Can Cats Eat Cherries? Are Cherries Good For Cats?

Is it possible to give my cat cherries to eat? This question can occur to any pet owner when he has a bowl of cherries in front of him. It is widespread to think that if I can eat them, why can’t my cat?

Can my cat eat cherries? The first answer is No. Are cherries good for my cat? It depends. If a cat eats cherries, its safety is not entirely guaranteed. Cherries are not toxic to cats, but you should remove the seeds and some parts of the plant if you want them to taste this fruit.

The first thing to do is to be cautious. Before giving cherries to your cat, please take a close look at the parts of the fruit you will provide to your cat. Most of the time, cherries are harmless to cats, but this is not the case with the seeds and the cherry tree.

Let’s Understand Better The Relationship Between Cats And Cherries

Cherries are fruits that are almost always safe for cats, but things change when we talk about the tree that produces them: the cherry tree.

All cherry bushes have a large amount of toxicity. The reason for this is because the plant contains cyanide. That means that the leaves, the stems, the roots, and the stone of the fruit have poison.

We cannot allow our cat to eat any of these parts, not even by accident. They all contain cyanide and can intoxicate our cat and risk its health and even the cat’s life.

If this happens, we will observe different symptoms in our pet, which will be more or less severe depending on the amount he has eaten. These cherries and cherry tree parts can cause severe stomach illnesses.

Can Cherries Kill My Cat?

It is essential to clarify that cherry pulp is not toxic for cats. What is very dangerous for the cat’s health are all the other parts of the fruit and its tree.

As we have seen, what makes cherries dangerous is that they contain cyanide. Cyanide is a very famous substance that we always associate with everything that has to do with poison.

When a cat consumes cyanide, what can happen is that its organs do not transport oxygen properly throughout its system.

And you should know that it is very likely that your cat can die from cherry poisoning. There is also the risk of death if the cat swallows the cherry pit.

What Happens If My Cat Eats Cherries?

The first thing is that if you find or suspect that your cat has eaten cherries or its plant, you should quickly remove it from that place and also take a sample of what it ate.

Take your cat to the veterinarian and give him the sample of the cherry or plant he ate. This sample will help him make an accurate diagnosis about the level of poisoning.

Suppose the vet’s primary suspicion is that your cat is intoxicated. In that case, he will take a blood sample and other medical tests.

The veterinarian can apply oxygen to the cat, but it will depend on the symptoms. Prevention is the best thing you can do for your cat. You can do this by keeping your cat away from cherries and your plants and not leaving any of these fruits where your cat can reach them because your cat will certainly eat them.

But Is Everything Wrong With Cherries? Is There Any Benefit If My Cat Eats Them?

The risks of giving cherries to cats are clear, but it can offer our pets some benefits. We have to feed them the right way.

Antioxidants

Cats need antioxidants for their nutrition, and cherries are a great source of these substances. Antioxidants can help your cat in many ways, such as the following:

• They help reduce inflammation in the body
• Help fight cancer
• They are excellent for fighting heart disease

Melatonin

Cherries also contain melatonin, which is the so-called “calming substance.”

Melatonin helps reduce physical and mental stress. So giving melatonin to your cat can help calm your cat when visitors arrive or calm them down when there are fireworks.

• Help reduce stress
• It helps minimize irritability in cats.
• It allows them to adapt to new or difficult situations

A Quick Guide On How To Feed Your Cat Cherries

You already know all the risks of your cat eating cherries. But if you still want to give your cat a bite of this fruit, here we will explain in detail the best way to do it.

How Should I Feed Cherries To My Cat?

It is best to use this fruit in a different sense than just as a snack. The suggestions we give you are:

As A Special Treat

You can use the cherry as a reward for good behavior. It should always be the pitted or seedless cherry.

Occasional Snack

You can give cherries as if they were a treat for some unique action. It would help if you always gave it without seeds or pits.

Never Use It As A Regular Snack

Please do not give cherries regularly to your cat. The worst you can do is get your cat used to the daily taste of cherries because it may not want to eat anything else. In addition, cherries have a high sugar content, and eating them in large quantities can cause problems with obesity or diabetes.

How Often Can I Give Cherries To My Cat?

No matter how little cherries you give your cat, it would help if you were always very careful when offering this fruit. Here are some tips:

• Do not give cherries at every meal
• Give cherries only once a week as a treat or reward
• Do not eat cherries in front of the cats

How Many Cherries Should You Give Your Cat?

There is no specific recipe for this, only the cat owner’s common sense.

It is best to be conservative and give the cat no more than two or three cherries once a week.

Can Cats Eat Cherries Without Seeds?

Cats can only eat cherries without seeds. All cherries with seeds can intoxicate the cat. Remember to remove not only the seeds but also the stem, pit, and leaves.

Summary Of Tips For Feeding Cherries To Cats

We offer you a summary of everything you should take into account:

1. Feed your cat with small amounts of cherries, no more than two or three per week
2. Cherries contain antioxidants and melatonin, which are excellent nutrients for your cat.
3. Remove all seeds, pits, stems, and leaves from cherries before your cat eats them.
4. Do not give ripe cherries to your cat
5. Do not drastically change your cat’s diet
6. Check that your cat is not allergic to this fruit. Give a tiny amount the first time you try it.
7. If you have a cherry tree or plant, do not allow your cat to access it

Primary Symptoms Of Cherry Food Poisoning In Cats

A cat that ate cherries can have a low to severe intoxication, depending on the number of cherries eaten. The main symptoms are:

• Bad temper
• Difficulty breathing
• The pupils of the eyes will be very dilated.
• State of shock
• Gums almost white
• Deaths

Treatment For Poisoning In Cats

One of the first actions the veterinarian will take is to do fluid therapy. This treatment will help eliminate the cherry poison in the cat’s blood. The veterinarian uses this intravenous therapy as a regular procedure.

Another way for the veterinarian to help the cat eliminate all cherry venoms is to give the cat methylene blue with mineral oil. This combination will help the cat to defecate faster and thus eliminate the consumed poison as well.

Recovery Of Cats From Cherry Food Poisoning

The importance of your cat’s recovery depends on the veterinarian having made a quick diagnosis of the situation. A rapid diagnosis may be the key to whether our pet lives or dies. If the cat received swift and effective treatment, it would have a good chance of surviving this event.

But time will tell the result of this action. The medications applied by the veterinarian need time to take effect in the cat’s body. The speed of eliminating the poison will also depend on the amount of toxin or cherries the cat has consumed. That is why acting quickly is so crucial in these cases.

That is why it is so important to reinforce that prevention is the best way to take care of the health and life of our cats. The cat does not need cherries to get a balanced and healthy diet. That is why it is best to have cherry trees or plants in our yard or house.

A Final Thought On Cats And Cherries

Many foods can be hazardous for your cat. Cherry could be one of them if not given in the right way.

But you should also know that given what we’ve shared with you here, it can be a beneficial nutritional source for your cat. You have to give your cat only the cherry pulp, without seeds, pits, or leaves, and in tiny quantities. Following these instructions, your cat will be completely safe.

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