If I were to even begin to tell you what my cat has been up to today… *sigh*… I bet you also get stuck in some unenviable situations with your pet. Today’s problem: “Can cats drink apple juice?”
Well, if I’m being honest, it was more of a “What should I do if my cat drinks apple juice?” since she’s already helped herself to some.
To certain people, this might sound like such a silly question. Those who aren’t the owners of these little hairy monsters oftentimes find our struggles to be funny.
I’m sure I’d be laughing too, but only if I were on the other side. When you’re watching things take place right before your own eyes, it’s a totally different story.
I don’t blame my cat, though. It’s in her nature to be curious about things, especially if they smell nice. Also, I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t do the same if I was her!
When you think about it, apple juice is refreshing, sweet, and aromatic. Who could resist, really? But the real question here is: should cats resist the urge to dip their whiskers in apple juice?
We know it’s yummy and, for the most part, healthy for humans. But I’ve never heard of felines drinking apple juice before, so it was quite a shock.
I’ve had my furchild for a while now and you’d think that I’d be used to her antics by now. But she somehow always finds a way to make my heart jump into my throat.
Therefore, I set out to find out whether cats can drink apple juice. Honestly, I did this to steady my racing heart and stop myself from making a frantic vet call.
Can cats drink apple juice?
If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re here out of pure curiosity. But I know how inquisitive cats can be, and although it’s endearing, it’s stressful sometimes.
They want to discover all the new things, smells, textures, and flavors. That’s totally fine and a part of who they are. And if you’re a cat owner, you better make peace with that.
You just can’t keep anything from them. And if you try, they’re probably going to outsmart you pretty quickly. But it’s worth a shot, only if you remember to hide things from your pet…
I forgot, so I’m going to pay the price. The price was actually pretty high – a nervous breakdown! Well, I don’t want to overreact or exaggerate, but I was pretty darn freaked out!
I’m fully aware that she isn’t supposed to eat human foods or drink our beverages. It was quite strange to me that she even showed interest in my glass of apple juice.
I know it’s tasty, but I also know she can be rather picky. That’s why I was amazed to find her fur all sticky. She tried to bathe herself before she got caught red-handed. Just when she thought she was going to sneak out and leave the empty glass a mystery, turns out she’s not as stealthy as she thinks she is.
Of course, I couldn’t stay mad at her for that long. One look from her was all it took for me to melt like ice cream on a hot day.
But I didn’t calm down until I eventually found out that cats can drink apple juice. Or let me rephrase – it’s not recommended, but it’s nothing to panic about.
Is there any use in apple juice?
Well, I’d be lying if I said that I’m not a fan of apple juice. I’ll argue that it has certain benefits for me just because I want to keep enjoying it.
However, things take a completely different turn when it comes to my furbaby. No matter how much I like something, I’m going to be totally honest about it.
If it concerns my cat’s health, then I’m definitely going to look further into it. Until I’m convinced it’s 100% safe for my kitto, I’m not taking any chances.
If need be, I’d totally give up my apple juice or applesauce in order for my feline to stay healthy. But let’s cut to the chase. Can cats drink apple juice and is it any good for them?
If you want the short answer, it would be yes, cats can safely drink a bit of apple juice. It’s not poisonous to them. But do they really need it in their diet? No. Then how could they benefit from it?
What about protein?
Apple juice contains traces of protein, which means that this nutrient surely isn’t abundant in this fruity drink. However, is it enough to treat your pet with some apple juice?
Definitely not. Even though cats need protein in order to stay fit and healthy, they just don’t need the type of protein from apple juice. But now you’re thinking protein is still protein, right? Let me explain.
Felines are obligate carnivores, which means they need to eat meat in order to survive and thrive. Animal protein is what keeps them going and it fuels their body.
This nutrient is important for various bodily functions and it gives your pet energy. It also keeps her coat slick and shiny, and her bones and claws in tip-top shape.
But here’s the catch. You can’t just see the word “protein” and assume that food is a good choice for your carnivorous cat. The type of protein that is of benefit to felines comes from animal-based products. Otherwise, it’s almost of no use.
