Can cats eat strawberries?

Why

Cats are obligate carnivores and do not need fruit in their diet; the natural sugars in strawberries can cause stomach upset or contribute to weight gain if fed too often. Additionally, the seeds and stems can pose a choking hazard or cause minor digestive irritation.

If you do feed it

• Offer only one small, fresh piece of strawberry with the green stem and leaves removed.
• Wash the fruit thoroughly to remove pesticides before cutting it into tiny, bite-sized pieces.
• Limit treats to once or twice a week and monitor your cat for any signs of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Never feed canned, frozen, or sweetened strawberry products as they contain added sugars and preservatives.

Watch out for

• sweetened or candied strawberries
• canned or frozen strawberry products with added sugar
• strawberry leaves and stems
• choking hazards from whole berries

Better choices