Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Can Cats Eat Cranberry Sauce? Vet Reviewed Health Risks & Alternatives

Can Cats Eat Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a tasty condiment or side dish that goes well with many kinds of meals. However, if you’re a cat owner, you’ll want to think twice about feeding this sweet dish to your pet.

While cranberry sauce isn’t toxic to cats, it’s not the best snack for them because it tends to contain a large amount of sugar and few health benefits. Continue reading to learn more about why cats shouldn’t eat cranberry sauce.

divider 3 paws

Why Cats Shouldn’t Eat Cranberry Sauce

One of the main reasons that cats should avoid eating cranberry sauce is its sugar content. Both cranberry sauce and cranberry juice tend to contain high amounts of sugar that isn’t good for either humans or cats.

One ½-inch slice of canned cranberry sauce can contain about 22 grams of sugar. For context, children under the age of 18 shouldn’t eat more than 25 grams of sugar a day. So, you can imagine how much fewer sugar cats should eat and how they can easily end up consuming way too much from eating cranberry sauce.

While sugar isn’t poisonous to cats, it has little to no benefits for them. For one thing, cats can’t digest sugar very well because their digestive tracts aren’t designed to digest carbohydrates efficiently. If your cat consumes too much sugar, you may notice the following signs of an upset stomach:

  • Diarrhea
  • Increased gas
  • Lethargy
  • Licking lips
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting

Along with the immediate negative consequences, consuming too much sugar can lead to long-term health issues. Cats can quickly become overweight or obese or develop diabetes. They can also experience cavities, tooth decay, and other dental issues.

Lastly, cats can’t taste sweetness the way that humans can. Their tongue doesn’t contain any sweet flavor receptors, so they won’t enjoy the flavor of cranberry sauce. So again, sugar really doesn’t add any benefits to a cat’s daily nutritional intake or quality of life.

homemade cranberry sauce on saucepan
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

Can Cats Eat Cranberries?

While cats should avoid cranberry sauce, they can eat cranberries. Just make sure that they’re raw and not the sweetened and dried form. Dried cranberries have more calories per cup than raw cranberries. One cup of raw cranberries contains 46 calories, while just 1/4 cup of dried cranberries contains 92 calories.

Nutritional Benefits of Cranberries

Raw cranberries have various nutritional benefits.

They contain several vitamins and minerals, such as:
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
  • Calcium
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Potassium
Raw cranberries are also a great natural source of antioxidants:
  • A-type proanthocyanidins
  • Myricetin
  • Peonidin
  • Quercetin
  • Ursolic acid

It’s because of these antioxidants that cranberries are considered a superfood. In the category of antioxidants, cranberries excel and outperform most other fruits and vegetables, including apples, broccoli, cherries, spinach, and strawberries.

cranberries
Image Credit: Alexey Hulsov, Pixabay

Downsides to Cranberries for Cats

The one downside to raw cranberries is that they’re extremely tart, and cats may not like this flavor. Cats also have pretty sensitive stomachs, so they may take some time to adjust to eating new food. So, if it’s your cat’s first time eating cranberries, make sure to only feed them a small amount, and crush them into smaller pieces to prevent choking.

If you want to encourage your cat to eat cranberries and enjoy their many health benefits, you can try offering them in other forms, except for cranberry sauce and juice. Some cat supplements also contain cranberries, so you can add these to your cat’s diet.

While dried cranberries are healthier than cranberry sauce, it’s best to only give them as occasional treats because of their higher sugar content.

divider 1 paws

Other Healthy Alternatives to Cranberry Sauce

If you find that your cat just doesn’t have a taste for cranberries, you can always test out other healthy fruits to see if your cat likes them better. Here are some other fruits that are both safe for cats and nutritious. Again, any treat should be offered in moderation.

Apples

cat smelling apples
Image Credit: HelloRF Zcool, Shutterstock

Apples are also rich in antioxidants and may even help with lowering the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. If you notice that your cat enjoys the consistency of cranberry sauce and cat food in pâté form, you can always blend the apples to create applesauce. Some brands also make healthy versions of applesauce that don’t contain added sugar.


Blueberries

overflowing bowl of blueberries
Image Credit: Joanna Kosinska, Pixabay

Blueberries are the one superfood that outranks cranberries in antioxidant power. They’re also less tart and can be found more easily than cranberries.


Nectarines

freshly sliced peaches
Image Credit: stevepb, Pixabay

Nectarines are highly nutritious and are an excellent source of vitamin C. They also have links to boosting the immune system, lowering the risk of cancer, and helping with weight loss.


