Over the years our eating has evolved a lot. There is an increased awareness among people today on good health and a healthy diet. Thanks to this awareness, fruits have become an integral part of the foods that humans eat. We love the nutrients present in colorful fruits. The ones rich in Vitamin C, especially, are quite popular.
Citrus fruits, as they are popularly known include lemons, tangerines, oranges, clementines, grapefruit, and the like. All of these fruits are rich in Vitamin C, which is known to have immunity-boosting properties. Tangerines, especially, are quite tasty and healthy. Their high Vitamin C content helps to keep you safe from diseases like cold, flu, fever, etc. Tangerines and all other citrus fruits are also rich in antioxidants, which help you fight against the oxidative stress caused by the free radicals.
Tangerines are also excellent sources of Vitamin A, magnesium, folic acid, copper, calcium, and other nutrients. Now you may wonder if you can give tangerines to your cats because the fruits are loaded with many nutrients. Are these fruits safe for cats, or do they pose any health risks? The following sections will give you the answers to these questions.
Before getting into the details, here is our verdict for this debate. No, cats cannot eat tangerines, as they don’t give any nutrients to the felines. You can ensure that your cats get their daily dose of nutrients from their normal foods and treats. They don’t need these citrus fruits to cater to their daily dose of nutrients. Keep reading further to know why tangerines are bad for cats.
A strong smell of tangerines
The good thing is that cats are not attracted to tangerines. So, you will not have a very tough time keeping them away from these citrus fruits. Tangerines give out a very strong smell, which can repel cats. If your cats accidentally consume a small tangerine occasionally, you don’t have to worry about the side effects. However, you should avoid giving these citrus-flavored fruits to your cats regularly.
Why cats cannot eat tangerines?
As we discussed earlier, tangerines are rich in the immunity-boosting component, Vitamin C, which is why humans can consume this friend when they are down with a fever or cold. It is noteworthy to remember that cats don’t need the Vitamin C from this fruit, because it produces its own Vitamin in its liver. We know that Vitamin C is good for health, but too much Vitamin C can lead to serious health issues like developing kidney stones in cats.
This happens when cats eat any citrus fruit like lemons, oranges, etc. So, please remember that, unlike humans, cats don’t need the health benefits of tangerines. The bodies of cats are designed differently, and since they are carnivorous animals, their digestive system can handle only meat and fish properly. So, you should give fruits to cats, only after careful deliberation, and a discussion with your veterinarian.
Citrus fruits problems for cats
In the fields of aromatherapy and cosmetics, you must have heard about many essential oils being used. Most of these essential oils are extracted from citrus fruits, because of the strong aroma of these fruits. When cats chew on the tangerines, they also eat the peels. However, the peels of the fruits contain a lot of essential oils. The flavored essential oils are not good for cats, as the felines cannot handle these oils in their digestive system. Even the rinds and seeds of citrus fruits can cause toxic reactions in cats.
Early symptoms
When your cats consume too many essential oils, it can irritate their stomach and cause allergic reactions. Continued consumption of tangerines can damage their nervous system as well. Vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy are some of the early symptoms you can spot if your cat’s digestive system doesn’t accept the tangerines it eats.
Severe cases
While tangerines may not kill cats, they can cause severe citrus poisoning in cats, if the animals have consumed these citrus fruits for a prolonged period. When your cat experiences difficulty breathing, refuses to eat or drink for more than a day, shows highly lethargic movements, or has blood in its feces, it could be experiencing a severe condition of citrus poisoning. Please consult a veterinarian, in this case, without any further delay.
Can cats eat other fruits?
After reading the above sections, you may have understood that cats are not recommended to eat tangerines or any other citrus fruit. Does this mean that you should not give them any fruit treats at all? Are they allergic to all fruits? Not! Here are some healthy alternatives to tangerines, which you can introduce into your cat’s diet occasionally.
Please remember that all fruits contain natural sugars. Therefore, they should be given only as treats only, in very small quantities. Here are some of the fruits that cats can benefit from hugely:
- Blueberries – The minerals, fibers, antioxidants, and fiber found in blueberries can help cleanse cats’ digestive systems and keep them healthy throughout their lifespan.
- Strawberries – These are also rich in fiber and many minerals. So, you can introduce strawberries as regular treats in your cat’s diet.
- Raspberries – Like other fruits of the berry family, raspberries, too, are great sources of fiber, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, Vitamin A, calcium, potassium, and manganese. You can give a couple of raspberries to your cats when it is time to provide them with their treats.
Apart from citrus fruits, the fruits that your cats cannot eat are grapes, apples, pears, and plums. The seeds in these fruits can trigger a toxic reaction in cats. So, it would help if you were careful about including them in your feline’s diet.
Final Word
Since tangerine is a citrus fruit, it is rich in Vitamin C. However, cats naturally produce Vitamin C in their liver. So, they don’t need the Vitamin C provided by tangerines and other citrus fruits. The essential oils, seeds, and other parts of tangerines can cause allergic and toxic reactions in cats. So, it is better to keep these fruits away from their diet, and include healthy alternatives, instead.