Can cats eat avocado really? According to veterinarian research, avocadoes are not safe for your feline friend.
With its increasing popularity, avocadoes are frequently being used in millions of American kitchens.
However, the research shows that they are quite healthy and safe for humans. But many people tend to believe that anything safe for them is also safe for their pets.
As a pet parent, we recommend you consult your vet before feeding the cat any kind of human food even if it is rich in nutrients.
In this post, we are going to explore information about cats and avocados. Even going over should cats eat avocado in general. You will also get to know if cats really enjoy the taste of avocados.
Table of Contents
Do Cats Like Avocado?
Cats are curious creatures and sometimes they would want to taste whatever their owner is eating.
We all know that a change in the diet can increase the appetite both in humans and animals.
Therefore, many cats tend to salivate when the owner is eating any yummy food and some might force themselves on the plate.
Just like humans, there are certain cats that will enjoy the taste of avocados but there are others that completely hate it.
However, avocados are not safe for your cat and it is advisable never to even allow them to taste.
If you want some fruits for your cat then try cucumbers and almond milk. They are rich in nutrients that can be healthy for your cat.
Can Cats Eat Avocado Meat?
Here is the truth about avocado. The fruit is known to contain persin which is an ingredient that tends to have a negative impact on the cat and other animals.
However, the ingredient plays a vital role in the health of human beings. Research shows that the ingredient helps to get rid of breast cancer.
According to research, the ingredient can result in the buildup of fluids in the lungs and chest of the cat. This can later result in the death of the feline due to difficulty in breathing.
The fat content in the avocado meat is also not suitable for the well-being of your cat and it is advisable to avoid it in the feline diet.
Generally, avocados are toxic to kittens, older cats and even those with health problems. Always keep away the plate of avocados to avoid more problems.
Can Cats Eat Avocado?
The best part about avocado is that they are healthy only for humans. They tend to be tasty when eaten as salad, smoothies or as a simple side.
There are quite a good number of the avocado parlor in cities like New York and they have recipes that outline how to mix avocado into a dessert.
Now, what about the feline friends?
The presence of persin makes the fruit not to be safe for the cats. But we recommend you consult your veterinarian about it first.
Is Avocado Safe For Cats?
Avocado meat and oil do not pose any dangers to your feline friend. According to Dr. Rebello, Emergency Medical Director with NorthStar VETS, you can allow your furry friend to have a small bit taste of avocado.
If you love walking around with your feline friend, you might grab a sandwich and your furry friend might love to lick avocado bits. You can go ahead and allow but in small quantity.
Unfortunately, the avocado pits and skin might not be safe for your cat. This is because they contain a large amount of persin.
If you want to introduce avocado in the diet of your cat, you will be expected to consult your vet and get to know the possible side effect first.
Can Cats Eat Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is an extract from avocado fruit. It is said to be quite edible for both humans and cats. Avocado oil is quite safe for your cat. Research shows that avocado extracts do not contain persin.
However, it is known to be found in cat shampoos, skin moisturizers, and sunscreens. It helps to enhance a healthy and soft skin coat. This is because avocado oil is loaded with omega 3 and vitamins.
Can Cats Eat Avocado Seeds?
I’m not going to lie to you that cats can eat an avocado seed. The seed tends to be quite large at the center of the fruit.
However, the golf ball like a seed can be used as an attractive cat toy for entertainment and exercising especially among senior cats.
Never feed your cat with the pit since it contains a high amount of persin and it can also chock your feline friend to death.
If your cat chews some small bits of the avocado pit then it might end up vomiting, diarrhea, experience abdominal pains and even have trouble with breathing.
If you notice such signs, then it is recommended to call upon your vet immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Can Cats Eat Avocado Skin?
The skin of the avocado tends to be bumpy green especially if it is not ripe. Once it has ripened, the green color change to darker shades of green.
Generally, an avocado skin is not eaten even by humans since it has a terrible taste that can even trigger vomiting. Although it is not toxic to humans.
The avocado skin has a lot of persin which can be toxic to the cat after eating. In case the feline friend ate an avocado skin by bad luck then seek medical help from a professional vet.
Is Avocado Good For Cats?
Avocado is a fruit that is endowed with a lot of health benefits. But we have looked on the question “can cats eat avocado?”
Here is the deal.
We recommend you give the cat small quantities of avocado with lots of precaution. The cat is likely to derive lots of health benefits from the fruit.
According to research, cats that do not have fat ingredients in their diet tend to experience dry skin, itchy skin, and poor quality skin coat.
Avocados contain omega 3 fatty acids that are quite ideal for the well-being of the cat skin coat. Therefore, avocado fats are healthy for the cat but it has a high amount of calories.
Is Avocado Bad For Cats?
The presence of persin ingredient is what makes avocados bad for your cat. The ingredient is toxic in nature.
You should also note that Guatemalan avocados are the most toxic since they contain a lot of persin ingredients.
Also, the high-fat content of the avocado can result in diarrhea and other digestion problem. Besides that, the high amount of calories can make your feline friend obese.
Conclusion
Now, can cats eat avocado? Feeding your feline friend with a small amount of avocados will not make them sick.
However, they contain toxic elements and this is the reason why we recommend not to give your feline friend even a small bit.
You can consider other food alternatives of cats that contain fat for nourishing the fur and skin coat.
Lastly, never allow your cat to feed on avocado leaves, pits and skin since they are highly toxic. Consult your doctor in case he or she has swallowed these parts of avocados.
Sources and References
- Avocados. Food Source Information.
- Guacamole and Processed Avocado. FDA
- Is Avocado Toxic to Cats? Pet Poison Helpline.
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