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Can Cats Eat Strawberries?

Can Cats Eat Strawberries?

Updated on July 18, 2024
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

For humans, strawberries can be a great source of vitamin C, fiber and potassium, but the question remains—can cats have strawberries? The short answer is yes, cats can eat strawberries—but that doesn’t mean they should.

Can Cats Eat Strawberries?

The short answer is yes, cats can eat strawberries—but that doesn’t mean they should.

Cats are carnivores; their digestive systems are designed to absorb the nutrients provided by protein, and their gastrointestinal tracts have not evolved to digest carbohydrates. While commercially available cat foods contain some carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables are largely composed of carbohydrates and generally are not recommended as part of a carnivorous feline diet. Like other fruits, strawberries contain a lot of natural sugar, which can adversely affect your cat’s wellness.

Before allowing your cat to try a strawberry, you’ll want to consider a few things. For instance, if your cat has a particular health issue—like diabetes—strawberries are not appropriate for them to try. And remember, the majority of your cat’s calories should come from balanced pet food that provides them with the nutrients they need. Human foods like strawberries should only be given sporadically in very small amounts—if at all.

Because strawberries and other fruits or vegetables are not part of a carnivorous diet, there’s a good chance your kitty might not even want to try strawberries if offered. However, cats are known known for their curiosity, and your cat might want to sample any foods they see you eating. Luckily, if your cat happens to eat a strawberry slice they find on the floor or manage to sneak off your plate, they will typically be fine.

If you have any concerns about cats and strawberries, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

How to Feed Strawberries to Your Cat

Before letting your cats try a strawberry, wash the berry thoroughly, remove the leaves and provide only one small slice for your cat to taste.

FAQs About Feeding Your Cat Strawberries

If you have removed the leaves and cut off a small piece of the berry, then likely nothing will happen.

No, if your cat gets into a whole strawberry with leaves, there’s a chance they could choke or experience stomach upset from trying to digest large pieces of strawberry.

Additionally, you should always consult your veterinarian before feeding your pet new foods. Some cats and strawberries don’t mix well, as some pets have food sensitivities and can experience an allergic reaction.

In general, strawberries are not considered harmful for your cat—if you prepare the berries correctly by thoroughly washing them and cutting off a bite-size piece for your cat to try.

Just because the answer to “Can cats eat strawberries?” is “yes—with some caveats,” that doesn’t mean all fruits and berries are harmless to felines. Many fruits are fine and healthy for your cat to try a small piece, but several can be very toxic to cats. Below is a list of the fruits that you need to keep far away from your feline.

  • Cherries Cherry pits contain a small amount of cyanide that can be deadly for your cat
  • Grapes and raisins Grapes can give your kitty serious digestive issues—including diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy—and, in extreme cases, may even cause kidney failure
  • Green tomatoes While ripe, red tomatoes are generally considered harmless to pets who try a small piece, the vines, leaves and green tomatoes contain toxins that can upset your cat’s stomach, even in small quantities
  • Stone Fruit The flesh of stone fruits, like persimmons, plums and peaches, is not typically harmful for cats in very small amounts on very rare occasions, but the seeds and pits contain cyanide, which can be fatal for your pet if consumed

While not toxic to pets, citrus fruits—like oranges, grapefruits and lemons—contain high levels of citric acid that can cause severe gastrointestinal distress and even depress your cat’s nervous system.

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