Can Cats Eat Watermelon?
Cat owners commonly wonder about the toxicity of various human foods. Toxic foods to keep in mind for cats include onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and excessive amounts of fish.
Exposure to the dangers of various human foods has encouraged pet owners to ask about the safety of foods like watermelon. Learn more about what cats can and can’t eat in this article: The Ultimate Guide to What Cats Can’t Eat.
Is Watermelon Safe for Cats?
Watermelon is a large, round-to-oblong shaped fruit grown from a plant in the gourd family. It has a thick outer green-striped skin and contains a red pulp with a very high water content and seeds. There are also “seedless” varieties of watermelon. The long vines and flowering watermelon plant were believed to be originally cultivated from West Africa.
Yes, cats can eat watermelon, and some cats even enjoy the crunchy texture. Watermelon is a good source of water (watermelon is about 92% water), nitric oxide, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.
Although watermelon is considered safe, any food can cause gastrointestinal issues in cats. What may not bother some cats can cause problems in others.
The Dangers of Watermelon for Cats
When researching the safety and danger of watermelons for cats, there are a couple things to consider:
- There is potential for blockage from the stems, seeds, rind, and leaves of a watermelon. Although uncommon, cats that have exposure to gardens and eat the leaves can develop gastrointestinal problems and potential blockage.
- There is a choking risk when eating larger pieces of watermelon. Cats are generally discriminating in their eating habits, so this is a rare problem.
Do Cats Need Watermelons?
There is nothing in watermelons that cats require. What cats do need is high-quality AAFCO approved cat food.
The Safest Way to Give Watermelons to Cats
The safest way to give watermelon to your cat is to offer small pieces of sliced watermelon without the rind and seeds. You can purchase the unseeded watermelon varieties, which are great options. Although safe to give, there are better and generally more appealing treats to give cats.