Updated: August 4, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
Mango. That delicious juicy fruit that looks so appealing cut and diced on your plate on the kitchen table. But you might not be the only one waiting to taste a little bit of it. Your cute and adorable kitty might – literally – jump at the opportunity too and then run across the kitchen and out the door with a little bit of mango in her mouth. But are mangoes ok for cats? Can cats eat mango safely?
While cats aren’t known to devour fruit the way we do, they sometimes seem to like the taste and go for a few bites. But that could actually be dangerous for your little furry friend, as not all human foods are ok for them. So let’s find out more on the matter of mango and cats.
So, Can Cats Eat Mango?
As you all probably know by now, cats are carnivore beings and that means they’re not after meat and not fruits, vegetables or fancy salads. On the other hand though, if you see that your cat is interested in taking a bite of that delicious mango, don’t be selfish and give her a little bite of it too. She’ll be happy. And healthy.
The problem with cats and fruits is that a cat’s digestive system was made to process meat and not plants and fruits, so feeding her too much plant based food, or mango in this case, might give her an upset tummy. But unlike other human foods, mango is not toxic to cats, so giving her a little bit of mango now and then won’t pose any problems. Moderation is the name of the game here.
So the answer to our question is yes. Cats can eat mango, but make sure to keep it as a treat only and not as her daily menu and everything will be ok.
Mango – The Good and The Bad
As we humans know, mangoes super good and delicious. They’re full of vitamins, like A, C and B6, they’re low in calories and they will help your cat’s immune system as well. What’s more, a ripe delicious mango will probably be a lot more healthier than a special cat treat bought from a store. And if your cat is curious about it, she surely knows something, so don’t stop her.
At the same time, mangoes present bad sides as well. The skin and especially the pit of the mango is a big no-no to cats. While the skin is not that dangerous, the pit of the mango is. The reason for that is that mango pits contain cyanide, which is toxic to cats. Ingested in high amounts, cats may develop a form of cyanide poisoning, and that’s definitely something you – and your cat – don’t want to happen. Some of the symptoms are dilated pupils and hyperventilation, and in severe cases shock and even death may occur.
To be safe, keep fruit pits and seeds away from your cat. This includes, peaches, mangoes, avocados, oranges, and cherries.