Over the course of these past few years apple cider vinegar has become an irreplaceable part of cuisine, medicine and cosmetics due to its numerous health advantages. Whether we’re using it for beauty, cooking or even treating mild health problems, it’s a fact that apple cider vinegar comes in handy in a variety of ways.
But does it have any benefits for cats? Can cats actually have ACV safely or is it toxic?
Fortunately, apple cider vinegar is actually safe for cats, depending on the dosage.
According to Cailin Heinze, VMD, a teaspoon of diluted apple cider vinegar is safe for dogs and cats alike.
Even though such a small amount is safe, upping the dosage or using undiluted apple cider vinegar on cats poses health issues. You shouldn’t treat your pet with too much vinegar in any of its forms. Moreover, apple cider vinegar must be off-limits for cats with kidney disease. It’s way too acidic for them, regardless of their age or breed.
Nevertheless, overall healthy feline furballs can indeed benefit from some apple cider vinegar. You can include it in their diet or even use it as a topical solution.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Cats
In small amounts the diluted apple cider vinegar can have the following health benefits for feline furballs (as long as they can tolerate it):
- Remedy for urinary tract disease
- Acts as a laxative
- Treats respiratory infections
- Helps with allergies and asthma
- Treats fleas and skin infections
Due to the high concentration of acids this type of vinegar serves as an active laxative. However, too much of it can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration. Moreover, it’s not a miraculous and wondrous cure. Thus, you can’t use it as a substitute to allergy and asthma medications.
Apple cider vinegar treats some skin problems in cats.
You can use it for issues with broken skin, ringworms and other similar infections. Diluted vinegar and spring or distilled water can ease such infections. And since the vinegar isn’t toxic, you don’t have to worry about your furball licking it off.
Another great application of apple cider vinegar for cats is the treatment of fleas.
Chances are your feline friend won’t like the taste of the vinegar. But fleas won’t like the smell and taste of the acidic solution either! And thus, it’s extremely efficient against flea infestations in short-haired and long-haired breeds alike.
Are There Any Nutrition Benefits?
While we’re using apple cider vinegar in cuisine all the time, its nutritious advantages for humans can’t be applied to cats.
In fact, apple cider vinegar doesn’t offer any nutrients for felines at all!
The potassium and magnesium in it are far too low. Your pet would have to drink tons of vinegar in order for these minerals to have an effect on its organism. In the meantime the highly acidic solution would harm your pet long before it gets anything nutritious out of the vinegar.
In other words, adding it to your cat’s diet for such purposes isn’t a good idea. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar still has numerous other benefits for your kitty.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar On Cats
There are two basic ways to help your fluffy pal draw some advantages from this great product.
You can either apply it as a topical solution for skin problems and flea treatments or you can give it orally to your pet for the treatment of internal health problems.
Either way, you need to be careful with it. Even overall healthy cats can experience digestive system disorders from the vinegar. The undiluted type must be completely off-limits! And lastly, you shouldn’t give the same dosage to a cat as you would to a human or a dog.
Internal Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies For Cats
As we all know, felines are quite whimsical, especially towards their food. Some pet parents opt for mixing up the vinegar in their pet’s water bowls. A good way to tone down the acid is to also add a tiny amount of baking soda and let the solution dissolve into water.
However, I’ve found that this method isn’t particularly efficient for a cat’s taste buds.
Instead, try mixing no more than a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into your cat’s wet canned food. It’s easier than doing it with kibble. Use your kitty’s favorite can if it’s extremely picky towards its food.
Consult with a vet on the safe dosage for your own pet. Overdoing it can cause health problems, even if you’re using only diluted vinegar. And if your kitty is intolerant of the acidic solution, just lower the dosage or opt for another pet-friendly remedy, which is vet-approved.
External Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies For Cats
Vinegar is an efficient repellent of fleas and other similar parasites. Due to the fact that its diluted version isn’t toxic to cats, you can safely use it as a topical solution on your pet’s fur. Keep in mind the following directions for topical solutions:
- Flea treatment. Mix 1:1 diluted apple cider vinegar and spring or distilled water. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution. If you can’t avoid the eye area or the spray bottle is scaring your pet, use paper towels or a soft cloth to rub the solution on the cat’s fur.
- Ear infections. Mix 1:1 rubbing alcohol and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Sink a cotton ball in the solution and carefully wipe your kitty’s ears with it. You can use this remedy twice a day for most ear infections, but you still need to be careful. Rubbing too hard can actually damage your pet’s skin and worsen the infection, as well as earn you a scratch or bite mark.
- For other skin infections. Mild cases of broken skin, ringworm or pinkeye can also be treated with apple cider vinegar. Mix 2 spoons of it in a cup of water and carefully apply the solution on the problematic area. You can use this homemade topical solution up to twice on daily basis.
Regardless of the type of problem you’re trying to cure, you must always consult with a reputable vet about the correct dosage for your pet’s case, as well as about its overall health. Neglecting any underlying issues or clear intolerance of the vinegar can indeed pose health risks for your precious feline furball.
I have been searching high and low for an all natural way to help my furbaby with this flea problem before it gets out ta control. She is 6 yes old and never had fleas. I don’t like all the toxic products and she is highly sensitive. Can I please get an honest answer from someone??
Hi Michelle –
There are a couple of natural products we recommend on our page about cat fleas. We’ll also get to work writing one about natural flea treatments!
Hi Michelle! Have you tried Diatomaceous Earth?
It looks like a powder, it is tiny fossilized organisms that has abrasive sharp edges, which penetrates an insect’s exoskeleton and absorbs the oils and fats, thus drying them out and killing them.
Always use Food Grade D.E. Sprinkle in your hands and rub it in their fur or carefully sprinkle on the fur gently rubbing it in. You have to take care not to get in their eyes or lungs so dont pat it or pour which could cause powder that could be inhaled.
D.E. is not a quick fix; it does not kill eggs and it will take time for the fleas to come into contact with the diatomaceous earth and about 48 hours to dehydrate the fleas it has come in contact with. The process may take up to three weeks,but it’s efficient, all-natural, and pet friendly.
Repeat twice a week for at least three weeks to get newly hatched fleas. You can sprinkle the DE near pet bedding and on carpets, do not let your pets near til the dust settles.
Diatomaceous Earth also can be taken internally for pets with worms! It dehydrates and kills the worms!
It even kills ants!
Thank you so much for your article on benefits of apple cider vinegar for cats and the ratios to dillute for ear mites, skin problems and allergies. Also noone ever says ear mites can leave your cats ears and spread to the rest of the cats body. I dont know how I’m going to get my cats to let me treat them. With any drops or liquid, I can get one ear filled before they bolt! I have to remember which side so when they forget a bit later I can treat the other ear – but wiping the ear out? Forget about it! I’m going to try the apple cider vinegar and water solution and spray it on them as they run past I guess! Got any advice on how to get them to cooperrate with application of treatments?! Also can I add a bit of lemon or lime juice because i dont like the smell of apple cider vinegar
Hey Robin, glad you liked the article, thanks!
As for cooperation, it can be so tough. I think the way you’re doing it is the best…one ear at a time.
Maybe work the wiping into a longer, more gentle petting session. Use the wipe to pet their head and body a bit and then move to the ear to see if you can do one at a time this way.
Thank you for your artical on ACV benefits for cats,it was very helpful.My fur baby is 4 years old and I have been bathing him with boiled lemon water for the past 4 years.It also works well for fleas.Now I have started using ACV,it has reduced the stress of having to get lemons and boil it to give my fur baby a bath. It’s much easier now..Thank you!