How could this be? Well, the proteins found in plants have a different amino acid makeup to that of animal-derived proteins.
So, when asking yourself if your cat can drink apple juice, you first must consider all the pros and cons of it. While protein is generally a pro, in this case, it just doesn’t suffice.
Vitamins and minerals?
Even though protein content won’t win the race for apple juice, maybe its other nutrients will.
Apple juice is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, iron, vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin D, calcium, and many more.
We know apples are healthy, right? But just how much of that healthy stuff is retained in this sweet glass of juice? To be honest, not many health advantages of apple juice mirror those in the actual fruit.
However, there still is a considerable amount of good stuff that your pet might benefit from. These vitamins and minerals keep your pet’s immune system in check.
They also have an important role in maintaining strong bones, a healthy nervous system, muscle contractions, and others. But is this good enough to treat your pet with some apple juice?
Honestly, felines will get all the needed nutrients from their regular meat-based diet. There’s no need to try to supplement that.
So, just because cats can technically drink apple juice, it doesn’t mean that they should. Make sure she gets properly fed and you won’t have anything to worry about.
What are the downsides to cats drinking apple juice?
Surely, you were also expecting to hear some downsides. It’s really unfortunate that our pets can’t always enjoy the treats we do.
But it’s for the best. While apple juice might be good for us, it’s better if your pet avoids it. Thankfully, it’s not toxic or anything like that, but instead simply unnecessary.
1. High sugar content
Unfortunately, one of the downsides to cats drinking apple juice is the amount of sugar it contains. You know that sweet taste you have left in your mouth after it? Well, sorry to break it to you, but it’s not just apples.
It’s also lots and lots of sugar. We love it and don’t seem to have any problem with it. Our felines, on the other hand, do.
Now, it’s not uncommon to see our furry companions digging their paws into something sweet. However, do they really need all of the sugar? Actually, they don’t. Cats don’t require carbs, therefore they don’t need sugar.
The thing is that they don’t even have a sweet tooth. More precisely, cats don’t have the taste buds that would allow them to pick up sweetness. So their penchant for your sweet treats is more likely just their desire to have what you’re having.
Excess amounts of sugar will harm your pet long-term. Although it’s not poisonous, larger quantities can ruin her quality of life.
For instance, sugar consumption may lead to various diseases such as diabetes, as well as obesity. Not to mention tooth decay! Talk about one unhappy kitto!
Therefore, keep sugary treats out of her bowl. Besides, she’d much rather appreciate a meaty snack.
2. All the additives
This modern, urban life is completely different than that of a couple of decades ago. The demand for certain products has skyrocketed.
This means that factories use more and more methods to fulfill the market demand. Unfortunately, this has brought about the use of various artificial flavors and additives.
Can cats drink apple juice because of all of these preservatives? Well, I’d better say it out loud: NO. We’re accustomed to them, but our cats aren’t.
Sure, she can sample it without any major consequences. It’s not like you’ll need to rush to the vet the moment she takes one lick of apple juice. But it’s certainly no good for her in the long run.
And don’t think products labeled “low sugar” or “sugar-free” are any better either. One of the most famous and widely used artificial sweeteners is xylitol.
This chemical compound is added to many sweets and drinks to add flavor. Unfortunately, it’s extremely toxic to felines and could cause major damage.
3. High-calorie drink
Just like most beverages these days, apple juice is abundant in calories. And as we know, calories can either be beneficial or quite the opposite.
What’s really unfortunate is that apple juice is packed with calories that are quite unnecessary in your pet’s diet. You see, she does get calories daily. But have you ever thought about what happens when she has too many? Honestly, I believe you know the outcome.
You know when you drink too much apple juice or eat too many sweets, you add those few pounds? Why are holidays so bittersweet? Well, it’s because we know we’re going to eat delicious foods but will later regret it.
However, cats don’t seem to give too much thought to their weight. That’s why your pet would probably indulge in it without thinking about the consequences. But the truth is that it could be unhealthy for her.
Too many calories will eventually lead to weight gain. Although being chonky may look cute, it will inevitably some additional health issues for her in the future.
