Cats are carnivores built to survive on meat. But we often see pet owners sharing their human foods with their feline family members. While it’s mostly safe to give cats human foods like fruits and veggies, some can be very harmful.
What about guava? Can Cats Eat Guava?
Can Cats Eat Guava?
Yes! If given in moderation. Guava is high in Carbohydrates, Vitamin C and Potassium. As per ASPCA, Cats cannot digest carbohydrates, and they can naturally make vitamin C in their body. Feeding a large amount of Guava will cause Diarrhea and Stones in the Cat’s kidney. In Cats, potassium is good for their muscles, nerve, and heart function. A small amount of Guava, with the advice of Veterans, will prove beneficial to your cats.
Besides, the nutritional facts Do Cats like Guava or not? Scientifically Feline Behavior with sweets is different because Cats lack the receptor for sweetness. They are known as sweet blind. As Guava has a sweet taste due to its sugar content, so try to give one or two slices to see how your cat behaves.
Can Kittens eat Guava?
Kittens need balance nutrients from their Mother’s milk in their first four weeks. After four weeks, they need 90% of the total nutrients from specially formulated Kitten food. Feeding Guava is not safe for Kittens in large amounts until the age of maturity(One Year). A small amount of Guava as a Treat can be a good option. Contact your Veterinarian or Cat Nutritionist for recommendations.
Guava Fruit and Cat
Guava is a tropical fruit found in many countries around the planet. Guavas are sweet in flavor, have soft flesh, and contain tiny seeds. Guava rind and seeds are edible for cats if given as a treat in small quantities.
Like all fruits, guavas are loaded with nutrients like fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamins. They offer a range of health benefits to both humans and pets.
Guavas are eaten as a snack or treat rather than a full meal. Make sure you give your cat no more than a couple of slices of guavas only as an occasional treat.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of feeding you furbaby guava fruit.
Health Benefits Of Guava For Cats
Here are the top 5 benefits of guava for cats based on the Nutritional Profile of Guava:
- Improved Digestion: The high fiber content in guavas aids in digestion. It can help avoid constipation in cats.
- Healthy Snack: The low-fat content, along with antioxidants, makes guavas a super healthy snack for your kitty. It can also help prevent the risk of fatty liver and obesity.
- Source Of Potassium: Potassium is an essential electrolyte in the body. It is used for muscle contractions, heart function, and nerve impulses. Many crucial bodily functions are disturbed without potassium. Guavas are a good source of potassium for cats and prevent potassium deficiency in cats.
- Antioxidant-Rich Fruit: Guavas are rich in antioxidants, so feeding guavas to cats can prevent free radical damage and reduce inflammation. Antioxidants also reduce aging and prevent the development of tumors and cancers.
- Lowers Cholesterol: Guava contains a compound called pectin that can lower cholesterol levels. So, feeding guavas to cats can help prevent diseases linked to high cholesterol levels, such as blocked arteries.
Guava Nutrition
Guava is safe for cats if given in moderation but is Guava good for Cats? Yes. Guavas offer many health benefits for cats. Here is the nutritional profile of 1 guava to help you learn more about this fruit: [Source: USDA]
As per the above Analysis, Guava is high in Carbohydrates, and Vitamin C. Cats have small intestines, so they cannot ferment fibers. Therefore it is recommended to avoid giving human food like guava fruits daily. Occasionally, a small amount of Guava as a treat can be a good option.
Naturally, Cats and dogs can make vitamin C in their body. If you are feeding Guava to your cat, then consider the quantity. Cats will be at high risk of forming calcium oxalate stones if vitamin C increases beyond the safe level. Contact your veteran if you find your cat vomiting and drooling.
Risks Of Feeding Guavas To Cats
Like with every food, there are some risks of feeding guavas to your cat. Here are some things you need to watch out for before feeding guavas to your feline friend:
- Choking Hazard: Sometimes, raw guavas, flesh, and seeds can be very hard to digest for cats. This poses a choking hazard for cats, especially kittens. So, chop up the guava in tiny pieces before giving it to your cat. Moreover, try only to feed fresh and soft guavas to cats.
