat these benefits, you might wonder, ‘What fruits can cats eat?’
Cats love fruits, especially fresh ones, and enjoy drinking water with fresh fruit juice.
If you want to give your cat extra nutrition, try feeding them with fruits.
You should never feed your cat fruits that contain ingredients that aren’t good for their health. Cat owners know how hard it is when their pets fall sick.
To prevent this, you need to serve them nutritious diets. We shall discuss the different fruits your cats can eat and the benefits they get from them.
What Fruits Can Cats Eat?
Apple
Cats love apples, and they are great for their health. Apples contain a high vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other nutrients.
Apple seeds contain a toxin called cyanide that can kill a cat if consumed in large quantities. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has eaten an apple seed.
If you want to feed your cat fresh fruit or vegetables, you’ll need to prepare them beforehand. This way, they won’t spoil before your cat eats them.
You can also try putting some treats inside a plastic bag and then placing them in a bowl.
Banana
While asking yourself, ‘What fruits can cats eat?’ Should you consider bananas? Yes. Cats love these fruits, and they also provide them with essential nutrients.
Bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, and fiber. They contain no fat or cholesterol, and they are low in sodium.
However, bananas can threaten a cat’s digestive system, which means they might get diarrhea from consuming them.
But you can give your cat bananas as a rare treat or snack, cut them into pieces, and feed them to your feline friend.
Mango
Cats love mangoes, too! They’re one of their favorite foods. They also enjoy them because they taste sweet and juicy, making them perfect cat treats.
Mangoes are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They contain high levels of Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
These nutrients play important roles in maintaining overall health. If you want to give your cat some delicious mangoes, you must know how to prepare them.
A simple way to prepare cat mangoes is to peel the skin, cut the fruits into pieces, and add them to their food.
Pineapple
Pineapples are often recommended for cats because they are low in calories and nutrient-rich.
They also provide fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and other antioxidants. Cats love pineapples because they taste sweet and juicy.
Pineapples contain high levels of bromelain, a powerful enzyme that helps break down protein in the body.
However, this can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in cats, which means you can only feed your cats pineapples in small quantities.
You should start with fresh fruit to get your cat to eat pineapple and ensure it smells good and looks appetizing. Then, cut it into chunks and put it in a bowl.
Add some water and leave it out for at least 15 minutes before feeding it to your cat.
Blackberry
If you have tried feeding your cat some fruits before, you might not be satisfied with the above list. So, if you still ask, ‘What fruits can cats eat?’ Try blackberries.
Blackberry fruit is a natural source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein.
It also improves the health of cats by reducing inflammation and supporting heart health. They also contain flavonoids, which are believed to improve brain function.
Blackberries are natural medicine for cats suffering from urinary problems. The benefits of blackberry fruit include its ability to relieve pain and inflammation associated with cat urinary tract disorders(UTIs).
Cranberry
Cranberries are rich in vitamins C, B6, E, and K. These nutrients support the immune system and reduce inflammation. The tart flavor makes them an excellent treat for your cat.
The cranberry plant was cultivated in North America over 2,500 years ago. Cranberries are grown commercially in Canada, the United States, Chile, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
Cats tend to pee outside the litter box, making them vulnerable to environmental bacteria.
Cranberries contain compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria, meaning drinking cranberry juice might reduce the risk of a cat developing a UTI.
Watermelon
This fruit is low in calories and has a sweet taste, making it irresistible to felines. Watermelons are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, folate, fiber, and antioxidants.
Your cat will enjoy the juicy melon slices, but you can also add some to their dry food.
Cats love watermelon because it tastes great and smells good. If you want to give your cat some watermelon, you should cut it into pieces, remove the seeds, and hide it around the house.
Make sure you clean up after your cat eats the fruit.
Apricots
The list of fruits cats can eat will be incomplete without mentioning apricots. Apricot contains vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.
These nutrients help to strengthen your cat’s immune system and prevent them from catching a cold or flu.
However, apricot seeds, stems, and leaves contain cyanides poisonous to a cat’s health. Therefore, remove the seeds when feeding them and serve them the fruit in small quantities.
Eating the apricot’s poisonous parts can cause excessive exhalation, respiratory problems, vomiting, dilated pupils, or dyspnea.
If you detect any of the abovementioned symptoms, take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.
Strawberry
Can cats eat strawberries? Yes, they can. Strawberries are a favorite treat for cats, and for a good reason. They contain a high vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.
In addition, these delicious fruits also provide essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus. You might be tempted to throw the whole bowl of strawberries into your cat’s food dish.
This would get your cat’s attention but wouldn’t be very nutritious. Instead, you’ll want to mix the dried berries with wet food. The result will be a tasty treat for both you and your cat.
Cucumber
Cucumber is often considered a vegetable, but botanically, it is a fruit. This is why you can add it to the list of fruits your cats can eat.
Cucumbers can reduce inflammation and ease digestion. They also contain high levels of vitamin K, potassium, and fiber.
If you want to give your cat some cucumbers, you might be surprised at how much they enjoy them. Ensure you wash the cucumber, peel the skin, and cut it into small slices before feeding your cat.
Pear
Are you still asking, ‘What fruits can cats eat?’ Well, pear is an excellent option.
Pears contain a high vitamin C, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, niacin, and riboflavin. They also provide fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and fat.
Cats suffer from allergies, skin problems, and even cancer. Pears are rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and phytonutrients.
These nutrients help reduce inflammation and fight off infections. However, feeding your cat pear seeds is unsafe as they contain cyanide.
Cantaloupe
The cantaloupe is a large, round, sweet, watermelon-like fruit with smooth skin. They are usually orange or yellow and weigh between 2 and 6 pounds.
The cantaloupe’s high water and fiber content aids in good digestion and guard against dehydration and constipation.
Cantaloupes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and other nutrients. To feed your cat cantaloupe, cut them into smaller pieces and add some flavorings such as honey, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.
However, like other fruits, cantaloupe is high in sugar, so you should feed your cat in moderate quantities. Too much cantaloupe can cause weight gain and serious health issues like diabetes.
Papaya
There are many benefits of papaya for cats. The fruit contains a high vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes.
These nutrients promote good digestion, boost immunity, and reduce inflammation.
Papaya is also rich in carotenoids, which are essential for eye health. They guard against macular degeneration and cataracts.
However, you should only feed your cat a bite or two and don’t need to add it to their regular diet. Also, avoid feeding them papaya seeds as they might find it hard to chew.
Kiwi
Kiwis are fruits that cats can eat. They are very nutritious and contain essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes.
In addition, they are high in fiber, potassium, and water content, which keeps your pet hydrated.
Fruits Harmful to Cats
As you ask, ‘What fruits can cats eat?’ You might also want to know the ones that are toxic to them.
Here’s a list of fruits you should avoid giving your cats:
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Lemons
- Limes
- Raisins
- Orange
