Can cats eat peaches? Many people love peaches. Peaches are delicious and rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium, producing health benefits. But can cats eat peaches? The simple and basic answer is yes; cats can eat peaches in small pieces and moderation.
When eating peaches, you can share a small piece with your cat as a treat. Peaches should not replace your cat’s diet as they do not contain all the nutrients in a cat’s food. So when giving your cat peaches, ensure that you give them small pieces, occasionally, not daily. Caution must be exercised when giving your cat peaches.
Are Peaches Safe for Cats?
Can cats eat peaches? Generally speaking, peaches are safe for cats but only when given as treats and in small quantities. Small quantities of peaches are not likely to negatively affect your cat. If you are introducing peaches to your cat, you should do so with only a small piece and monitor its reaction to the piece of peach.
Where an allergic reaction occurs, your cat will likely have any of the following symptoms; vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, or a swollen abdomen. You should not give your cat a peach treat if an allergic reaction occurs. Where there is no allergic reaction, then you can occasionally treat your cat to a piece of peaches.
To avoid a choking hazard, you should slice the peach into small pieces that your cat can easily chew on and swallow without being choked. Your cat is way smaller than you so a tiny piece will be sufficient for your little feline friend. While peaches are sweet and delicious fruits to humans, cats do not have a sweetness receptor on their tongues.
The lack of a sweetness receptor means that your cat cannot eat peaches to enjoy the sweet taste as cats’ tongues primarily prefer the amino acid-like taste present in meat which is their major diet.
Feeding Peaches to your Cat
Can cats eat peaches? When giving your cat peaches, you must wash them thoroughly. Do this to ensure that all the chemicals and pesticides that may be present are washed away as they are toxic and detrimental to your cat’s immune system and digestive system.
You should peel off the skin before feeding the peaches to your cat. Peeling off the skin keeps your cat safe from ingesting toxic chemicals and pesticides and makes it easier for your cat to eat the fruit. Cut the peach into small pieces to prevent choking and serve your cat its delicious treat.
Food for Cats: Did You Know?
Felines are not 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 Basil?
The pits(seeds) of peaches are not edible. The peach pits are a choking hazard to cats. The peach pits contain a chemical known as amygdalin that is broken down into cyanide upon ingestion. Cyanide is a poison that can cause death.
Cyanide toxicity can cause severe symptoms such as dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, red mucus membranes, shock, coma, or death. Contact your veterinarian if you observe these symptoms.
Peachtree stems and leaves contain this chemical, so where you have the tree in your garden, you must take caution to keep your cat away to avoid peach poisoning.
Feed your cat with fresh peaches. Can cats eat peaches that are canned or dried? Canned or preserved and dried peaches should not be given to your cat.
Dried peaches contain more sugar and calories, and your cat’s digestive system cannot digest sugar. Canned or preserved peaches are filled with chemicals, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners that may damage your cat’s digestive system.
Peach yogurt can be fed with a caveat that cats are lactose intolerant. Peach yogurt also contains good bacteria to help break down lactose, so you should only give it small amounts. The same applies to ice cream.
Peaches contain vitamin A, essential to provide healthy skin and eyesight for good night vision. The Potassium present in peach is important as potassium serves as an electrolyte found in the blood for the normal functioning of a cat’s nerves and muscles.
Peaches also contain fiber that helps a cat’s digestive system and prevents constipation in cats. The vitamin C in peaches is of little to no importance to cats as they produce vitamin C.
Dangers of Cats Eating Peaches
Can cats eat peaches? When you offer your cat large quantities of peach or give it peach daily, your cat may experience gastrointestinal issues or nervous system and vital organs illness from peach poisoning from ingesting peach peels, stems, leaves, or seeds.
The symptoms are dehydration, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, swollen abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, convulsions, coma, dilated pupils, tremors, lethargy, bright red gums, respiratory distress, or cardiac arrest. Consult your veterinarian for treatment and medication.
