Can cats eat dates? The nutritional profile of the dates makes them a useful treatment for human beings. Now, what about our feline friends?
Dates have a lot of nutritional benefits such as improving the immune system and supporting strong muscle development. Therefore, cats can have dates in their diet as a treat snack.
But you should note that whatever is good for human beings might not be always good for cats. There are some human foods that are toxic to felines like garlic and onions.
The article provides very interesting facts about cats and dates. Take your time to read through and gain more insight.
Can Cats Have Dates?
Absolutely yes. But this should be done in moderation since cats are obligate carnivores. If the feline eats a date without your knowledge then there is no need to get worried.
Unfortunately, these felines normally lack sweet receptors and hence do not enjoy eating dates at all. Also, the fruit has minimal health benefits in their bodies.
The best thing to do is to find commercial food brands with dates as an ingredient and give them to your feline friend.
Instinct Limited Ingredient cat food is considered to be the best if you want your feline to have a taste of dates.
Too many dates in the diet of the feline friend are not recommended since it can pose some potential risks.
You can even avoid tossing dates to them to prevent such risk from occurring despite it being a healthy fruit.
Are Dates Good For Cats?
According to the veterinarian report, it is not a good idea to share dates with your feline friend.
But if the feline has eaten one or two dates then do not get worried since dates are non-toxic.
The good thing about dates is that they contain a lot of nutrients that are healthy for the feline as well as human beings.
Unfortunately, the consequences of feeding the cats’ dates normally outweigh the benefits.
This is the reason why it is not recommended to feed cats dates.
Are Dates Safe For Cats?
The good news is that dates are non-toxic and this implies that they are safe for cats.
But it is not recommended to feed the furry friends with them since they might pose some health threats.
If the feline eats one or two dates then there is no need to get worried.
The best thing to do is to keep the dates away from felines for their safety.
Too many dates in the diet of cats will trigger diarrhea due to the laxative ingredient found in the dates.
The condition can also be accompanied by vomiting.
Besides that, dates have a lot of calories which is beyond cat requirements and this might result in cat obesity.
The best thing to do is talk to your vet before thinking of including dates in the diet of your feline friend.
The expert opinion will help you make an informed decision.
Is Dates Bad For Cats?
Dates are non-toxic and hence safe for the feline. However, the natural diet of a cat is meat since they are obligate carnivores.
Including dates in the diet of the feline is not advisable even as a snack or treat.
The fruit contains more of the laxative component which is not good for cats.
Laxative components normally trigger loose stool and vomiting in the felines hence the reason why many vets do not recommend it.
Besides that, dates have large pits that might chalk your feline friend to death.
Also, dried pieces of dates can get stuck in the teeth of the cat causing decay in the long run.
The high content of calories makes the fruit not good for the felines since it can trigger cat obesity easily.
The condition normally results in a lot of health complications.
Can Kittens Have Dates?
Kittens still depend on their mama cat milk for survival.
Introducing dates in their diet may pose a potential health risk to them.
The large pits might cause choking which is fatal to their health while dried dates might trigger milk tooth decay.
The best thing to consider is providing them with recommended cat food for kittens such as Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Natural Kitten Dry Cat Food.
We also recommend seeking a professional vet’s opinion before introducing anything new to your weaning kittens.
Making an informed decision about the best cat food for kittens is always key when raising healthy and happy cats.
Alternatives to Dates
They include:
Final Verdicts about Dates and Cats
Finally, cats can eat dates since they do not contain toxic substances that might ruin their health and well-being.
However, this should be done in moderation as a treat.
Too many dates result in excessive accumulation of laxatives in the cat’s body which can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Thinking of raising a healthy cat? Well, you need to avoid dates in their diet since they are obligate carnivores.
Sources and References
Cats Cannot Taste Sweets: Scientific American.
