Can Cats Eat Pineapple Or Is It Bad For Them?

Chances are you already know that many tropical (along with citrus) fruits are toxic to cats. It’s true – what’s healthy and beneficial for us isn’t always good for our fluffy pals.

However, cats don’t know what’s good for them. And when they see their pet parents munching on a delicious and fruity treat, they’ll instantly want to taste it too – even though cats can’t taste sweet.

Yeap, they don’t have sweet receptors on their tongues, but that doesn’t mean they won’t plead with you to share your tasty sweets.

Today I want to talk about one particularly tasty tropical fruit – the pineapple – and whether or not it’s a good idea to feed it to your cat.

Are pineapples safe for cats to eat?

When it comes to human beings, these tropical fruits can have tons of awesome benefits either as a regular snack or as a from-time-to-time treat.

Pineapples (excluding those processed, artificially sweetened store-bought cans) are:

  • Rich in vitamins and minerals
  • Low in carbs and calories
  • Boosting the immune system
  • Helping with cholesterol balance

All of these benefits are essentials for every feline furball’s everyday diet.

High-quality cat food manufacturers focus on the afore-mentioned factors, so that means pineapples are good enough for cats, right? Well, not exactly.

Pineapples are not toxic to cats.

Unlike citrus fruits, this delicious tropical treat won’t cause poisoning or any form of toxic reaction. Even pineapple leaves are non-toxic.

Nonetheless, pineapples have glucose, which isn’t ideal for a feline diet. Fortunately, the glucose levels aren’t skyrocketing, so a couple of small pineapple bites won’t do any harm to your pet.

That being said, it’s safe to give your cat a taste of fresh, non-processed pineapple.

Of course, spoiling its appetite and encouraging demanding behavior isn’t a good idea when it comes to cats. But the bottom line is that you won’t cause damage to your furball’s overall health.

Why do some cat foods have pineapple?

If glucose is bad for your kitty, then why do some cat food manufacturers include pineapple in their products?

The truth is that the fruit isn’t there as a harmful filler.

Cat food brands like Go! and Almo Nature do have pineapple formulas. (I’ve done a thorough nutritional analysis on the latter one if you want to take a closer look.)

Pineapple, similarly to other fruits, has excellent detox properties, is packed with vitamin C and can significantly boost the immune system. What’s more, it’s also a good source of fiber and is super low in calories.

These factors make pineapple a clean ingredient in formulas that focus mainly on protein intake, weight management, and healthy lifestyle.

However, pineapple isn’t exactly nutritious for cats. There are more beneficial fruits that you can give to your furry friend.

As such, this one isn’t a popular ingredient among cat food manufacturers. On top of that, the actual pineapple content is insignificantly small in comparison to the rest of the ingredients.

If you do stumble upon cat foods with pineapple, keep in mind the fruit isn’t placed there as a filler, unlike meat by-products, soy, wheat, and most grains.

Will my cat like pineapple?

At this point, you’re probably wondering if your pet will like a pineapple treat or if it will just frown at it.

Cats do enjoy different flavors and textures. This fruit has a pretty unique texture and most cats will like sinking their teeth into a slice of pineapple.

But will your furball like the actual flavor – no one can tell for sure. Kitties are famous for being finicky eaters and since they can’t taste sweet, you’ll never really know unless you try it.

Do keep in mind that the feline digestive system differs from the human one. Even a few tiny pineapple cubes can be too much for your cat.

Due to the vitamin C and fiber in this fruit, ingesting too much of it can easily cause diarrhea. Vomiting isn’t out of the question either.

Avoid canned pineapple at all costs!

It’s too sugary and processed with a bunch of harmful chemicals. Even if for some reason your pet likes the way canned pineapple tastes, it will lead to nasty side effects.

If you want to treat your kitty to some, opt for a slice of fresh pineapple.

To sum it up, while it’s not toxic, pineapple isn’t exactly the most nutritious of fruits when it comes to a cat’s special dietary requirements. It would be best if you can just avoid giving it to your feline friend.

Emily Parker

Emily Parker is the Content Manager at Catological. She's passionate about helping cat parents love their cats better by providing the best information and recommendations about everything you'll need to know about your cat, from kitten to senior years. She believes natural, biologically-appropriate products are best...why wouldn't you provide the best for a member of your family?!