Can Cats Eat Apples? Or Is It Bad For Them?

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a common proverb which goes for humans although it may not be the same for cats or any other pets.

We all want to provide the healthiest and most nutritious foods to our furry felines. In fact, we know that apples are loaded with vitamins and fiber, but cats have different digestive systems.

In this blog, I will explain to you how you can safely feed apples to your cats, as there are a few parts that are toxic for cats.

You will get to know the nutritional benefits of feeding apple to cats and the risk that you may face after feeding the apple.

So, Can Cats Eat Apples?

Yes, you can feed apples to your furry friend. It is a non-toxic fruit if you feed it to your feline. Apple is a great source of minerals and vitamins (especially vitamin C, A, and K), moreover, apples are rich in dietary fibers.

Many doctors say that apple is a very good antioxidant that helps you to reduce cholesterol, also it hinders the growth of cancer cells. However, since cats have a different digestive from humans, so apples might give them hard time with indigestion.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means, their nutritional requirements depend entirely on meat. I would say that fruit is not a part of a cat’s natural diet. So apple might not provide them the complete nutrients that they need. However, you can still give apple to your cats in small amount as treat.

Can kittens Eat Apples?

Yes, you can feed apples to kittens, but I would suggest you not provide apples to kitten’s diet. In their starting weeks, they need quality nutrition from a specially formulated diet & for that, you might provide kittens starter food. it will help them to grow & increase their immune system.

It is proven that apples are not beneficial for kittens in many ways. Yes, it contains a good amount of fibers, & carbs, which might lead to constipation. If still, you want to feed them apples then you can provide them apples in very fewer amounts & small pieces.

Can Cats Eat Green Apples?

If you are willing to feed your cat a green apple then I would suggest you go with Granny Smith. You will feel it has the same color but the difference is that it is a lot softer to eat & have a sourer taste. 

If you are feeding for the first time then you should make small pieces of the green apples & then provide them in a very less quantity.

Also Read: Are Blueberries Safe For Cats

Can Cats Eat Cooked Apples?

If you are feeding your cat a cooked apple then it will be good for them to digest. Cooking makes the apple softer & easier to digest, cats basically don’t chew much. So cooked apples are a lot better option for them. You can just make an apple pudding and then provide them.

You will have to make sure that you cannot feed them cooked apples that have cinnamon & sugar to enhance the taste. This might cause them constipation & it will surely make apple to digest.

Are There Any Risks with Feeding Cats Apples?

As I mentioned above apples are safe for your furry felines. However, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind if you are feeding your cat an apple. The stem, core, and seeds can be toxic to cats.

If you feed your cat too much quantity of the apples, then it might be dangerous for them as it has cyanide.  If you see any symptoms like vomiting or itchy throat after feeding apples to your cat, then you should visit the vet as soon as possible.

In an article on TUFTS Clinical Nutrition Service it states that apples are safe for cats. However, there are a few of the things that you have to keep in mind if you are feeding apples to your cats.

1. Apples are safe for your furry friend but in a small quantity. If your cat is detected with diabetes then you may avoid feeding them apples.
2. You should see for the symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or other adverse signs. You may not feed your cat apples as a clinical nutritionist explains that every cat is different from each other. Some cats may be able to digest apples but not all, so you should keep a watch on your cat if you are feeding apples to your cat.
3. The cats belong to the carnivores family so you have to keep in mind that the main nutrition should come from meat. Human foods like apples should be given in very less amounts & that too periodically.
4. You should know that the apple steams, leaves, & seeds contain cyanide in very less amounts but still, it is poisonous to cats. If by any chance your cat consumes these then you can call to visit your vet as soon as possible.

You can also refer to our blog on what vegetables can cat eat for future reference.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This leads us to the end of the can cat eat apple blog, I hope that you found all the answers in this blog. In this blog, I shared with you my experience & my research, although, I tried to cover all the topics such as the nutritional benefits of feeding cats apples, can cats eat green apples, can cats eat cooked apples, what are the risks of feeding apples to cats.

If still, you have any doubts related to can cats eat apples then do let me know in the comment section below.

Also if you are feeding your cat apples then let us know your experience in the comment section below we would love to know stories.

Also Read: Are Bananas Safe for Cats?

References:

1. Tips for Feeding Your Cat — Pet WebMD
2. Keep Our Pet Safe By Avoiding These Human Foods — Michigan State University
3. Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet— FDA
4. Does an Apple a Day Keeps The Vet Away? —Cumming School Of Veterinary Medicine