Can Cats Eat Pineapple?

Pineapples are tasty, tropical fruits that add a sweet and tangy touch to everything from fruit salad to pizza. If you've ever wondered whether you can share a little pineapple (or an apple) with your cat, the answer is yes.

Your cat may not like the taste of pineapple, but if he does, it's safe to give it to him in small amounts. That's because this fiber-rich fruit could cause some tummy upset if given to your cat in large amounts.

Cats can eat fresh pineapple, and it's safe for them to eat in small amounts, although it's not required in their diet. That's because cats are considered obligate carnivores, which means that they need to eat meat to survive. What they don't need to eat are fruits and vegetables, but these ingredients can enhance your cat's diet with healthy fiber and other vitamins and minerals.

Pineapple itself is rich in manganese, folate, copper, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, making it a good addition to your cat's diet if she will eat it. It also contains a lot of water, which can help keep your cat hydrated.

Although pineapple isn't toxic to cats, the fruit and leaves do contain bromelain, an enzyme that helps break down proteins. For cats allergic to bromelain, it could cause swelling and bleeding in your cat's mouth and other reactions, like stomach upset, when eaten.

In addition to bromelain, pineapples contain actinidain, an enzyme that can also trigger an allergic reaction in your cat when eaten. This enzyme is also present in kiwis, so if your cat is allergic or sensitive to kiwis, she will likely be allergic to pineapples.

Unless your cat is allergic to pineapple, you can safely feed it to your cat. When giving pineapple to your cat, cut off the briny outer skin, chop off the leaves, remove the seeds, and cut out the hard inner core of the pineapple, each of which can be a choking hazard to your cat.

When it comes to pineapple leaves, cats are best kept away from them altogether. The leaves aren't toxic, but they do contain sap that could irritate the tissues of your cat's mouth, and those spiky leaves could cut your cat's gums.

Cut the soft fruit of the pineapple into small pieces and give them to your cat to try. Your cat may not like the taste, but you can mix a couple of pieces in his canned cat food. After feeding any pineapple to your cat, watch him for any signs of an allergic reaction, like drooling, mouth swelling, or vomiting, and avoid pineapple in the future if this occurs.

When fed in small amounts as a treat, pineapple can be good for cats. In fact, bromelain may even help cats with seasonal allergies.

However, too much of it could lead to diarrhea due to the fiber and water content of the fruit. For constipated cats, a bit of pineapple or something like pumpkin can help move things along, making pineapple as well as other fruits and vegetables a good natural laxative for cats. Alternatives to pineapple that are safe for cats to eat in small quantities include apples, blueberries, and pomegranates.

When it comes to canned pineapple in syrup or candied pineapple, it's best to keep those sweet treats away from cats. They contain a large amount of sugar, additives, and preservatives that aren't good for cats and are hard for your cat to digest. This could lead to tummy upset and vomiting. Most importantly, your cat can't really taste the sweetness of sugar the way that humans do, so giving them anything sugary isn't really something that they want (nor is it something that they need).