The new sensation in the food department, avocado, has made its way into almost every meal category be it appetizers, main courses, soups, and even desserts. However, the fruit was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, the southern part of North America, 5000 years ago.1 One reason that it has found its way into many of our current dishes is because of the benefits it can offer.
Can Cats Eat Avocado?
The quick one-word answer to this question is “No.” But for those who are a little more interested in the why, we hope the information below will satisfy your curiosity.
Here are some of the benefits eating avocado can help with for us humans2:
Manages body weight
Protects your heart
Prevents diabetes complications
Boosts nutrients
Promotes healthy digestion
Increases brain function
Protects your eyes
But what does avocado do for cats? Does it provide the same benefits? Unfortunately, it’s the opposite. Avocados can prove to be toxic to cats. Let’s dig deeper.
Do Cats Like Avocado?
Before actually thinking about whether you should feed avocado to your cat or not, we need to first ask the question, do cats like avocados? And the answer is yes (probably). Cats could like avocado given its smooth texture and rich flavor. A cat’s taste buds can’t pick up on the sweetness of fruits or certain vegetables, but avocados are different, so many cats may want to try them. And do not be surprised if your cat keeps coming for more if you do end up letting them have a lick of your avocado toast.
Is Avocado Good for Cats?
Avocados contain ‘Persin’, a natural fungicidal toxin found in the pit, leaves, bark, and flesh (the edible part) of the fruit. Now while this is harmless to humans, it can cause gastrointestinal irritation in cats, leading to symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.3
Health Benefits of Avocado for Cats
We concluded above that avocados are not good for your cat’s health if given to them in large proportions. However, some studies suggest that there are some health benefits that a cat’s digestive system can extract out of small amounts of avocado. These can include3 -
Amino Acids – Helps boost your cat’s immune system.
Healthy Fats – These have anti-inflammatory properties.
Antioxidants – Helps prevent the growth of cancerous cells and can lead to improved eyesight. Here are a few tips on eye care for your pet.
However, it’s not like these nutrients can only be extracted from avocados. The amount of nutrients that a cat can extract in a limited quantity of avocado you give them is not worth the possible health risks, so it might be best to offer your cat a different treat.
If you are letting your cat enjoy a little bit of avocado, do it only as a treat for good behavior, and try to keep the occurrence of this to a bare minimum.
How Much Avocado is Good for Your Cat?
We recommend none. But, if you are very keen to feed avocado to your cat, you can let them have one small bite of avocado. That’s it.
How Can You Feed Avocado to Your Cat?
For the avocado lovers who want to share the happiness they get from eating an avocado with their feline pets –
Carefully peel the avocado skin, remove its pit, and cut it into very small pieces.
Feed it directly to your cat or place it on top of their regular food.
One tablespoon or about 10 grams should be the limit (Make sure you divide that into tiny little pieces).
The list of ‘Don’ts’ here is a bit longer though.
No Guacamole – Guacamole may contain ingredients like garlic and onions, which can be highly toxic to cats. Do not think that just because a little avocado may be okay, guacamole is too.
Stay away from the skin, pits, and leaves – Make sure that your cat is not fed the skin, pits, or leaves accidentally. These parts of the plant can be very harmful to them. While disposing of your avocado leftovers, make sure that your cat does not have access to the bin.
Stick to the limit - Your cat is most probably going to ask for more but do not fall for it. Compensate them with your love and some other tasty treats.
What Can Happen If Your Cat Eats an Unusual Amount Of Avocado?
If your cat ate too much avocado, keep an eye out for the following symptoms of an upset stomach. You should contact your vet right away if you see2 –
Expert Insights From Spot
While sharing our favorite foods with our pets can be tempting, it's important to remember that not all human foods are safe for cats. Spot's internal data shows that pet insurance claims for dietary indiscretions average $642*, highlighting the importance of caution and research before sharing snacks with your pet.
How Spot Pet Insurance Can Help
Spot’s Accident-Only and Accident and Illness plans can help cover the eligible veterinary cost if your cat eats too much avocado and needs treatment. Spot Pet Insurance plans offer up to 90% cash back on eligible vet bills, helping you with additional financial support, so you can choose the best treatment option for your pet with less worry about the cost. Get a free quote today!
Conclusion
Go ahead and eat your avocado toast every day if you’re a fan, but when it comes to your cat or even a dog, it’s best to keep them away from it. A very tiny amount, once in a blue moon is typically okay (save it for the day your cat performs a great trick in front of your guests). While humans can derive various health benefits from avocados, Persin, which is found in every part of the avocado — from the pit to the flesh to the leaves, has the potential to poison your pet.1
Happy mood and health to your purry friend and lots of love and licks to you! (Licks by your cat).
As Spot’s resident cat enthusiast, I am dedicated to researching and sharing information that helps pet owners take the best care of their pets. Pet ownership comes with it’s share of challenges, but my goal is to help make this journey easier.
*Jan 2019 to Aug 2024 administrator claims data.
“A History of Avocados,” Avocados from Mexico, n.d., avocadosfrommexico.com/avocados/history/.
Koschalk, Katie. “Can Cats Eat Avocado?” BeChewy, 4 Jul. 2023, be.chewy.com/can-cats-eat-avocado/.
“Can Cats Eat Avocado, and Is It Healthy for Them? | Purina.” Purina.co.uk, 2021, www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/feeding/what-cats-eat/can-cats-eat-avocado. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.
