- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
In a salad, on toast, mashed into guacamole, oh my! Avocados have graced our lives as a delicious addition to so many meals. With plenty of healthy fats and skin brightening minerals, avocados are praised as a healthy creamy alternative to many fattening foods. Many people even use it as a replacement for mayonnaise. Is there anything avocado can’t do?
This yellow-green fruit is popular among humans, but what about other animals? Avocados may have “healthy fat” and be filled to the brim with nutrients, but our feline friends have a different relationship with many types of fruit. Fruits (whether it’s sweet or not-so-sweet like an avocado) are digested completely differently in a cat’s carnivorous stomach. Some foods are non-toxic or even beneficial to a cat’s diet while others can cause serious issues that may have long term effects.
Here’s what you need to know about whether cats can eat avocados.
Health Benefits of Avocados
Also known as the “alligator pear” due to its bumpy skin and shape, this superfood has a unique combination of vitamins and minerals. With vitamin K, C, B5, B6, E, potassium, folate, magnesium and so much more, avocados not only taste good, they can be a key ingredient to human health.
Studies have shown that avocados have more potassium than bananas, and are filled with “good fat,” the fatty acids that are essential in reducing inflammation in our hearts. The avocado has no bounds when it comes to our health.
Can Cats Eat Avocados?
The answer is: No. The health benefits we are getting from the yellow-green meat of an avocado is a different story for cats. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, avocados contain a toxin called Persin. If a dog or cat eats Persin, the effect is not life-threatening but potent. Here are signs to watch out for, according to PPH:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Obstruction of stool
- Pancreatitis
Furthermore, even though the effects are relatively mild, the pit of the avocado poses a great choking hazard for both dogs and cats. Either way, it’s best to keep avocados out of reach for your cat, as they may be curious as to what you’re eating.
Sadly, horses or birds are affected even greater by Persin, as it has fatal consequences such as heart failure or sudden death.
Can Cats Eat Fruit?
Though it’s not recommended for cats to even do a taste test of avocados, in general, fruits are a different story.
“Fruits are not problematic for cats although most won’t really eat fruit in any quantity,” Gary Richter, DVM, owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California and Holistic Veterinary Care, tells Rover. “Since they are not going to eat large amounts of fruit anyway, the sugar content is not a major concern.”
Strawberries or bananas might be okay in small doses if your cat is curious, but there are certain fruits that cats should steer clear of for a variety of reasons:
- Citrus (all citrus contains some level of citric acid, which can cause central nervous system issues in large enough doses; it causes stomach upset in smaller amounts, according to the ASPCA)
- Grapes/Raisins/Currants (toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA)
- Coconut or coconut oil (technically a seed, but we’ll include it here—coconut can cause an upset stomach in cats, per the ASPCA)
However, fruits, in general, have high sugar and carb counts and should be used sparingly. If you’re worried that your cat is eating too many carbohydrates (experts suggest that cats should only eat 10% carbohydrates per day), check your food packaging for ingredients. Sometimes companies use grains as fillers when cat food should mostly be protein-based.
Alternative Healthy Snacks
If you’re looking to mix up your cat’s current diet with some fun and healthy treats, vegetables are a great alternative to their regular pre-packaged snacks. However: “Pet owners can always try to give vegetables to cats in food or treats. Not all will eat them,” Dr. Richter says. “There certainly are good nutrients in vegetables when part of a balanced meal.”
These veggies are not toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA:
- Zucchini
- Celery (they love the crunch!)
- Carrots
- Green bell peppers
- Spinach (Filled with vitamins A, C, and K!)
- Peas (Often found in many prepackaged foods for cats and dogs as a vitamin-filled addition)
- Pumpkin (Pumpkin is used often as a way to get fiber in your cat’s diet)
- Broccoli
If you want your cat to try something new, introduce your kitty to it sparingly. Cats are generally cautious when trying new things, and often like to stick to routines.
More importantly, replacing full meals with human food will deprive your cat of vital nutrients of properly formulated cat food. “The large majority of what cats eat should be a balanced diet,” Dr. Richter says. “In general, treats are not balanced and should not make up a significant portion of their daily intake.”