Grapes provide people with nutrition and they are sweet and juicy. While they are popular with humans, can cats eat grapes? Certain human foods can be healthy to a cat’s diet, while others might create immediate and long-term difficulties. Let’s learn whether cats can have grapes or not.
Can Cats Eat Grapes?
Although it is not suggested, cats can eat grapes in very small quantities. While the majority of cats dislike fruits, including grapes, some may appreciate the feel and occasionally consume a couple of grapes as a healthful snack.
Having said that, cats do not require grapes in their food, so why risk eating them? As obligate carnivores, cats obtain all of their nutrition from animal flesh. Commercial cat food manufacturers compress all of those nutrients in their kibble and wet food for the now-domesticated house cats that formerly roamed the wild.
There is no need to supplement their meals with additional food, but if you do, always pick items that are proven to be safe for cats and avoid grapes.
Are Raisins Safe for Cats to Eat?
Raisins, like grapes, may be poisonous to cats. If your cat consumes more than two to three raisins, they may begin to exhibit symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, diarrhea, weakness, anorexia, etc.
Food poisoning in cats that is left untreated for over a day considerably raises the chance of serious health repercussions. By that time, the animal is almost certain to have had renal failure.
Acute renal failure is a frightening diagnosis, but it is treatable if your cat receives treatment early. If you believe your cat has eaten some raisins, take them to the veterinarian immediately upon seeing unusual behavior.
Grape Poisoning Symptoms
According to the ASPCA, experts have not determined the exact mechanism, but grapes can cause dogs to have sudden acute renal failure. Veterinarians advise against giving grapes to cats, as there is evidence that they may have a similar effect on cats and ferrets.
According to Pet Poison Helpline, grapes, currants, raisins, etc. all contain comparable substances and are regarded as having a “moderate to severe” level of toxicity. If you do see your pet swallowing grapes by mistake, the following are warning signs:
- Abdominal pain
- Anorexia
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Frequent urination
- Lethargy
- Over use of water
- Vomiting
If a cat with these symptoms is not treated, its owners may detect other signs of renal failure within 36 to 48 hours. These may include the following:
- No appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Ammonia-scented breath
- Extreme thirst
- Initially, excessive urination
- Finally, a lack of urine
- Pain in the abdomen
- Coma
Even if your cat does not exhibit poisoning signs, grapes and grape seeds provide a choking threat.
How to Handle Your Cat if It Consumes Grapes
Are grapes toxic to cats in tiny quantities? Because no one knows the exact deadly amount of grapes for cats, visit your vet immediately if your cat consumes any quantity of grapes—even if it is only one.
Your veterinarian will almost certainly need to induce vomiting in order to eliminate any residual grapes from your cat’s gastrointestinal tract and avoid further digestion and absorption of poisons.
Your vet will then likely provide activated charcoal to your cat orally to absorb any remaining poisonous stuff in her system. Don’t induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so by your veterinarian or pet poison control.
If your cat consumes a significant amount of grapes or exhibits indications of poisoning, they may require IV fluids, blood work, and monitoring. Cats may recover in around two or three days, if the poisoning is treated prior to the development of renal impairment.
Suggestions for Other Healthy Snacks
If you choose to forgo fruit entirely, use veggies. According to the ASPCA, these vegetables are not hazardous to cats:
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