As you may already know, some human foods are perfectly fine for our feline friends to consume.

However, some may even be toxic.

The good thing is that cats aren’t really too interested in human foods to begin with but, it is always important to look up common human foods before feeding them to our kitties.

After all, an innocent mistake can cost you your kitty’s life!

It is important to look up any food items before giving them to your kitty. This is because while some foods are completely safe your cat to consume, others can even be lethal.

In this blog post, I’ll answer the question, “Can cats eat avocados?” in as much detail as I possibly can.

So, without any further ado, let’s begin!

Yes or No: Can Cats Eat Avocados?

In this section of the blog, I will help you figure out whether or not your kitty can munch on avocados.

Let’s begin.

We all know that avocados are healthy–no doubt about it. They also taste really good and are easy to eat alone, in a smoothie, on top of a salad, or as a simple side. There are even recipes out there that show you how to mix avocados into a dessert!

While avocados may be amazing for you, are they safe for your kitty?

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, both the meat as well as the oil of avocado have been shown to be safe for kitty consumption if you give them to her in moderation.

These can be mixed into your cat’s normal food or provided as a special stand-alone treat.

Some pet parents choose to give their cats products that are specially formulated with avocado, such as the cat food brand AvoDerm. This way, cats eat avocado without their pet parents having to worry about giving them too much or not enough of the powerful fruit.

After all, too much avocado–especially due to its high fat content–can lead to diarrhea and other forms of gastrointestinal upset.

Older cats or cats with chronic health problems may have more sensitive stomachs. So, always use caution when giving avocado products to your senior and/or chronically ill kitty.

Myth or Fact: Avocados are BAD for Cats!

As I mentioned earlier in the blog, the meat of the avocado fruit is safe to consume the other parts of the fruit, could actually be potentially harmful to your kitty companion.

So, what’s all the fuss about?

Well, avocados contain Persin which is an organic compound found naturally within the stem, peel, leaves, and pit of an avocado. It is especially potent in Guatemalan avocados.

For cats, persin is actually considered a toxin. However, it’s completely safe for humans to consume.

Keep in mind that persin is not found in extracts of avocado which is why cat food brands that contain avocado oil are generally safe.

Keep in mind that even a small amount of fresh avocado fruit is usually okay, provided that not too much is given and careful attention is paid to how your cat reacts to the supplementary food.

It’s worth remembering, too, that aside from potentially exposing your cat to the persin toxin, the peel, stem, leaves, and pit of an avocado can also serve as a choking hazard for your cat. So, be sure to keep the avocado discards safely away from your pet, and always call your vet with concerns or questions.

Can Cats Eat Avocados: The Several Health Benefits of Avocados for Cats

In this section of the blog, I will simply share the several benefits of avocados for cats. This fruit has various health benefits.

Take a look.

High-Quality Protein

Avocados are rich in amino acids, which work like individual bricks to the brick wall of dietary protein. As you may already know, protein is critical for a variety of physiological functions, these include:

• Energy production
• Muscle development
• Proper organ function
• Strong immunity
• Growth of healthy skin, hair, and nails

These benefits are necessary for humans and animals alike.

The avocado fruit actually contains over 18 protein-building amino acids. This makes avocado a great source of natural and complete protein for kittens, adult cats, and senior cats.

Healthy Fats

After years of being chastised by the media, dietary fat is finally being recognized as an essential component of a healthy balanced diet.

Most people agree that fat found in avocados is especially beneficial for humans as well as their furry friends.

In fact, over 75% of the fat found in avocados is either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.

While these words do sound strange, they simply describe the molecular structure of certain fat molecules. Both, polyunsaturated as well as monounsaturated fats come under the category of “healthy fat” as opposed to trans fats and certain saturated fats typically found in processed sweets and meats.

Specifically, the fat found in avocado has a powerful anti-inflammation effect on the body and promotes healthy heart and skin.

Antioxidants

The vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals found in avocados are essential for strengthening the immune system.

They help prevent and even reverse cell damage that may occur due to processed food consumption, injury, environmental stress, illness, and aging.

Some specific antioxidants found in avocados include compounds like lycopene and beta-carotene. These are found in the highest concentration in the dark green meat closest to the peel.

Summing Up: Can Cats Eat Avocados?

While avocados have a bad reputation in the pet community, they are actually safe for consumption.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, both the meat as well as the oil of avocado have been shown to be safe for kitty consumption if you give them to her in moderation.

Some pet parents choose to give their cats products that are specially formulated with avocado, such as the cat food brand AvoDerm. This way, cats eat avocado without their pet parents having to worry about giving them too much or not enough of the powerful fruit.

After all, too much avocado–especially due to its high fat content–can lead to diarrhea and other forms of gastrointestinal upset.

Still, have questions? Leave them in the comments, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.