Can Cats Eat Watermelon? Everything You Should Know!

Watermelon is one of the food items that take us to our childhood. It was the time when our mum used to give us Watermelon squares in the hot summer vacation noons.
Sweet and warm memories!

Well, no doubt, they are the perfect snack. Refreshing, Tasty, filled with nutrients, and low in calories; hence, this sweet treat can never become the reason for your belly rolls.

However, if you are wondering if your Kitty can have a bite or Can cats eat Watermelon? Then let us tell you the answer is Yes. However, before you feed your Cat the tasty watermelon treat, there are some things you should know.

Keep reading to dig more!

Can Cats Have Watermelon?

The short answer is yes: Cats can have Watermelon. It is an excellent Treat option for Cats to have in hot summers. However, please don’t consider it a meal substitute for your Cat.

You must have heard in your school that Felines are obligate carnivores and need meat options to stay healthy. So, they really don’t need watermelons as the nutritional needs of Cats are a little different and complete with only a protein-rich and low-carb diet.

Still, you can give them Watermelon as a small treat, probably 2 to 3 bite-sized pieces, and that too without any seeds and grind. Ensure to remove seeds from the Watermelon to your Cat as it contains cyanide, which is harmful to Cats. Also, they can cause choking hazards in Cats.

Is Watermelon good for cats?

Well, it isn’t toxic for cats. Indeed, Watermelons are filled with healthy minerals and Vitamins, like Vitamins A, B6, B1, and C, Potassium, Magnesium, biotin, and not to forget lots of antioxidants. Yet, they don’t serve many purposes to cats as their nutritional requirements differ from humans.

You don’t have to give Watermelon to your Cat if you complete those nutritional requirements by providing a protein-rich healthy diet. Instead, it can cause obesity due to the high amount of Carbs in it.

In some cases, the Watermelon can also upset the Cat’s stomach and show symptoms like Diarrhea, Constipation, etc. It is very rare and likely happens in the case of Cats that have a sensitive gut. Well, we cannot blame your Cat for that, as its digestive system isn’t built to digest fruits. Similar symptoms can appear if you feed too much Watermelon to your Cat. Either situation, it’s better to take your Cat to the Vet as early as possible.

If your Cat is diabetic, Watermelon is a dangerous food for Cat. It is due to the presence of a high amount of sugar that can cause sudden insulin spikes in a diabetic cat on watermelon intake. Diabetic or not, a rise in such sugar levels can cause long-term health-related issues for any Cat.

What Amount Of Watermelon Can You Feed Your Cat?

Follow the 10% rule. Whenever you give Watermelon to your Cat, make sure not to exceed with Watermelon more than 10% of its total diet. On average, an 8-pound Cat needs around 250 calories. So, better watch out if just 10% of these calories come from Watermelon on the day you wish to feed Watermelon to your Cat.

Once you understand this, pick a fresh watermelon. Remove all the seeds and cut the watermelon red juicy part from the grinds. Finely chop the Juicy part and adequately measure the amount that is fine for your Cat to eat.

While feeding, firstly, ask for your Cat’s wish. If it shows no interest in having Watermelon, don’t force it to have it. Your Cat knows better what is acceptable for it to consume and won’t cause any trouble to its health. So, don’t push your Cat to eat Watermelon. Let it decide if it wants to eat it or not.

If you are giving Watermelon to your Cat, observe the symptoms to see if it is okay. If it shows any sign of illness, take it to the Vet. If the Cat is fine and loving its watermelon treat, every once in a while, you can give Watermelon to the Cat the same way you did the first time. However, make sure to give it once in a bit instead of making Watermelon a regular treat.