Just about everyone is familiar with the fact that cats eat mice. They are carnivorous animals in general (especially in the wild). However, domesticated cats eat vegetarian food at times as well. However, just because they can eat fruits and vegetables once in a while, it doesn’t mean you should make them the majority of their diet. There are some fruits and vegetables that can harm cats so you should not use their diet as an experimental bowl. If you want to mix up your cat’s diet with some vegetables and fruits and not just serve up cat food every day, this article is for you. We will go through the vegetables and fruits that you should give your cats and which ones you should avoid. Let’s get started.

Vegetables and Fruits For Your Cats To Eat: What To Provide and What To Avoid?

Which vegetables should you feed your cats?

As we discussed before, even though cats are primarily carnivorous, they can eat some vegetables as well. However, you must ensure that they only make up a small portion of their diet and they should definitely never be given raw. Raw vegetables can cause infections in cats so you should be careful. As a number, vegetables shouldn’t make up more than 15% of a cat’s diet. The vegetables that you should feed your cats include:

1. Zucchini for cats is ideal especially when you want to reduce its weight, or when your cat is constipated.
2. Boiled peas for cats are rich in vegetable protein and magnesium.
3. Boiled pumpkin or squash are highly digestible for cats and ideal for mixing with meat. Squash is the perfect vegetable for constipated cats. Be careful, cabbage and turnip are prohibited and toxic foods for cats.
4. Cucumber is a very good plant moisturizer. Raw cucumbers can be used as a treat for cats.
5. Lettuce, whether raw or boiled, provides fiber, water and has no fat.
6. Carrots provide some good vitamins and fibres for cats, especially in boiled form,

Keep your cats away from vegetables such as beetroot, spinach, lentils, onion, garlic and leek. These might prove to be toxic.

Which fruits are good for cats?

Aside from enjoying vegetables in moderation, your cat can also eat fruits. Cat fruit should always be peeled, cut into small cubes, removing the seeds or stone and, if possible, should always be of high quality (organic). Here are the fruits recommended for cats:

1. Strawberries for cats are very rich in vitamin C and fiber. 
2. Blueberries for cats have antioxidant, digestive, and anticancer properties.
3. Melons for cats are refreshing and hydrating. Melons are highly recommended during the summer as a treat for its amount of water.
4. Just like melons, watermelons for cats are rich in water.
5. Apples for cats are ideal as a snack, source of fiber and of vitamins A and C. To give an apple to a cat, remove the skin, the seeds, and offer them in small cubes.
6. Peach for cats is high in fiber, vitamin B and is one of the foods cats love because they love the taste of peach. Wash it well and be sure to remove the skin and core.
7. Pear for cats is ideal as a snack to provide in small cubes. It will be necessary to wash the pear well and remove the seeds before offering it to the cat.

Which food items are not good for cats?

What does a cat eat other than dry food? While some fruits and vegetables are good foods for cats, there are many other foods that are dangerous or even prohibited for cats. Indeed, despite all the stories and images that we have seen for cats, dairy products aren’t that good for cats.

In foods that are dangerous for cats, we can also find foods that are salty or too sweet, such as cold meats for example. Chocolate necessarily belongs to this category as well. Foods that are too acidic are also prohibited, such as lemon, vinegar or onion.

Finally, another stereotype of the cat is that it can eat raw fish or canned tuna. Yes, all cartoon cats love these things but that is not entirely true. Canned and tinned meat is for human consumption and not that good for cats. They will be better off eating fresh fish.

Which vegetables and fruits should cats avoid?

While some are recommended, some fruits and vegetables are completely prohibited or even toxic to cats since they can make them sick. Indeed, acidic fruits such as lemons and oranges should be kept away from your cat, which can cause stomach pain. Bananas and avocados, being very fatty, can cause diarrhea in felines. Grapes (even raisins) are totally prohibited, which can cause your cat to have kidney problems.

Vegetables that your cats shouldn’t eat also include tubers like raw potatoes which can prove toxic for them.

So these were the tips for you to include vegetables in your cat’s diets and general info on what vegetables cats can eat. Hopefully, you will be able to feed your cat some vegetables with ease now.