Cats are a popular choice for pets, and people love these cute and furry felines as their live-in friends. Cats are loyal, fiercely independent, and curious, but sometimes they may get irritated with some of their habits. Smacking things off your desk and lying across the laptop while you are working are their mischievous behaviors. Cat lovers just fell in love with all this mess created by their pussy. The average lifespan of a domestic cat is about 15 years, and they can make a fantastic lifelong companion for you and your family.
If you have a furry bundle of love at your place or are looking forward to bringing one, luckily, you don’t need to worry much as their diet is relatively simple. Cats need everything from protein to carbohydrates, and there is a variety of food that cats enjoy eating. Cats are true carnivores or so-called obligate carnivores (meat-eaters), and they thrive on what animal sources become part of their diet. Unlike humans and dogs, protein is the primary energy source in cats. Some of the protein-rich foods cats love to eat are:
- Tuna
- Whitefish
- Salmon
- Chicken
- Beef
- Turkey
However, this does not mean that cats cannot eat fruits, vegetables, and grains. They can eat all kinds of foods, and some of that is just easier for them to digest than others. In addition to protein, cats need Amino Acids, Fatty acids, Vitamins, Minerals, and water in their regular diet. Carbohydrates are found in small amounts in rice and corn which is also good for kitties, but these are not essential. If you are a cat owner, you need to be aware of and comprehend the basic dietary habits of cats, which are:
- Cats have the ability to digest the nutrients from a variety of foods.
- Most cats become picky eaters or get bored with regular feeding items. When they don’t like a portion of food to eat, they start rejecting it. Cats like variety and by introducing new food often it is possible to make them less picky.
- Cats also like to follow a feeding routine, but for an overweight cat setting feeding time and amount can help them to lose weight.
- Cats also eat several whole foods as a treat such as Eggs, Blueberries, and Melon.
Can Cats eat Cantaloupe
Cats can eat Cantaloupe safely, and it is non-toxic to them. Cats have very fragile stomachs and giving the wrong food to these felines can bring trouble for them quickly. You may have seen cats eating melon and Cantaloupe, and they are crazy about it! If you are going to introduce Cantaloupe to your cat’s diet for the first time, it is better to know the effects of Cantaloupe on your cat first. Cantaloupe or Cucumis melon is a juicy and orange summer fruit that belongs to the same plant family of watermelon, cucumber, squashes, pumpkins, and gourds. It has potent antioxidants that protect cell damage, has a 100%value of vitamin C and vitamin A, and has a sufficient amount of potassium too. It is helpful to treat blood pressure and beneficial for muscles and the heart.
Why do cats love to eat Cantaloupe?
Basically, cats are carnivore animals, and protein is essential for their diet, Cantaloupe is also their favorite. It is not because of fulfilling any nutritional needs, but for cats, the scent of Cantaloupe is just like meat. It means when a cat desires to eat Cantaloupe in actuality, it wants to eat meat. The scent of Cantaloupe attracts the cats and makes it irresistible for them.
Volatiles in melon create their aroma, and these are derived from amino acids. These amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and to cats, it smells like meat. Melon and meat have many amino acids similar. So having a Cantaloupe crazy feline is nothing to worry about. She is allowed to have a little bit occasionally.
Does Cantaloupe have any health benefits?
Most of the fruits filled with vitamins and minerals, which humans consider healthy for themselves, are considerable health for pets too. Cantaloupe is a treat for cats, but it has no significant health benefits for cats. Cantaloupe is full of vitamin C, and that is why it is beneficial for humans. Still, cats are fully capable of producing vitamin C inside their body. So, having vitamin C cantaloupe has no importance for cats.
Cantaloupe has maximum water and fiber content in it, and it can be used to calm an upset stomach in cats. Excess water helps to eradicate water in the pet’s system and prevent cats from developing stomach problems.
The most significant health benefit of Cantaloupe for cats is its Vitamin A content. Cats are not able to produce Vitamin A, and Cantaloupe provides this essential vitamin to cats to keep them healthy and fit. Cats can get vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin K, B6, and folate, thiamine, niacin, choline, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin from Cantaloupe. In addition to it, Cantaloupe has minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and sodium that are beneficial for cats.
Can cats eat Cantaloupe frequently?
Now it is clear to you that cats can eat Cantaloupe, but it is also essential to understand how often you can feed Cantaloupe to your cat. Cantaloupe is an occasional treat entirely safe and excellent for cats. In the hot summer season, it is a wonderful source of water, minerals, and vitamins for your cat.
Cantaloupe and melons contain a high level of sugar. Too much sugar is not good for cats and similar to humans, high sugar content can cause obesity, weight gain, and diabetes in cats. That is why cats need to avoid excess sugar. Eating Cantaloupe regularly can also disturb the digestive system and overall health of your cat.
What parts of Cantaloupe should you feed to your cat?
To give your cat the luxury of this sweet and flavorful fruit, first, you need to peel off the skin first. The outer surface of Cantaloupe is too hard to chew, swallow, and digest and may cause issues of blocking, in your cat. After removing skin and seed make some sweet pieces of Cantaloupe and serve it to your cat. It is also a good idea to mix Cantaloupe with kitty kibbles to give to your cat. Cantaloupe seeds are too hard to digest and can cause harm to the cat’s digestion.
If your cat moves away from Cantaloupe, it means she doesn’t like it, and it is perfectly fine to avoid it. If after eating Cantaloupe, your cat starts showing symptoms of stomach problems, vomit, or diarrhea, just stop giving it to them.
Conclusion:
Cantaloupe is entirely safe for cats and cats can eat it periodically in small quantities. Don’t forget that moderation is the key to health. It is enough to give your kitten a bite or two regularly to prevent gastrointestinal problems. Its dietary fibers are beneficial to cats that balance their digestive system and prevent both constipation and diarrhea.
It is not toxic for cats at all, but generally, it is nutritiously empty for your cat. It is why making Cantaloupe a large part of your cat’s diet is not wise. Its regular or overuse can make your kitty overweight, malnourished, or in some cases, diabetic too. Therefore, use Cantaloupe as a treat for your kitty and not as a substitute for real cat food.