As long as you remove the peel and cut up the fruit into small pieces, cats can eat kiwi. Remember to introduce new foods in isolation so you can be sure your cat is not allergic to it.
Cats become members of the family. So it’s only natural to want to feed your beloved pet table food as a treat. Before you begin feeding your cat people food, you should learn what is and isn’t safe for them.
Some cat owners also like to make meals for their pets. Fruits and vegetables are popular additions because they have so many vitamins and nutrients.
Many pet parents wonder, can cats eat kiwi or other fruits? It’s also natural to question which fruits are poisonous to cats.
Cats get their daily nutritional requirements from proteins like chicken, tuna, and beef. They might taste fruits, but they won’t devour them like they would a bowl full of tuna or shrimp.
Can Cats Eat Kiwi?
The quick answer to the question “can cats eat kiwi?” is yes.
But, the real question should be, will cats eat kiwi? Peeled kiwi is safe for cats, but be aware that they may not like it. Cats enjoy eating meat as they are mainly carnivorous.
Cats do not necessarily love sweet foods the same way that people do. It might be exciting to give your cat exotic fruits, but they may not be as excited as you are.
Are Kiwis Healthy For Cats?
Kiwis do give cats some nutritional benefits. Cats do get some fiber from eating a half of a slice of kiwi fruit. They also get vitamin A and potassium.
Since cats probably won’t eat much of a kiwi, the benefits are negligible. Cats get the majority of the nutritional needs from their kibble or canned food.
Can Cats Be Allergic to Kiwi?
Some people are allergic to kiwi fruit. The reactions cause a range of symptoms, from mild tingling in the mouth to difficulty breathing or nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
They can also go into anaphylactic shock with a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.
Cats can have allergies, so there is a possibility that they could react to kiwi fruit. If you decide to give your cat a nibble of it, watch your pet closely to be sure they show no ill-effects in the next 24 hours.
If your cat does have an allergic reaction to kiwi, it might manifest as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Do Cats Appreciate Flavors?
Humans have thousands of taste buds, but cats only have hundreds. Cats have a strong sense of smell, which affects the way they enjoy food.
They also have an extra sense called the Jacobson’s organ that seems to combine their senses of taste and smell. When cats smell their food, they curl their lips and rub their tongues on this organ on the roof of their mouths.
In the human mouth, the sweet taste buds are active. Cats also have sweet taste buds, but their sweet taste buds are not overly reactive.
Cats do not crave sugar as humans do. Instead, they have an internal drive to eat meat. Their taste buds like the fats and proteins in meat, so that is what controls their appetites.
People often think that cats like sweets because they like to lap at milk and ice cream. Most likely, cats do this because they want the fat content of the milky foods (although cats become lactose intolerant as they age!).
Cats also have bitter and sour taste buds. These serve as a warning sensor, so cats avoid toxic or harmful objects. Because of their bitter taste buds, trainers use bitter liquids to get cats to stop licking wounds or furniture.
When it comes to choosing their foods, cats seem to prefer consistency. They also seem to like large pieces of kibble or soft foods over crumbs and hard food.
They also like slightly warm food and tend to avoid food that is right out of the refrigerator. This makes sense as cats do enjoy eating birds and mice while they are still warm.
What Fruit is Poisonous to Cats?
Cats can eat several fruits, but there are a few to avoid altogether. Cherries are toxic to cats. You should never feed your cat grapes or raisins, as they damage their kidneys.
Many citrus fruits can also cause digestive symptoms. Avoid lemons, limes, grapefruits, and persimmons. The pit and skin of avocados contain a harmful toxin, too.
Before giving your cat any fruit, you should wash them, remove the outer layers of rinds and skins, and take out the large pits and seeds. You do not have to remove the tiny seeds in the kiwi fruit though don’t worry.
Why Feed Your Cat Fruits?
It is essential to pay attention to your cat’s weight. Many cat treats are high in calories and can encourage weight gain.
Instead of giving your cat high-calorie snacks, you can offer it fruits like kiwi. Your cat benefits from the nutrients in fresh fruits, but if a vet is treating your cat for a medical condition, you should talk to your vet before giving new foods to your pet.
If you decide to give your pet fruit, start with small pieces. Start with a pea-sized portion and wait for 24 hours to see if your cat has an allergic reaction to it. If your cat digests it ok, then you can give it more substantial portions.
When you give your cat fruits, avoid the overly sugary ones like berries, pineapple, and bananas. Fruits with high levels of sugar can help your cat pack on the pounds.
Related – I think you’ll like; can cats eat mango?
How Do I Know If My Cat is Allergic to Kiwi?
The first time you feed your cat a new food, like kiwi, introduce the food by itself. Veterinarians recommend introducing only one novel food at a time, to see how your pet reacts.
If you add too many foods at once, you don’t know which food caused the problem.
Interestingly, cats tend to have allergies to the foods they eat regularly, like beef, dairy, or fish. They also can be allergic to corn, which is ok because they typically don’t enjoy eating it.
If your cat does have an allergy, you might see it as a skin rash and a digestive issue.
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Image credits – Photos by Nick Karvounis, K8, and Jo on Unsplash
