Updated: August 11, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
Avocados are really healthy for us and we used them for about 5000 years in food, skin oils and as fresh treats. They are an important ingredient in the Mexican cuisine and the benefits they provide to humans are quite extensive. As we know, cats don’t eat vegetables or fruits on their own but some can be beneficial for them too, so can cats eat avocados? Let us find out!
Nutritional Value
With almost 20 different vitamins as well as potassium, folate and niacin, these bring many things that are good for cats. Vitamins A, E and B6 are important for cats. The avocado fruit has 18 amino acids among which the eight ones that make a complete protein so they are a good source for those. They will provide the energy and nutritional elements required for muscle development and the healthy function of organs.
Antioxidants are quite abundant in avocados and these can reduce the risk of cancer while also boosting a cat’s immune system. The fats in this fruit aren’t bad in any way and the omega fatty acids that are also present can act as an anti-inflammatory.
Mixed Opinions
After enumerating all those benefits it might seem odd that many vets are still uncertain if avocados should be recommended for cats. These also contain a toxin called Persin which is toxic for birds, rabbits, ruminants and goats leading to fluid building up in the heart and lungs and thus causing liver and kidney failure.
The fact is that cats don’t seem to be affected by persin and as there weren’t so many studies conducted they prefer to be on the safe side. Small quantities should be quite good for your furry friend and they will improve their overall health.
That being said, if you see your cat starting to vomit or get diarrhea after a few bites of avocado then you should certainly stop feeding them that as their digestive system doesn’t seem to agree with it. Always begin with small quantities and observe the cat’s reactions when you introduce a new type of food.
Precautions
We talked about avocado but if you give your cat something you cooked for yourself pay attention if the other ingredients added are safe. Guacamole is one of the most common ways of eating avocados and this can contain onions or garlic, both of which are very dangerous for cats. They destroy the red blood cells and can cause a lot of harm even in small quantities. Also make sure salt isn’t used in excess and as a general precaution it is better to feed your cat with some fresh avocado that has nothing else added.
Short Answer:
The opinions are mixed but it does provide a lot of benefits in small quantities so try it out and see how the cat reacts.