Coming from the Drupe family, these fruits are soft in texture and sweet in taste, making them a favorite among people. We’re not so sure whether our pets like them though, or can cats eat peaches at all.
This fruit is popular all over the world, especially because of its unique, fuzzy appearance. It often reminds us of our beloved pets, since they’re so cute we could just eat them up!
We know fruits are healthy for human consumption, but when it comes to cats, we have to be careful.
Citrus fruits, such as lemon and mandarin oranges, are poisonous to felines. Even though you can’t stand watching her beg you for food, first and foremost, you have to make sure that food is harmless.
Can cats eat peaches safely?
Peaches are one of those fruits you’d say are just cute. From the sound of their name to their funny looks and sweet taste, I can think of no better way to describe them. However, none of this matters if they’re hazardous to your furbaby, right?
These fruits are safe for cats, but in moderation. Trying out any new food carries the possibility of gastrointestinal upset for your furkid. So, when introducing new ingredients to your pet, make sure you do it in small, bite-sized pieces.
Cats are delicate creatures, not to mention how picky they are at times, especially when it comes to food. So, if your pet turns down the offer of tasting some peaches, don’t nag her. She knows what’s best for her!
While the peeled, washed flesh of the peach isn’t harmful to our pets, the stems and leaves are highly poisonous. So, chop up some peaches, or even freeze them to serve as a great treat for your cat!
Certain health benefits of peaches
Providing your pet with some peaches on occasion may offer certain health benefits. Cats can eat peaches that are peeled as they offer some vitamins and minerals crucial to your pet’s health. Some of the health supplements found in peaches include vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium, potassium, and others.
These are all essential to any cat’s health because they boost her overall immune system and help in maintaining healthy muscle and nerve functions. Besides, these can help keep your pet’s coat shiny and thick.
Peaches provide a number of health benefits for both you and your cat. Next to the above-mentioned benefits, vitamin A helps with vision impairment. Just like carrots, peaches are a great source of this vitamin, and especially useful for a creature that relies on night vision.
Peaches contain protein, which is needed for feline development. However, the protein found in fruits doesn’t match the quality of that found in meat. For cats, plant-based protein is harder to digest because of their carnivorous system.
This means that all these potential health benefits could go to waste if they can’t be digested properly. But, fiber, found in peaches, aids in digestive functions. The amount of fiber found in these fuzzy fruits can help speed up your pet’s digestion and help in constipation.
What about leaves and pits?
While peaches’ flesh is totally safe for your furkid, you should worry about pits, leaves, as well as skin. Unless you don’t grow these fruits yourself, you should make sure to wash off all the pesticides.
Store-bought peaches contain many of these harmful chemicals, and it’s necessary to wash and peel the skin. When it comes to leaves and pits, they’re extremely toxic to felines. The reason behind this is a compound called amygdalin.
This is a sugar-cyanide chemical that breaks down into cyanide with the help of digestive enzymes. Cyanide toxicity is rare to occur because cats won’t naturally eat the seeds and pits. However, be on the lookout for common symptoms.
Headaches, dizziness, racing heart, shortness of breath, and vomiting are all common early signs of cyanide poisoning. After a while, seizures, a slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest may ensue.
Keep your cat away from peach pits and skin for her own safety and your own sanity’s sake. It’s a difficult chore, but vet costs can have a devastating effect on your finances.
Can cats eat peach yogurt?
So far, peaches are okay for your kitto as long as they’re peeled. You can find them in fruit salads, cakes, as well as yogurts. If she decides to get her whiskers soaked in some of these, you might wonder, “Can cats eat peach yogurt?”
1. Dairy
There is no short answer on this one, so take a seat and make yourself comfortable. The reason why this is a bit more complicated question is that this treat is safe, to a certain extent. This means cats can eat peach yogurt because the fruit itself poses no danger to them.
Also, yogurt on its own isn’t a real hazard, but could invoke some gastric upset. Yogurt is a dairy, and therefore, contains lactose. Your furkid is lactose intolerant and you probably know where this is going.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body doesn’t make enough enzyme called lactase to break down the sugar found in milk. Since cats can’t synthesize this enzyme, lactose may cause vomiting, diarrhea, as well as bloating.
2. Sugar and sweeteners
Store-bought peach yogurt contains a lot of sugar. Felines don’t require sugar intake because these carbs don’t play any role in their bodies. Any unnecessary amounts of these can be harmful to your fluff.
Obesity, diabetes, and dental problems could appear if your cat’s carbs intake exceeds the limit. Speaking of hazards, another cause for concern that comes with grocery-bought yogurts are various preservatives and sweeteners.
These are used for added flavor, color, as well as longer shelf-life; but can be dangerous for your pet when consumed. An artificial sweetener called Xylitol is poisonous to felines. When it interacts with your pet’s digestive system, it can cause many problems.
It quickly absorbs into the bloodstream and causes the pancreas to release insulin. This results in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. That, in turn, can lead to death if left untreated.
Please, stay away from any products that contain artificial sweeteners and flavors. It’s obvious why I’m asking you to do so…
All in all
To give you an answer to your question, “Can cats eat peaches and other foods in combination with it?”, we made sure to explain the whys and hows. The point is that cats can eat peaches as long as they’re peeled and rid of any pits and leaves, as these are toxic to them.
In that case, peaches are a great addition for your furkid if she’s keen on trying new fruits. However, make sure to give this treat in moderation, as it’s high in sugar. When it comes to peach yogurt, if your cat has a lick or two, it could mean nothing.
But, you should be aware of the fact that yogurt is a dairy and cats are lactose intolerant, so when you put two and two together… Besides, store-bought peach yogurt contains many additives and artificial sweeteners that are poisonous to felines.
In conclusion, this fuzzy fruit can be a great addition to your pet’s diet, but only if you abide by the aforementioned precautionary measures.
Related post: Can Cats Eat Nectarines? Are These Smooth-Skinned Fruits Safe?
