Can cats eat bananas?

For us humans, bananas are an ideal snack: tasty, nutritious, and conveniently easy to eat on the go. However, that doesn’t mean our pets should enjoy them as often as we do.

The short answer is yes. Bananas are non-toxic to cats and can generally be given to them in small quantities. However, while bananas are technically safe for cats to eat, they don’t offer any nutritional benefits. Bananas should be regarded as an occasional treat, especially since the starch inside can cause gastrointestinal upset for cats that eat large amounts.

👉 Treats should make up just 10% of your pet’s diet.

It’s important to remember that every cat has different nutritional needs, and human foods that one cat can tolerate may pose health risks to another. That’s why it’s always a good idea to see a veterinarian before introducing any human food to your cat’s diet. You should also avoid feeding bananas to kittens, as their digestive systems are still developing in the first 8 weeks of life. Feeding a kitten human food too early can cause health problems, including inflammation, irritation, sensitivity, and stress. Banana peels are indigestible to all cats and should never be fed to them as they pose a potential choking hazard.

Bananas are known to provide humans with several essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B, fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. However, cats are obligate carnivores that get most of their nutrients from animal products similar to what they’d eat in the wild. This means that while plant-based foods like bananas are not toxic to cats, they also don’t provide them with any real nutritional benefits. Since cats don’t have the taste bud receptors required to taste sweet foods, they may not even find bananas particularly appetizing.

Bananas are OK to give your cat as an occasional treat, but we wouldn’t recommend them over healthy cat treats formulated by veterinary professionals. The best way to ensure your cat’s nutritional needs are being met is to provide them with complete and balanced vet-formulated cat food. You should also avoid overfeeding your cat, as nutritional excess can trigger allergic reactions, diarrhea, and unwanted weight gain that eventually leads to obesity.

Only offer your cats bananas if they seem interested in eating them — don’t force them or any other kind of treat. Here are a few steps suggested by veterinary nutritionists to make banana feedings the safest and most enjoyable experience possible for your feline friend.

• See a professional — Consulting a vet is the first step to feeding your cat human food, regardless of whether it’s considered to be generally safe. Your vet can advise you on the optimal caloric intake for your cat.
• Determine the right amount of banana to feed your cat — Treats should comprise no more than 10% of a cat’s daily caloric intake. To maintain a healthy weight, most cats should eat somewhere between 24 to 35 calories a day, per pound. If your cat weighs 10 pounds, that works out to 240-350 calories. Since just one medium banana contains around 110 calories, most cats should only eat a small piece or two per day at most.
• Prepare the bananas — Remove the banana peel and cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces similar to your cat’s kibble. This allows their bodies to process the food more easily and reduces the risk of indigestion. Alternatively, you can try mashing the banana and putting a small amount on top of their normal food.
• Keep an eye on your cat afterward — When your cat’s finished eating the bananas, monitor them for signs of gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat is having a negative reaction to bananas.

 🚨 Only feed your cat one new food at a time. This makes it easier to pinpoint the cause of any symptoms they experience after eating. 

Because bananas are high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates, they have the potential to cause weight gain and blood sugar spikes in cats. If these problems persist over time, they can eventually lead to obesity and diabetes. Don’t feed your cat bananas if they already have diabetes or struggle with other underlying health issues.

While bananas are one of the few fruits that can be safely given to cats, there are some other fruits Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Go to source you should avoid feeding to your cat at all costs. These include.

• Citrus fruits. Fruits like oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are high in citric acid, which can cause gastric irritation in cats and, in high enough quantities, lead to depression of the central nervous system, tremors, seizures, and death.
• Apples, peaches, plums, pears, and cherries. While the flesh of some of these fruits isn’t technically toxic to cats, their seeds contain cyanide, a compound that inhibits the enzyme necessary to transport oxygen between cells. This can cause breathing problems, dilated pupils, and organ failure, all of which can prove lethal in severe cases.
• Grapes, raisins, and currants. These fruits are toxic to dogs and cats. The exact cause for this is unknown, though veterinary experts believe it has something to do with their inability to metabolize compounds like tannins or harmful pesticides on the outside of the fruit. Consumption of grapes and raisins can lead to acute kidney failure and death in cats.
• Tomatoes. Cats’ digestive systems aren’t built to digest tomatoes, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive issues if eaten in large enough quantities. Unripe green tomatoes (as well as the leaves and stems of tomato plants) contain a compound called solanine, which can cause lethargy, a dangerously slow heart rate, and extreme vomiting.

 🚨 Contact your vet immediately if your cat eats any of the fruits listed above. 

In small quantities, bananas can be a safe snack for healthy cats, but they’re far from the best treat you can give them. Ask your vet before introducing any people foods into your cat’s diet, and consider opting for professionally formulated meat-based treats instead. These not only contain the nutrients your cat needs to thrive, they’ll probably taste better to them, too!