Can cats eat cherries?

Why

Cherry pits contain cyanide, which is toxic to cats, and the hard pits also pose a choking or intestinal blockage risk. Additionally, the skin and leaves contain trace amounts of cyanogenic compounds, so only the flesh should ever be offered.

If you do feed it

• Remove the pit, stem, and leaves completely before offering any flesh.
• Limit the portion to a tiny piece (no more than one small bite) as an occasional treat.
• Do not feed cherries in syrup, jam, or any sweetened form.
• Wash the fruit thoroughly to remove pesticides before serving.

Watch out for

• cherry pits (seeds)
• stems and leaves
• sweetened or canned cherries
• cherry juice

Better choices