A cat is not a dog. They don’t hover around the kitchen every time you prepare a meal or break for a snack. Okay, so maybe not all of them do. Some cat owners believe their feline family members are entitled to the same luxuries and comforts as themselves, even if those items are bad for their feline’s health.
You have to be very careful around fruit. The natural sugars in fruits can be toxic to cats. Some foods, such as many citrus fruits, are harmful to cats. Jackfruit is one such fruit.
Those who have tried jackfruit can attest to the fruit’s singular consistency and mildly sweet flavor. Your cat may be tempted by the texture even if they can’t taste the sweetness.
Unfortunately, jackfruit is one of several fruits that could be harmful to your cat. Keep reading to find out why you should save this special fruit for yourself and your family and not feed it to your cats.
Is Jackfruit Good for Cats?
It’s perfectly normal to learn about Jackfruit for the first time just recently. Since they are relatively uncommon in my region, I didn’t try one until last year.
The yellow fruits have an unusual appearance. The exterior resembles a rough-skinned melon, while the interior has a texture that is often compared to meat.
Like most other fruits, jackfruits are nutrient dense. They’re packed with healthy stuff like potassium, iron, antioxidants, and a slew of vitamins and minerals.
It’s not that fruits aren’t healthy; it’s just that cats don’t have a dietary requirement for the nutrients they provide.
Animal proteins, among many other nutrients, are essential for a cat’s diet. These are all commonplace in specially formulated cat foods that are also gentle on a feline stomach.
In conclusion, jackfruit is not safe for cats to eat. You shouldn’t feed your cat any fresh fruits or vegetables; instead, stick to a strict (albeit monotonous) diet of cat food and cat treats.
What Is Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a fruit that is unfamiliar to many. The jackfruit, also known as the breadfruit, is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world.
The national fruit of both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, this lumpy fruit has a thick rind and can weigh up to 40 pounds or more. Fans of jackfruit’s stringy flesh can purchase it in a variety of packaged forms, including canned and frozen, from vendors all over the world.
There are a few advantages to eating jackfruit for humans. Besides being delicious, jackfruit has many health benefits, including the ability to reduce inflammation, fight bacteria, and lower blood sugar.
While jackfruit has many positive effects for humans, it has no positive effects when fed to cats.
The jackfruit is related to the figs. Because of this, it has a bad reputation for being harmful to cats. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Pet Poison Helpline, and the University of California’s list of plant poisons do not include jackfruit among their toxic listings.
However, humans love jackfruit for its creamy texture and its versatility as a meat substitute when unripe.
Particularly those that require shredded chicken or pork. However, those who prefer their fruit to be fully ripe will enjoy the flavor.
Should Cats Eat Jackfruit?
The fact that cats can digest jackfruit doesn’t mean they necessarily will.
Cats must eat meat in order to survive. Therefore, in the wild, they would eat primarily meat from the animals they hunt.
The vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids in animal proteins are essential for a cat’s optimal health and proper functioning.
Plants do not provide these nutrients. In addition, cats cannot produce many of the amino acids and other compounds naturally present in plant-based foods.
It’s fine to eat some jackfruit and other fruits and vegetables occasionally. There’s a chance it could make you sick to your stomach, but otherwise it’s probably safe.
Can Jackfruit Be Poisonous to Cats?
There is no need to worry about eating jackfruit because it is not a harmful or poisonous fruit.
There’s no need to freak out if your cat or dog has consumed any. The fruit’s tough rind and seeds are more likely to cause harm than the soft interior.
These could cause suffocation, as well as damage or become stuck in your cat’s teeth.
The Dangers of Jackfruit
As was mentioned up top, psoralen, a potential toxin, is present in jackfruit because the fruit is related to fig plants. The proteolytic enzymes and psoralen found in fig plants and their fruit make them toxic to cats.
Your cat’s DNA may be at risk from exposure to both of these chemicals. In some cases, cats exposed to fig poisoning only experience mild symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
However, in some cases, like if your cat eats a lot of figs, the effects can be much more severe.
