Can Cats Eat Cantaloupe? | Dog Product Picker

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Testing out new foods with your feline friend is a great way to expand their diet and make them eat human foods to have some occasional treats. However, as pet parents, we cannot give our cats treats that cause a complete dietary change and lead them towards health issues. So, the question is, can our furry friend eat cantaloupe, a human food, a sweet fruit having high sugar content?

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Is Cantaloupe Good for Cats?

The short answer is yes! Cantaloupe is generally non-toxic for your feline friend. However, it does not mean you can regularly include it in your cat’s diet. Cats are obligate carnivores whose stomachs are not built to digest the plant food.

To have healthy digestion, your feline friend needs raw meats and other type of healthy treats. As cat owners, we are responsible for giving our feline friends a healthy cat lifestyle. Commercial cat food companies are major contributors to providing your cats with a proper amount of protein, but that does not mean that you can trust anyone and give anything to your cat.

A veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Bruns claims that your feline friends don’t need to consume fresh fruits as they lack sweet taste receptors and won’t be able to taste the sweetness of the fruit. However, Dr. Bruns also states that there are healthy fruits that are safe fruits and can be consumed with ease. A seedless watermelon, cantaloupe melon, and other melon fruits are safe for your cat unless they are given in small quantities and do not cause any issues to digestive tracts or upset stomachs.

Cats, Cantaloupe, and Health

Cantaloupe melons contain vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C, high water content, low calories, anti-oxidants, folic acid, amino acids, fiber, and more nutrients. The good news is that cantaloupe does not contain any fatty acids, which means it is fat free, and small amounts of cantaloupe are not hazardous to your little feline friend. Just like citrus fruits, cantaloupe contains large quantities of vitamin C, which is quite a great way to give your cat some vitamin C compared to the available cat foods, but your cat is already producing vitamin C in their bodies, which is just some additional vitamin C.

If we see vitamin A, then your pet cat does not produce it, but since it is available in cantaloupe, they can take help from it in capturing the free radicals and promoting healthy cell function, which also helps reduce various diseases. Even though cantaloupe is a great source of essential vitamins, you can still not give your little feline friend cantaloupe seeds or a watermelon rind, as both can cause choking hazards and digestive issues.

These types of food items can cause gastrointestinal upsets and might even cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The cantaloupe contains too much sugar, which is not good for your cat’s health, and as pet owners, we need to keep in mind the health problems that this human food may bring. This sweet treat can cause weight gain, diabetes, kidney damage, kidney failure, and abdominal pain.

How To Give Cats Cantaloupe

Cats have sensitive stomachs, and giving them strange human foods is usually not a good idea, but the good news is that your feline friend can eat cantaloupe without any issues. The cat’s digestive system can handle smaller quantities of cantaloupe, but other issues may also arise with giving your cat some cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is an excellent source of dietary fiber and a great source of protein. Even though it is not a necessary part of their diet, your cat can still have small portions.

It is quite easy to give your little feline friend some cantaloupe, remove the seeds of the cantaloupe and cut it into small pieces, then give your cat cantaloupe and let them enjoy their occasional treat in small bites. Just ensure your feline friend does not lick the outside of the cantaloupe or other melons like a honeydew melon as fertilizers, and other chemicals are sprayed during harvesting, which might have harmful bacteria dangerous for your furry friend.

Why Do Cats Like Cantaloupe?

The aroma of melon is what makes your feline friends go crazy. The aroma of a cantaloupe is made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, and since your cats are meat lovers, they love the smell of protein from the cantaloupe. Journal of experimental botany’s research study verifies this fact and claims that this is the only reason your feline friend is attracted to this human food, even to the point they get a digestive upset.

How Many Cantaloupes Can a Cat Eat?

You never know what goes on in your cat’s digestive system as they are the only mammal who loves eating meat, unlike us, who have a variety of human foods ranging from meat to vegetables. The cantaloupe contains natural sugar in large amounts. Giving your feline friend cantaloupe in excessive amounts is never a good idea as it can cause stomach and gastrointestinal tract issues. So, if your feline friend loves eating cantaloupe, give them small pieces in smaller quantities to avoid health problems.

However, if it is your first time introducing your feline friend to cantaloupe, then monitor them for any choking, stomach discomfort, or signs that may show that this fresh fruit is not good for them and is causing your furry friend some trouble. It is good to spoil your feline friends, but it is not good to give them human foods that may become harmful for them if given regularly. As pet parents, whether cat owners or dog owners, we must keep these details in mind.

Summary

So, all in all, cantaloupe is great human food. It has vitamin A, vitamin C, amino acids, and other essential nutrients that benefit humans, but the case is different for your feline friend. They are obligate carnivores, and giving them only fresh fruits and vegetables is not the key to having a healthy cat with a balanced diet. Providing them with meat is more important than anything; however, you can give them cantaloupe as an occasional treat as it is non-toxic but in smaller quantities, and make sure to cut it in small bites, so the fruit does not choke them.

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