Can Cats Eat Strawberries? Things to Know Before Feeding

You use them in your smoothies, add whipped cream on occasion, and incorporate them into your yogurt bowls alongside other fruits. Maybe your cat sneaks closer each time you do, letting you know it wants a taste. But can cats eat strawberries? There are a few things to know before feeding!

Do Cats Like Strawberries?

While cats are known to have taste receptors for meat and not necessarily for sweet flavors, sometimes they surprise you when they display interest in a juicy strawberry. Their digestive systems are not particularly interested in plant matter but there are some benefits cats can enjoy if they eat strawberries.

Health Benefits of Strawberries for Cats

Some nutrients they ingest include potassium, folate, and vitamin C. Although strawberries can be a tasty and beneficial snack, you must give special attention to diabetic and overweight cats as they are sensitive to sugar intake. To help your kitty, try to set a limit for how many they can enjoy within any given period. Sometimes, all they need is a taste.

Can Cats Eat Strawberries?

If your cat likes strawberries, they can eat them but be aware of their reaction, especially the first time. It’s best if they try a small piece so you can see how it goes. Although your cat may want the whole strawberry basket, it’s best to avoid the possibility of vomiting or anything that would disrupt or upset their gastrointestinal tract. The first time, you might want to cut it into very small pieces so they can get acquainted with the texture.

Can Cats Eat Strawberry Yogurt?

Some cats enjoy yogurt! You may want to let them try strawberry yogurt but take into consideration that most cats are lactose intolerant, which means they lack the enzymes to digest lactose. Yogurts sometimes are not only artificially flavored but have added sugar and it can lead to seriously uncomfortable consequences like diarrhea, vomiting, and painful bloating for your beloved floof. If you feel that you want to give your kitty a taste, you can mix plain yogurt with very small pieces of strawberry and observe their reaction. This is a tiny treat, not a whole meal!

What Fruit Can Cats Eat?

You can’t forget that a cat’s main diet consists of animal protein, so ensure that’s their primary source of sustenance. But they can have apples without cores and no seeds in small quantities, or very small pieces of bananas. The potassium content benefits them, but the sugar content must be limited. Cats might like watermelon, but the same rule applies as it is also high in sugar. The best fruit for them to consume would be blueberries as they have antioxidants and are low in calories. As always, use caution, and only feed fruits in very small quantities. When in doubt, check with your vet!

What Fruit Can Cats Not Eat?

This list of fruits cats can’t eat is quite lengthy. Some of those fruits include:

• Grapes
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Limes
• Grapefruits
• Figs
• Cherries
• Tomatoes
• And more!

If you have a cat that begs whenever you snack on fruit, you may not think twice about giving them a taste. But the wrong fruit can cause food poisoning, which would result in symptoms of weakness, lethargy, and reduced appetite. Probably the most alarming is reddish urine, which means there is blood. If you see any of those signs you must call the vet right away as there can be something seriously wrong that requires immediate medical attention.

Other Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Cat

There are many foods that cats can’t eat. They include shallots, onions, or garlic, for example. These can damage red blood cells, and that can lead to anemia. When considering fruits, ensure you don’t feed any fruits with pits. Keep persimmons away from your kitty as well as avocado! It contains a toxic substance called persin, and if consumed by accident it will be fine. But you should never purposely feed avocado to your kitty as it can result in congestion, vomiting, coughing, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, swollen mammary glands, and other concerning symptoms.

Your kitty can’t have cherries, any type of citrus, raisins or grapes, or chocolate! Additional foods your cat can’t eat include raw eggs, dairy (due to lactose intolerance), anything that contains alcohol, and also — no dog food! Your cat needs specific nutrients and while deviations from a cat’s standard diet can prove beneficial and offer your cat a flavorful experience, it’s always best to keep your cat’s diet focused on animal protein.

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