While making yourself a fruit salad, did you happen to drop a piece of strawberry on the floor? Did your cat pounce and gobbled it all up?
You must be pretty worried, wondering, “can cats eat strawberries?” or “are strawberries bad for cats?”
Well, stop fretting if your cat has eaten a piece of strawberry—she is going to be just fine as strawberries are not toxic to cats. But that does not mean that you can go ahead and put a bowl full of strawberries in front of your cat.
Cats and Strawberries
Strawberries are a versatile fruit. We put strawberries in beverages, fruit salads, parfaits, in cereals, and on top of desserts. They make a perfect blend for many other meals as well. But do strawberries make a good treat for our feline friends? Can cats have strawberries? And what about young kittens? Can kittens eat strawberries?
If strawberry is your favorite fruit and you happen to have a furry friend living under your roof, you must want to share the delight and refreshing taste of strawberries with your feline friend. However, the thoughts about the safety of strawberries for cats and their potential health hazards must be keeping you from sharing it with your feline friend. Well, let’s address all your concerns surrounding cats and strawberries once and for all. let’s find out if strawberry is one of the cat-safe human foods or not.
Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
Yes, cats can eat strawberries but only in small amounts, according to Petmd.
So if your cat pounced at the piece of strawberry that you dropped on the floor while chopping strawberries for your fruit salad, you can let her have at it. Your kitty will be perfectly fine after having eaten a few pieces of strawberry.
Read: Can Cats Eat Watermelon?
Can Kittens Eat Strawberries?
No, kittens should not eat strawberries.
You must be wondering that if strawberries are safe for adult cats to eat, it will be safe to share a piece or two of strawberries with young kittens as well. Well, probably a couple of pieces of strawberry won’t hurt a young kitten, but experts advise against sharing anything other than kitten food with young kittens.
This is because young kittens have fragile internals, and eating foods other than their specialized kitten food might upset their stomach and affect their overall gut health. Moreover, by feeding young kittens foods other than their traditional food, we are spoiling them, and they might develop into stubborn adults with strange eating behaviors.
Read: Kitten Feeding Chart
Can Cats Eat Strawberry Ice Cream?
No, cats cannot have strawberry ice cream or any other flavor—cats cannot have ice cream at all. Actually, most cats are lactose intolerant, and since ice creams generally contain milk, we cannot feed it to our cats. It will lead to the development of gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
As an alternative to cow milk, we can give almond milk (occasionally and in small amounts) to cats if they have developed a penchant for milk.
Can Cats Have Strawberry Yoghurt?
No, cats cannot have strawberry yogurt. As discussed above, most cats are lactose intolerant, meaning that they lack lactase, an enzyme necessary for the breakdown of lactose sugar present in dairy products. So it is best that we do not give cats strawberry yogurt.
However, many argue that despite being lactose intolerant, many cats can digest small amounts of plain yogurt without showing any signs of sickness. Therefore, one can argue that giving small amounts of yogurt won’t harm a cat. But keep in mind that it is being said about plain yogurt and not the ones that might contain artificial flavors and sweeteners like strawberry yogurt.
Can Cats Eat Strawberries Leaves and Stem?
No, cats cannot eat strawberries’ leaves and stems. While strawberries’ leaves and stems are not toxic to cats, they may upset our cats’ stomachs, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, while offering strawberries to your cat, you are advised that you must remove the stems and leaves and thoroughly wash them to get rid of any pesticides or any other chemical that may have been used on them.
Are Strawberries Good for Cats?
Loaded with useful vitamins C and B9 and potassium, manganese, fibers, folates, and antioxidants, strawberries are considered one of the superfoods for humans. The presence of simple sugar in strawberries also makes it a perfect fruit for humans with diabetes, as eating strawberries does not result in a spike in blood sugar levels. One can eat strawberries for quick rejuvenation, but can we say the same about cats? Can cats enjoy the same health benefits of strawberries?
Well, cats cannot really enjoy all the benefits that strawberries have to offer. This is because cats process food very differently from humans. Below we have listed some of the nutritional benefits that our cats may reap by eating strawberries.
Nutritional Benefits of Strawberries for Cats
Antioxidants: help cats fight free radicals that are often responsible for causing cancer
Fibers: help cats in the smooth and effective digestion and bowel movement
Vitamin C: helps cats with tissue growth and stress and immune regulation
Potassium: helps cats with the maintenance of muscle contraction and blood pressure
Manganese: helps cats in the metabolism of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and proteins
Folate: helps cats in the proper functioning of their cells and tissues.
Are Strawberries Bad for Cats?
There is nothing in strawberries that is toxic to cats, but still, strawberries do not make the best treat for cats. Here is why:
Cats are Sweet-Blind
Why do you want to give your cat strawberries? You probably want to share the heavenly sweet taste of strawberries with your feline friends. There is no point in sharing strawberries with cats if this is the case as cats are sweet blind. They don’t have the sweet receptors on their tongue—they cannot perceive sweet taste, according to Scientific American.
Too Much Sugar
As discussed above, even diabetic patients can safely eat strawberries, but the same cannot be said about cats, simply because cats cannot process the sugar as effectively as humans do. So eating strawberries regularly would lead to the development of diabetic issues over time. Therefore, you are advised not to make strawberries an integral part of your cat’s diet.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Cats
Cats are stoic creatures. Meaning that they do not let others—not even their loving parents—get an idea about their sickness and vulnerabilities. However, there are subtle symptoms of sickness that our cats exhibit. As far as diabetes is concerned, your cat will be exhibiting the following signs:
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Weight loss
- Increased appetite
Increased Chances of Obesity
Cats are obligate carnivores, and all of their nutritional requirements are met by their traditional animal-based cat food. So ingesting anything other than their traditional food would only be increasing their caloric intake, increasing the chance of obesity in cats.
Cats Make Their Own Vitamin C
Unlike most mammals who require an external source of vitamin C, cats produce their own Vitamin C. They do not need an external source of Vitamin C. Therefore, adding Vitamin C to your cat’s routine diet is of no nutritional benefit. Instead, it could be counterproductive as the excess of Vitamin C can develop calcium oxalate stones in kidneys or urinary tract.
How to Give Strawberries to Cats?
- Remove strawberry leaves and stem
- Properly wash the strawberries with cold water
- Chop it into smaller pieces
- Offer your cat a small piece and observe their reaction
- Give it to them sparingly as a treat and that too in moderation.
Final Verdict: Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
Yes, cats can eat strawberries. This refreshing sweet of summer is not toxic to cats. However, just like other human foods, it should only be given to cats occasionally as a treat and in moderation. Moreover, you should make sure that leaves and stems are removed, and strawberry is chopped into fine pieces before sharing it with your cat.
Now that all your concerns regarding cats and strawberries have been addressed, you might want to check out can cats have whipped cream as you might be having strawberries with whipped cream.
Find out what other foods cats can eat or not eat: