Can Cats Eat Cantaloupe? Everything You should Know!

Bright color, refreshing, mouth-watering, and welcoming cantaloupe fruit can never be on anyone’s hate list. Like watermelon, Cantaloupe has very few calories and is rich in water, making it the best fruit for the summer. While Cantaloupe can be the best tasty treat for the summer party for us humans, what about our feline friends?

As a cat owner, you might wonder if you can give your cats Cantaloupe. This article will answer all your questions. When you complete this article, you will know complete details about cats and Cantaloupe.

Is it Safe to Give Cantaloupe to Cats?

There is no danger or poison for cats to have Cantaloupe. But don’t forget whatever new things you will try for your kitten; make sure you consult the vet. Because sometimes, the kitchen foods won’t suit best for your feline friend.

If you want to give your cat Cantaloupe, you can start by giving a little piece of it and mixing it with the other cat foods. It can be easy to identify if your cats are okay with Cantaloupe. If it shows any adverse signs, then take it for good and stop giving them.

Even if the Cantaloupe suits your kitten, remember, moderation is the key. Please don’t overdo it. Since you already feel your cat is on a good diet, disturbing new experiments is not preferable. So you can give a small piece and stop it if it doesn’t fit.

Advantages of Cantaloupe for Cats

Cantaloupe is filled with goodness. It has all the necessary nutrients and vitamins for your feline friend. Cantaloupe is a powerhouse of Vitamin A, B6, C, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, fiber, niacin, and water. Also, this is a low-calorie fruit packed with hydrating properties.

Vitamin A and C help in improving the antioxidants in the cat’s body. It will help in anti-aging and age-related issues like joint pain. And the hydrating properties and rich water content can help in the proper digestion of the food.

Disadvantages of Cantaloupe for Cats

Cantaloupe is not needed for cats. Cat’s digestive systems and stomachs are not for plant-based foods like ours. They are made from meat-based energies. Simply feeding Cantaloupe to cats gives no use. Cantaloupe has beta-carotene, which is a form of Vitamin A. While humans can convert beta carotene into vitamin A, cats can’t do that. They need it in a complete form which all the cat foods already have. And cats can already create Vitamin C, then why do we have to feed them Cantaloupe?

All the nutrients and vitamins the cat needs are already in the regular cat food and the meat they eat. In that case, adding more to the cat in the name of Cantaloupe is just of no use. Sometimes the over-loving cat owners think that their cats love Cantaloupe. But the test is not accurate. The cats don’t love Cantaloupe; they get attracted to its smell since it has the same proteins as the meat.

Cantaloupe is a sweet fruit. Not just Cantaloupe, any fruit is filled with sugar, which can easily cause diabetes in your feline friend. Though the cantaloupe sweetness is natural sugar, unlike us, it is not suitable for cats.

The Cantaloupe rind can cause a choking hazard and digestive and gastrointestinal issues for the cat. The tough skin can be so hard for the cats to swallow and thus create a choking hazard. The seeds of the Cantaloupe are not harmless, but there are chances it might cause a choking hazard to your cat. And most importantly, don’t let your feline friend lick the outside of the Cantaloupe or any fruit as it might have backed ira and pesticides.

Why do Cats Love Cantaloupe?

If you have been a cat owner for a long time or someone who is generally so much interested in cats, you might have heard and seen that cats are so much interested in Cantaloupe. They are mad addicts to this fruit.

Though the cats are meat eaters, how come they love Cantaloupe very much? Is this the taste? Or the texture? Or the color? Or the smell? What is making the cats go mad for this fruit? Ah, we got the answer. According to the Journal of Experimental Botany, cats love cantaloupes because of the smell. Yes, it’s the smell that attracts your feline animals. But why is that? Well, before knowing the real reason, you must know about volatiles.

Volatiles are amino acids that are present in the cantaloupes. And these amino acids are the major contributor to proteins. Cats love proteins. Cantaloupes and meat both have the same amino acids that attract cats.

How to Feed Cantaloupe to Your Cats?

If you want to feed your cat cantaloupe, you can feed it. But remember to feed it to the minimum. Moderation is essential. It would help if you only fed the flesh to the cat. Don’t mix the rind or the seeds. Make sure the flesh is ripe.

The flesh should be so soft and plump. MAks sure to chop it into pieces so that this may avoid choking hazards. You can mix the chopped pieces with the cat kibble. It will add a new taste and a great texture to the cat’s diet.

You can mix it with other cat-friendly home-based food and give it like a salad. Or grind it and feed your cat. If you want to treat your cat, you can do many cat-friendly recipes like melon treats, cantaloupe ice cream, etc., But make sure they are cat friendly.

Just adding a small piece is more than enough. You could add more if the cat did not develop any issues. Don’t give frequently. It will cause many disadvantages to your cat. Remove the rind and seeds.

What are the Best Fruits that Cats can Eat Other than Cantaloupe?

Cat’s digestive system is not made for plant-based food. They are only made of meat-based foods. If you ask, “can you give kitchen-based foods to your kitten” the answer is yes. You can give your kitten plant-based foods. But not everything is good for them. Let’s quickly look at what fruits you can give your cat straight from your plant.

Pineapple

While pineapples are not dangerous to cats, giving one or two chunks to your cat is recommended. The fruit is filled with sugar, and overfeeding can cause diabetes and obesity.

Watermelon

Watermelons can be a great treat for your kitten. Most of the cats enjoy watermelon. Seedless watermelons chopped into small pieces can be significant.

Honeydew

Honeydew is like melon which is not toxic for your kitties. There are tons of nutrients and vitamins in the honeydew, but they work better only if they are correctly aligned with your cat’s diet. Overfeeding can cause stomach upset for your cat.

Apples

The apple’s stem, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide, which is toxic for your cat. Still, you can feed your cat with a small piece chopped into fine pieces so there won’t be any digestive or choking hazards.

Bananas

Bananas is perfect for your cat. But just like the others, the amount should be small and not too often. Once in a while is susceptible. Banana peel can cause many GI issues for your cat. Other than the above fruits, you can give your catfish, milk, egg, yogurt, chicken, chicken stew, chicken rice, plain rice, and cheese can be an excellent option for your feline animals.

Fruits that are Harmful to Your Cats

The following are some of the fruits that are labeled as toxic for cats.

Bread

Bread contains yeast which should be kept away from cats.

Citrus Fruit

Citrus fruit can cause diarrhea, vomiting, central nervous system depression, etc.,

Coconut

Coconut water, milk, and flesh contain high amounts of potassium, which is unsuitable for the cat’s digestive system. While coconut oil can help in solving many skin diseases of cats.

Xylitol

Check the cat foods if they have this artificial sweetener xylitol. These are extremely dangerous for your cat.

Cherries

Cherries, berries, and raisins can cause kidney damage to your cat.

FAQs