For the most part, cats do not seem to have any fondness for fruits and are indifferent to them even when served. This holds true especially for sweet fruits and the reason behind this is because of their taste buds. Unlike humans, tastebuds of cats are not able to detect sweetness from fruits so they are not really able to enjoy it as much.
The one exception to this rule though is watermelons. For some reason, cats not only taste the sweetness of watermelons but also enjoy. It’s hard to blame them though as watermelons are refreshing and easy to eat. The question now becomes, is it safe for them to eat.
Can Cats Eat Watermelon?
The simple answer to this question is yes, watermelon is perfectly safe for your cats. While there are some risks, they are quite healthy for your cat. Though it would be best if parts like seeds and the rinds were removed.
That being said, if your cats have sort of eating disorders or suffers from diabetes, then it is probably best to check in with your vet first before giving them anything to make sure it is ok. It would also be prudent to limit how much watermelon you give your cat.
Is Watermelon Good for Cats?
Yes, watermelon is actually quite good for cats. They can offer many different types of nutrients and vitamins for your cats as well as helping them stay hydrated. There is definitely plenty of reason to say that watermelon is good for cats, though this is only true if precaution is taken to make sure that you don’t overdo it.
Benefits of watermelon for cats
As mentioned above, there are plenty of benefits to watermelon that your little cats can get by eating them. In this section, we can list them down so you can decide for yourself if you want to feed it to them.
-Water: Cats are not known to be big drinkers of water and often times do not always drink enough to keep themselves hydrated. Thankfully watermelons are about 90% water which means a few pieces of these can help boost the amount of liquid intake they get. Unlike with normal water, cats will not hesitate to gobble up these fruits which are especially helpful in the hot summer months.
-Fiber: Watermelon boasts more than enough fiber to fill up your cat’s dietary needs. This is helpful because it can help in their digestion and waste filtering, especially if your cat is suffering from constipation.
-Vitamin A: This particular vitamin is very important for cats because this can help them in a number of ways. The first is in their vision, Vitamin A is one of the compounds that improve vision and can help cats see better at night. The second benefit is that it is good for their skin and fur, making it shinier and better looking. This also helps improve their immune system as vitamin A makes it stronger. Be careful though as too much Vitamin A can be toxic to your cat and get them sick.
-Lycopene: Next to keeping your cat hydrated, this is one of the main benefits of giving your cat watermelon. Lycopene serves as a natural antioxidant that can help improve your cat’s immune system and reduces the risk of them getting sick with cardiovascular diseases. It also helps slow down cognitive dysfunction and improves bone health.
Is Watermelon Bad For Cats?
Although watermelon has shown to be healthy for cats, that is not to say that there are no risks to feeding them to your cat. It is also important to know the ways that it can also be harmful.
While not dangerous normally, there are still some risks and dangers posed by watermelon either through some of the parts or because of problems with your cat that might prevent them from being able to eat them.
Concerns about Cats Eating Watermelon
-Diabetes: If your cat has diabetes or is in the borderline of it, then it is probably best to avoid watermelons altogether or at least consult a doctor about it. This is because watermelon is rich in natural sugars. While natural sugars might be better than added ones, it is still not something you would want to give anyone with diabetes as it still might be too much for them.
-Watermelon Seeds: This risk comes from your cat ingesting them, both the black and white ones. Unlike other parts of the watermelon, these actually do have the possibility of being poisonous, however, remote it might be. This is because the seeds contain small amounts of cyanide that can cause your cat to suffer diarrhea, vomiting, or even internal damage.
-Choking or difficulty digesting: This comes from certain parts of the watermelon like the rinds and seeds. Cats have a hard time chewing and breaking these parts down and this can put them at risk of choking. Sometimes they might not be able to break them apart at all and this can leave them to come out still whole when they poop.
-Allergies: There are times when you feed your cat watermelon for the first time and it will have a really bad reaction to it. This can be vomiting, coughing, or diarrhea. This could simply mean your cat is allergic and cannot have watermelon at all.
How can I feed my cat watermelon?
When feeding your cat watermelon, it best did after cutting it to small pieces and after having removed things like the rinds and seeds from it to prevent the cats from accidentally eating it. When serving the watermelon, make sure that the watermelon is completely ripe as if it is rotting, it can make them sick.
Once you have given it to them, leave them alone with it first as cats would normally be curious by it and want to play with the watermelon first. If it starts to lick it, then it is a good sign and usually means that they like it.
How much watermelon Can a cat Eat Daily?
Feeding your cat too much watermelon can be a pretty big risk as they might not be able to handle it. Watermelon should be considered a treat and not a major part of your cat’s diet. Because of that, most experts agree that it should not ever take up more than a tenth of your cat’s diet like any other treat. Normally a few small pieces should be enough for them.
Can watermelon kill cats?
As we have mentioned, there is certainly a possibility of your cat getting sick or even dying through watermelon, whether this is from some bad parts or due to disabilities your cat might have. At the end of the day, there is a certain amount of risk that you would need to consider and it would be best to consult a vet before serving watermelon.
Can kittens have watermelon?
Yes, kittens can have watermelon. This is because unlike most foods, watermelon is very soft and easy for them to chew so they will have an easier time eating them. They also have their fair share of nutrients which might help them in the long run. However, it is important to keep in mind that many of the risks for cats also apply to kittens so you should air on the side of caution when giving them a slice.
Conclusion
After learning all of this, I think it is safe to say that watermelons offer their own share of benefits to our feline friends. The next time you are treating yourself to a slice of watermelon, think of your little kitty and maybe hand him/her a bit to share.
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