- Weight Gain: Guavas are high in carbohydrates and sugars. Feeding them regularly to your cat may result in weight gain and diabetes. So, only feed guavas to cats in moderation once in a while.
- Harmful Compounds: Guavas contain a small number of oxalates and tannins. Oxalates can make your cat develop kidney stones and urinary tract issues. Moreover, guava leaves also have tannin, which can cause digestive upset in cats.
- Overeating: It is easy to get carried away if your cat loves guava or guava juice. But be careful not to let your cat overconsume guavas. Overeating guavas can cause digestive issues and other problems in cats.
- Allergic Reaction: Guava allergy or poisoning is unheard of, but cats can actually be allergic to guavas. Basically, guavas contain latex, so cats with latex food syndrome (aka latex allergy) can exhibit symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Pet allergies typically cause nose, eye, skin, and respiratory (lung and throat), symptoms. These may lead to a decreased quality of life, including difficulty sleeping and a lack of energy.
To avoid these risks, check out the next section of the article. You will learn how to properly and safely feed guavas to your cat.
Best Ways To Feed Guava To Cats
Before you tell you how to incorporate guavas into your cat’s diet, you need to consider the following:
1. Guava Slices
Only give cats 1-2 slices of guava once every couple of weeks. You can chop them up to make it easier for your cat to eat. Even though guava skin is edible, it is best to remove it because cats don’t usually like it.
2. Cat Food
You can add chopped or mashed guavas to your cat’s food. Top it on kibble (dry cat food) or mix it with wet cat food. This is a great way to introduce this fruit to your kitty.
3. Guava Juice
A lot of cats love guava juice because it’s sweet and tasty. While guava juice is perfectly safe and healthy for cats, do not overfeed it to your furball. A few licks in a day are more than enough for your kitty.
Do You Have Guava Trees Or Plants At Home?
Many US households in the suburbs have guava trees in their garden. Well, pet owners with a guava tree in their backyard will be glad to know that guava plants are pet friendly. They are nontoxic to cats and dogs.
This means that the leaves of guava plants or trees are nontoxic to cats. However, guava leaves contain a significant amount of tannins, which can harm cats. Tannins are chemical compounds found in plants that can irritate a cat’s digestive system.
So, while a small bite or lick of guava leaves is harmless for kitties, eating too much of them can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, etc. If you find chewing on some guava leaves, make it stop asap. Moreover, consult your vet ASAP if your cat shows any signs and symptoms of tannins poisoning.
That said, guava leaves are not all that bad for acts. You’d be surprised to know that they can also be super useful for cats. Let’s tell you how!
You Can Use Guava Leaves For Cats As Home Remedy (But How?)
Besides offering multiple nutritional benefits to cats, guavas can also be used for different remedies. Here is how guava leaves can be helpful to cats:
● Treatment of Cat Wounds and Infections
Did you know that guavas have healing properties? Guava extract has been used to treat cat wounds and skin issues for centuries. The antibacterial agents in guavas heal the skin and prevent infections. You can find guava creams in the market to heal wounds on pets. [Source: Semantic Scholar]
● Treatment of Cat’s Diarrhea
Even though tannins in guava leaves can cause an upset stomach, guava leaf tea actually has the opposite impact. Guava tea is actually an effective remedy for loose stomachs and diarrhea. So, next time your cat has digestive issues, boil some guava leaves to prepare guava tea. You can also get guava leaf tea bags in the market.
Final Thoughts
Can cats eat guavas?
YES.
Here is a quick recap of everything we covered in this article:
- Guavas are safe and healthy for cats.
- Feed guavas to cats in moderation and not so often.
- Guava leaves are an effective remedy for cat wounds and upset stomachs.
- Watch out for latex allergy side effects when feeding guavas to cats.
Hopefully, this guide helped you learn about guavas for cats and how to feed guavas to cats safely. If you have any concerns or queries about feeding guavas or another fruit to your cat, consult your vet.