Updated: August 11, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
They look and taste great, making them one of the most popular berry fruits with ten different species all of which are really delicious. Their color and the fact that you seem to enjoy them so much might make your cat curious to have a try so can cats eat strawberries? Let us find out together!
Nutritional Value
Strawberries provide vitamin C and K, potassium, manganese, folic acid and fibres. They were used to help with digestive problems, the whitening of teeth and skin irritations while also regulating blood sugar levels. The leaves too can be eaten, put in a dish or used for tea so it’s no wonder that this fruit is so popular.
For cats strawberries don’t contain anything poisonous but they do contain quite a lot of sugar. Cats cannot taste the sweetness since they don’t have the proper receptors and thus most of them tend to ignore this treat.
Health Benefits for Cats
The acidity contained in the strawberries can take care of some of the toxins in the cat’s body and might also kill some bacteria but if you give them too much then it can cause stomach pains or indigestion leading to more problems than doing good.
Strawberries are a natural way of softening the teeth and getting rid of the cat’s plaque but a toothbrush is the best way to maintain the cat’s dental health. If you cannot have your cat stay still for a few moments while you brush their teeth then this might be a natural alternative.
Possible Problems
If you realize that your cat does like strawberries then you should only feed them the fruit as an occasional treat since the amount of sugar will lead to teeth problems, weight gain and increases the risk of diabetes.
A lot of people have an allergy to this fruit and some cats do too. The leaves can irritate the skin of your cat so always take them off and if the pet rubs against the fruit they might start sneezing or having watery eyes. Observe their behavior after you feed them anything for the first time to see if there are any problems.
Having cats eat strawberries right from the plant without proper washing is certainly a high risk because they can ingest pesticides that are very dangerous to them. Bacteria and worms also pose a threat and this is especially true to kittens who might not be so careful about what they nab on.
So in conclusion you should take some precautions with this fruit and never overfeed your cat with fruit of any kind because they won’t offer them the essential nutritional elements they need, leading to severe deficiencies and even problems like indigestion or worse. Always wash the fruit and remove the leaves. Also it is better for their digestion if you combine the fruits with their regular meal instead of just serving them as a separate treat.
Short Answer:
Yes, but you should do this in moderation since they aren’t essential to their diet.
