Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
If your social media addiction has given you an attention span of 5 secs max, the long and short of this blog is that, yes cats can eat strawberries. However, just because they can, it doesn’t mean they should or will. To work out whether strawberries provide any benefit to our kitties we’ll need to dive into the their digestive system and understand their nutritional needs. Goggles at the ready?
Cats are obligate carnivores
The first thing we need to understand is that our kitties are obligate carnivores. This basically means that your kitty needs to ingest proper meat or fish as without this they can't synthesis all essential amino acids required to thrive. These amino acids are required not only to form the building blocks of muscles and organs, but are also needed for a healthy immune system, metabolism, and endocrine system.
The misconception around kitties being obligate carnivores, is that people sometimes think cats should JUST eat animal meat or fish. Whilst meat should make up the majority of their diet, there are also other core nutrients they need. These include carbohydrates, water, fat, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Hence a moderate amount of fat, a small amount of carbohydrates, and plenty of water are all essential for your cat to thrive. These can be obtained from ingredients like veggies, fruit, grains and pulses.
Benefits of strawberries for cats
Now we know our kitties’ dietary requirements, we know that strawberries won’t provide your cat with all the nutrients they need. However, as an occasional supplementary treat or topper, the main benefit of strawberries come from the dietary fibre, minerals, vitamins, and moisture they contain.
Will my cat eat strawberries?
Cats don’t have sweet receptors, so whilst you may think it’s going to be a tasty treat, there’s a large chance your cat will just look at you in disgust and present their rear-end as they scoot off to find a meatier alternative. Although, as this kitty proves, some will give anything a go...
To see if they are willing to give them a try, we’d recommend washing the strawbs first to remove any pesticides, remove the stems and leaves, then cut them in to teeny little bits.
When to avoid strawbs
The only type of strawberry you should ever try giving to your cat are fresh or frozen. Never feed any type of processed or preserved strawberry, as these will likely include heaps of sugars or xyltitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to cats.
You may also want to avoid strawberries if your kitty has diabetes, as they’re high in sugar. Although your vet will be able to give you a firmer nay or yay.
FAQS about feeding cats strawberries:
Can cats eat strawberry leaves
Whilst not toxic, it’s best to avoid strawberry leaves as their tougher texture means they can present a choking hazard.
Are strawberries toxic to cats
Strawberries aren’t toxic for your cat, and are perfectly okay to feed as an occasional treat or topper – if your cat is willing to eat them that is.
Can kittens eat strawberries
Yes, you can safely give your kitten a small amount of strawberries if they’re willing to try it. They’d probably prefer a meaty kitten treat though!
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