Dried mango is a popular fruit because of its delicious taste and eye-catching appearance on the kitchen counter. As an added bonus, its pleasant aroma contributes to the fruit’s overall appeal.
Does your cat seem to enjoy it and find it appealing? Cats may be interested in the food we eat because they are naturally inquisitive.
Your cat may have sneaked a piece of mango, and now you’re wondering if you need to make an emergency trip to the vet. Is it safe to feed dried mango to a cat?
Can Cats Eat Dried Mango?
The short answer is that cats can safely consume a small amount of dried mango on occasion. Mangoes are safe to eat and may even have a few benefits. Mango is delicious, but just like with humans, cats shouldn’t try to make a meal out of it.
Dried Mango Nutritional Information
One slice (chunk) of dried mango (8 grams) has the following basic nutritional content:
- Calorie content: 25.5
- Nutrients: 0.196 g protein
- 6.29 g of carbohydrates
- Fiber: 0.192 grams per day
- 5.3 g of sugar
- 4.mg of phosphorus
- 13 mg of sodium
- A total of 22.3 milligrams of potassium
The drying process degrades some of the vitamins and minerals present in the fruit, so dried mango typically contains fewer nutrients than fresh mango. In addition, the sugar content of dried fruit is greatly increased because water is removed during the drying process.
Do Cats Like Mango?
Most cats probably won’t go out of their way to seek out mango, dried or otherwise. Cats have developed a biological need for meat. They have excellent meat senses and a digestive system that can process meat. However, most cats don’t have a strong desire for fruit because it isn’t well tolerated.
However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and some cats may find mango appealing due to its spongy texture and high water content. And there are those who might find it enjoyable. There’s no way to tell until you give your cat a nibble and observe its reaction.
Maybe it’s just because I don’t keep mangoes around very often, but I’ve never had a cat show any interest in them.
Do Cats Hate Mango?
Cats don’t have a natural affinity for fruit because of their digestive systems. This doesn’t mean your cat actively dislikes mango; it just means they have no interest in eating it.
Don’t feel bad if your cat snubbed a mango you offered it and wandered off in disgust. Cats don’t require mango for good health, and they certainly won’t be missing out on anything if they never try it.
What Are The Risks Of Feeding Dried Mango To Cats?
A cat’s digestive system isn’t designed to process the same kinds of foods that we eat, so there are risks associated with feeding certain human foods to our pets.
The following are some of the potential side effects your cat may experience if you give it dried mango:
Digestive Distress and Diarrhea
When compared to humans, cats’ digestive systems are much more delicate. Being obligate carnivores, their digestive systems are well-suited to processing meat but have trouble processing plant matter.
Cats don’t get the full nutritional value of their food because they can’t digest fruits and vegetables well.
Digestive problems like diarrhea can occur if they eat acidic foods like citrus and tropical fruits like mango.
Liver Problems and Weight Gain
Fruits have sugar in them, and the sugar content of dried fruits is even higher. Too much sugar in a cat’s diet can lead to obesity and liver damage.
The daily caloric requirement of an adult cat is only 200-300. Therefore, your cat’s risk of becoming overweight and developing serious health problems is raised by the additional calories found in fruit.
Overeating fruit can worsen the health of cats, especially those with preexisting conditions. If your cat has diabetes, you shouldn’t feed it dried mango because the fruit’s high sugar content can damage its organs, including its liver and kidneys.
Are There Benefits of Feeding Dried Mango to Cats?
It’s not a good idea to give your cat dried mango, but the fruit does contain nutrients that are good for them. We discovered, however, that the potential harms associated with feeding this food far outweigh any potential benefits.
Your cat will benefit from the vitamin A and B-6 found in mango.
Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining healthy eyes and skin. Vitamin A helps maintain healthy skin and fur in cats. It’s a common ingredient in foods like seafood, poultry, beef, and cheese.
Dried mango does contain vitamin A, but the amount is too low to have much of an effect on your cat.
