Can Cats Eat Watermelon?

Many pet parents ask “Can cats eat watermelon?” It’s a good question, especially in the summer, when the weather is hot and you want to make sure your cat is hydrated. After all, on a summer day when you are enjoying a refreshing bowl of watermelon to quench your thirst, your feline buddy may purr in your ear, “Please share,” and you will pause before giving them a slice.

Human food is not always safe for your cat and whilst you want to give them a treat, you must decide if cats can eat any part of the watermelon: the flesh, the seeds, or the rind.

According to vets, properly formulated cat food is the best option to offer your cat as it gives a balanced range of nutrients, but when you want to give your cat a treat, watermelon is a safe option as it is not bad for your cat’s digestive system.

There are various health benefits associated with a watermelon: it is full of fiber, minerals, and nutrients, as well as water. Watermelon rind and seeds, however, can create stomach upset and GI issues; which is why you should avoid these two.

Is watermelon good food for cats?

Pet owners can safely feed watermelon as it is non-toxic for your cat. Take care of the cat’s daily calorie intake because the natural sugar in watermelon is quite high. If your cat has an upset stomach or suffering from constipation, Vitamin C and mineral-induced healthy fiber will help relieve this situation. When healthy cats eat watermelon for the first time, you won’t know how it will affect them, but adding small amounts of this new food to the diet over time will help you understand what affects them.

Cat treats can be a good way to add more nutrients to the cat’s diet, and watermelon occasionally is a good option, but you must be aware of any pre-existing conditions, as a cat with diabetes cannot cope with the high sugar content in the fruit, and it could lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. All pet owners know that high blood sugar levels are not safe for their pets.

Is watermelon safe for cats to eat?

When cats eat watermelon, there are no side effects because the fruit is non-toxic. Feeding watermelon to your cat gives nutritional benefits and aids their digestion. Pet parents always strive to give non-toxic high-quality cat food to their feline friends and adding some fruit for fiber and minerals is always the primary aim of pet owners.

If you have a senior cat or your feline friend is suffering from any health issue, you should not feed them watermelon without consulting your vet first. And with a diabetic cat, if you feed it watermelon, the high sugar content in the fruit will worsen the condition. Only the watermelon flesh is safe for your cat, and you must avoid giving the rind or seeds of this fruit, as they may lead to GI issues, including diarrhea and vomiting.

Are there any side effects of feeding a cat watermelon?

Which part of watermelon can cats eat safely should be carefully considered. Small cat breeds and adult cats both enjoy this treat and even though this food is non-toxic, there are still some side effects that you might see in your cat after feeding them watermelon.

Diarrhea is the most common side effect of watermelon, especially if your cat eats too much. Other than that, there are no other common side effects.

How much watermelon can a cat eat?

Most cats eat watermelon, cooked carrots, and citrus fruits as an occasional treat with great pleasure, but that doesn’t mean you can replace their whole meal with this fruit. It is best if you gave your cat only a couple of kibble-sized bites. A cat doesn’t need calories from fruits, but rather needs protein and amino acids from animal products for energy and a healthy life.

According to your cat’s health condition and size, you must give only 30 to 50 grams of watermelon and offer it only as an occasional treat. Seeds and rinds should always be removed, as they are a choking hazard.

What are the risks of feeding cats watermelon?

There are no risks of adding watermelon to the diet of a healthy cat as an occasional treat, but you should not give this fruit to your cat daily as it may suffer from:

• Withdrawal from food
• Enhanced blood sugar level
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Choking hazard is the most common risk if you do not remove the rind before giving this fruit to your cat. Kittens, especially, can choke on the seeds or if the fruit is cut too big to swallow easily. Senior cats, also, cannot handle the extra sugar and type-2 diabetes is a serious health risk if you make mistakes in their diet plan. Owners with cats suffering from pre-existing conditions should avoid adding new food items without consulting a vet first.

Can kittens eat watermelon?

Everyone knows kittens should not be given any other food before they are properly weaned, but even after weaning, care should be taken in introducing new foods to them. Your vet is the best person to ask for advice on the right foods to give your cat to keep it healthy.

Watermelon is easy to digest for kittens, and there is no potential harm in feeding them this food. Without exceeding the limited amount of watermelon flesh, things will not get out of control. But watermelon seeds and rinds should never be given to any cat as their digestive system cannot process them.

Watermelon Nutrition Benefits For Cats

When you serve watermelon to your cat, they will get the following benefits:

• Healthy fiber
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B1 and B6
• Potassium
• Loads of antioxidants
• Biotin

How should watermelon be served to your cat?

When cats eat watermelon on a hot summer day, they get the same benefits and natural sugar as you do from eating this refreshing fruit, but it would be best if you did not give rind and seeds to your cat, resulting in digestive issues. The best way to give your cat watermelon is to offer this fruit as a seasoning on the cat food or offer it as a treat in kibble-sized slices. Frozen bites and watermelon juice without flesh are also among the most loving ways for a cat to consume watermelon.

Can cats drink watermelon slushies?

Watermelon slushy is refreshing, soothing, and loaded with nutrients, but mostly, the slushy you buy from the market has preservatives, artificial coloring, and flavor to enhance the taste. All of these things are hazardous for your cat, and you must avoid giving such slushies to your furry friend. On the other hand, if you made slushy in your home without adding any sugar, salt, spice, or flavor, then this slushy is safe and healthy for your cat.

Can cats eat frozen watermelon?

Nothing is more refreshing than a cube of frozen watermelon with sugary syrup on it, but the same cannot go for your cat. Your feline friend cannot have a sugary coating, nuts, or other dairy product on the frozen watermelon. When you cut the flesh for your cat, remove the rind and seeds carefully and keep the size smaller for your cat. They will enjoy munching on this treat.

Can cats drink watermelon juice?

Cats love to drink watermelon juice, but you shouldn’t add sugar, salt, or another spice in the process. When you have made juice, do not add extra flesh to it. You can add juice into the food or water bowl to let them enjoy the feast. Watermelon juice has natural sugar in it, and you must avoid giving this treat if your cat is diabetic.

Alternative Healthy Snacks

When cats eat bananas, they get potassium from this fruit. Most of the cats eat blueberries because of the texture and moisture of this fruit. Cats are carnivores and are meant to eat meat, but that doesn’t mean their digestive system cannot harvest nutrients from fruits and vegetables. According to experts, giving one or more of the following helps your cat get nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

1. Zucchini
2. Strawberry
3. Cranberry
4. Peas
5. Spinach
6. Carrot
7. Mango

These foods enhance your cat’s immunity and GI health, but do not replace vet-recommended cat food with these. These fruits can only be 5 to 10% of their daily intake. Anything more than that will cause obesity, digestive issues, and other health problems.

Final Thoughts

• Watermelon is non-toxic and healthy food for your cats
• Do not replace their meal with this fruit, as it is not good for their health and wellbeing.
• The seeds and rind of this fruit are hazardous for your cat.
• Giving this food to the diabetic cat will increase the blood sugar level and result in organ damage.
• Do not give your cat more than a moderate quantity of watermelon occasionally.
• Never add salt to the watermelon to enhance the taste since salt is not good for the health of your cat

FAQs for cats eating watermelon