Watermelon is a popular treat for humans on hot summer days. It is a delicious alternative to dessert.
It is also perfect for sharing with your lovely friends, but can cats have watermelon? Yes! Cats can have watermelons. It has a high water content that can keep your cat hydrated during the summer. But is my feline eating watermelon good or bad?
Well, there are a few things that you should consider before feeding this yummy red fruit!
Is Watermelon Really Safe For Cats?
Yes, it is safe for cats to eat without rinds and seeds. Watermelon contains fiber, vitamins, and nutrients that are good for a cat’s health.
It also has a high water content of over 90%, so it can help your cat to stay hydrated in summers.
While it is not toxic to your feline, it is not the ideal source for the various nutrients required for growth and adult maintenance. Since cats require a high-quality diet to keep their bodies healthy.
Can Cats Eat Watermelon With Seeds?
No, watermelon is safe for cats, but the seeds can be dangerous for your cats. Even one or two seeds do not affect humans, remember that your cat is much smaller.
Your cat might get cyanide-based poisoning if they eat seeds. It also may cause intestinal blockage in cats. So, it is important to remove the watermelon seeds before serving.
Can Cats Eat Watermelon Rind?
It is normal to remove the seeds while we eat watermelon, but we do not remove the rind. The rind may be beneficial for humans.
It promotes a healthier heart. It is also possible to perform better performance in bed.
However, these benefits have nothing to do with your cat’s health. Your cat will not be harmed by a few swallows of the white part of the rind, but it is hard for your cat to digest.
It also can make your cat sick such as gastrointestinal upset. So, to keep your cat safe, you should remove the rind before you feed them.
Can Cats Eat Watermelon Every Day?
Watermelon is not harmful to cats, but it doesn’t mean a good idea to add it to your cat’s diet every day.
Cats cannot eat human foods like watermelon, so if you feed watermelon in excess initially, she can develop digestive stomach issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, or indigestion.
In fact, fruit is not introduced to your feline’s diet regularly. As long as watermelon is mostly water contained, it also contains sugar.
Raising blood sugar levels on a regular basis in cats can lead to long-term health issues. You should only feed watermelon to your cat occasionally and in moderate amounts.
However, you should talk to your Vet before introducing the new food to your lovely feline.
Nutritional Benefits Of Feeding Watermelon To Your Cats
Cats are omnivores, so they can get nutrition from both plants and animals. Watermelon is full of nutrients and can aid your cat’s health in many ways.
It is the perfect snack fruit for cats as it is full of water that helps your cat to re-hydrate, especially refreshing on hot days. It is also good for bone health and heart disease.
In the following, here is the information about the benefits of the nutrients of watermelon.
- Potassium
- Vitamins A, B1, C, B6
- Protein
- Fiber
- Magnesium
- Biotin
- Antioxidants
- Fatty Acids
- Carotenoids
- Low in calories (1 cup = 46cal)
- Low in sodium
Do Cats Like to Eat Watermelon?
Yes, they do like it. Even though we cannot say all cats are like watermelons, most cats might enjoy eating it.
There are two possible reasons why cats like to eat watermelon.
1. Source of Water
Cats are interested in the source of water. It is a perfect fruit during the summer.
Watermelon may be attractive to cats to work a little to get at the water since it’s more typical of what they would have to do in the wild to keep them hydrated.
2. Tastes nice
Cats may be able to detect sweetness to a certain extent. They enjoy it which they find tasty.
It is not only the taste but the red color that may make them interested in enjoying this fruit.
How to Feed Watermelon to Your Cat?
Fruit is not part of the cat’s diet, since sugar can make your cat sick, so the first thing you should consult with your Vet before adding any human foods to your friend’s diet.
A veterinarian can advise you on how much of a certain meal your cat should eat.
- After consulting with a vet, remove the rind and seeds from the watermelon before feeding it to your cat.
- Cut it in small chunks, to allow your cat to chew the watermelon correctly. It’s a simple and enjoyable treat for your cat.
- Another creative way, you can freeze watermelon as ice cream, if your cat has strong teeth. They might enjoy it.
In other words, a small piece of watermelon without rind and seeds is the perfect key for your cat. Eating the rind or seeds would be quite tricky for your cat in some cases
Can Cats Have Watermelon? Final Thought:
Yes, it is a healthy fruit for your cat. It has good vitamin, fiber, and water content to make it healthy, refreshing, and hydrating for your cat.
Make sure you remove the rind and seeds before giving them to them. However, too much watermelon can cause a cat’s health issues. Ask your Vet before adding red fruit to your cat’s diet!