Your cat’s digestive tract, nervous system, and immune system will all benefit from a vitamin B-6 supplement. Improved mental performance is another benefit.
Similar to vitamin A, dried mango is not a particularly good source of vitamin B-6. Meat in all its forms, from fish to poultry to pork.
Although dried mango does contain some vitamins, the amounts are insufficient to have an effect on your cat’s health. Vet-recommended cat food should be used to ensure your cat keeps getting the nutrients they need.
Dried mango may be useful for adding variety to your cat’s diet, despite its limited nutritional value. A small piece of dried mango can appease your cat’s curiosity about new flavors.
Can Mangoes Kill Cats?
Cats can safely eat the flesh of the mango fruit, but the skin and pit should be avoided at all costs.
The skin isn’t poisonous on its own, but it can be difficult for cats to chew and poses a choking hazard without adding much nutritional value. It serves as a deterrent because they are unlikely to bother with it or the fruit it contains.
The pit is the main issue. Mangoes have cyanide in the pit. While only present in minute quantities for humans, it can be extremely harmful to cats due to their much lower body mass.
Symptoms of cyanide poisoning range from dilated pupils and hyperventilation to shock and death if enough cyanide is consumed. The pits pose a choking hazard in addition to being generally undesirable.
Otherwise, your cat should be fine if it eats some mango. Always keep an eye out for signs of an allergic reaction the first time your cat consumes some. Symptoms of cat allergies include:
- Itching
- Sneezing
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Tummy aches
If your cat seems to be in pain after eating mango, you shouldn’t give it any more. And if your cat’s behavior after eating mango is truly concerning, make an appointment with your vet.
There is a fair amount of sugar in mangoes as well. Cats have difficulty digesting sugar, which can quickly lead to obesity and diabetes.
Cats with diabetes have a lower quality of life and a much shorter lifespan. Therefore, it’s crucial to severely restrict a cat’s intake of sugar.
How Many Mangoes Are Safe for Your Cat?
Although mango is not poisonous, it is still a type of fruit that cats have trouble digesting due to its high sugar content. Mango is high in calories, so it’s not a good idea to include it in your daily diet. Instead, enjoy it as an occasional and small treat.
This means that a cat should only eat a small piece of dried mango once or twice a week, at most.
To add some variety to a cat’s diet, you can try mixing some mashed mango in with their regular food. Don’t be surprised if, depending on how picky your cat is, they start eating more of it or start turning their nose up at it.
Frozen mango is also safe for cats, but only if the pieces are too small for them to choke on. Mango puree is acceptable as well; just don’t add anything else to it.
What Fruit Is Safe for Cats to Eat?
In general, cats do not consume fruit. The following fruits, however, are acceptable in small amounts as a snack for your cat:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- The watermelon is seedless
Cherries and other fruits with pits are toxic to cats. Cherry pits are poisonous to cats because of the cyanide they contain. Don’t give your cat any citrus fruit because it may be toxic to them. This includes the leaves, peels, stems, and seeds.
Bananas are a healthy food option and a good potassium source. Bananas have a lot of good nutrients, but they also have a lot of sugar that your cat doesn’t need.
If you peel the apple and take out the core, it’s safe for your cat to eat in moderation. The cat should also be kept away from the apple core.
Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and others are generally safe, but they may not provide your cat with much in the way of nutrition. Any leaves or stems should be trimmed off as well.
Both fresh watermelon and cantaloupe are reportedly feline favorites. When used sparingly, either option is fine to give to a child. Remove the seeds or purchase a seedless watermelon if you intend to feed it to your cat.
Conclusion
While it’s not something we typically associate with cats, it’s probably fine if yours steals a piece of mango now and then. Some cats enjoy the texture of the fruit, and it’s not toxic and has some health benefits.
Don’t stress if your cat doesn’t seem to share your enthusiasm for mango; they’re not exactly vital to your cat’s well-being. If you keep your cat away from the armpit or the skin, you shouldn’t have any problems.