Can cats eat dates? Dates are sweet, nutritious, and high in dietary fiber and natural sugar. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and beneficial oils, iron, and magnesium.
Therefore, they are regarded as good food for humans. Are these advantages as significant for our cats as they are for us? As a pet owner, you may be wondering, Can cats eat Dates?
The simple answer is yes; they can eat dates safely. Constipation can be eased by including dates in your cat’s daily diet. It can be used as a meal topper for cat food. But make sure it should never be part of their main diet.
That’s because an excessive amount of dates may cause vomiting and stomach discomfort in cats.
If you are interested in knowing, Can cats eat Dates? Is it advantageous for them? Here are some things that you need to know. So, let’s begin.
Can Cats Have Dates?
Let us answer this question for you, Can cats eat Dates? Is it safe for them? Dates are tasty and sweet fruit; they contain:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Healthy oils
Additionally, it is an excellent source of nutrition. Though it is harmless for cats, you should avoid giving dates to your cats. Dates cause a laxative effect in cats and can produce diarrhea, digestive issues, vomiting, and an upset tummy.
Do Cats Enjoy Eating Dates?
Can cats eat Dates? Do Cats like to have dates? Well, this is not the case. Cats can’t taste sweet food. Cats don’t like the taste of sugar.
So, if you are planning to feed this to your cat as a treat, you should avoid this. That’s because your feline will not be receptive to the sweet taste, which can also increase the health risks.
Health Risks of Feeding Dates to Cats
Can cats eat Dates? If your cat already had a date or two, it is not a thing to worry about. But it is advised not to feed more dates to your cat in the future. There are many health risks associated with this:
- Cats only need between 200 and 250 calories daily. Dates have sweet goodness, so they will increase the number of calories in cats by consuming them.
- In addition, dates are high in sugar and can cause trouble for your feline’s dental health.
- Dates have a laxative effect, so feeding them to your cat can cause a problem for their digestive health. These may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or loose stool in your cats.
Food for Cats: Did You Know?
Felines are not actually picky eaters as one might think. Therefore, we have looked at several different foods and tell you if it’s safe for your cat to eat or not. Like this one: Can Cats Eat Tortillas?
- Due to their texture, dates can cause a choking hazard, and they might get stuck in your cat’s throat.
- Dates also have a high amount of sugar. Even a single date can be a bit of sugar, which is harmful to cats.
- Naturally, dates are sticky and can easily glue to a cat’s gums and mouth, which can cause constant irritation, discomfort, and coughing.
- Alongside, dates can cause immune system diseases in cats.
What Will Happen If Cats Eat Dates?
We have already discussed that it is safe for cats to have a small number of dates as an occasional treat. In such cases, nothing can happen, except your feline may feel extra happy for a sweet meal.
However, feeding dates to your cat in routine may lead to health issues varying from upset stomach to long-term dental problems, diabetes, and weight gain.
Following are the symptoms that may occur in your cat by consuming dates in large numbers:
- Digestive upset
- Calories
- Choking Risk
- High Sugar Content
- Vomiting
- Teeth Decay
- Loose Stool
- Diarrhea
Can Kittens Eat Dates?
Let’s talk about the kittens. Is it safe for them to have dates? Do they enjoy dates? Since dates are not the recommended snack for fully grown cats. So, it is not advisable to feed dates to your kittens for the same reason mentioned above.
Moreover, kittens have a sensitive digestive system and are not fully developed in this stage. So, no, dates should not be fed to kittens and cats.
Final Thoughts
Can cats eat dates? Well, dates are non-toxic to cats. However, dates have some adverse effects on your cats’ health. Therefore, measures should be taken to avoid feeding dates for cats possibly.
The reasons for taking such measures have been comprehensively discussed above. The health risks resulting from consuming dates in large numbers are high-calorie count, high sugar levels, and choking.
So, it is always recommended to keep the number of dates below too to avoid real health problems.
