As the old adage goes, “one apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The fact that apples can be part of a healthy diet is one reason why this may be true for humans. Apples, one of the most popular fruits among humans in the UK, are a good source of dietary fiber and several vitamins and minerals.
Many cat owners question if their feline companions will reap the same health advantages from eating apples as humans do because of the low cost, abundance, and popularity of this fruit.
If you want to know if cats can eat apples, read on!
Do cats like apple pie?
Cats can safely eat apple flesh on occasion, but it’s not a staple of their diet. Cats can safely eat the apple’s meat, but the plant’s cyanide-rich stem, leaves, and seeds can be dangerous. Apple seeds contain cyanide, which is hazardous to cats. Your cat would have to eat a lot of them before they became harmful, but even a small amount can create an upset stomach.
Is it possible for a cat to eat an apple that has been cooked?
Cooking apples makes the flesh safer for cats to eat, and the procedure also softens the fruit, making it more manageable for your feline friend to devour. However, a lot of baked apple varieties have extra additives like cinnamon and sugar added to them, and they aren’t great for cats. You should only give your cat a tiny piece of plain cooked apple without any added flavors and make sure it’s not too hot if you want to try feeding it to them.
When it comes to dried apples, can cats eat them?
Dried apples aren’t dangerous for humans or cats, but they aren’t great for them, either, because the water has been removed, increasing the sugar level. This means that you shouldn’t give your cat any dried apples, especially if it’s overweight or suffering from a health condition like diabetes.
How about sweet apples for cats?
Don’t ever feed your cat candy apples. A tiny number of these apples, which have been cooked in syrups and are very high in sugar, could be detrimental to your cat, especially if it is overweight or already has a health problem. Cats can be seriously harmed by eating these apples since they are often laced with chocolate or other substances.
Is apple juice safe for cats?
The apple juice you buy at the store, or make at home, is likely to have a high sugar content because of the added sugar. The answer is in the variety. A small amount of apple juice may not create any problems if it is freshly squeezed and all natural, but it is best to avoid the apple juice sold in stores because it is loaded with sugar, chemicals, and preservatives.
Do apples benefit feline pets?
False. Not in any significant way. As we’ve already established, cats can safely consume apple meat, but the leaves, stems, and seeds are toxic due to cyanide. As obligate carnivores, cats can only survive on a diet of meat and other animal products, therefore it’s important to feed them a premium feline food that contains only the best ingredients. So there’s no point in feeding them fruit like apples. In addition, cats shouldn’t be given apples because they contain a lot of natural sugars and are bad for overweight cats and cats with diabetes. The high fiber content of apples can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort if you consume too many of them.
How to feed apples to your cat
If you want to see if your cat would eat a piece of apple, you should make sure to properly prepare it before feeding it to them. Remove the peel, leaves, stems, and seeds from the apple before feeding it to your cat to make it easier to digest. The apple should be cut into little pieces to prevent suffocation.
Keep in mind that too much apple might cause stomach discomfort in cats, so only give them one or two tiny pieces.
Don’t force your cat to eat apples if it doesn’t want to. In fact, most felines would prefer snack on some yummy cat food or a cat treat than on an apple. Make sure your cat’s full and balanced food makes up at least 90% of their daily diet, and limit treat consumption to no more than 10%.