Can cats eat kiwi? The quick answer is yes; cats can eat kiwis safely. Kiwis are one of the exotic fruits, and cats would love to have a bite or two.
Kiwis are considered superfruits packed with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. You can safely feed your cat kiwi as long as you peel the skin off, cut it into small pieces, and feed in moderation.
Kiwis pack a chock-full of health benefits for us, but what about cats? Do the health benefits stretch to our feline friends as well?
Let’s find out!
Can Cats Have Kiwi?
The short answer is yes, cats can safely eat kiwi. In fact, kiwis contain a healthy amount of fiber content, which can help in your cat’s digestion. However, kiwi is only safe for cats when given in moderation, as it is not an essential part of a cat’s natural diet.
Likewise, kiwis contain a good amount of water, and cats love high moisture food in their diet. So, it would be a good idea to share this fruit in small proportions with your cat.
Can Kittens Eat Kiwi?
Yes, kittens can eat kiwis, too. Kiwi is non-toxic to kittens, and cats can safely eat it. Most kittens may like the smell of kiwi; it is known that the kiwi smell resembles that of natural catnip.
It is essential that you feed your kitty kiwi in only small amounts. In case your kitten eats kiwi beyond the limit, it can cause diarrhea and dehydration at worst.
However, feeding kiwi to your kitten in moderation is perfectly safe.
Is Kiwi Healthy for Cats?
Kiwis are small, flavorful fruits that are jam-packed with plenty of nutritious benefits. And in the same way — how kiwis are healthy for us — they can also be healthy for our feline friends.
ASPCA lists kiwi in the list of fruits that you can safely with your pets. Now that you know that your cat can safely eat kiwi, you might be wondering how can kiwi benefit your furry pal in terms of health.
Helps In Digestion
First off, kiwis contain fair amounts of dietary fiber; this can provide a variety of health benefits for your cat. Although your cat is a meat-eating carnivore, a fair amount of dietary fiber from fruits can be healthful for your cat. It can help felines digestion and also help relieve other problems such as diarrhea and constipation.
Likewise, dietary fiber can also help in weight management in cats.
Enhanced Immunity
Kiwis are also the key to good immunity in cats. Although cats can synthesize their own vitamin C, your cat’s immune system can still benefit from the high abundance of vitamin C found in kiwi.
Further, vitamin C functions synergistically, along with other antioxidants in kiwis, such as phenolics and carotenoids, to prevent cell damage followed by oxidative stress caused by free radicals in a cat’s body.
Healthy Coat
In addition to enhanced immunity, vitamin C from kiwis can also help in boosting the health of your cat’s coat. Likewise, vitamin C is known for its ability to encourage collagen production, meaning this can make your cat’s coat look more soft and radiant.
Also Read: Are Cranberries Safe For Cats & Which vegetables cat can eat?
When Is Kiwi Bad for Cats?
Can kiwi be bad for cats? Well, yes, kiwis can pose a problem to cats in some cases. Though kiwis are considered low-sugar foods for humans, this is not the same case for cats.
Felines do not possess sweet taste buds, they do have, but they are not overly reactive. If your cat can’t detect sweetness, then she won’t be able to tell if she has had enough of the sugary sweetness.
Sugar-rich fruits and foods are the leading risk factors for problems in cats such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity. Sugary foods can also increase a cat’s weight.
Kiwi Skin
Although the skin of the kiwis may seem harmless for cats, it is best to remove it before you feed it to them. As you may have noticed, kiwis have fine hairs on the skin, if ingested by your cat, it can cause severe irritation in the throat and digestive system.
Moreover, the kiwi skin can also be a potential choking hazard for your cat.
Signs of Kiwi Allergy
Kiwis do give some good nutritional benefits to cats, but the fruit may not be safe for all felines. Some cats can be allergic to kiwi. If your cat is allergic to kiwi, she may show symptoms such as vomiting, constant sneezing, or coughing. Other allergic signs from kiwi may include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset
- Runny nose
- Retching
We recommend cat owners contact their vet immediately if they see any unusual behavior in their cats or allergic reaction to kiwi.
Can Cats Eat Kiwi Seeds?
Yes, cats can safely eat kiwi seeds. They contain a small amount of fiber, protein, omega–3 fats. Further, they also contain vitamin E together with healthy antioxidants. However, these are found in small quantities, though not entirely in negligible amounts.
But at last, kiwi seeds are safe and edible for cats. However, the pit of the fruit can be toxic, so avoid giving your cat the shell of the kiwi.
Is Golden Kiwi Safe for Cats?
Yes, cats can eat golden kiwi safely. Apart from the skin and the pit, golden kiwis are edible for felines. It also contains a large amount of vitamin C, like regular kiwis.
However, one thing to bear in mind is that golden kiwis contain an enzyme called “actinidine,” which can cause various allergies in cats. But if your cat doesn’t show any unusual behaviors or symptoms after eating golden kiwi, then you can consider it safe for your cat.
Besides, if you are going to feed your cat a new food, vets recommend doing it one at a time to see how your pet reacts to it.
What Should I Do If My Cat Eats Kiwi?
There is no need to panic if you find your cat taking a small bite out of a kiwi. Make sure your cat doesn’t eat the skin or the pit of the fruit. If you think she ate a significant amount of kiwi, you should keep tabs on her following the incident.
In case your cat shows any adverse reactions after some time, it is a good idea to pay a visit to your vet.
How Much Kiwi Should You Give to Your Cat?
Kiwis are non-toxic fruit for cats; they can eat them without any problem. But you should keep in mind that you give your cat kiwi only in moderation. Before you give kiwi to your cat, make sure the skin is removed. Take the pit out of kiwi, as it can be harmful, much like the kiwi skin.
Overall, Kiwi can be best enjoyed by your cat if you feed it as an occasional, tasty treat in small quantities. Make sure that you don’t overfill your cat’s diet kiwis.
Conclusion
Can cats eat kiwi? The answer is, indeed, yes. Kiwis are safe for cats, and they can eat them without any problem. Further, these fruits contain plenty of nutrients and minerals that be beneficial to your cat’s health.
Just remember to never feed the skin of the kiwi to your cat.
Overall, the major takeaway of this article was feeding cat kiwi in moderation and as an occasional treat.
Approved by Veterinary – Dr. Anthony Brooks, DVM, Veterinarian
Also Read: Cats Eat Mango
References:
- (2022a, March 11). Cats Are Carnivores: How To Meet Your Cat’s Dietary Needs. VMBS News. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/cats-are-carnivores-so-they-should-eat-like-one/
- Functional foods in pet nutrition: Focus on dogs and cats. (n.d.-b). Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034528816303332?via=ihub
- P. R. Buff, R. A. Carter, J. E. Bauer, J. H. Kersey, Natural pet food: A review of natural diets and their impact on canine and feline physiology, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 92, Issue 9, September 2014, Pages 3781–3791, https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2014-7789
- Manucy, T. D. (2020, July 1). Which Fruits Can Cats Eat? https://www.petmd.com/cat/which-fruits-can-cats-eat