can cats eat raspberries

It is common for many pet owners being not to be able to resist the temptation when their four-legged, furry friend comes over to have a taste of the bowl full of snacks and fresh fruits. It is not entirely unusual for people to give in to their absolutely irresistible sweet little pets more often than usual.

There is absolutely no doubt that pets generally love snacks and fresh fruits. However, certain food products should be kept away and always avoided, because they have been known to be extremely harmful to these pets, and in a worst-case scenario, they can also lead to death.

One should be quite relieved to know that cats can consume raspberries. However, one needs to be well aware of the fact that raspberries are not really very good for the health of cats, either.

Cats are natural carnivores. The bodies of such carnivorous animals have been designed naturally to get their requirement of nutrition from meat rather than vegetables and fruits.

Despite the fact stated above, at times a vegetable or a fruit is not harmful to cats. But the fact has to be kept in mind that they should not be included in their diet regularly. If raspberries are provided to cats in considerably large amounts, then there is a possibility of disrupting the digestive system of the cats, and the side effects might present themselves in the form of an upset stomach or diarrhea.

Are raspberries fine to eat for all cats?

Raspberries come from the same family as do the other berries. They are like antioxidants and therefore are a brilliant source of vitamins and minerals, which include vitamin A, calcium, vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, and manganese.

It is important to remember the fact that cats are natural carnivores, thus if the raspberries are already full of antioxidants, then a cat might not be capable of getting the maximum out of the nutritional values of the fruit.

Proper quantity of raspberries suitable for cats

It is a known fact that cats are capable of eating raspberries, but despite that, one should in no way provide them with raspberries to consume in large quantities or even allow them to jump into an entire bowl full of raspberries. While the raspberries have been proven to be non-toxic to all felines, they must never be given to them in large amounts. Just like human beings, eating a particular thing too much can turn out to be bad for the health.

Being natural carnivores, cats usually require a major protein intake and thus their digestive systems have also been designed for processing meat items, rather than fruits and vegetables.

Consuming more raspberries than the prescribed minimum amount might result in the occurrence of certain uncomfortable side effects, which are capable of easily disrupting the overall health of cats. This is due to the presence of Xylitol in raspberries.

The maximum prescribed amount of raspberries, which should be given to all cats must not be more than one to two raspberries, and surely not more than once or twice a week. Despite the prescribed minimum amount stated above, it is advisable to give raspberries to cats very seldom, only during certain occasions.

The concern of the pet owners regarding whether they should occasionally feed their cats with raspberries can be killed by just speaking with their respective veterinarian doctors about their cat’s health and needs.

What is Xylitol?

One might have already heard of Xylitol before, which is an ever-rising substitute commonly used in place of sugar. Raspberries might be healthy and rich in nutritional value, providing many health benefits, but it is also extremely important to note the fact that these berries also contain Xylitol. This is the reason why it is extremely important to ensure the fact that cats do not eat too much of these berries.

If cats consume over the prescribed quantity of those raspberries, then the cats might experience certain negative side effects which are as follows:-

• Abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Kidney damage
• Diarrhea
• Kidney toxicity
• Foul-smelling feces
• Upset stomach

The proper way

If people are tempted to serve raspberries to their cats, then they must serve it to them either frozen or absolutely fresh. Raspberries when frozen are capable of making up for a succulent and cold treat during a hot summer day. The frozen raspberries also help in preserving the nutritional value. However, whether frozen or fresh, the raspberries must be washed properly before they are served to cats.

People should also make sure of the fact that their cats would not have ready access to ample amounts of raspberries lying around. As they are elegantly red, have a very strong scent, are fruitfully luscious, it is easy for cats to become curious about them. They may then want the best of these fruits and gobble the berries up even before anyone has noticed. This creates the possibility of the accumulation of excess Xylitol in the cat’s body and also increases the sugar levels, which is not good for diabetic cats.

Good food habits

If people are considering giving raspberries to their cats, then they must also wonder what other fruits can they offer as food to their beloved pet cats.

The list of those healthy, as well as harmless fruits, is as follows:

• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Watermelon

The list of all those healthy, as well as harmless vegetables, is as follows:

• Asparagus
• Banana
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Zucchini
• Green Bell Pepper

The food items which people should avoid giving to their pet cats are as follows:-

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Bread Dough
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Fat Trimmings
• Grapes
• Onions
• Nuts
• Xylitol in candy and gum
• Raisins

Conclusion:

From the above information, it is very easy to understand that it is entirely permissible to give raspberries to cats, but people should avoid giving them in large amounts and also on a daily basis.