Curiosity about our feline friends’ dietary preferences often leads cat owners to question whether cats can eat certain human foods.
Mangoes, with their enticing aroma and health benefits, might make you wonder, “Can cats eat mango?” While cats are primarily carnivores, this article explores the surprising and beneficial aspects of including mangoes in their occasional treats.
Aren’t Cats Strictly Carnivores?
Yes, cats are carnivores, but they can certainly eat some fruits or vegetables that are fed to them. The question then becomes, “Are mangoes good for cats?”
There are many fruits and vegetables that are bad for your cats. Vegetables like onion or garlic and fruits such as cherries or citrus are dangerous for your cats.
In the list of bad fruits for your cats though, mangoes are not included.
Mangoes are non-toxic to cats. They can safely snack away on little pieces of mango every once in a while. In fact, mangoes are even beneficial for your cats. But moderation should be in order, or the results will not be pleasing.
Cats are not naturally meant to eat fruits, so large amounts of fruits at a time can be bad for them.
Why Feed Your Cats Mangoes?
Moving on from “Can cats eat mango?” Let us see why you should feed your cat mango. As explained above, mangoes contain many beneficial vitamins that can be good for your babies. They contain vitamins A, C, folates, and B6.
Though cats can easily acquire everything they need from their normal diet, you can easily make them better off by giving them bite-sized slices of essential fruits every now and then. After all, if we can make our beloved pets healthier without having to break the bank, it is a sin-sin situation.
Mangoes are Rich in Vitamin A
Vitamin A is really good for your cats. They are essential for good eyesight. They are even good for giving the immune system a little boost which may be the difference between a strong cat and a sickly cat.
Another benefit of vitamin A in cats is that they are great for cats’ skin, coats, muscles, and nerves. The deficiency of this vitamin makes cats weaker.
Vitamin A is essential for pregnant cats or for kittens. It can’t be missed from their diet because it is needed for both muscle and neurological growth.
Lack of vitamin A may result in night blindness for cats. You may also notice that their coats or their skins do not look healthy.
But be warned, too much of everything can be bad, even too much of something as good as vitamin A.
Mangoes are Rich in Vitamin C
If you really want to boost your cats’ immunity system, then the vitamin C in mangoes may be a great friend. Vitamin C is known for being the greatest warrior against sickness.
Not only is vitamin C the best antibiotic and antiviral, it is also effective for bone repair and for the healing of wounds.
Vitamin C helps mobilize calcium. This deters bones from deteriorating. Vitamin C has also been used as protection against heart diseases and respiratory problems. It has been used to treat cats diagnosed with leukemia and other forms of cancer.
Cats can produce vitamin C on their own. However, upon encountering stressful situations, cats’ ability to produce vitamin C decreases. So it certainly would not hurt to give them that extra vitamin C boost from mangoes.
Again, moderation must be practiced because too much of everything is not good. Too much vitamin C can harm cats in the form of calcium oxalate stones forming in the cat’s urinary tracts.
Mangoes are Rich in Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 promotes neurotransmission, which is essential for cats because of their high protein requirement. It is also very beneficial for growing kittens because they are helpful for hormone production.
Vitamin B6 also plays a major role in maintaining good physical and mental health. It balances sodium and potassium in the body to regulate water in the body. Plus, it helps in more effective protein and fat absorption. It also promotes red blood cell production for healthy brain function.
Mangoes are Rich in Folates
Folates (also known as folic acid or vitamin B9) elevate blood oxygen levels, assist in fat metabolism, as well as promote proper growth and development. When a cat is folic acid deficient, she is expected to suffer from nutritional deficiency to the point of her body breaking down. Natural body processes will just stop working normally.
The production of oxygen in the blood, which folates promote, is essential to avoid anemia. Folic acid-deficient kittens also will suffer a decreased growth rate. These are two quite visible effects of vitamin B9 deficiency.
Only in Little Portions…
Now after knowing that mangoes are beneficial for your furry cuties, you should be reminded to feed them mangoes in moderation, only in little portions. Mangoes, and other fruit for that matter, are not part of a cat’s natural diet.
It is good to feed them little slices of mangoes once in a while, for their health benefit. But their mango feeding should be closely controlled and monitored. It should only be a treat they could enjoy at intervals.
Though mangoes are rich in many nutrients and vitamins beneficial for general health, your cats may suffer from vitamin toxicity if they have one too many mangoes.
Mangoes – the Super Beneficial Treat
“Can cats eat mango?” you asked. YES THEY CAN! Mangoes are good treats for kittens, for toms, and for cheshires. They are good treats for cats of all ages and of all kinds.
But if they are no longer “treats”, then they aren’t so good. So when you want your little baby to have something new for lunch, give her a little slice of mango on the side. Besides having a little bit of juicy fruit, she may be thankful for your care for her total well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the question of whether cats can eat mangoes finds a positive answer, accompanied by essential guidelines for responsible pet care.
While the vitamins in mangoes can contribute to a cat’s health, the emphasis remains on moderation, turning these fruits into super beneficial treats rather than regular dietary components.
Cat owners can now make informed decisions, ensuring their feline friends enjoy the occasional delight of mango slices without compromising their well-being.
