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Can Cats Eat Coconut?

Updated: August 4, 2022 by Kristen Chapple

Coconut and associated products such as coconut oil are very popular among us, humans. We use it as an ingredient in many foods, desserts and drinks but we also eat it raw. When we can break that hard to crack shell that is. But if we love it, do our cats love it as well? Can cats eat coconut safely?

We all love to share all those tasty snacks with our little furry friends but that might not be a good idea, as sometimes, the foods we eat are not good for our cats, and some of them might even cause them great harm.

So, Can Cats Eat Coconut?

While not all of them enjoy it, some cats do love coconut, so if you have some around, your feline friend might try to sneak little bits of it away from you when you’re busy doing something else. Though they won’t be able to crack the shell, they’ll jump at the opportunity to taste some if you help them.

Unlike other human treats forbidden to cats, such as chocolate, coconut is not a toxic for them. On the other hand though, it’s not okay for felines to consume it in large quantities, as it may still harm them.

So the answer to this question is a yes, but in moderation. If your cat is among the ones who share your love for coconut, being it raw or as coconut milk, water or oil, do give some to her.

Check out our articles on whether cats can eat aloe and cereal.

Too Much Coconut

The other side of the coin is when your cat has ingested too much coconut content, no matter if that was coconut oil or just raw, shredded coconut.

While coconut isn’t poisonous to cats, the problem lies in the fact that a cat’s digestive system wasn’t made to process it, and fruits in general, so too much of it will make your furry friend not feel very well.

Coconut has high sugar and fat content and consumed in large amounts, can give your cat intestinal disorders. A teaspoon of shredded coconut or coconut oil should be enough for one day and it shouldn’t be on the menu every day. Too much of it can cause diseases such as hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease, high cholesterol or pancreatitis to your cat, so be mindful of the quantity.

Some symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue or loss of appetite, so if you notice any of these, get your cat to a vet and stop feeding her coconut.

If you respect all that and don’t feed too much of it, everything should be ok. Take special care with kittens or felines who already have some affections, like kidney or liver disease or diabetes.

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