Watermelons and summer go hand in hand. With the beginning of the summer season, watermelons make their way to every regular household. But, humans aren’t the only souls that enjoy relishing on these sugary treats; felines too love to eat watermelons.
However, many cat owners shy away from treating their cats with various human food items, but there is no harm in feeding cats with a watermelon. Although cats aren’t fans of sweet food, this ruby-colored fruit attracts them. On a warm day, your cat would love to curl up in a corner with this delicious, juicy, and soft fruit.
Is Watermelon Safe For Cats?
Yes, watermelon is safe for felines. The fiber and water content in this fruit makes it a healthy treat for the cats. However, there are a few precautions that you must take into account while feeding your cat with a watermelon.
What part of the fruit should be swallowed, what should go into the trash bin, and what quantity falls within the advisable range are the subjects of consideration. Before we go ahead, let’s check out how watermelon can be beneficial for cats.
Benefits of Eating Watermelon
This juicy fruit is laden with many essential nutrients that benefit humans and cats alike. Read on to know what all nutrients make their way into the system of your little furry friend with watermelon.
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Water
Your cat’s strikingly low water intake might have put frowns on your forehead on several occasions. As cats originally hail from the desert, they have an innate habit of drinking less water. But you can compensate for the low water intake of your cat by giving it watermelon as watermelon is 90% water.
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Fiber
Fiber is one of the most important nutrients, but sadly, most of the cat foods don’t have enough fiber content. If your cat is constipated regularly, you can blame it on its low fiber intake. This problem can be solved by including watermelon in your cat’s diet as watermelon is a rich source of fiber.
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Vitamins and Nutrients
Watermelon is loaded with a whole lot of Vitamins and dietary nutrients like Vitamin A, B1, B6, C potassium, magnesium, carotenoid lycopene, etc. These dietary elements play an important role in a cat’s nutrition. Giving watermelon to your cat will meet all the necessary requirements of vitamins and minerals. Interestingly, watermelon contains only 46 calories and no cholesterol. It further improves its nutritional value.
Precautions and Concerns While Feeding Your Cat with Watermelon
While it is good to feed your cat with watermelon, but you need to keep a check on its quantity. If given in moderation, watermelon can prove to be a great food option for your cat, but if certain things are not taken into account, it can push your feline friend in serious trouble. Read on to know the precautions you need to take while feeding your kitty with watermelon.
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Remove The Seeds
Watermelon seeds cause serious health hazards in cats. They can lead to choking and intestinal blockage, especially in little kittens. Moreover, seeds carry cyanide, which is quite dangerous for a cat’s health. Even little quantity of cyanide can pose a threat to your feline’s health. It can cause vomiting, and in more severe cases, it may erect a need for blood transfusion to your furry friend. Hence, make sure you remove all the seeds of the watermelon before serving it to your cat. Even if you are feeding your cat with seedless watermelon, rinse it thoroughly.
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Remove The Rind
The rind of the watermelon doesn’t cause any serious health issues in cats, but as it is rubbery and hard to digest, it’s better to avoid giving it to your cat. As cats are carnivores, the enzymes needed to digest plant matter are absent in cats. So, if they eat the rind, it is surely going to trouble them by causing gastrointestinal upset. Therefore, you must remove the rind and feed your cat with the fibrous pieces of the watermelon.
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Consider Allergies
If you are feeding your cat with watermelon for the very first time, you must keep an eye on it. If you witness symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or indigestion, you must rush it to a vet as these are indicative of food allergy. But if your cat crave for this attractive ruby-colored fruit, but you can’t have it at that moment, then you can pacify it with this cute PetRageous Hide-A-Treat Watermelon Toy. This watermelon toy will keep your furry friend busy for long hours, and it won’t miss the attractive red-colored fruit.
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Diabetes
Watermelon is a sugary fruit. The content of natural sugar in this fruit is dangerous for a diabetic cat. So, if your feline is diabetic, you should keep it away from watermelon.
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Other Considerations
Generally, people like to sprinkle a little salt on watermelon to enhance its taste. If you too happen to love this idea, you must not feed the salt-infused watermelon to your cat; it is not good for the cat’s skin. Also, the combination of watermelon and feta is the most popular summer delicacy. As feta is high on salt, this treat isn’t for the cats.
How Often Should A Feline Eat Watermelon?
Since cats are carnivores, their diet should comprise of a meat diet. Cats may not get enough nutrients from the vegan diet. Hence, watermelon does not qualify as a food to be included in the regular diet of a cat. But if you still want to give watermelon to your cat, it is great as an occasional treat. As per vets, treats should only comprise 10% of the regular diet of a cat. So, you can feed your cat with watermelon once or twice a week as a treat.
What If the Cat Vomits After Having Watermelon?
If your cat vomits after having watermelon, rush it to the vet immediately. In such cases, the vets generally advise stopping the food and water of the pet until vomiting subsides. After that, you can start giving it water and put it on a bland diet such as rice and boiled potatoes.
The Bottom Line
Watermelon is loaded with benefits, but moderation is the key to garner its benefits. Since cats can’t digest plant-based food, it’s better to restrict these juicy treats for warm summer evenings. Always feed them with watermelon in the morning or early evening. It would be even better to consult your vet before giving watermelon to your cat.
