Cats have a wide range of unique food preferences, which are unexpected or odd. I’ve known cats who liked cheese, wanted to eat raw carrot slices and one cat who went completely crazy for frozen peas.
Although it’s uncommon, a cat’s interest in fruit occasionally happens. This article will examine the potential causes of cats eating fruit and the safe types for them to consume.
Why Do Cats Never Eat Fruits?
- Because cats aren’t interested in the sweetness
- Cat do not have any sweet taste receptors on their tongue
- Fruits are dangerous to cats
- You do not feed them the right safety fruits
- Because the fruits are too big Fruit should be cut into the smaller portion.
Because cats aren’t interested in the sweetness
Cats rarely eat fruit; it’s not that they never eat it. Due to the lack of sweet-tasting receptors, cats are generally not interested in the sweet taste of fruit.
However, there are certain types of fruit that cats can be eaten in moderation.
A few bites are all their digestive system can handle. Cats can eat some fruits, but some can be dangerous for them. Therefore, you need to be knowledgeable about the following issues :
Cats are obligate carnivores, as was already noted. This means that, despite rigorous processing and preparation, they cannot adequately digest substances derived from non-animal sources. For this reason, your cat’s diet should have as little fruit or vegetable content as possible.
Large amounts can be harmful since they fill your cat with unnutritious bulk while offering little of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or protein she needs to keep healthy.
Small amounts are acceptable. Cats don’t need nearly as much dietary fiber (roughage) as humans do, and there aren’t many nutrients in fruit that can benefit them.
The high fluid content of the fruit, which can be advantageous for animals who don’t drink a lot of water, is the only benefit of fruit consumption for cats.
Seeing a cat keen to eat fruit is unusual because cats’ palates are not adapted to it. Humans benefit much from fruit. Thus our taste buds are designed to make us want to consume more of it.
Fruit is typically not particularly appealing to cats because they have an entirely different set of taste receptors from humans and cannot sense sweet stuff.
Cat do not have any sweet taste receptors on their tongue
However, some cats are drawn to fruit due to other flavor components or the sensation it causes when bit. It may be enjoyable to have a mouthfeel that is yielding or crisp.
Because of the difficulties above with drinking water, cats may also be interested in fruit as a source of wetness.
Because they don’t feel comfortable using water dishes, a surprising number of our feline friends never really drink enough water; for these cats, the fruit may be a reassuring source of hydration.
Some cats eat weird things to treat a health condition; dental problems are frequently to blame, as is inadequate nutrition.
Take your cat in for a checkup and talk to your vet about her nutrition if she seems fixated on eating fruit or other vegetables, like grass.
However, many cats are simply interested in what you’re eating out of principle, even if it’s something they wouldn’t typically eat or like.
No matter what kind of “human food” you give your cat, you should be extremely cautious because a lot of what we eat including some types of fruit is harmful to cats.
Fruits are dangerous to cats
If given in moderation, most fruits are generally safe for cats. Nevertheless, there are a few that you ought to strictly forbid your cat from taking.
- It is essential to include grapes and raisins because, while I am unaware of any proven cases of cats becoming gravely ill after eating fresh or dried grapes, many dogs have succumbed to grape toxicity, which can result in kidney failure. Therefore, I wouldn’t let a cat consume grapes or raisins
out of extreme care.
- Apples and pears have reasonably safe meat, but their cores are poisonous due to the cyanide compounds found in their pith. A human cannot be harmed by the amounts involved, but a cat can be poisoned.
- The same is true for cherries, apricots, and plums; these fruits all contain trace amounts of cyanide chemicals, particularly in the pits. Because the stones in cherries are small and simple to ingest, they are particularly harmful.
- Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits are unhealthy for cats because the oils in the peel can result in life-threatening reactions (in general, I would caution against exposing your cat to essential oils of any description). Ensure fruit peels are disposed of in a location where your cat cannot access them because the harmful substances are prevalent in the peel but not as concentrated in the fruit’s flesh.
- Figs are highly toxic to cats, and even tiny amounts can result in death.
- The same is true with avocados; they must be kept away from your cat because they are extremely dangerous to her.
Your cat shouldn’t consume any foods that include any of these substances. Onions, garlic, chocolate, caffeine-containing foods, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners should also be avoided by cats.
You Do not feed them the right safety fruits
Although bananas are high in potassium, which may benefit some cats, they are also high in carbohydrates and calories, which are sometimes unnecessary.
However, occasional small banana chunks should be acceptable. Cats appear to appreciate cantaloupes for whatever reason, and I’ve heard that cantaloupes contain volatile molecules that appeal to felines.
A juicy piece of cantaloupe can be a welcome treat if you have a fruit-loving cat. Watermelons aren’t rotten either and might even have some beneficial ingredients (vitamin A).
Before feeding melons to your cat, make careful to remove the skin and seeds. Cucumber, a similarly related vegetable, is also beneficial for cats.
If you give your cat tomatoes, ensure they are fully ripe and red since green tomatoes are particularly unhealthy for cats.
Although not exceptionally nutritious, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are safe. Slices of apples and pears are OK as long as the fruit has been washed and peeled and the core has been carefully removed. Mangos are full of moisture and safe for cats.
Pineapple is generally safe to offer to cats in moderation, but don’t give them too much. Be aware that some cats may react negatively to the actinidain in pineapple flesh.
It should go without saying that all fruits should be well cleaned, peeled, and cored (if necessary; blueberries don’t require peeling) before feeding them to your pet.
While peels can be covered with beautiful wax and could contain pesticides, seeds can contain extremely deadly substances. In general, moderation should be your guiding principle. Don’t overfeed your cat fruit.
Final thought
The article shows that whether cats eat fruit or not depends on whether they like it. Fruit that is safe to eat and consumed in moderation are both acceptable to cats.
However, some fruits should be avoided by dogs and cats with specific medical concerns, so it’s always a good idea to consult your veterinarian before introducing any new foods to your pet’s diet.
With the information shared above, I hope you have found the answer to the question: “Why do cats never eat fruit” okay then. I hope you find nutritious meals for your cat!
Q&A
Do vegetarian or vegan diets work for my cat?
It is a common question people ask when they want to know what healthy fruits to feed cats. “No” is the shortest response. Even though a cat may be able to go without meat for a while, this will eventually kill her.
Vegan diets don’t even contain egg yolks, making them nutritionally inadequate for your cat. Vegetarian diets are slightly less horrifying because the cat may, at least, be consuming egg yolks.
I’ve met several fit vegetarian and vegan athletes and bodybuilders, proving that the omnivorous human can survive and even thrive on a plant-based diet.
Although many dogs will experience nutritional deficits, some may perform reasonably well on a vegetarian diet.
However, a cat on such a diet would perish. It’s OK if you don’t feel comfortable feeding your cat animal products; find someone who can take care of her.
As a cat lover, I would rather see vegan owners put their cats to sleep than force-feeding them on a vegan diet because the result is the same, and it is humane.
For obvious reasons, this is incredibly difficult for vegans to hear, yet almost the entire veterinary profession agrees that vegetarian diets for cats are harmful.
Yes, I’ve encountered one or two wholesome “vegan” cats. They were outdoor cats with complete freedom to come and go, which was telling.
If your cat has been eating a vegan diet for a while and seems to be “doing OK,” I can promise you that she is either being fed meat by your neighbors or is simply consuming the area’s rodent and bird populations covertly. The dietary requirements of cats cannot be met only by fruits and vegetables.