Avocados have become very popular among health-conscious humans. With healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, it is a healthy, tasty snack for a human. Yet, can our feline friends share this green, creamy fruit with us? In this article, we talk about the nutritional value of avocado, go through the possible pros and cons, and share good ways to feed it to your cats.
Avocado Nutritional Value
Avocados are full of healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamins E, K, C, and B6, and also contain potassium. The nutrients help people have a good heart condition and health in general. Though avocados can’t let cats vary from their meat-based diet, they can give them a little dose of healthy fats in an amount barely visible.
Possible Avocado Benefits for Cats
- Healthy Fats: The monounsaturated fats, given in moderation, will help your feline friend have a shiny coat and healthy skin.
- Nutritional Value: Although cats synthesize some vitamins differently, a small avocado will provide more nutrients to your feline’s diet.
- Palatability: Cats can be interested in the creamy texture of avocado, therefore can be a potential snack when taken out of curiosity.
Safety Precautions
- Presence of Persin: Avocado fruits contain a toxic principle called persin that if fed in high amounts, can poison some sensitive animals. Cats fall under less risk as opposed to other animals. However, some intake should still be put in moderation.
- High in Fat: Higher amounts of fat can lead to problems with digestion or weight gain in cats. So, just keep it small and seldom.
- Choking Hazard: Pit and skin involve the hazard of choking. Be sure to remove these before offering some avocado flesh to the cat.
- Food Allergy/Intolerance: On some rear occasions, cats may fail to digest any new foods. Always be on the lookout for signs of coughing up, diarrhea, and many others.
How to Safely Give Avocado
- Skin and Pit Removal: Feed the cat the ripe green flesh only without including its peel or pit.
- Giving Small Quantities: Give the cat a tiny lick or the thinnest slice of avocado just to see its reaction.
- Watch for Adverse Reactions: Observe your cat for several types of digestive upsets or allergic reactions when repeating avocado.
While this may be the case, it is a must do so in extremely small amounts, given that avocado upsets the stomach and causes digestive problems in cats. Though avocados are made of healthy fats and nutrients, bear in mind that cats require, above all, a diet made basically of proteins. Always consult with your veterinarian before introducing any kind of new food into your cat’s diet for balanced and healthy nutrition.