If you want to be on the safe side, you should probably avoid feeding your pet jackfruit. Let’s take a look at some of the other potential risks jackfruit poses to your cat.
Lots of Sugar
The sugar content of jackfruit is quite high. Your cat has no sweet taste receptors on its tongue, so it cannot enjoy the sweetness of fruit.
Sugar metabolism is a problem for cats, too. Issues like obesity and diabetes in cats can be exacerbated by excessive sugar consumption.
Since cats can’t taste sweetness, it’s best not to feed them foods that are excessively sweetened.
Choking Hazards
Like many other fruits, jackfruit has seeds. Your cat could easily choke to death if it ingested even one of these seeds due to its small size.
For your cat’s sake, it’s best to steer clear of feeding them anything with seeds or nuts so that they don’t choke.
What Makes Jackfruit Poisonous for Cats?
Several authoritative animal poison databases, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, petpoisonhelpline.com, and the University of California plant poisons list, do not list jackfruit as toxic. However, since it is related to figs, it could potentially poison cats in the same way that figs do.
This is due to the presence of psoralen and proteolytic enzymes in this group of plants. These enzymes actively work to break down your cat’s DNA and should be avoided at all costs.
Obviously, this is not the kind of food you would give to your beloved pet. Your cat won’t benefit nutritionally from eating jackfruit or any other fruit, but they’re free to enjoy a treat now and then. What, then, should a cat eat to ensure its continued good health?
What to Expect If Your Cat Eats Jackfruit
It’s important to know what to look for if your cat ingests jackfruit, as this fruit can be toxic to felines.
Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea are common when your cat eats something it shouldn’t.
While in some cases this may resolve on its own, your cat still runs the risk of becoming dehydrated. For this reason, if you suspect that your cat has consumed jackfruit or another member of the fig family, you should contact your veterinarian right away.
Jackfruit poisoning requires veterinary attention just like fig poisoning does. They will keep a close eye on your cat to make sure it doesn’t have any heart or breathing problems.
If your cat isn’t already vomiting, they may try to vomit to get rid of the jackfruit.
Activated charcoal can be used by your veterinarian to remove the poisons your cat is currently absorbing.
Life After Eating Jackfruit
Fortunately, most cats that accidentally consume jackfruit will likely make a full recovery. Your veterinarian may recommend a special diet for your pet to help ease the symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
While your cat is resting and getting their energy levels back to normal, they may act a little lethargic for a few days.
What Should I Do If My Cat Eats Jackfruit?
If your pet has already gotten into jackfruit, or if you accidentally gave it to them (don’t feel bad, it happens), you should call your vet before researching possible treatments or what to look for online.
Still, it’s instructive to have some idea of what to do in the event the circumstance arises in the future.
The good news is that the symptoms of jackfruit-induced fig poisoning in cats are usually mild, consisting mostly of an upset stomach, vomiting, and irritation.
1. Isolate and Monitor
All we want to do is remove the jackfruit, which contains a poison, from their reach. Keep an eye out for any splinters in their mane or tail.
In case they throw up, it’s best to move them to an area with tile or hard flooring that’s easy to clean up.
2. Call Your Vet
Be mindful of your little guy and contact your vet if he seems sick. They may ask you to bring them in for observation in case they require additional care.
If the cat’s symptoms are mild, you may be asked to monitor them at home.
3. Treatment
Once again, it’s up to the vet, but they may choose between a couple of options. Gastric flushing is a procedure used by veterinarians in which they induce vomiting to help clear the stomach.
They usually choose another option if this has been digested for more than a few hours. To treat poisoning in cats, veterinarians typically use activated charcoal and intravenous fluids.
Toxins can be mitigated with this, but it cannot be emphasized enough that you should never try to treat yourself at home. The vet is the only one who should give you advice on and administer these treatments.
What to Expect When Recovering from Jackfruit Poisoning
Jackfruit poisoning is a stressful ordeal for both you and your little friend if they have to go through it.
The majority of people with mild cases of this will feel better overnight, and by the next day they should be back to normal. It may take a few more days for them to recover if they had a severe case that required emergency veterinary care.
