Papaya is not poisonous or toxic for cats. However, that doesn’t mean they should eat as much as they want. Cats are not designed to digest high levels of carbohydrates, which is mostly what papayas contain. For this reason, they may experience stomachache and diarrhea after eating extensive amounts of papaya.
Not all fruits are safe for cats to eat. For instance, grapefruit are toxic to felines. Cherries and raisins may cause kidney damage. Cats also aren’t designed to consume lemons, limes, or other citrus fruit.
Luckily, papayas are generally okay. This doesn’t necessarily mean that papaya should make up a large part of your feline’s diet, however. In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about cats and papaya.
Can I Give Papaya To My Cat?
If you have some papaya, you can give it to your feline. However, you shouldn’t give your cat much papaya. A bite or two is okay whenever your cat happens to show interest. However, you don’t need to purposefully feed your cat papaya as part of their regular diet.
Papaya is full of nutrients and vitamins, which makes it fairly good for people. However, it is also full of carbs and sugar—two things that cats really aren’t designed to eat lots of. Too many carbohydrates can upset your cats’ stomach and will not meet their nutritional requirements.
You can add papaya as part of a healthy home-cooked diet. However, you need to work alongside a veterinary nutritionist to ensure that your cat meets their nutritional needs.
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Do Cats Like Fruit?
Fruit is not one of the foods that cats would commonly eat in the wild. Usually, cats would be eating primarily fresh prey, which is high in protein and fat. Cats would not typically show interest in fruit or go out to find it. However, in captivity, our cats may be interested in whatever we’re eating.
Some cats may be interested in eating papaya, although it is rare for them to have a sweet tooth. Generally speaking, felines are pretty good at moderating their food intake, so most won’t eat very much of it. Some cats may simply lick it, while others may take a few bites.
It really depends on the particular cat. Some cats will love it, while others won’t.
Is It Okay For Cat Food To Contain Papaya?
While papaya isn’t a common ingredient in cat food, it may appear in some recipes. In these cases, it will simply be there for the vitamin content. The sugar and carbohydrates should be offset by plenty of fresh meat and protein. You should check the food’s protein and fat content to ensure that any carbohydrates, like papayas, aren’t taking up massive amounts of your cat’s diet.
Generally, you shouldn’t be concerned whenever papaya is included, check that it isn’t making up the bulk of the food. Standard guidelines for choosing a high-quality cat food place meat as the first ingredient, followed by plenty of fat and protein, and high-quality ingredients. Papaya is generally considered to be high-quality.
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Can Cats Eat Papaya Seeds?
As a rule, cats should not be given seeds from any fruit. They generally don’t have much nutritional value, and they can also be a choking hazard. Furthermore, your cat may find them difficult to chew, and they can quickly become stuck in your cat’s teeth, which can make them uncomfortable.
There is little reason for your cat to eat papaya seeds, so we recommend avoiding them whenever possible. If your cat accidentally eats one, there isn’t anything you need to be worried about. However, you should do your best to remove them before giving your feline any papaya. You also shouldn’t purposefully feed your cat the seeds for obvious reasons.
Can Cats Eat Dried Papaya?
You should avoid feeding your cat dried papaya. This form of papaya is exceptionally high in sugar. Dried papayas are closer to sugar than nutritious fruit, so they should be avoided. They are not a suitable treat due to their high sugar content. Your cat would be much better off consuming dried meats.
Instead, opt to feed your feline fresh papaya or skip on the papaya altogether.
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Conclusion
Papayas are not toxic or poisonous to cats. They can safely eat a few bites. If anything, the cat may experience an upset stomach if they overeat, simply because the papaya may be higher in sugar and carbs than your cat is used to. Some cats are more sensitive to sugar than others. Some may be unable to eat even small amounts of carbohydrates, while others may be able to eat quite a bit.
You shouldn’t make papaya a large part of your cat’s diet. It doesn’t match up with what they would naturally eat in the wild, so it should generally be avoided. However, a few bites aren’t going to hurt your cat, and papaya may even be found in small amounts in some cat foods.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
