For a long time, people prefer eating olives as a medicinal fruit for its essential nutrients and antioxidant properties. If they can do wonders for humans, they can do the same for pets. That’s why most cat owners think, Can cats eat olives?
Fortunately, olives can be a good source of vitamins and minerals for cats. Many vets have approved feeding olives to pets as they don’t contain any toxic compounds. It is the amount and the way of serving that we need to consider while feeding our cats.
This article will guide you on how you can get the best results by letting your cats eat olives.
All About Olives
Olive is a stone fruit grown in trees like peaches, apricots, plums, etc. Here the stone means the pit or seed found inside. Olive is high in vitamin E and antioxidants which can help in curing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. Also, it has a good fibre content with healthy fats that keep our body healthy from internal and external.
Do Cats Like Olives?
Cats’ taste receptors are specialized to detect meat flavors. Also, they are obligate carnivores, meaning that their diet mostly includes meat. If you ever see that your cat is going crazy to eat olives, it is because of the chemical compound found in them.
Well, olives contain a chemical compound, called nepetalactone which is almost like the chemical compound found in catnip. It interacts with the rear throat of mammals which is also known as a vomeronasal organ.
It is not like all cats like olives because of the chemical compound found in them. Some cats can even eat it just to interact with their owners or because of the taste.
When a cat gets in contact with nepetalactone, she will show you some silly behaviours
Can Cats Eat Olives
Olives are safe for cats if they eat them in small quantities. Most vets recommend feeding olives to cats less than a whole. Besides, they can eat them one or two times a week.
If you ever see that your cat is not showing any allergy reactions after eating olive, it means olive is safe for her. Well, it is advisable to feed green olives to cats.
Can Cats Eat Green Olives?
It is advisable to feed green olives to cats in a moderate amount. As we said you must treat your cat with less than a whole olive which goes for the green olives too. They have a chemical compound, named isoprenoids which can bring behavioural changes in cats. That’s why most cats prefer eating green olives as a tempting fruit.
Can Cats Eat Black Olives?
Black olives are also a good treat for cats. They don’t have any toxic substances, but the pit. Compared to green olives, black olives contain more oil as they are more ripe. Hence, you can give black olive, which should be half to your cat, 1 or 2 times a week.
Can Cats Eat Olive Oil?
If olives are considered safe for cats, olive oil can also be a safe substitute for them. Well, it is only safe if your cat consumes it in a limited quantity, i.e., one tablespoon. Besides, olive oil is rich in vitamin E which keeps cats’ skin and fur healthy.
Benefits Of Eating Olives For Cats
Olives are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Their high concentration in vitamins can not only benefit humans but also pets, including cats. Although cats can do without olives, a minimum amount of olives can bring more nutrients to their body.
The nutritious fruit, olive, is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They can help with curing cancer and arthritis. Besides, olive can reduce body pain in cats and provide benefits like mobility.
Can Cats Eat Olives? Safety Concerns
Although olives are safe for cats to eat, you must consider some safety concerns before feeding them to your cats. Firstly, try giving a pea-sized amount of olive to your cat, if she ingests it and gives no allergic reactions, then you are good to go with it.
We most often like to have olives with other servings, like onion, garlic, cheese, etc. Unfortunately, cats can’t have olives with other toppings. Most importantly, you have to take out the seed from the olive before feeding it to your cat. The serving should not be more than half olive.
You may think of feeding salt-brined olives to your cat which has sodium toxicity. Cats with kidney diseases and heart diseases can’t tolerate such olives.
You can include 10% olive in your cat’s daily meal once or twice a week if she doesn’t have any health issues.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Cats Eat Olives?
Are olives good for cats and dogs?
Olives are enriched with vitamins and minerals that can be good for dogs and cats. For cats, a half olive without seed is enough, whereas for dogs one olive without seed can be nutritious. The only problem is when they ingest more than required.
Why is your cat licking olives?
When you see your cat licking olives, it is because she is tempted by isoprenoids found in olives. Cats can even go crazy for this chemical compound.
Can olives be toxic to pets?
Luckily, olives don’t have any substance that can be toxic to pets, like cats and dogs. However, eating more than one olive can lead to health issues for small breeds. It can do the same for large breeds if they eat more than two olives.
Which olives are the healthiest for cats?
Most commonly, we eat green and black olives which are considered unripe and ripe olives. These both are nutritious enough as they contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. So you can feed any of these olives to your cats in a small quantity.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, we are now certain that can cats eat olives. Well, the answer is always yes if your cat likes it and does not have any health issues or allergic reactions to olives. Also, the amount of olive should be 10% of your cat’s entire day’s diet. If you treat her more than this quantity, she may have vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.
Don’t panic if your cat eats more olives than required or along with the seed. Call your vet for guidance and let your feline friend vomit and discharge what she ate.