Strawberries

slices of strawberries on chopping board
Image Credit: Vladimir Permiakov, Shutterstock

Strawberries are other fruits packed with antioxidants. They’re also considered to be low-glycemic fruits, so many people with pre-diabetes and diabetes can enjoy this fruit without worrying as much about their blood sugar levels as with other fruits.

divider 1 paws

Final Thoughts

Cranberry sauce contains too much sugar and very few nutritional benefits that would make it worth feeding to cats. There are much healthier alternatives, such as raw cranberries and other fruits. Your cat will also most likely prefer a snack with a higher nutritional value and a flavor they can both taste and enjoy.

See Also: 

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Catster Photo Contest: Cats of the Week Winners (December 12, 2024)

This Week’s Winner Silliest Cutest Most Dignified Most Expressive Best Action Shot Sleepiest Enter Your Cat Submit your kitty for a chance to...

35 Kitten Memes: Cute, Funny & Adorably Evil Kittens

Cats and the internet go hand in hand. The internet is full of cat pictures, videos, and memes. Is there any other way...

100+ Popular Cat Names in 2025: Top Choices For Your Furry Feline

Roughly 46.5 million American households have opened their homes to at least one cat. Dogs may outnumber felines, but we love cats just...

Can Cats Eat Thyme? Vet-Reviewed Facts

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means the vast majority of their dietary intake should come from meat and other animal-based ingredients. However, it...

More related

Do Anti-Vomiting Cat Bowls Work? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

If you have cats in the home, you’re most likely familiar with the unwanted sound of one vomiting somewhere in the house. It...

10 Best Raw Cat Foods in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

The saying, “you are what you eat,” applies to cats too, and one diet that’s growing in popularity is raw food. Although more...

Are Cats Color Blind? Vet-Reviewed Vision Facts

Have you ever stopped to wonder if your cat sees colors in the same way that you do? If you’re looking at bright...

Tabby vs. Calico Cats: What’s the Difference? (With Pictures)

Tabby and Calico cats are not breeds, but rather types of coats that cats of various breeds may have. That said, there is...

Keep reading

Can Cats Drink Alcohol? Vet-Verified Facts, Risks & Safety Tips

For some people, there is no better way to de-stress and wind down from a long and busy day than kicking back with your favorite glass of wine, beer, or spirit. You may notice your curious cat sniffing around your...

Can Cats Drink Alcohol

Is It Ok to Put Ice Cubes in a Cat’s Water Bowl? Vet-Reviewed Pros & Cons

Most cat owners know that keeping a cat hydrated can sometimes be a challenge. Hydration is important for cats, and it’s even more important in the hot summer months. However, getting a cat to drink water is not always easy,...

Woman putting ice cubes into pack

How to Get a Stray Cat to Trust You: 6 Vet-Approved Tips & Tricks

Do you have a beautiful stray that lingers in your neighborhood? You might want to make friends with them, but it will prove to be quite a task. Stray cats often tug on the heartstrings of animal lovers. So, how...

man feeding stray cat

16 Vet-Reviewed Tips on How to Cat-Proof Your Apartment

Cats tend to get into a lot of trouble when left to their own devices. You turn your back, and half your home is in ruins, or worse, your cat has injured themselves or ingested something harmful! Cat-proofing your apartment...

Striped cat in modern home

How to Stop Cats From Scratching & Clawing Leather Furniture: 6 Vet-Verified Tips

Of course, you love your cat, but that doesn’t mean you love all of their behaviors–especially the more destructive ones. If your cat has taken a liking to scratching and clawing your leather furniture, you may feel at your wit’s...

close up cat claws scratching leather sofa

When to Euthanize a Cat With Feline Leukemia: Vet-Reviewed Advice

Feline leukemia is a serious disease that can cause a wide range of signs in cats, including anemia, weight loss, and infections. Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline leukemia, and it can be fatal. As such, euthanasia may be...

sick siberian cat

How to Get a Urine Sample From a Cat: Effective Vet Approved Tips & FAQ

A urine sample can help a veterinarian check for various conditions in a feline’s urinary tract and kidneys. If your vet has asked you to bring in a sample of urine from your cat, you might be feeling a bit...

woman collecting urine sample of an orange cat

My Cat Doesn’t Chew His Food: Vet-Reviewed Concerns & FAQ

While it’s important for humans to thoroughly chew our food before swallowing, for many other mammals—cats included—this is not usually the case. Humans eat a wide variety of different foods, from tough plants, seeds, and nuts that need to be...

cat after eating food from a plate