Can’t seem to forget the taste of those cherries? If you’re wondering – ‘Can Cats Eat Cherries?’, you are at the right place. Read on!
If your cat belongs to the group that loves to lick a little bit of this and a little bit of that when around the fruit basket, this article is for you! Find out the answer to your question – ‘Can Cats Eat Cherries?’ and learn important information about the combo of cats and cherries.
Can Cats Eat Raspberries? Find out here
What Are Cherries?
Cherry is a red-colored fruit that is eaten all across the globe. Turkey is the major producer of cherries, accounting for 28% of its production. It consists of a significant portion of water, a moderate portion of carbohydrates and is an excellent dietary fiber and vitamin C source. Additionally, cherry wood is used to make furniture items like chairs and tables because of its rich color.
Can Cats Eat Cherries?
As pet parents, we always wonder if our pets can eat the same things as us. There is no reason for you not to like cherries – they are full of nutrition and give you no extra calories. However, you can not say the same about your feline.
Essentially, cherry is safe for cat consumption, but the parts of cherry, like stems and seeds, are harmful to it.
The bottom line is – Do not feed cherry to your cat.
Are Cherries Toxic For Cats?
Technically, cherry in itself is non-toxic for cats. The flesh of the cherry is safe for their consumption. However, the stem, leaves, and pit of the cherry are poisonous to cats. It will be a problem if the pet takes a bite of these portions while eating the fruit. Hence, cherries are not suitable for cats and should not be fed to them.
The stem, leaves, and pit are full of amygdalin, which can be fatal for cats. Additionally, there is always a possibility of a choking hazard wherever there are seeds.
Do Cherries Contain Any Nutritional Value For Cats?
Cherries contain vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and essential antioxidants, which can help a cat’s overall development. However, the risk is not worth all the nutrition.
Cherries are full of sugar, which is terrible for cats – it can lead to weight gain and stomach problems. Portions like seeds and stems can cause choking or bowel obstruction, along with amygdalin poisoning.
Can Cats Eat Cherries? A Few Concerns
Although the cherry flesh is safe for cat consumption, its parts, like the seed, contains amygdalin, which is harmful for humans and cats alike. It is released in the body in the form of cyanide, that affects the capability of the body to breathe. It looks like breathlessness, along with shock and dilated pupils.
However, cyanide is only released if the seed containing amygdalin has been chewed. It is unlikely that a cat might chew the seed. If it has ingested the seed, it will hopefully pass through the body intact. However, monitor your pet for symptoms.
Can Cats Eat Cherries? Something Important!
As you must know by now, cats are obligate carnivores – they do not need anything other than meat as their source of survival. Even though fruits may contain nutritional values, cats don’t need to eat them since they obtain those same nutrients from their main diet of meat and cat food. So do not force-feed cherry to your cat.
Can Cats Eat Cherries? Quick Takeaways!
- Although the cherry flesh is safe, all the other parts, like the leaves, stem, and pit of the cherry (which contains amygdalin), is toxic for cats. Hence, cherries are toxic for felines.
- Cherries carry a lot of nutritional value for humans and felines alike, but the risk is not worth the nutrition when it comes to cats.
- Signs of cyanide poisoning – breathlessness, shock, and dilated pupils.
- Cats do not need fruit to survive, no matter how much nutrition it carries. So, do not try to force-feed cherries to cats, despite the abundance of nutrients.
