Fruit is something that cats didn't evolve to eat. They don't necessarily need fruit, and supplementing your cat's diet with fruit won't automatically enrich their nutrition. In fact - fruit can actually be very dangerous to cats. If you're looking to support your cat's health with organic options, there are other natural sources that can benefit them significantly.
The fruits that are safe for cats shouldn't be used as dietary staples, and their addition to your cat's diet should be for mental enrichment rather than nutritional benefit.
Your cat's body and digestive system weren't designed to eat fruit. While your cat may enjoy a little fruit, they don't need it. Additionally, too much fruit can cause harm to your cat.
This article will explore fruits that are safe for cats to eat in moderation, and what, if anything, these fruits can do to support your cat's nutrition.
The Safest Fruits for Cats to Eat
The list below includes fruits that aren't dangerous to most cats in moderation. Any fruit, when given in excess or too often, can be dangerous to your cat's digestive system.
Little tiny bits of fruit that your cat tolerates or even enjoys can be a fun option for a treat. This is a situation where we have to turn off our "human holistic health blinders", however. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they don't need fruit. They get the nutrients in found in fruit elsewhere.
Let's look at cat-safe fruits, the appropriate amount to feed your cat, and the risks of overfeeding with each.
1. Fresh Blueberries Can Be an Occasional Snack for Cats
Blueberries are listed as a non-toxic item for cats according to the ASPCA, and they're the top fruit for cats because they're low in sugar, small, and soft.
Blueberries are also high in water content, which is always a plus for cats as dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections and other common issues in our feline friends.
Blueberry Tips for Cat Owners:
- Wash blueberries thoroughly to remove pesticides, which cats can be more vulnerable to than humans.
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Start with one blueberry cut in half to reduce the choking hazard.
- One single blueberry is a good starting point to see if your cat tolerates them. Monitor them for any unusual vomiting or loose stool for the next 24 hours.
- If your cat enjoys the blueberry and doesn't show signs of digestive upset, you can give 1-2 blueberries as a treat once or twice per week, but not daily.
- Avoid dried blueberries or any blueberry-flavored item that's not fresh. These contain additional cat-toxic ingredients in most cases.
Reasons Not to Overfeed Blueberries to Cats:
- Cats lack the enzymes needed to effectively break down most plant fibers and sugars, which can ferment in the gut and irritate your cat's digestive tract.
- Cats don't process sugar well in general, and excessive exposure over time can lead to chronic health issues such as obesity, insulin resistance, gut troubles, and inflammation.
- Don't drop a handful of blueberries onto the floor for your cat, especially if they're frozen, as they pose a real health risk.
Realistically, more than a few blueberries at one time for cats can pose a real risk of mild-to-moderate symptoms of the issues listed above
2. Cantaloupe Can be a Good Snack for Dehydrated Cats
Cantaloupe is considered non-toxic to cats, and it has a very high water content (over 90%). Additionally, the amino acids in cantaloupe produce an aroma that may be similar to those in some meats, which tends to intrigue cats.
Cantaloupe is also very soft and easy to chew when it's cut into small chunks, roughly the same size as your cat's kibble. Lastly, cantaloupe isn't very acidic which makes it gentler on cats' stomachs than other fruits.
Cantaloupe Tips for Cat Owners:
- Remove the seeds and rind in all cases, these pose digestive and choking risks.
- Cut cantaloupe to chunks roughly the size of your cat's kibble.
- Feed 2-3 kibble-sized chunks first, and monitor for digestive upset for 24 hours.
- If well tolerated, you can serve a small serving once per week.
- Don't feed more than once per week, because cantaloupe is high in fiber and contains natural sugars that cats struggle to break down.
Reasons to Avoid Overfeeding Cantaloupe to Cats:
- Because cats lack the enzymes to properly digest a lot of fiber and sugar, the buildup can irritate the gut and lead to soft stool and vomiting in some cases.
- Too much cantaloupe can lead to high sugar consumption for cats, even though cantaloupe is generally low in sugar.
- Too much cantaloupe consumed at once, or made available at once, can pose the risk of a choking hazard.
