Cats are curious by nature and every now and then will want a piece of what we’re eating.
Many human foods are going to be fine for your cat to eat but, what about apples?
Can cats eat apples? What about apple seeds?
Let’s find out below.
Can Cats Eat Apples?
Apples are safe to give most cats however, it’s not yet known if cats get as many health benefits from apples as humans do.
You should only give your cat a very small amount, as too much fibre can cause stomach upset.
If you’re going to feed your cat some apple, make sure it is the apple flesh rather than the leaves or seeds.
Fruits aren’t generally part of a balanced diet for cats with some fruits being easier to digest than others like bananas.
Cats are obligate carnivores meaning their diet should be made up of animal-based cat foods. Any additional supplementation should be done in small quantities and calories should be factored in.
Since human foods can add a significant amount of fat or sugar to your cat’s daily intake, adjust their cat food accordingly to avoid any weight gain.
In Summary:
- Are apples Toxic for cats: No
- Commonly Allergenic: No
- Species Appropriate: No
- How Often to Feed: Occasional
- How Much to Feed: Supplemental
What Are Some Dangers?
Poisonous cyanide is naturally occurring in the seeds, stems, and leaves of apples and, when consumed in large quantities, can be unsafe and even lead to death by poisoning for cats.
If your cat eats the seeds, stem, or leaves, it may suffer from cyanide poisoning. If you think they have, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.
When feeding cats apples, avoid any rotten apples as they can cause digestive issues.
Providing fresh high-quality food is vital for maintaining gut health and avoiding an upset stomach.
Whenever you feed large amounts of fruit to a feline, you’re putting them at a higher risk for diarrhea or vomiting. Apples are incredibly high in dietary fiber, which can overwhelm your cat’s digestive system and cause stomach upset.
Apples also have a higher sugar content than your cat needs, which causes a spike in blood sugar. This can lead to obesity and several health issues that accompany unhealthy weight fluctuations.
Apple Seeds?
Cats should never eat apple seeds because of the naturally occurring cyanide found in them. Although each apple seed likely only has about 0.6 mg of cyanide per gram, cats are small and will quickly bioaccumulate the chemical in their system!
It takes much fewer seeds to see an impact in cats than the 100-500 seeds required to see symptoms of poisoning in humans. The number of seeds is even further reduced if your cat isn’t in perfect health or very small. In these cases, the amounts of cyanide will impact them much faster than a larger or healthier feline.
If you accidentally feed your cat apple seeds, call a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away.
Apple Core?
To be safe, always cut the core out of your apples before breaking off any pieces for your cat. This will reduce the chances of them ingesting any harmful chemicals that could lead to a trip to your veterinarian.
The apple’s core doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals and is safe to be consumed by your cat. Since the core often has seeds inside and is still attached to the stem, it may be difficult to safely feed to your cat.
If you’re able to cut parts of the core away from the toxic portions of the apple, this is a safe part of the apple to feed. However, feeding the core requires more caution than giving the outer pieces of the fruit.
Apple Peel?
Cats can safely eat the peel of an apple as long as it’s not coming off of rotten fruit. On top of freshness, take a look at if the apple is organic or non-organic before giving your cat the peel. Since many apples produced on non-organic farms utilize pesticides and herbicides, they can have residue on the skin.
This residue won’t kill your cat, but it certainly isn’t healthy. Keeping these chemicals out of your cat’s body will maintain optimal organ health. If your apples aren’t organic, be aware of the amount of apple peel you’re giving, and always wash the apple before feeding.
You can invest in a fruit wash to better clean the apple skin if you’re worried about the chemicals that may remain on the outside layer of the fruit.
Can Cats Benefit From Eating Apples?
Your cat will get the most benefit from eating a balanced diet of animal-sourced protein found in cat food.
If you’re feeding your cat a healthy diet, it won’t need any additional supplementation.
Apples could be a good source of vitamins (especially Vitamins A and C) and minerals for cats.
They are also high in antioxidants. Here are some other goodness apples can provide below.
- Quercetin: An antioxidant found in apples that is thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-cancer effects.
- Chlorogenic acid: A weight-loss antioxidant found in apples and coffee.
- Catechin: Thought to improve muscle function and brain function, according to some studies.
There are limited studies on the health benefits apples have cats however, more and more studies are being conducted and there is potential to include them in some cat foods if appropriate.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Apples?
Cooked apples are safe for your cat’s consumption as long as they’re free of other potentially unsafe additives. When cooking apples, we often add other ingredients like butter, oil, cinnamon, or sugar to make them taste better.
When giving just a piece of apple cooked in these ingredients, your cat may not have long-term impacts. However, ingredients high in fat and sugar can cause weight gain and spiked blood sugar in your cat.
If you’re giving too many cooked apple slices with these unhealthy additives, your cat may have increased blood pressure or heart problems down the line.
Therefore, if you’re going to feed cooked apples instead of fresh apples to your cat, be sure it’s a pure apple. Avoid adding other human ingredients that may throw off your cat’s balanced regular diet.
Cooked and uncooked apples can be tasty treats if fed as an occasional treat but shouldn’t be introduced regularly into the diet. Keep portions as bite-sized pieces to avoid overconsumption of sugary fruits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Apples Treat Obesity In Cats?
Apples shouldn’t be used to treat obesity since they’re high in sugar. Their dietary fiber content may cause initial weight loss, but this will be due to unhealthy levels of diarrhea. If fed too often, the sugar content will end up causing more fat cells to form, resulting in weight gain.
Can Cats Eat Applesauce?
Applesauce is generally packed with added preservatives and chemicals that can be unhealthy for cat consumption. Much like cooked apples, applesauce also usually has added spices that can cause stomach upset. Therefore, applesauce may increase the risk of allergic reactions or weight gain in your furry friend.
Can Cats Drink Apple Juice?
Apple juice can be packed with sugar and preservatives that cause gastrointestinal issues in your cat. If you make your apple juice at home and it’s 100% natural with no added sugar, your cat can consume small quantities if they’re interested. This should be given very occasionally to avoid weight gain and high blood sugar.
