Avocados are one of the most desired fruits around and popular amongst humans, but can cats eat avocado? Known as “fertility fruit”, “butter fruit”, and “alligator pears” in various other countries, avocados have been around for nearly 10,000 years.
No only are they packed with nutrition, but they also taste amazing mashed with guacamole, in a salad, and even on toast. With cats being obligate carnivores, their digestive systems process foods very differently to us humans.
When it comes to human foods, some are not toxic but other foods are toxic that are harmful to a cat and can cause both short and long-term illness, as well as death in worst case scenarios. But what about avocados? Can cats eat avocado or is it toxic? Let’s find out.
Can Cats Eat Avocado?
The answer is a little complicated. Many veterinarians and professionals state that cats can eat avocado in very small amounts, but according to the MSD Veterinary Manual, all parts of the avocado including the leaves, fruit, and stems can be poisonous for cats if consumed in large amounts.
Looking at further research, the Pet Poison Helpline states that avocados contain an oil-soluble called persin that can be poisonous if a cat consumes in large amounts. The side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Obstruction of stool
- Pancreatitis
As well as persin, the other dangers are the pit (seed) which are a chocking hazard, and the skin which can cause stomach upset, so neither should be consumed by your cat.
One final thing to not is that cats with a history of gastritis or pancreatitis should never be given avocado. There is a risk of pancreatic inflammation and stomach upset if a cat with this condition consumes avocado.
Can cats eat avocado pits?
Although not poisonous the pit or seed of an avocado should never be consumed by a cat as it can cause minor digestive issues with some cats, and more importantly, can cause intestinal blockage.
Can cats eat avocado skin?
The skin of an avocado should never be given to your cat as it can cause obstruction as well as stomach upset.
Health Benefits of Avocado
Avocado is a super food that is packed with nutrients and has some amazing health benefits. Here are some of the key things that can be found inside avocados:
- Protein/Amino Acids
- Health Fats
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Potassium folate
- Magnesium
Dangers of Avocado
If consumed in large amounts, all parts of the avocado can be poisonous for cats including the fruit, stems, and leaves. One of the main issues is an oil-soluble called persin which can lead to the following side-effects:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Swelling
- High fever
- Rapid heartbeat
- Obstruction of stool
- Pancreatitis
The seed of an avocado can also be a danger because is poses a chocking hazard and intestinal blockage, as well as the skin which causes an upset stomach, as well as a potential obstruction.
The key as with any other human foods is too feed in moderation. Our advice would be to just simply never feed avocado to your cat. The reason being, they can never consume enough of it to benefit from the nutrition, and the risks are just too high.
What should I do if my cat eats too much avocado?
If your cat consumes avocado and experiences any of the symptoms as described above, you should call a veterinarian immediately.
How To Serve Avocado to Your Cat
If you are going to feed avocado to your cat, here is the correct way to serve it:
- Remove all of the skin.
- Remove the pit.
- Remove all leaves.
- Only feed a small amount (no more than a tablespoon) of avocado flesh to your cat that can be mixed into their regular food.
- Never feed avocado to your cat daily. It should only be used as an occasional treat. We would recommend to just never feed it to your cat at all.
Can Cats Eat Guacamole?
Although avocados in guacamole is a popular choice, cats should never eat this because guacamole often contains additional ingredients such as onions, garlic, and other spices that are highly toxic to cats.
Can Cats Eat Fruit?
When it comes to feeding fruit to your cat, you will have to be careful. Some fruits such as apples, blueberries, and bananas are fine for cats to consume in small amounts as they are not toxic. But there are certain fruits that should never be given to your cat. Let’s take a look:
- Citrus: All citrus contains citric acid that causes as upset stomach in small amounts, and central nervous system issues if consumed in large quantities. This is why it os on the ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid feeding your pets.
- Grapes/Raisins/Currants: All toxic and should never be given to your cat.
The main problem with any fruit is that they all contain natural sugar which is bad for cats and can lead to long-term health issues such as feline diabetes.
Alternative Healthy Snacks
According to the ASPCA, these vegetables are not toxic for cats:
Can Cats Eat Avocado Conclusion
Can cats eat avocado? To summarise, although a small piece of the avocado flesh is more than likely not going to harm your cat, if consumed in large amounts, all parts of the avocado can be poisonous and cause digestive issues.
As cats cannot eat avocado in large enough amounts, they cannot benefit from all the nutritional goodness that us humans can. This is why it is recommended to just never feed them to yoru cat in the first place, as it is not worth the risk. There plenty of safer food options that your cat can benefit from.
