Avocados have been cultivated for nearly 10,000 years, and they continue to be one of the world’s most desirable fruits.
These green goddesses are a rich source of potassium and Omega-3 fatty acids and are known variously as “butter fruit,” “alligator pears,” and “fertility fruit” around the world. A ripe, buttery avocado is like a kiss on the fingertip.
Can Cats Eat Avocado?
The avocado is not safe for your cat to eat. Avocados, despite being a tasty fruit with many beneficial ingredients for humans, contain toxins that are harmful to cats, dogs, horses, and birds.
The pit, skin, and leaves of the avocado, as well as any excessive amounts of the fruit itself, can be toxic to pets. If you think your cat has eaten too much avocado, or even just a little bit of the skin, leaves, or pit, you should take them to the vet right away.
Due to the presence of the toxic compound persin, it is not recommended to provide all of the avocado flesh even though a small amount is unlikely to seriously harm your cat.
The avocado’s skin, seed, and leaves are where persin is found in the highest concentrations; the fruit itself only contains trace amounts.
In terms of human health, avocados are like little green gold mines because they contain so many vital nutrients. Avocados have a lot of good fats that are good for you.
They’re satisfying and a great addition to the diets of vegetarians and omnivores alike. They’re great on toast, in wraps, as a dip, or even on their own. You can also enjoy them in burritos, tacos, or salads.
Is avocado good for cats?
If they’re good for people, it stands to reason that they’d be a treat for pets, too. Although avocados have many uses in human cooking, they shouldn’t be fed to cats.
Can Cats Eat Guacamole?
No way, no how. Toxic ingredients in guacamole include persin as well as onions, garlic, and tomatoes. A cat’s stomach can become severely upset by even common ingredients like cilantro, lime juice, and chili or jalapeno peppers.
Is Avocado Bad For Cats?
Cats should not eat avocados. The leaves, seeds, stems, bark, and fruits of the avocado plant should not be fed to cats under any circumstances. Toxicosis is most commonly linked to avocado leaves and avocados from Guatemala.2
Avocados pose a choking hazard to pets due to the fruit’s skin and seeds. The pit is fairly large, so your cat may have trouble swallowing it if it gets ahold of it. However, the skin can cause digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, and bloating because it is so tough to break down.
Your cat should never eat avocado because it contains the toxin persin, which is harmless to humans but can be fatal to cats. Although persin poisoning in cats is rarely fatal, it can be extremely distressing for the feline.
The avocado’s persin is mostly concentrated in the fruit’s outer layers (skin, leaves, and pit), so eating the fruit itself is generally safe.
Although the amount of avocado that would be toxic to a cat is unknown, it is still best to avoid giving them any.
In addition, avocados may trigger an allergy in some feline friends. Cats with food allergies may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as:
- A skin itch
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Swelling
- Infections of the ear and paw
Take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice any signs of respiratory distress or lack of coordination; these could be symptoms of an allergy. They might be going through anaphylactic shock.
Why Avocado Is Bad for Cats
The Persin in avocados is toxic. While humans are immune to persin’s toxic effects, cats are not so lucky. Can avocados kill a cat?
Although cats rarely die from eating avocados, the side effects can be extremely unpleasant. When ingested by horses or birds, persin can be fatal.
The avocado’s skin, leaves, and pit are where you’ll find the highest concentrations of the Persin. Even more dangerous to your pet is the pit and the peel of the avocado.
Although avocados have been found to contain low levels of Persin in their flesh, it is still best to avoid giving them to your cat. Avocado’s “good fats,” while beneficial to humans, can actually irritate your cat’s digestive tract and trigger pancreatitis.
Does my cat like avocado? A small amount of avocado flesh may not harm your cat, but you should still keep your pet away from the fruit.
Avocado can trigger an attack in pets suffering from pancreatitis or gastritis, so keep it locked up.
All parts of the avocado should be kept away from your cats. Use only cat food and treats that have been specially formulated for a cat’s digestive system and that have a flavor your cat enjoys.
Vitamin and mineral supplements specifically formulated for cats can be found in our health and wellness section.
Signs of Avocado Poisoning in Cats
Side effects may occur if your cat consumes excessive amounts of avocado flesh, skin, leaves, or pit, or if your cat is allergic to avocados.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Colon blockage
- Problems breathing or coughing
- Problems swallowing
- Fever
- a sped-up heartbeat
- Pancreatitis
- Pain in the belly
If your pet is displaying any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
What To Do If Your Cat Ate Avocado
If your cat accidentally ate some of the avocado flesh while you were making a sandwich, it probably won’t have any ill effects. However, avocado is something you should keep away from them as much as possible.
Always remember to throw away the pit and skin when you’re done eating an avocado so your cat doesn’t jump up on the counter looking for it.
If your cat eats even a tiny bit of avocado flesh, you should watch for signs of illness, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Your cat’s digestive system may react negatively to avocado because it is a fatty food and it isn’t used to it. Additionally, keep an eye out for:
- Taking a lick with one’s lips
- Vomiting
- refusing to take in any fluids
- Diarrhea3
If your cat has gastrointestinal distress after eating fatty food, the symptoms should go away once the food is digested.
