Let me guess. You probably left out a glass of apple juice once or twice on the table and you saw your cat trying to take a few licks. Now you are left wondering. Can cats drink apple juice?
The short answer is yes. Cats can drink apple juice to an extent. Apple juice itself is not toxic to a cat like citrus fruits, but the high sugar content might make you double think about giving your cat apple juice.
Cats are carnivores which means they eat anything that has meat. This also means that they may not digest anything that is not fully meat. If you insist on letting your cat drink apple juice, then there are a few things you might want to know.
Apple Juice Is Safe in Moderation
A little apple juice won’t hurt your cat. In fact, the antioxidants found in apples might actually benefit your cat. There is also a good deal of fiber and vitamins. Just like everything in life, moderation is key. Do not go overboard giving your cat apple juice. Too much can give your cat an upset stomach due to the very high sugar content that juice contains. High sugar food and drink is also very bad for older cats since they are more susceptible to diabetes.
If you are reluctant on trying to give your cat apple juice for the added vitamins and fiber, then you should look into apples instead as an alternative.
Can Cats Eat Apples?
Generally speaking yes. Cats can also eat apples. I mean apple juice is made from apples in the first place right? The benefit to giving your cat whole apples as opposed to apple juice is that there is less sugar content.
Many brands of apple juice usually have added sugar as well preservatives and chemicals that you won’t normally find in a regular apple. In my opinion, feeding your cat apples is a lot better than giving them apple juice. There are however a few necessary steps to take when preparing apples for your cat to eat.
Are Apples Healthy for Your Cat?
Like apple juice, apples are good for cats in moderation. Your cat will mainly benefit from the Vitamin C and Fiber in apples. Other than a few vitamins, an apple isn’t going to cure your cat of malnutrition or make them better if they are ill. Apples should also never substitute a real meal. Only use them as a supplement to what they are already eating.
How to Prepare Apples for Your Cat
There are a few things to take into consideration when preparing apples for your cat. The first thing to do is to make sure you wash the fruit very well. Just like if you were going to eat the apples yourself. Washing the fruit will help get rid of any pesticides or bacteria that may be on the outside of the apples.
It is very unlikely that you will be able to get your cat to take a bite out of a whole apple. While a pureed apple may be the best way to feed it to your cat, you can also cut the apple into small bite size pieces and hand it to your cat that way. This thin apple slicer and corer from Amazon works great at removing the skin, seeds, and stem to have a ready made apple slice for your cat.
I personally recommend giving your cat applesauce since it is already in the easiest form for your cat to eat. You can put a little bit in their food or feed it to them for a snack.
Avoid Giving Your Cat Rotten Fruit
Be careful with accidentally giving your cat a rotten apple. Do not feed your cat any types of fruit that you would not eat yourself. If you look at the fruit and it makes you turn your head, do your cat a favor and don’t feed it to them as well. Rotten fruit can do more harm than good if fed to your cat. Cat’s stomachs are a lot more sensitive than humans. Fermented apples can give your cat diarrhea or worse stomach problems that can quickly land them into the vet’s office.
Keep Your Cat Far Away From the Apple Seeds
Apple seeds are the most dangerous part of the apple for your cat. Not only can your cat choke on the seeds or get them stuck in their teeth, but they are composed of substances that can turn into hydrogen cyanide. Don’t forget about the stem and leaves on an apple as well if it is all organic. The leaves and stem also contain cyanide just like the seeds. If cyanide gets into your cat’s system, it will inhibit the cells from taking in oxygen.
Symptoms of apple poisoning will begin about 10-15 minutes after exposure to the cyanide which include: dilated pupils, vomiting, heavy panting or breathing, brick red colored gums, and difficulty breathing. Apple poisoning is a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Your cat will need to get to a vet as soon as possible for treatment.
Best Practices When Serving Apples to Cats
Always remember that apples should only be given in moderation to your cat. It is recommended to give your cat pureed apple or applesauce over whole apples or apple juice due to it being easily eaten. Giving your cat applesauce can also prevent any type of cyanide poisoning that can occur if your cat were to ingest the stem, seeds, or any leaves that are still attached.
Don’t forget to wash the apples if you decide to give them whole fruit instead. Wash them well before feeding it to your cat to get rid of any bacteria or chemicals that may be on the apples during production.
Final Thoughts
Cats can definitely drink apple juice. Due to the high sugar content in juice, it is not recommended in large quantities. Older cats are also more susceptible to diabetes from high sugar food or drinks. Out of all the forms you can feed your cat, applesauce is the best.
You can simply supplement one of your cat’s meals daily by pouring it on. If your cat loves the taste of apple sauce by itself, then you can also feed it to them as a snack. Never use apples as a meal by itself. Your cat should already be on a healthy diet before trying to add in supplements like fruits.
