Can cats eat cherries? Well, many pet owners are opting for cat food alternatives over commercial process ones. The reason is to ensure the well-being of their furry friends.
Cats can eat cherries since they are considered to be healthy and safe for cats. However, you should note that cats are obligated carnivores hence never replace their diet with fruits.
Feeding your feline friend with the correct amount of cherries is not bad and this should be done according to the vet recommendation.
The article from more insightful information about cats and cherries. Take your time to read through step by step. Can cats have cherries? Let’s find out:
Table of Contents
Can Cats Eat Cherries?
Have you been enjoying a bowl of delicious cherries while your four-legged pal is napping on your lap and wonder if they could snack on some?
Of course, it’s reasonable enough for cat lovers to want their feline buddies to enjoy delectable treats. So can cats eat cherries? And will they enjoy the fruit as you do?
Cherries are quite safe for cats and they are packed with a lot of nutrients not only good for humans but also cats.
Nevertheless, cats should only consume the flesh of a ripe cherry.
Cherries are a good source of vitamins and minerals that help to promote good health of the feline friend.
Also, they are packed with antioxidant properties that help to protect the cat against oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory properties which help to speed up the healing process.
In summary, the antioxidants act as free radical activity-killing substances. This can, in turn, minimize the level of toxicity in cats’ gut, lower the risk of diabetes or thyroid or even pain relief.
Also, antioxidants can play a critical role in eliminating skin infections and related diseases. As a result, you won’t have to worry when your cat plays and rolls in dirt or eats dirt off the lawn.
Besides that, cherries are quite vital for aging cats since it helps to foster regeneration of joints and also prevent swellings.
Finally, cherries are high in melatonin, a calming hormone that calms the nervous system and the brain.
As a result, if you feed your feline buddy proportionate bits of cherry flesh once in a while, there is a likelihood you might reduce their stress and discomfort level.
All in all, we do recommend you consult your veterinarian for more insight about the safety of the feline after eating cherries.
Can Cats Have Cherries?
Absolutely yes. But this should be done in proportions since cherries tend to contain a lot of sugars.
The digestive system of the cat is unable to digest this natural sugar and excessive accumulation in the body can have a negative impact on the cat.
However, feeding your feline small amount of unpitted cherries is not bad and it should be done once as a cat treat.
Besides that, cats are obligate carnivores and they do not health benefit much from cherries as human beings.
Is It Good For Cats To Eat Cherries?
Are cherries safe for cats? Yes. These fruits are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that are ideal for protecting the feline against daily stresses.
The ingredients of the cherries also help to reduce the risk of illness such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases in cats.
Besides that, cherries help to relieve joint pains in senior cats suffering from arthritis thus making it good as treats for cats.
Cherries are good for cats only if you remove the pits. However, cherries will not help your furry friend meet the daily nutritional needs.
Cats mainly rely on real meat for proteins and it is good not to substitute the diet of the cat with cherries.
Are Cherries Poisonous To Cats
Are cherries toxic to cats?
Not really. So long as the pits have been removed then cherries are not poisonous to the felines.
According to research, pits are known to contain cyanide which is toxic. The toxic substance makes the body enzymes not to work well in the felines.
Excessive accumulation of cyanide in the body of the cat could result in labored breathing, discoloured gums, dilated pupils and even death if left untreated.
To reduce the chance of subjecting your feline friend to many risks, it is advisable not to feed them with cherries.
After all, cherries do not meet the daily cat nutritional needs. Consult your veterinarian if the feline has consumed a lot of pitted cherries for examination and treatment.
Do Cats Like Cherry Flavor?
Unfortunately, cats do not have sensory receptors for tasting sweet stimuli. Therefore, it is quite hard to tell if they love cherry flavours.
On the other hand, felines do not like bitter-tasting of drugs. This is the reason why deworming a feline friend can be a nightmare to many cat owners.
The good news is that they do like the flavours of the fish, bacon, beef and chicken. These meals can form a trick of administering pills for the furballs.
If you own a canine friend, you’ll realize that they love sweet-tasting flavours and this is one of the reasons why dogs like cherry flavours.
Can Cats Eat Cherry Yogurt?
Absolutely yes. Cats can eat cherry yogurt. But this should be done with some restrictions since cats are obligate carnivores.
Ensure the cherry yogurt is plain and if possible contain probiotics. This is because the digestive system of the cats cannot digest lactose present in the milk cherry yogurt.
According to veterinarians, pussycats are not supposed to be feed with dairy products since it can make them sick.
However, the probiotic featured in yogurt help to facilitate good digestion in cats and also promote healthy being.
Lastly, do not include the cherry yogurt in the daily diet of cats since it contains natural sugars that the digestive system of the cat will be unable to digest.
Can Cats Eat Cherry Stems?
Absolutely no. The stems of cherries contain cyanide which is poisonous to the cats. This one of the reason why you should never feed your feline friend with pitted cherries.
Also, stems are quite hard and they can either choke or cause the dental problem to the felines. Do not use cherry stems as cat trees since they are proven to be poisonous.
In case your feline friend has eaten cherry blossoms then it is advisable to contact your veterinarian for treatment immediately.
Can Kitten Eat Cherries?
Kittens can eat cherries but remember to remove the pits before feeding them. Also, do not substitute these fruits to their daily nutritional needs.
Kittens that have not to reach weaning stage should never be feed with these fruits since it might chock them to death.
Also, the sugar and cyanide presence in the fruit can be hazardous to the young kitties. The best thing to do is to stay away from cherries.
Final Thoughts about Cats and Cherries
So can cats eat cherries? Of course yes but this should be done in moderation and restrictions. Ensure the pits on the cherries are removed before feeding the felines.
Giving your feline friend a small number of cherries help to boost antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substance for preventing diseases.
If the furry friend consumes pitted cherries by bad lack then consult your veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
I hope the article has been useful when it comes to cherries and cats. Use the comment section below to share your experience or story about the fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cherries can a cat eat?
As already outlined, cats are obligate carnivores, and you shouldn’t substitute their typical diet for cherries or any fruits.
Therefore, only offer your feline pal one or two ripe cherries without pits instead of a handful. Also, it would be best if you didn’t feed cats cherries on daily occasions.
What Parts of The Cherry Plant Are Toxic to Cats?
All parts of the cherry plant, excluding the ripe fruit, are harmful to cats. The pits, leaves, blossoms, and stems carry cyanide, a toxic component for cats.
Cyanide inhibits the supply of oxygen to a cat’s body organs.
It’s vital to consult a vet immediately if you suspect your cat has ingested these parts of the cherry plant. The vet will conduct blood tests, and the bright red color of the blood indicates cyanide toxicity.
The vet might begin with oxygen supplementation as a treatment depending on the number of toxins in the blood, followed by fluid therapy to get rid of the toxins.
As you can imagine, this can be a lot to take in as cat lovers. Therefore, it would be best to keep felines from any parts of the cherry plant.
What other fruits can cats Eat?
There are a whole lot of non-toxic fruits your fluffy friend can snack on.
Bananas, watermelons, strawberries, or rather almost all types of berries, apples, mangoes, and pineapples are some of the prevalent options.
Nonetheless, it would be best to feed cats these fruits in small portions when they are ripe and their flesh. Also, consult a vet before introducing your cat to new diets.
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You May Also Like:
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- Can Cats Have Strawberries?
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Sources and References
- Cherry: ASPCA.
- Cherry Poisoning in Cats. Wag Walking.
