Spread on some toast and paired with poached eggs and some chili flakes, avocado can be one of the most delicious breakfast foods and has gained world-wide popularity as an ingredient. But while it’s great for humans, is its consumption by animals okay and can cats eat avocado?
It’s a fruit full of nutrients and vitamins that are very useful for people, but might not be as great for cats, it seems. In this article, we’re going to dive right in and go through some of the reasons why avocados are not the most beneficial food for felines.
Can cats eat avocado?
Even though avocado has many benefits in a human diet, they contain a toxin called persin that can be harmful to animals, cats and dogs alike. Persin is mostly found in the skin, leaves, and pit of the avocado and when consumed in large quantities, can cause health issues in cats.
For humans, avocado oil is considered a ‘good fat’ but if eaten by a cat, it can affect their GI tract and cause inflammation in their pancreas. Avocado can also trigger allergies in some cats, leading to vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, or difficulty breathing or eating.
If avocado is consumed by your cat in small amounts, there’s nothing to worry about. However, it’s recommended that you stick to cat food when deciding upon a diet for your cat because commercial cat foods will provide your pet with all the nutrients and vitamins they need.
How much avocado can a cat eat?
It’s normal for your cat to want to show interest in trying out some of the foods you’re eating and in the case of avocado, you can give them a bite. A tiny one. In fact, your cat will probably enjoy avocado because of its smooth texture and rich flavour so expect your feline friend to be begging for more as soon as they try it. It’s important not to cave in though, no matter how tempted you might be to give them another bite. A tablespoon, or 15 grams, is enough.
Benefits of avocado for your cat
- It’s low in cholesterol and sodium.
- It contains protein – 18 amino acids are found in avocado all of which can help boost your cat’s immunity.
- Avocado has healthy fats – these are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
- It has antioxidants which can prevent the growth of cancerous cells and lead to improved eyesight.
- Fibre – avocado contributes to healthy bowl movements.
- Avocados contain potassium which can help to reduce blood pressure.
How to feed avocado to your cat
Avocado is one of the easiest and fastest fruits to prepare. If you want your cat to try it, there are a few simple steps you can follow to make sure they do it in a safe way.
- Carefully peel the avocado skin, remove its pit, and cut it into very small pieces.
- Feed it directly to your cat or place it on top of their regular food.
- Only offer your cat avocado in very small amounts and once in a while.
- Make sure your cat doesn’t have access to the bin or other places where they can find avocado skin, pits, or leaves because consuming these might be harmful to them.
In conclusion, can cats eat avocado? Yes, they can, as long as it’s not very often and not in large quantities. Even though it should be safe for them to try it out once in a while, it would be best to contact a vet before doing so as they’d be able to offer you better guidance while also considering your cat’s health history.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what you can and can’t feed your furry friend, find out if cats can eat raw meat next.
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