Strawberries that are sweet and juicy are a common summertime treat. But can cats eat strawberries? Can your cat consume strawberries and benefit from their healthy properties in the same way that dogs can? The quick answer is yes, cats can eat strawberries.
What matters more is: Which health advantages does your cat receive from consuming them? We must examine the cat’s digestive system and dietary requirements in order to respond to that.
Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
Cats are classified as obligate carnivores by science. This indicates that their bodies respond best to a diet high in animal proteins, such as meat. They lack the essential enzymes required to break down or absorb the nutrients in plant-based diets, even though their digestive tract is built to break down and use the proteins, lipids, and acids found in meat. Cats can eat strawberries, but it’s not the best for them.
Only 0% to 2% of carbs can be digested by cats. This is about equivalent to the amount of plant-based matter that is only partially digested in the digestive tracts of small prey animals like rats. Therefore, giving your cat fruits and vegetables has dangers and has no nutritional value.
Benefits of Strawberries
Strawberries have excellent health advantages for both people and dogs. They include carbohydrates, fiber, potent antioxidants that strengthen our immune systems, and even malic acid, which whitens teeth. In addition to providing essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamins A, B6, and C as well as Manganese, Folate, Potassium, and Magnesium, which are all crucial for our nervous systems, strawberries are low in calories, moderately sweet, and low in calories. However, cats have a different experience.
Because they lack the enzymes required to digest and absorb nutrients from plants, cats only benefit from the dietary fiber contained in strawberries. They also lack the sweet taste receptors that allow us and dogs to detect the juicy sweetness of a strawberry.
Even if they are eating a healthy diet, many cats have peculiar taste preferences and will still be drawn to try your food. You can give your cat a small bit of your strawberry because strawberries are not harmful. Due to their unique dietary needs, your cat will, nevertheless, do better on commercial cat food developed by a licensed feline nutritionist and cat treats created to meet those needs.
Most cats avoid plant foods like strawberries because they can’t taste them, but your cat might be an exception. Here’s the ideal method to give your cat a nice treat when they seem to want a strawberry bite.
How to Give Your Cat Strawberries
Consult your veterinarian to make sure there are no medical conditions that would make eating the strawberry unhealthy before offering your cat a portion of your strawberry.
After receiving permission, wash the strawberries to get rid of any fertilizer or pesticides, and then trim off the stems and leaves. Strawberry stems and leaves pose a potential choking risk.
Give your cat one of the berries that have been cut into little pieces (roughly the size of your cat’s kibble). Remember that even if your cat is fervently interested in strawberries, they might reject them if given the chance. Right, it’s the thought that matters.
Fresh strawberries are okay, but you must stay away from any processed strawberry products, including strawberry yogurt, jams, syrups, ice creams, and even desserts. These items might contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that, if consumed by your cat, can be fatal.
Why Strawberries Are Bad for Cats
Strawberries should be avoided if your cat has diabetes or is overweight since they are high in sugar. Too much sugar consumption might raise your cat’s blood sugar and lead to major medical issues. Another important reason to consult your veterinarian before feeding your cat foods intended for people is because of this.
High carbohydrate intake might also cause problems for a cat’s digestive tract. They may cause a cat to have decreased appetite, diarrhea, or constipation. If you see any of these symptoms, you might need to consult your veterinarian.
Another problem that might arise from feeding your cat the incorrect diet is diabetes. If your cat eats too many treats or too much food, they could put on weight.
