Can Cats Eat Watermelon? You May Be Surprised!

cat eating watermelon

Watermelon is the ideal treat for humans on a hot summer day. It is a refreshing palate cleanser, and due to its large size, it is perfect for sharing with your friends and family. But can you share this treat with your cat? Can cats eat watermelon? Are there any risks that you should consider should you choose to offer them watermelon? Are there any benefits? These are some of the questions you can find answers to in this article.

Can Cats Eat Watermelon?

As a rule of thumb, fruit isn’t naturally part of the feline diet. This means that you should never give fruit to your cats as a means of replacing their cat food. Any fruit that is safe for them to consume (like bananas) must be given to them as a treat only. That said, watermelon is a safe choice for your cat. Your feline baby can eat watermelon but you should mind the risks as well as the potential health issues. Read further to find out more.

What are the Risks of Giving Watermelon to Your Cat?

Watermelon contains seeds. Therefore, you must first and foremost remove them completely from the piece that you offer to them. Prevent the potential danger of choking by making sure that there are no seeds contained in their treat. In addition, remember that although watermelon is mostly water, it also contains a lot of sugar. Just like for humans, sugar should be kept to an absolute minimum. Thus, moderation is important. It is best to limit the amount of watermelon you give them to one or two pieces each time. Moreover, watermelon is safe for healthy cats. Do not give watermelon to any cats with diabetes and other health-related problems that are directly affected by their diet.

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Are there any Benefits to Cats Eating Watermelon?

Although watermelon is a fruit, and many fruits are rich in vitamins and other important nutrients, it is not the case for this particular fruit giant. Offering watermelon to your cat in moderation is safe — as long as your cat is healthy. However, do not expect them to gain anything more than the refreshing sensation that you feel when you eat watermelon. Treats such as watermelon are simply not necessary to them. Make sure that your cat is getting all of the required nutrients from their diet.

Final Words

Watermelon is safe to eat as long as you feed it to your cat properly. Despite the fact that it is a fruit with lots of water, it also contains a lot of sugar which can be extremely unhealthy to cats with health problems. Make sure that your cat is healthy before you feed watermelon to them. If you have any doubts, you can always consult your vet or schedule a video consultation with one of Cooper Pet Care’s qualified vets, to learn more about safely giving watermelon or any other fruit to your cat.

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