Can Cats Eat Cherries?
Mmmm…. Cherries. Cherry pie, ice cream sundaes with cherries on top, and Cherry Limeade from Sonic. Who doesn’t like cherries in some form or fashion? But what about cats?
If you offer your cat a cherry, odds are they’re going to want it.
Whether they like to bat the cherry around like a ball or take a little nibble from it, cherries seem to pique the interest of most cats.
But are cherries healthy for cats or can cherries be harmful to a cat’s health?
In this article we’ll cover the following;
- Cats and Cherries – What You Need to Know
- Can Cats Eat Cherries?
- Can Kittens Eat Cherries?
- Benefits/Drawbacks to Cats Eating Cherries
- Healthy Alternatives to Cherries
Cats and Cherries – What You Need to Know
A cherry is the fruit of one of many flowering trees or shrubs from the genus Prunus. Most of the cherries commonly eaten by people come from one species in particular, Prunus avium.
This type of cherry is referred to as the “sweet cherry” or “wild cherry.” The sour cherry, black cherry, laurel cherry and the Japanese cherry are just a few of the other hundreds of species of cherry.
Almost all cherries are important foods for wildlife and one, the chokecherry, is known for being an essential part of the diet for early Native Americans.
It seems that most cats like cherries, either as a toy or as food, as you can see from this video:
But are cherries healthy for cats?
Well, first cats are obligate carnivores, which means all they really need to eat is meat.
While cherries do contain vitamins and anti-oxidants, cats actually are very poor at deriving nutrition from foods that aren’t meat. So, they certainly don’t need to eat cherries. Even if it’s some type of delicious cherry filling from a donut, it’s no good for them.
Can Cats Eat Cherries?
The short answer is that you are probably okay giving your cat small amounts of de-seeded cherry flesh. Cherries do contain some good nutrients.
The problem is that the rest of the plant, besides the fruit, contains measurable levels of cyanide, which is poisonous. Additionally, the seed can be a choking hazard.
Can Kittens Eat Cherries?
Kittens tend to be even more susceptible to things that adult cats are sensitive to because kittens are tiny and their bodies have not yet fully developed.
For this reason, kittens should never be given any part of the cherry plant besides the flesh of the fruit. The cyanide amounts in other parts of the cherry plant could be extremely harmful for a kitten.
Similarly, cherry seeds present a choking hazard. Kittens do not have as much experience with different food items and may try to swallow the seed. It is simply too dangerous to give kittens cherries that still have the seed in them.
With the above cautions in mind, small amounts of flesh of the cherry fruit probably won’t hurt your kitten. At worst, if they eat too much, they might have indigestion and diarrhea.
Benefits/Drawbacks to Cats Eating Cherries
Since cats derive the vast majority of their nutrition from eating meat, there is very little benefit for cats to eat cherries. Too much cherry fruit could cause indigestion and loose stools.
Further, the seeds and other parts of the cherry contain cyanide which could poison your cat. Some of the highest levels of cyanide are found in wilted cherry leaves. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include:
- dilated pupils
- difficulty breathing
- bright red gums
- shock
If your cat has eaten cherry leaves, stems or pits and/or is showing signs of poisoning, contact poison control and your vet immediately!
Healthy Alternatives to Cherries
Cats are fine to have a small amount of cherries from time to time.
But, how about trying a cat food or cat treats infused with fruit instead?
And, instead of real cherries, check out this cute cherry cat toy!
So, Can Cats Eat Cherries?
Cats and kittens are fine to eat small amounts of the flesh of a cherry fruit without the seeds. However, they derive very little benefit from eating cherries and other parts of the cherry plant can actually be harmful to cats.
Instead, why not try a cat food or cat treats that has fruit accents. And if you like seeing your cat play, fun cherry shaped cats toys are only a click away.
Another small fruit that cats may be interested in are blueberries, but can they eat them?
If you have any questions or would like to share a story about your cat and cherries, please tell us in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
