Apple juice is a popular and healthy drink, especially among small children, so it’s natural to wonder if your cat can drink it too; the short answer is yes. Your cat can drink apple juice, but there are several things you should consider before making it a regular part of your pet’s diet. Keep reading while we look at the positive and negative facts about giving your cat apple juice so you can provide it with a healthy balanced diet that will help keep your cat out of the veterinarian’s office.
Is Apple Juice Bad for My Cat?
Sugar
The biggest problem with feeding your cat apple juice is that it contains a lot of sugar. A single ounce of unsweetened apple juice can have more than 3-gram of sugar, depending on what brand you purchase. This much sugar can quickly cause your cat to gain weight and become obese. Obesity is a major concern for cats all over the United States. Many experts suggest that as much as 50% of cats over five years old weigh more than they should. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and many other health problems that can shorten your cat’s life. Your cat can also have difficulty grooming itself and doing things it likes to do if it’s too heavy. Obesity is the one disease that we can control by following potion size and avoiding fattening foods.
If your cat has already been diagnosed with diabetes or is overweight, it will not be able to drink apple juice.
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Unnatural Ingredients
Many brands of apple juice contain artificial ingredients that can be harmful to your cat. Artificial sweeteners, like xylitol, can be deadly, so you will need to read over the ingredients list carefully before serving it to your pet. Many processed fruit juices also contain chemical preservatives and artificial coloring. While not as dangerous as xylitol, these synthetic ingredients can still cause an allergic reaction or lead to health problems with long-term use.
Is Apple Juice Good for My Cat?
Vitamin C
Depending on which brand of apple juice you purchase, it can contain several important vitamins and minerals. Most brands include vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that will help boost your cat’s immune system. It can also help slow the progression of hip dysplasia and other bone-related illnesses.
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Iron
Some brands can have additional vitamin fortification, and we found many are good sources of iron. Iron will help your cat with red blood cell production, and it allows the blood cells to be larger and carry more oxygen. Cats that don’t get enough iron in their diet can suffer from weakness, lethargy, pale gums, rapid breathing, low body weight, and more.
How Should I Feed My Cat Apple Juice?
We recommend limiting apple juice portions to tiny amounts given only on occasion if your cat shows a fondness for it. Cats are strict carnivores and don’t require fruit in their diet, so it’s better to avoid it when possible and give your cat a meat-based treat instead. If your cat likes apple juice, we recommend trying to get them to eat a fresh apple instead.
Finely chopping a teaspoon of fresh apple will add fiber to your cat’s diet, which can help balance the digestive system, and as long as you wash the apples well, you won’t need to worry about pesticides, chemicals preservatives, or artificial food coloring causing an allergic reaction. However, we still recommend providing this treat no more than once per week.
We recommend resisting the temptation to feed your cat’s apples because they are strict carnivores that should stick to a meat-based diet. There are plenty of better treats you can give them, including fresh fish, eggs, and boiled chicken, along with a wide variety of commercial treats. Another reason to avoid apple juice is that cats can’t taste sweets, so while it may seem like a sweet soothing drink to us, cats have an entirely different experience.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this look into the safety of apple juice and learned some new facts. If we have helped you provide healthier snacks for your cat, please share this guide to feeding your cat apples on Facebook and Twitter.
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