Our beloved cats are curious about food, especially human food. We love our kitties and often want to share goodies, but we must put their health first. Cherry safety for cats is a common worry.
This article will help you understand why cats shouldn’t eat cherries. Cherries are delicious, but they contain toxins that can hurt cats and cause serious health issues. Knowing the risks of giving cherries to cats emphasizes the importance of being attentive about what our pets eat. A feline-friendly diet ensures a long, healthy, and happy life for our beloved cats.
In This Article
Understanding a Cat’s Diet
Fruits are not natural for cats, who prefer meat. Nonetheless, cats can safely eat certain fruits. Apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, and berries are cat-safe. These fruits are safe for cats to eat in moderation.
Yet, some fruits should never enter a cat’s bowl. Grapes, melons, oranges, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, and prunes are high in sugar and should be avoided to avoid kidney difficulties and other health issues. Moreover, strawberries contain cyanide and should be avoided.
Can Cats Eat Cherries?
Cat owners need to research the nutritional needs of their feline companions. Cherry consumption has been linked to many human health advantages; however, the same cannot be affirmed for feline consumption.
Cherry flesh is perfectly safe for cats to consume, but other components of the cherry, such as the stem, leaves, and pit, provide significant dangers to the feline body and should be avoided at all costs.
Understanding Cherries: A Brief Overview
Cherries, scientifically known as Prunus avium, are juicy stone fruits that people like for their sweet taste and possible health benefits. These heart-shaped fruits are in the same plant family as peaches, apricots, and plums. There is a lot of history behind cherries. The Greek botanist Theophrastus wrote about them in at least 300 B.C.E. Cherries are grown in many places around the world today. There are different kinds, like sweet and sour cherries, which have different tastes and nutritional values.
How healthy cherries are in a 100-gram serving:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
| Water | 82.2g |
| Calories | 50 kcal |
| Protein | 1.06g |
| Carbohydrates | 16.01g |
| Sugars | 12.82g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.0g |
| Fat | 0.3g |
| Potassium | 222mg |
| Vitamin C | 7.0mg |
Health Benefits of Cherries for Cats
Cherries are an excellent source of numerous important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium, beta-carotene, and choline. These nutrients are essential to the overall health of a cat and play important functions in the maintenance of its body, including the promotion of a healthy immune system, the support of bone growth, the maintenance of healthy vision, and the assistance of brain development.
The Varieties of Cherries
- Sweet Cherries: There are more than 500 different kinds of sweet cherries. Some of the most well-known are Bing, Lambert, Rainer, and Royal Ann. One of the best types of sweet cherry is the Bing cherry, which is known for being big and deep red color.
- Sour Cherries: On the other hand, there are more than 270 different kinds of sour cherries, such as Early Richmond and Montmorency. These cherries are usually smaller, bright red, and sour. They are often used to make pie fillings or sauces.
There are many flavonoids in both sweet and sour cherries, such as anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, which give them their deep red color. Flavonoids help lower oxidative stress and inflammation in the body because they are antioxidants. Vitamins A and C, copper, and manganese are all found in large amounts in sour cherries.
Why Are Cherries Unsafe for Cats?
Cherries are good for people’s health, but they are very dangerous for our cats. Cyanide is a poisonous chemical that can be found in many parts of the cherry plant, like the stem, pit, leaves, seeds, and flowers.
Cats are very sensitive to it. Cyanide stops cells from getting oxygen by messing up the enzymes that do that. This cannot be good for cats’ health.
The Risks Associated with Cherries
Chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) are found in cherries. These are also found in apricots, apples, and plums. These chemicals are mostly found in cherry pits, also called seeds. If your cat eats these seeds by accident, they could get a bowel obstruction, which is very bad for their health.
What’s worse is when your cat chews on the cherry pits. When you chew, digestive enzymes start a chemical reaction that turns CNGs into cyanide, which is very dangerous. Poisoning can cause loss of coordination, shortness of breath, seizures, shock, loss of consciousness, and, in the worst cases, death. Even a small amount can hurt your pet a lot; 1.52 mg per kg is the most that will kill them.