Overall, you want to stick to small amounts of cantaloupe for cats (2-3 kibble-sized chunks once per week) if you know that they enjoy it, and it doesn't upset their stomachs.
3. Bananas Are Non-Toxic to Cats and Pose a Low Choking Risk
Bananas are not considered toxic to cats, and their soft nature makes them easy to chew and digest for cats. Bananas, like cantaloupe, are not very acidic which reduces the risk of digestive upset.
The potassium in bananas can provide a little bit of electrolyte support (hydration), but not in the amounts needed to substantially improve a cat's health.
Banana Tips for Cat Owners:
- Never, ever give your cat a banana peel.
- Offer thin, dime-sized pieces to your cat, or mash the banana.
- Just give one little dime-sized piece to your cat and monitor your cat for 24 hours to make sure there isn't any digestive upset.
- No more than once per week, you can give your cat roughly a teaspoon of banana if they enjoy it.
- Never give your cat more than 1 inch of banana.
Banana is high in fiber, so significant amounts can cause significant constipation, especially if your cat isn't drinking enough water. For otherwise healthy and normal cats, a little bit of mashed banana can be an intriguing little snack, but it shouldn't be part of their normal diet.
4. Apple Flesh is Non-Toxic, But Skins and Seeds are Dangerous
Apple flesh can be safe when given in small bites to your cat, although preparation is key because the seeds and skin can be toxic and even deadly.
Tiny, kibble-sized slices of apple are chewable and tolerable to cats, and they're not very likely to cause digestive upset.
Apple Tips for Cat Owners:
- Always remove the skin, seeds, and stem from any chunk of apple you're giving your cat.
- Small, kibble-sized pieces are the right size, and only give your cat roughly a teaspoon's worth.
- You can give your cat a small snack like this roughly once every week and a half or two weeks, but not more often.
The fiber and sugar in apples can be more challenging for cats to digest than the other fruits on our list, so it's possible for these things to build up in your cat's system if you overfeed them apples.
While it's easy to prepare small chunks of apple flesh, it's important to be cautious while you do it. Seeds contain cyanide, and to the small systems of cats, this can be incredibly dangerous.
We recommend avoiding apples altogether unless your veterinarian has recommended otherwise.
What About Other Fruits That Are Non-Toxic to Cats?
Apart from the fruits on this list, we don't recommend exploring offering fruits as cat treats. The reality is that there isn't a significant nutritional benefit, and the risks can far-outweigh any benefits that could come from supplementing your cat's diet with fruit.
Even as an enrichment option for your cat's entertainment, fruit fall short of other options that are made specifically for cats.
The sugar, fiber, and other compounds found in fruit aren't easily digested by cats. When they have regular fruit intake, these things can build up and cause a variety of chain reactions that negatively affect their health.
Digestive issues, blood sugar control, and worse can occur when you overfeed fruit to cats.
Can You Give Cats Multiple Different Fruits Throughout the Week?
It's not recommended to give your cat various fruits throughout the week, even if you're giving your cat each specific fruit only once per week.
This can be just as dangerous as overfeeding your cat any particular fruit, and leads to the same health risks. Most fruits are much higher in fiber and sugar than anything cats evolved to eat.
As a result, feeding different fruits to your cat throughout the week doesn't avoid the health risks of overfeeding a single fruit. The intake of sugar and fiber will still put your cat in harm's way, unnecessarily.
Conclusion: Which Fruits are Safe for Cats?
There are a handful of fruits that are safe for cats, such as blueberries, cantaloupe, bananas, and apple flesh. Even these are only safe when given in serious moderation, however. You should only give your cat a few kibble-sized pieces of any one particular fruit once per week at most, and you shouldn't combine different fruits into that schedule.
So, with a some safe preparation and careful examination of portions, you can introduce a handful of different fruits into your cat's treat regimen, but it's something that should be avoided if you're not prepared to be methodical in your approach.
Additionally, if your cat has any preexisting health issues, it's best to avoid fruit altogether unless your vet suggests otherwise.
