It’s tempting to give your cat a taste of whatever you’re eating if it’s something you really enjoy.
But don’t assume that your cat will share your appreciation of a particular dish just because you do. There are a few human favorites that could be harmful to a cat.
As a result, before giving a new food to your cat, you should always research its safety. You might really like cranberries, but do you know if cats can eat them?
Can Cats Eat Cranberries?
Your cat can safely consume cranberries. Trupanion Pet Care claims that providing your cat with a treat on occasion can improve your cat’s health and wellness. Cranberries are high in several important nutrients, including fiber, manganese, potassium, iron, and the antioxidant vitamins C, E, and K.
According to Vet Know How, oxalate is abundant in cranberries and should be taken into account. Your cat’s risk of developing bladder stones and certain urinary infections may decrease if you give it oxalates.
Proanthocyanidins, a plant chemical found in cranberries, are effective against E. coli bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.
Many pet foods include cranberries for this purpose, but the scientific community is divided on whether or not they are effective in preventing urine infections.
Do Cats Like Cranberries?
Cranberries are a nutritious choice for cats, but that doesn’t mean your cat will love eating them.
Cranberries are both sweet and sour in taste.
Tart flavors are often unappealing to cats, and since cats can’t taste sweetness, sweet foods can be a turnoff. This could explain why your feline friend might reject a cranberry when you offer it one.
How Are Cranberries Good For Cats?
The vitamin A, C, and K content of cranberries is extremely high. Minerals like iron, copper, and magnesium, all of which are essential to human health, can be found in them as well.
The good news is that cranberries have been shown to aid in the treatment of urinary tract infections in both humans and animals.
This is because cranberries have been linked to a more acidic urine. That, in turn, reduces the likelihood that bacteria will thrive there.
Despite widespread belief, cranberries have not been shown to be effective against urinary tract infections in scientific studies.
There is evidence to suggest that the oxalate content of cranberries can be irritating to some cats and lead to a variety of bladder problems.
Your regular vet should be consulted before giving cranberries to your cat in any form, including fresh, juiced, or supplement.
How Can I Safely Give Cranberries To My Cat?
Cats are not in danger from eating cranberries. However, you should check with your pet’s vet to make sure they’re safe. If your vet gives you the go-ahead, try feeding your cat some cranberries.
First, verify that the cranberries your feline friend is eating are, in fact, cranberries and nothing else. Dried cranberries and commercially-available cranberry juice both sometimes include ingredients other than cranberries.
Ask your vet about the best form of cranberries to feed your cat and the exact dosage if you’re thinking about including them in your cat’s mealtimes.
Can Cats Eat Dried Cranberries?
Dried cranberries don’t look or taste anything like fresh, raw cranberries. However, they share a lot of the same nutritional value.
This means cranberries can be given to the cat without worry. Although dried cranberries are a safe and healthy treat for cats, just like fresh cranberries, your cat may not enjoy eating them.
Can You Give a Cat Cooked Cranberries?
Your cat can safely consume a small amount of cranberries provided you prepare them yourself and do not add any additional ingredients besides water.
However, if you haven’t cooked the cranberries yourself and aren’t sure what else might be in them, you shouldn’t feed them to your cat.
To reduce the fruit’s natural tartness, sugar is often added during the cooking process. Cats shouldn’t be fed sugar because it’s bad for their teeth and can make them fat.
Cats typically avoid eating anything sweet, so this may not be a problem. Cranberries can be used as a filling for pies and other baked goods when cooked.
It’s not a good idea to give your cat cranberries in this form because the recipe may include other ingredients that are harmful to cats.
Are There Any Other Types of Cranberries You Cannot Give Your Cat?
There are a variety of cranberry products available, and not all of them are safe for your cat to consume. Cranberry sauce is a popular example of a fruity condiment served with poultry.
Cranberry sauce is high in sugar and should not be given to your cat. Depending on the recipe or brand, it may also include salt and other spices. You shouldn’t give cranberry juice to your cat for the same reasons.
Again, this is because of the additives typically found in cranberry juice. It’s safer to err on the side of caution and avoid giving cranberry juice to cats because of the presence of potentially toxic ingredients.
Read the ingredient label thoroughly before giving anything to your cat.
Cranberry flavorings can be found in a wide variety of foods aimed at human consumption. Flavorings can be all-natural or made with artificial ingredients.
Some ingredients in human food may be toxic to your cat, so it’s best to let people eat it.
Pet Foods with Cranberry
Cranberries are a common ingredient in pet food and treats due to the health benefits they provide for both cats and dogs.
Red Barn recommends sticking to cat-specific foods and treats rather than giving your cat human fare or raw cranberries.
Foods and treats containing cranberries are widely available and can be purchased from any respectable pet supply retailer.
If your cat doesn’t like the taste of fresh or dried cranberries, a great alternative is to feed them pet foods that include them as a hidden ingredient.
The Final Verdict: Can Cats Eat Cranberries?
Cranberries, both in their raw and dried forms, are beneficial to the health of both cats and dogs.
However, you may not be able to entice your cat with this treat because cats typically do not enjoy the sweet and tart flavors of cranberries. Instead, pick up some cranberry-flavored treats and food for your pet.
Raw or dried cranberries are safe for cats to eat, but other cranberry-containing foods, such as cranberry sauce, cranberry juice, or cranberry-flavored foods, may not be.
It’s important to double-check that the other ingredients in cat food are safe for consumption, as some are known to be toxic to felines. You should err on the side of caution and not feed your cat a food that you are unsure of.