They just need some time to relax and be loved. You should monitor their eating habits and get them eating again within a day. The same is true of their bowel habits.
If it’s been more than 48 hours since your cat last ate or defecated, you should take them back to the vet.
However, most cases are mild, so most cats recover quickly and return to normal, hopefully having learned their lesson. Here are some tropical fruits that won’t harm your cat if it loves them so much.
A Few Safe Fruits for Your Cat
The temptation to feed your cat human fare may be strong, but do so with care. Some fruits are fine for cats to eat, but others can be extremely dangerous.
Remember that fruits have sugars that are already in them. This is why it’s important to limit how often you give them to your pets.
They won’t have to deal with tummy troubles or the risk of gaining weight and developing diabetes thanks to you. If you want to give your cat a little snack, here are some fruit options that are completely safe for them to eat.
- Cored apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon devoid of seeds
- Strawberries
What Fruits Are Toxic to Cats?
As long as we’re discussing felines and fresh produce, I might as well mention which fruits are actually harmful to cats.
Never give your cat the following:
Cherries have a trace amount of cyanide in the pit, seed, stone, or whatever you want to call it. Although the amount is negligible, it is preferable to exercise caution.
Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are just some of the citrus fruits that can make a cat very sick.
Cats naturally avoid citrus because they despise the smell, but some cats can’t resist it, so it’s important to be aware of the risks.
The two fruits that typically catch pet owners off guard are grapes and raisins. Grapes and raisins are not harmful to humans, but they can be fatal to cats and other animals.
Very little of it takes to upset your stomach and cause diarrhea or vomiting. Consuming these may result in kidney failure in sensitive individuals.
Nightshade plants, which produce a toxin called solanine to ward off pests, are fascinating, as are the parts of these plants and the fruits they bear.
Green tomatoes, eggplant leaves, and the unripe fruit of other nightshade plants all contain this. It’s undeniably worthy of further scrutiny and research.
What Kind Of Diet Do Cats Need?
Meat is a staple of a cat’s diet. Their digestive systems are still adapted to process animal protein, fat, and the small amount of carbohydrates (12%) that they appear to selectively consume. Proteins account for roughly half of a cat’s caloric intake, with fats making up the other half.
To further emphasize their reliance as carnivores, cats were also designed to get most of their hydration from the water that is in meat. Meat is all they can digest properly, so that’s what they eat.
In general, cats shouldn’t eat fruits and vegetables, but many of our little feline friends have discovered sweet treats and have indulged anyway.
Some fruits are fine to give in moderation, but it’s always smart to be ready for the possibility that their noses will lead them astray.
Tips for Feeding Cats Balanced Diets
It’s a common misconception that cats are always hungry. In my experience, this isn’t the case, at least not unless you constantly shower them with treats.
Dry or wet cat food given twice daily (See this post for advice on how to extend the freshness of dry food) is a cat’s main source of nutrition.
Assuming you are feeding your cat a high-quality brand, both will supply all the nutrients it requires.
Wet food is preferable to dry because it contains more water and is more palatable, in my opinion. On hot days, however, it can quickly go bad and attract flies.
In terms of their teeth, cats do better on dry food. They can use the crunching action to maintain healthy teeth and a robust immune system. I give my cats the best of both worlds by giving them a little bit of everything.
Everyone here who has a cat knows how important it is to provide them with not only food twice a day, but also toys and other treats.
If your cat is staring at you with those big eyes, you may be tempted to give it some of what you’re eating. However, it’s best to resist the urge and instead give it kitty treats.
Many human foods (including jackfruit) are safe for cats to eat, but very few are actually good for them.
If you want to supplement their diet with something other than cat food, some cooked meat or fish is a safe bet.
Conclusion
The solution is obvious: keep your cat away from jackfruit. It’s bad for their health. You know what to do if they get into it; get in touch with a veterinarian. Good luck!
We hope you’ve gained some understanding of your cat’s physiology and found some helpful tips and alternatives to feeding them something that could make them sick.
Thank you for being the kind of pet parent who thinks about their pet’s welfare and takes the time to learn how to provide the best care possible, and farewell!