Can Cats Eat Passion Fruit? Vet Approved Feline Nutrition Advice

Our feline friends love treats, and we love giving treats to them! Most of the time, we stick with cat-specific treats, but sometimes, it’s tempting to let our kitties have a bite of whatever we’re eating (especially when they have their cute faces stuck on our plates). But a lot of people food isn’t healthy for cats.

Many wonder if fruits are safe for our cats to eat, and in some cases, they are. But when it comes to passion fruit, you’re better off not feeding passion fruit to your pet. Why is that? Keep reading to find out what you need to know about passion fruit and felines!

Why Can’t Cats Eat Passion Fruit?

As long as you’re feeding your cat the passion fruit commonly found in the supermarket, it isn’t toxic to cats. However, some parts of the passion fruit might cause problems with your kitty’s digestive system (which we’ll discuss below). Plus, chances are your cat won’t have any interest in passion fruit.

If your kitty manages to steal a small bite of a ripe passion fruit, they should be fine, though. They may experience some mild gastrointestinal upset at most, so keep an eye on them if you discover they’ve had this fruit.

Dangers of Feeding Passion Fruit to Cats

Studies on how safe passion fruit is for felines haven’t been carried out, but anecdotal evidence indicates that the ripe, commercially available varieties aren’t toxic, but it’s probably something you don’t want to give your cat on purpose. There are some parts of the passion fruit plant that may be toxic, including the roots and the leaves.  However, the flesh of the ripe fruit isn’t toxic.

One thing that passion fruit contains that might not do well with your cat’s system is compounds such as piceatannol. In humans, piceatannol is thought to improve insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health, but how they would affect felines is unknown. Passion fruit also has a lot of vitamin C, which cats don’t need to take in as part of their diet because they are capable of producing their own vitamin C.

Another downside of passion fruit is the rind. The rind isn’t edible, and it contains cyanogenic glycosides which can become the active form of cyanide when eaten, so if your kitty consumes it, stomach upset may occur.  In large quantities or if unripe fruit is eaten, toxicity may occur.  The rind is thick so if large pieces are eaten, blockages in the gastrointestinal tract could occur (not to mention the possible choking hazard the rind poses).

Then, there are the seeds of this fruit, which may also be a choking risk and can possibly cause stomach upset. Always keep any leaves or roots of the passion fruit plant away from the cat.

Can Cats Eat Fruit?

Some fruits are safe for felines to consume, but it’s important to know that your cat doesn’t need fruit in their diet. In fact, the majority of cats won’t even like fruit (possibly because they cannot taste sweetness like we can). Felines are obligate carnivores, so their bodies need animal proteins to thrive. Meat gives your kitty all the nutrients they need; without meat in their diet, your cat will become unwell.

So, yes, some fruits are safe, but if you try to add fruit to your pet’s diet, only give it to them on occasion as a treat. Fruit isn’t a necessity for felines and, in fact, shouldn’t comprise more than 2% of their diet. With that being said, before introducing any new food item you're unsure about to your cat's diet, it's always best to check with a veterinarian first.

What Fruits Are Safe for Cats to Eat?

There are a handful of fruits that are cat-safe, which you can give to your pet in moderation. These include:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Berries
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydews
• Kiwis
• Mangos
• Nectarines
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

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Conclusion

Passion fruit probably shouldn’t be given to your feline. Though the purple variety isn’t considered toxic, some elements of this fruit may still cause stomach upset or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract in your kitty. Cats don’t actually need fruit in their diets (in fact, most don’t find fruit very enjoyable), but if you want to give fruit to your pet as a treat, stick to fruits that have been deemed cat-safe, and don’t let it make up more than 2% of kitty’s diet.

• See Also: Can Cats Eat Pineapple Leaves? Vet-Approved Dangers & Advice

Featured Image Credit: October22, Shutterstock