Many people who own cats wonder if any common human foods are dangerous for their pets. After it was revealed that some foods were toxic, the media began to focus more heavily on the issue of food safety.
Onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and large amounts of fish are among the most toxic foods.
Pet parents are now more likely to inquire as to the safety of foods like can cats eat strawberries after hearing about the risks associated with various human foods. Check out this article, The Ultimate Guide to What Cats Can’t Eat, to learn more about the foods that cats should not eat.
Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
Strawberries are safe for cats to eat, to put it briefly. Strawberries are good for cats, but they shouldn’t be fed to them regularly because they can’t replace a balanced diet.
Cats can get very sick if they don’t eat meat, which is a good source of protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Cats, being obligate carnivores, must consume meat in their diets.
Only about 10% of a cat’s total diet should come from sources other than complete and balanced cat food. Strawberries, for instance, would amount to about 1 tablespoon per day if they made up 10% of a cat’s diet.
Are Strawberries Good for Cats?
There is no proof that strawberries have any special benefit for cats. Nonetheless, many studies show that it is beneficial to a wide range of other species, including humans. Strawberries, according to the studies,
- contain a wealth of vitamins, antioxidants, and polyphenols, all of which have been shown to repair cell damage caused by aging and other causes.
- tend to lower the likelihood that someone will develop high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Improve the stability of blood sugar.
- Animals whose diets included two percent strawberry puree showed improved motor skills and higher levels of cognition.
- Possible defense against neurologic (brain and nerve) disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Are Strawberries Bad for Cats?
Cats are not in danger from eating strawberries. Strawberry allergies in dogs and cats are presumed but not proven.
Strawberries can trigger an allergic reaction in cats sensitive to birch and alder pollen, so it’s important to keep an eye on allergic cats after feeding them strawberries.
There is a lot of sugar in strawberries, so they shouldn’t make up more than 10 percent of the diet at most. Obesity caused by eating foods with a high sugar content has been linked to diabetes and other health problems in cats.
Furthermore, strawberries are one of the most pesticide-contaminated crops. Animals have not been reported to have been poisoned as a result of exposure to pesticides on strawberries.
Due to the high risk of contamination, however, you should limit the amount of strawberries your cat eats.
The Dangers of Strawberries to Cats
When consumed in large quantities, strawberries can cause stomach problems like diarrhea. Ingestion of strawberry plants and stems can cause a bowel obstruction in cats.
While the plant and its leaves are not toxic, they are extremely unpleasant to digest. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, constipation, and/or loss of appetite.
Strawberries present a choking hazard to cats, particularly when they consume a large, whole strawberry. It is possible for cats to choke if they are not taught how to properly “chew” their food.
If your cat has access to strawberry-flavored products containing the sweetener xylitol, you should exercise caution. It is well established that xylitol is toxic to dogs, but not to cats.
Although xylitol has not been linked to any negative effects in cats, it is best to refrain from feeding it to your pet if it has a strawberry flavor.
Diet and low-calorie baked goods and beverages, especially those made for diabetics, often contain xylitol. Read up on the dangers of xylitol for canines.
Do Cats Need Strawberries?
Strawberries don’t provide anything that’s necessary for a cat’s daily life. In reality, however, felines require only the finest AAFCO-approved cat food. Find out more information about cat nutrition.
The Safest Way to Give Strawberries to Cats
Feeding your cat a few pieces of clean, fresh strawberry is the safest option. Never give your cat a strawberry with the stem or leaves still attached.
How Many Strawberries Can You Give a Cat?
A small cat only needs one medium strawberry, a medium cat needs two to three, and a large cat needs four medium strawberries.
Can Cats Be Allergic to Strawberries?
It’s possible for cats to have allergies to anything, but strawberry allergies are unusual.
Do Cats Like Strawberries?
Strawberries may or may not be a favorite flavor for some cats. Strawberry lovers among humans may be disappointed to learn that cats lack the sweet taste receptor entirely. Some cats may enjoy the sour flavor and crunchy texture, while others may not.
If your cat is eating a well-balanced cat food and shows no signs of stomach distress from eating strawberries, you can feed them daily.
If you notice your cat gaining weight, it’s important to take it seriously and consider switching to lower-sugar treats.
Can Cats Eat Strawberry Leaves?
Yes! The fruit and leaves of the strawberry plant are safe for cats to eat. If your cat eats strawberry leaves, you should watch for signs of gastrointestinal (stomach) upset, like vomiting, because the stems and leaves can cause gastrointestinal (stomach) upset.
Can Cats Eat Strawberry Yogurt?
Cats can eat yogurt, but it often makes them sick to their stomach. Cats don’t have a lot of the enzyme needed to break down lactose, so giving them dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can make them sick.
Since the sugar content in plain yogurt is expected to be lower, it would be preferable to flavored, strawberry yogurt. Sugar is not necessary for a cat’s diet.
Strawberry yogurt may have a different xylitol content than regular yogurt. In place of sugar, xylitol can be used as a sweetener.
No cases of cat toxicity to artificial sweeteners have been reported to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control; however, dog owners should exercise caution because xylitol is highly toxic. Dogs and cats share a similar toxicity profile.
Can Cats Eat Strawberry Ice Cream?
Strawberry ice cream is a dairy product, and cats may experience gastrointestinal distress if they consume it. Fat and sugar are abundant in most ice creams.
Consuming large quantities of high-fat foods has been linked to digestive problems, obesity, pancreatitis, and diabetes.
Although cats can safely eat strawberry ice cream, doing so too often could cause stomach upset. Any item containing xylitol should be avoided by pet owners.
Cats and Strawberries: The Verdict
You can feel good about giving your cat a strawberry. If cat owners decide to feed their felines strawberries, they should limit their intake to no more than 1 tablespoon per day.