Is your cat eager to eat blueberries? The berries are safe for cats, however, before your start feeding them to your cat, have a look at this article.
Blueberries are very rich in antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C. In fact, it is designated as a superfood in human nutrition.
Moreover, the blueberries contain high levels of sugar & carbohydrates, if you are not providing a balanced diet then it might be risky for your cat to have blueberries in your diet.
Do you want to know if blueberries are beneficial for cats as it is for humans? let’s dive into this article to know more in detail.
Can Cats Eat Blueberries?
Yes, cats can safely eat blueberries as it is not toxic for cats. However, blueberries aren’t considered a superfood for cats as they are considered for humans.
You might also know that fruits are not a part of a cat’s natural diet. Since cats are obligate carnivores, their nutritional requirements entirely depend on meat (animal flesh).
Moreover, cats do not have taste receptors, they won’t experience the sweetness of berries. Hence, cats won’t be too excited for a sweet treat, much like blueberries. Yet, cats might love blueberries due to their texture.
Nonetheless, the blueberries contain high natural sugars, it won’t affect your cat’s digestive system. However, it will lead your cat towards overweight, if you provide them regularly.
You also know that overweight cats have long-term health issues, they also attract secondary health consequences.
According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine these are the symptoms of feline diabetes include:
- Excessive thirst
- Constant urination
- Lack of appetite
- Inability to jump
- Vomiting
If you notice these symptoms in your cat then you should visit your veterinarian, these symptoms might be a beginning sign of diabetes.
Are Blueberries Good for Cats?
Blueberries are non-toxic for cats, in fact, it is a superfood for humans because it is full of antioxidants & vitamins K. Mostly cats get all the vitamins from the meat (Prey) in the wild.
Having a domestic cat you will have to fulfill the vitamins & minerals from commercial cat food. You will find many cat food in the market, that are sorted by age.
This commercial cat will provide all the vitamins & minerals & nutrition they might need to stay healthy. The cat’s digestive system is not made to digest fruits & vegetables. However, after consumption, blueberries might experience gastrointestinal upset.
The blueberries contain low levels of natural sugar, which could affect your pet’s blood pressure levels.
It might be problematic for a few of the cats that have certain health conditions. You should consult a veterinarian, they will guide you as to your cat’s health condition.
Also Read: Is Pumpkin Good for Cats? & Which fruits cats can eat?
Are There Health Benefits to Feeding Your Cat Blueberries?
As mentioned above blueberries are beneficial for humans & it is called a superfood, as it contains antioxidants. Let’s see if it has some health benefits for cats.
Antioxidants
Blueberries retain the highest level of antioxidants among all the fruits. In fact, it contains flavonoids, that are rich in anthocyanins. This is the most powerful antioxidant s present in the fruits.
If you feed blueberries, then yes it might be helpful for your cat as it helps to reduce the cell damage & keep your furball healthy.
Usually, commercial cat food manufacturers use blueberry extracts in pet foods. To keep the extract fresh preservatives are used.
Water
Yes, it is right that blueberries contain 85%water, it might be an ideal option to keep your cat hydrated. If your cat’s diet is dry kibbles then feeding the blueberries will be helpful for indigestion.
If you keep your cat hydrated then it sure that your cat won’t have diseases like kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, and urinary tract infections.
Fiber
These berries are rich in fiber, which is essential for digestion. If you are feeding blueberries as a treat to your cat then yes it might be helpful to your cat.
Sometimes having a hardcore meal can lead to your cat’s constipation, to avoid that you can feed 3 to 4 blueberries to your cat, it might help to soften the stools.
Vitamin & Minerals
Do you know blueberries are rich in vitamins & minerals such as Vitamin C, K, fiber, and manganese. Vitamin C protects the cells & keeps them healthy, and maintains healthy skin, and blood, vessels, bones, and cartilage.
In fact, vitamin K boosts the bone development & health of your cat. therefore manganese regulates the metabolism & amino acids in the body. Moreover, it is also necessary for normal brain and nerve function.
Safe Ways to Feed Blueberries to Your Cat
You should know that your cat eats blueberries. It is always better to talk to your veterinarian before you add a new human food to your feline’s diet.
They will be able to give you good advice as per your cat’s health conditions at that time. If your cat is suffering from any health conditions then you might know.
After examining your cat’s age, height, and weight, your veterinarian might give you the exact amount of blueberries to feed.
You can provide blueberries as a treat to your cat, as you might know, cats do not have the taste buds, so they won’t be able to taste the sweetness of berries.
For instance, your cat might like the texture of the blueberry, and it might be fun to chew on the blueberries.
FAQs
How many blueberries can cats eat?
If you are providing a completely balanced diet to your feline then you can feed blueberries to your cat but in a very moderate amount. You should provide the blueberries as a treat, so just 2 to 5 berries are perfectly fine for your cat.
You have to make sure that you do not feed blueberries on the regular basis, or else you may have to replace them with the main diet.
What about blueberry extract?
Usually, you can find blueberry extract in the pet foods available on the market. In fact, the blueberries extract does not affect the sugar & carbohydrates levels in your feline.
It is safe if you are feeding blueberries extract to our cat, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Whenever you are providing new food to your feline you should consult your veterinarian.
How many blueberries I can feed to my cat?
You can feed 3-4 blueberries to your cat, but as a treat, you should not replace them with meals. You should make sure that you are giving a moderate number of berries to your cat, it should be equivalent to 10% of your cat’s diet.
There are 1-2 calories in 1 blueberry, so you should make sure you calculate the carries of your cat’s diet.
Can a cat eat frozen blueberry?
Yes, you can feed frozen blueberry to your furball. You should make sure it comes to the room temperature or else your cat won’t be able to chew it properly.
Wrap Up
I would like to end this article here, as you know that blueberries are a very nutritious fruit. If you are adding it to your cat’s diet then it might be beneficial for them as well.
You must consult a veterinarian before you add blueberries to your furball’s nutrition plan. After feeding, you should closely monitor your furball for any adverse reactions.
I hope that you got all the answers that are related to can cats eat blueberries or can cat eat blueberry? I tried to cover all the questions that were related to cats & blueberries.
If you are feeding blueberries to your feline then you can share your experiences in the comment section down below, we would be happy to hear from you.
If still, you have any doubts related to can cats eat a blueberry, then you can leave me your questions in the comment section down below.
Also Read: Cats Eat Apple
Reference:
- Which Fruits Can Cats Eat?—PetMD
- Food Your Cat Should Never Eat— WebMD
- Feeding Your Cat — Cornell University