You should take your cat to the emergency vet clinic right away if it hasn’t eaten in more than two days and keeps throwing up; this could be a sign of avocado poisoning.
Take your cat to the vet right away if you discover it has consumed a large amount of avocado or avocado skin. Persin poisoning should be of primary concern in most situations. Watch for symptoms of illness if you don’t know how much avocado your cat ate.
However, we advise you to visit the vet as soon as possible for your own peace of mind. The sooner your cat receives treatment for avocado poisoning, the better their prognosis will be.
You should take your cat to the vet if you suspect it has eaten avocado, or you can call Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
How to Prevent Your Cat from Eating Avocados
Fortunately, cats are carnivores and aren’t usually interested in eating avocados. Cats are naturally inquisitive animals, so if they see you eating it, they might try to sample it for themselves.
To avoid this, make sure your cat has no access to any avocado waste by disposing of the peels, leaves, and pits promptly in the trash or compost bin.
A list of foods that should never be given to pets should be displayed in the kitchen or on the refrigerator so that everyone in the family can be on the same page.
Fruits That Are Safe For Cats
There are safer fruit options than avocados if your cat seems interested in the fruit you eat. Fruit is not necessary for the proper diet of a cat. As carnivores, they thrive best on a diet rich in meat.
In addition, your cat probably doesn’t need any additional fruit in their diet because they get all the nutrients they need from their regular food. In any case, pet owners frequently feed their pets table scraps.
How about cat food? If you want to give your cat a small snack, here are some better options:
- Bananas: Frozen bananas can help your cat stay cool on a warm summer day, and they’re safe for cats in moderation. Bananas taste great, but since they are sweet, you should only give them to your cat occasionally. Also, if you don’t want your cat to accidentally eat the peel, you should always throw it away.
- Strawberries are one of many types of berries that are perfectly safe for cats to eat. You should only give your cat a small amount at a time because of the sugar content. Before cutting them up into tiny pieces, always make sure the stems and leaves have been removed and washed.
- Sliced apples are fine to give your cat as a treat, but whole apples pose a choking risk, so it’s best to cut them into small pieces. As with other fruits that contain pits, the pit should always be removed to avoid an accidental choking. In addition, the fiber-rich skin can aggravate your cat’s digestive system, so you may want to remove it before feeding it to your pet.
- Cats can also safely consume blueberries. High in antioxidants and fiber, but should be cut into small pieces to prevent choking in your cat.
- Pineapple: Pineapple is safe for cats to eat, with a few exceptions. Cats should avoid eating this fruit because of its high sugar content. The leaves, thorns, and rind are all potentially hazardous to your cat and should be removed.5
Moderation is key when giving your cat fruit. They can gain weight if given too many extra calories, such as those found in fruit, which they have no need for.
Fruit contains sugar and fiber, both of which could have adverse effects on your cat.
Fiber is beneficial for cats, but giving them too much can lead to gastrointestinal problems. In addition, sugar consumption is linked to health issues such as diabetes and obesity.
When introducing a new food to your cat, it’s important to keep an eye out for any negative reactions. To gauge their reaction to new foods, it is best to introduce them gradually. If your cat has stomach trouble after eating a certain food, you should stop giving it to it.
What Should Cats Eat To Stay Healthy?
We’ve established that cats, as obligate carnivores, have no nutritional need for fruit. Instead, they gain from consuming animal-based goods. Protein-rich, moderate-fat, and carbohydrate-low diets are ideal for feline health.
They also require specific nutrients that can be found in premium cat food, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids.
You should feed your cat a kibble or canned food that is complete and balanced for its age and activity level. For this reason, if you have a kitten, you should feed it food specifically formulated for that age group.
Can Cats Eat Avocado?: FAQs
Is avocado flesh poisonous to cats?
The persin in avocado flesh is toxic to cats. The exact dose required to cause symptoms in cats is unknown, so it is best to keep away from it altogether.
How much avocado can I give my cat?
Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to cats, so you shouldn’t give them to yours. If your cat accidentally consumes a small amount of avocado, they likely won’t have any adverse reactions. However, you shouldn’t ever give them avocado on purpose.
What human foods can cats eat?
Cats can eat a variety of human foods without getting sick. Because of the risk of obesity and related health issues, these foods should be given to them only in moderation. Cats can eat a variety of human foods, including:
- Apples
- Mangos
- Pineapple
- Cantaloupe
- Slim, cooked meats
- Scrambled eggs
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Peas
However, there are also plenty of foods that cats should never eat. Never give your cat anything with caffeine or xylitol, or any kind of dairy, chocolate, grapes, or raisins. If you aren’t sure what foods are appropriate for your cat, it’s best to check with your vet.
Final Notes
Is avocado safe for felines? A small amount of avocado flesh is technically safe for most healthy cats to eat.
That being said, they shouldn’t eat it even if it is legal. Avoid feeding them avocados at all costs because they are poisonous due to the presence of persin. If you want to treat your cat to a snack but are concerned about its safety, there are other options available.
If you are ever unsure as to what is safe for your cat to eat, a Dutch veterinarian should be consulted. Some cats should not eat any human foods, even if they are safe to eat, because of their health. It is imperative that you provide a balanced and nutritious diet for your cat at all times.