Can cats eat papaya?

By power, yes, cats can eat papaya. It is not a toxic or dangerous fruit for cats, such as green fruits, raisins or grapes, but it is also true that not the most ideal due to its nutritional composition.

Papaya is a very hydrating fruit, but quite rich in carbohydrates and sugars, compounds that cats should not eat in large quantities because they are not adapted to consume or take advantage of them. The cats they are strict carnivoresTherefore, their diet should be based on the consumption of protein and fat obtained from animal tissue, something that is far from fruit. Therefore, if a cat consumes a lot of fruits and vegetables and little meat, it will undoubtedly present nutritional deficiencies and health problems derived from this type of diet. In addition, cats do not usually like the sweet taste more than anything because they lack the taste buds that detect it, so papaya is not a food that your little cat will ask for.

In this other article we talk in depth about what cats eat.

The great benefit of papaya is its content in water and fiber, which favors normal intestinal transit and prevents delayed disorders and constipation. It also promotes the dissolution of fats, supports colon cleansing and allows the breakdown of proteins because it contains papaina proteolytic enzyme that promotes these actions.

Another benefit of this fruit is that it protects eye health, since it prevents macular degeneration and the appearance of cataracts due to its content in lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. On the other hand, papaya is also rich in antioxidant substances such as vitamin Ccarotenes and flavonoids, compounds that prevent premature aging and reduce free radicals, protecting the cells of our cats.

Although it contains large amounts of sugar, it is also an important source of vitamins such as B complex vitamins (vitamin B1, B2 and B3), vitamin A and vitamin D, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iodine, iron and zinc.

As we have mentioned, and despite its great health benefits, cats cannot eat large amounts of papaya. Their main diet should be based on protein of animal origin, and to avoid nutritional deficits, the ideal is to purchase a food already designed for this species, be it dry feed, wet food, or homemade food prepared by experts. Thus, we make sure that you ingest all the nutrients you need in their proper proportions to maintain your health and metabolism under normal conditions.

However, as we have said, cats can eat papaya in moderate amounts. In this way, an average-sized adult cat could ingest a maximum of a fifth of a papaya once a weekmore quantity can be indigestible or reduce the consumption of your usual food, with the consequences that it can have for your health.

Giving papaya to your cat can be interesting if it is going through a process of constipation or if it drinks little water to reinforce hydration and intestinal transit. If you want to try giving papaya to your little cat, you should remove the skin completely and all the seedsas you could choke. Once this is done, cut the papaya into small pieces or crush it and mix it with your homemade ration (if you have it), but never offer it dehydrated because, apart from not having the main benefit that is hydration, the amount of sugars increases enormously. , being even more contraindicated.

Do not walk away from your cat while you offer papaya, as this way you can more quickly detect any signs of choking or allergies, which would show digestive symptoms or bloating.

What happens if a cat eats papaya incorrectly? The main side effect that papaya consumption can have in cats is derived from the acceleration of intestinal transit that this fruit produces if consumed in excess, which would cause symptoms such as diarrhea or loose stools, as well as other digestive signs such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. This is more common in cats with a digestive problem or intestinal inflammation that causes diarrhea.

The other problem that regular consumption can cause is that, due to the sugar content, cats may be more prone to developing overweight or obesewhich in turn increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as arthritis, heart disease or urinary problems.

The consumption of papaya would be contraindicated in cats that:

• Have any gastrointestinal disease which makes your digestive system especially sensitive.
• They are going through a process of rapid transit, loose stools, or diarrheabecause it can worsen all these disorders and make them feel worse.
• be in weight loss treatment or maintaining it due to problems of overweight or obesity, since after all it is a very sweet snack that encourages weight gain in these animals, with the risk to their health that this entails.

For all these reasons, despite the fact that cats can eat papaya, it is very important to respect the amounts and frequency of consumption in order to avoid nutritional imbalances. In this video you will find more good fruits for these animals:

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