Durian is one of those foods that have a cult following around the world. If you’re an enthusiast, chances are you always have a couple of pieces lying around the house. It’s no wonder you consider sharing a couple of bites with your cat just to see her reaction! But can cats eat durian!?
Let’s be honest, even if you’re not familiar with this mysterious fruit, you’ve probably seen videos of people trying it for the first time. The pungent smell of durian seems to make everyone gag and lose their composure, so why would your precious purrincess be any different?
If you’re seriously considering offering a piece of this odoriferous fruit to your cat, you might want to take a step back. While durian isn’t toxic to cats, it’s not recommended that you include it in your furry friend’s regular diet. Just take another whiff of it and you’ll understand why!
Do cats like durian?
Have you ever seen a cat helping itself to some durian? Even though cats are incredibly curious creatures and love munching on almost anything they can steal from our plates, it’s highly unlikely your cat would be interested in this musty fruit.
Let’s unpack the mystery, shall we? Durian is a large, spiky, greenish-brown fruit with an edible pulp inside.
What makes it so different from anything you’ve ever tried before is its incredibly pungent odor. Believe it or not, durian is so stinky, it’s been banned from being eaten in public places!
You might think everyone’s exaggerating, but they’re not. People who have had the (dis)pleasure of eating this mysterious fruit have found interesting ways of describing the famous tang.
Rotten eggs, expired whipped cream mixed with diced garlic, banana with a subtle hint of hot garbage – you get the picture! If you take everything into consideration, you shouldn’t even wonder whether your cat would like this odoriferous fruit.
Cats can eat durian safely, but that doesn’t mean they should. Your cat might turn her little snout away from this fruit before you even have a chance to ask her whether she likes it or not.
Not only that, the putrid odor might make her sick to her stomach and lead to gagging and vomiting.
If you have an adventurous cat, she might give it another whiff, move it around with her paws, or even take that plunge into the unknown. But, you shouldn’t expect your furry friend to enjoy durian as much as you do. Her taste buds are quite different from yours!
Can cats eat durian? The good, the bad, and the stinky
You can’t argue with the fact that durian contains a bunch of nutritional and health benefits. One cup of this infamous fruit contains around 9 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. It also fulfills 53% of your daily vitamin C requirement, 76% of vitamin B1, and 34% of manganese, among many other nutrients.
While all these facts do sound amazing, you shouldn’t jump on the opportunity to share durian with your furry friend without consulting the vet. Your cat’s digestive system isn’t designed to break down carbohydrates and she might develop serious health issues as a result.
If you’re still not convinced, here are some additional reasons not to feed durian to your cat.
Durian isn’t toxic to cats, but…
If your ferocious furkid doesn’t gag at the sight of durian, good for you! Since durian isn’t toxic to cats, the only immediate danger your cat might face is the possibility of a stomach upset. Does that mean cats can and should eat durian, though?
No, it doesn’t. It also doesn’t mean you should introduce durian as a regular part of your cat’s diet. This infamous fruit doesn’t bring much nutritional value to the table when it comes to your precious pet. She’s much better off thriving on animal protein.
Not only that, durian is incredibly expensive in most parts of the world. So, there’s no reason to spend loads of money on something that has no benefit to your cat. If you’re set on introducing fruits to her diet, you might want to look into peaches, papaya, or even blackberries.
Even though it might not be toxic, durian doesn’t offer any benefits to your cat. You’re much better off looking into commercially available treats, or at least something less expensive and less stinky than durian. If you’re not a big fan of its odor, it’s simply not worth the hype!
Durian smells bad
At the risk of repeating myself, durian isn’t the best choice for anyone with a sensitive stomach. There isn’t one person in the world who hasn’t heard about the unbearable stench of this fruit. So, if you’re having a hard time understanding why people love it so much, you’re not the only one!
If you’re anything like me, you don’t like seeing your precious furbaby experiencing any kind of discomfort. Cats are notoriously picky eaters and they get bored with their regular diets all the time. This isn’t the time to durian in your kitty’s hour of need. There are plenty of cat-friendly alternatives on the market!
Now, let’s talk about something slightly uncomfortable. If your furry friend does decide to feast on your carefully prepared durian bites, you should expect to catch a whiff of her lunch everywhere you go. Not only will her breath reek of rotten eggs, but she’s also bound to experience some pretty smelly poops!
Durian contains too much sugar
If everything else wasn’t enough, your furry friend might experience serious digestive issues due to copious amounts of sugar found in durian. Unfortunately, your cat’s digestive system isn’t designed to break down carbohydrates efficiently.
You have nothing to worry about if your precious pet has taken a bite or two of durian. While this fruit can contain up to 20 grams of sugar per serving size, a few nibbles won’t do any harm to your cat. On the off-chance she’s a big fan, make sure to treat it as an occasional snack.
If you have a lot of durian fruits lying around your house, it’s best to keep them out of your cat’s reach. If you suspect your kitto of stealing some, keep an eye out for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and overall discomfort. In addition to this, too much sugar can lead to weight gain, feline diabetes, and other health issues.
Cats can eat durian, but…
It’s best to avoid this stinky treat! Since durian doesn’t offer any nutritional or health benefits for your precious pet, there’s no reason you should insist on introducing it to her diet. It’s expensive, difficult to find, and bound to stink up the entire room.
If you’re a big fan of this odoriferous fruit, rather enjoy it without your trusty sidekick. Durian might make your cat gag at the first whiff, and if she’s adventurous enough to take a bite, she may experience an array of digestive issues including an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. That doesn’t sound so appealing, does it?
Luckily for you, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from. If your guzzler loves munching on tropical fruits, you can always turn to mango, papaya, or even kiwi. Just always make sure to consult with your vet before making any changes to your cat’s diet!
