Can Cats Eat Pineapple?

Cats can eat pineapple. While it is not a good idea to make pineapple their primary diet, it is safe for them to eat the fruit in small amounts. However, be careful as canned pineapple often includes too much sugar, which can cause a number of both short term and long-term health problems. Read ahead with Cornucopia Organic Pet Foods.

Do Cats Like Pineapple?

Pineapple usually isn't the first thing that most people think of when they think of food for cats. What we consider to be the common housecat most likely descended from several different species of wild cats. Before they were domesticated, these animals primarily ate meat.

That trait has carried over to the felines we know and love today. However, they have adapted to eat a diet that is more similar to the humans that they live with. This means that a healthy diet for a cat can include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Of course, a lot of people question cat food that contains these foods. After all, we have been conditioned by marketing to believe that the only nutrient that matters to a cat is protein. While protein is important, there are also a lot of other nutrients that cats need to be healthy.

This means that cats will look for other foods that provide these nutrients. In the wild, while the primary diet of cats is protein, it is not uncommon to see them occasionally eating plants and bugs.

This means that many cats will actually like the taste of fruits and vegetables. Just like people, cats will be attracted to things that are sweet. Pineapple will interest them enough to try it, even if they have never tried to eat pineapple before.

How Much Pineapple Can a Cat Eat?

The most important thing to remember when feeding a cat pineapple is not to give them too much. While cats need a small amount of natural sugar, they cannot tolerate large amounts. This means that many brands of canned pineapple, especially those that are packed in syrup, have way too much sugar for a cat.

Ideally, stick to one or two small pieces of fresh pineapple for your cat. If you have never given them pineapple before, you might want to chop it up very small and mix it in with foods they are more familiar with.

For this reason, many cat owners choose to give their cats high quality pre-made food that is prepared by an expert in cat nutrition. This type of cat food contains the exact right number of fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, ensuring that your cat gets the right amount of nutrients, but not too much sugar.

By the way, if your cat has accidentally ingested too much canned pineapple, don't panic. While it will cause some gastrointestinal distress, it isn't fatal. Be sure to provide plenty of water and access to a litter box while your cat recovers.

Should I Feed My Cat Pineapple?

Dry cat food is often sprayed with additives that deliver artificial versions of nutrients to a cat. Cats will be healthy if they can get these nutrients from natural sources.

Pineapples provide the following essential vitamins and minerals:

• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Calcium
• Folate
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Zinc

While this list doesn't include protein, it does include a number of compounds that cats need to have in order to be healthy. Fiber helps to aid their digestion. Folate works to improve and protect their neuron health. Vitamin C is critical to supporting their immune systems. Iron and magnesium are both necessary to maintain a cat's muscular structure and the health of their blood.

Keep in mind that cats require certain nutrition, and the Cornucopia team is here with very healthy and delicious organic cat food and treats for your pet. Contact us in Huntington, NY today!