July 24, 2024, 8:28 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Many cats like watermelons. Cat expert and author Carmen Schell explains why this is the case, whether it is safe to give cats some of this fruit and how much is allowed.
Cats are actually pure carnivores and are extremely picky when it comes to food. Nevertheless, it can occasionally happen that they also show an interest in fruit and vegetables. Watermelon is particularly popular and is not part of their natural diet. Carmen Schell is an animal psychologist, cat behavior consultant, and owner of Cattalk. The expert explains this unusual phenomenon to PETBOOK.
Why does my cat love watermelons?
“It’s hard to believe: watermelon contains similar amino acids to meat, so there are some cats who really go for the taste of melon,” explains Carmen Schell. But is it okay to give them a piece? “A clear yes. If your cat is healthy and has no previous illnesses, there is nothing wrong with giving it a piece of watermelon.” But …
When is watermelon harmful to cats?
Just like humans, cats can develop diabetes. “In such a case, you should make absolutely sure that they don’t eat any carbohydrates. This includes sugar,” says Schell. And fruit is not exactly low in sugar. “So if you add watermelon to their diet, their blood sugar levels immediately go up, and this is something that should be avoided at all costs, especially for diabetics.”
How much watermelon is okay also depends entirely on the size of the cat. “With a small kitten, I would really only give a very, very small piece. A Maine Coon, on the other hand, is much bigger and has a completely different metabolism, so the piece can be a little bigger. But in terms of proportions, I would say: a small cube is always fine!” says the cat behavior consultant.
Rind and seeds: What cat owners need to watch out for
Another point to consider when feeding watermelon is its other components. This is because both the rind and the seeds of the melon are not harmless to cats. “The rinds are relatively often sprayed and therefore contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your cat does not ingest them.” You should also be careful with the seeds, as they can lead to digestive problems and, depending on the quantity, even to intestinal obstruction. “Therefore, always remove them to ensure that the cat only consumes the pure fruit flesh”, explains Carmen Schell.
Remo, the cat, loves every melon
Whether it’s Galia, Futuro, Cantaloupe, or watermelon, my cat Remo loves every variety. If you offer him a slice, he even takes a bite with relish and nibbles away. In the beginning, he even jumped onto the bench top – which he doesn’t normally do – while the fruit was being cut up and even went for the inside of the melon. If he was allowed to, he would eat so much of the sweet fruit that he would vomit. However, he is always allowed a small piece, especially of the less sweet watermelon varieties. Especially on hot days, it helps to meet his daily water requirements.
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Why it’s worth giving your cat watermelon
Similar to humans, watermelon also has benefits for cats: “Watermelons have a very, very high water content. Because cats in particular drink relatively little and their kidneys are a high-performance organ that concentrates fluids, a piece of watermelon can give cats an extra splash of water, especially in the summer months,” says Carmen Schell.
However, to effectively counteract the fluid deficit, particularly during the hot season, the expert suggests offering cat milk or cat broth.