Identifying Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning
Cats that have been poisoned with cyanide will have dilated pupils, pant, have trouble breathing, and have mucous membranes that are a dark brick-red color. Cyanide poisoning in cats can lead to shock, which could kill the cat if it is not treated right away. So, if you think your cat may have eaten cherry pits, stems, or leaves, you need to treat it as a medical emergency right away. In these situations, it’s very important to get help right away from a pet poison control hotline or your vet.
Symptoms of Cherry Poisoning in Cats
If your cat ate cherries or any part of the cherry plant, you need to keep an eye out for signs of poisoning. When cats eat cherries, they often show these signs:
- Having trouble breathing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Spasms in muscles
- Pupils getting bigger
- Shock
- Collapse
Cats can die from cherry poisoning if it gets bad enough. In addition, the cherry pit can become a choking hazard, making cherries even more dangerous for cats.
Seeking Immediate Help for Your Cat
It’s important to act quickly if you think your cat has eaten any part of a cherry. Get a sample of the plant that was eaten and take it to the vet right away. In addition to a full physical exam, the vet may use oxygen and fluid therapy to help the cat’s body get rid of the cyanide.
How well a cat recovers from cherry poisoning depends on how much it ate and how quickly it got medical help. A quick diagnosis and treatment greatly improve the cat’s chances of fully recovering. Delaying intervention, on the other hand, makes it less likely that the person will fully recover.
Can Cats Safely Consume Pitted Cherries?
Although cats can eat pitted cherries, you should be very careful that your cat only eats the fruit’s flesh and not any of the pits, stems or leaves that are still on it.
When given in moderation, the fruit itself is safe for cats and can be a healthy addition to their diet.
Not only are fresh cherries without pits safe, but they are also full of good nutrients.
As well as being low in calories, they are full of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium and important vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Cherries are also good for you because they contain antioxidants and may help keep your blood sugar levels stable.
But it’s important to give them in moderation because they have a lot of fiber, which can make your stomach upset and make it more likely that they will eat pit pieces, leaves, or stems by accident.
Black Cherries and Cherry Products
It’s very important to stress that cats should never eat any cherry, even black cherries. Products made from cherries, like cherry jam, are also not allowed for cats to eat.
There is a chance that these products could poison cats with cherries. They also have a lot of sugar and other ingredients that are bad for their health.
Safer Alternatives for Your Cat
There are safer fruits and vegetables you can give your cat instead of cherries that could be bad for their health. You might want to give your cat these fruits and vegetables:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pumpkin
- Bananas
Make sure to cut these options into small pieces that are easy to swallow. But it’s important to make sure that fruits and vegetables don’t make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake. Their main source of nutrients should still be their regular cat food.
Final Words
Cherry treats are tasty for people, but cats should never eat them. The risk of cyanide poisoning is greater than any possible benefits, and we should always put our cats’ safety and well-being first. To make sure your cat stays healthy and lives a long time, feed it a well-balanced diet and talk to your vet about what foods and treats are best for your cat.
By putting your cat’s safety first and learning about foods like cherries that are bad for cats, you’re consciously trying to give your beloved cat the best care possible. Keep an eye out and keep your cat away from dangerous foods to protect their health and happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What berry is toxic to cats?
Cherries, including their pits and stems, are toxic to cats. They contain substances like cyanide, which can be harmful when ingested by cats.
Can cats taste cherries?
Yes, cats can taste cherries, as they have taste buds and can detect different flavors. However, cherries are not a recommended treat for cats due to their potential toxicity and high sugar content.
Can cats eat cherry skin?
Even without the pit, cats shouldn’t be given cherry skin. Even though the skin is less toxic than the pit or stem, cats may have stomach trouble digesting it. Avoid giving your cat cherry pieces.
Can cats eat cherries without the pit?
Even without the pit, cats shouldn’t eat cherries. Cherry pit removal minimizes cyanide exposure, but the high sugar content makes them unsuitable for cats. A cat’s digestive tract may struggle with thick skin. Choose cat-friendly snacks and foods for their health and safety.
1 thought on “Can Cats Eat Cherry? Are Cherries Bad For Cats? ”