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Can Cats Eat Olives? Vet-Verified Nutritional Facts & Dietary Info

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Can Cats Eat olives

Vet approved

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Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca

BVSc GPCert (Ophthal) MRCVS (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Although they’re picky eaters who sometimes scoff at certain gourmet pet foods offerings, cats sometimes express interest in human foods. Veterinarians do not recommend feeding your leftovers or favorite meals to your pet because some food is unhealthy or hazardous to felines. But some cat owners are curious about human food that could be safe to feed to your cat, or maybe you’re wondering if your cat will be fine after stealing an olive from your kitchen floor.

If you’re an olive lover, you may have wondered, can my cat eat olives? Yes, your cat can technically eat olives since these are not toxic to them, but it’s best to avoid offering them to your cat. While the fruit is not toxic or harmful to felines, there is no nutritional benefit to feeding olives to cats and there are some risks. As you know, there are different olive varieties and various dressings or ingredients that are added to them, and some of these can be more harmful to your furball than others. Read on to learn about how olives affect cats, whether olive oil is safe, and much more!

hepper-cat-paw-dividerHazards of Feeding Olives to Cats

There are a few things you want to keep in mind before giving your cat an olive. If you’re a fan of Kalamata, Manzanilla, Gaeta, or Nicoise olives, you can give your cat a taste if the pits are removed. Unseasoned pitless varieties are the only types of olives that are safe for your cat. Regardless of its size, the pit can become lodged in the back of the animal’s throat and restrict their breathing, or they can become lodged along their gastrointestinal tract. Sliced and whole pitless olives are widely available, and they’re easier to find in grocery stores than ones with pits.

The pimentos stuffed into Manzanillas green olives are safe for your cat to consume, but most of the ingredients in commercial stuffed olives are not cat-friendly. Garlic-stuffed olives are commonly found in supermarkets and they are highly toxic for cats. Avoid olives stuffed with bleu cheese or jalapenos to prevent upset stomachs, diarrhea, and vomiting. Cheese is high in fat and contains lactose, which is not easy to process in a cat’s digestive system. The components of olive stuffing can also include additional sodium and preservatives that are detrimental to your cat’s health.

Olives are brined in a salt solution to reduce the fruit’s raw bitterness, and most marinated olives are incredibly high in sodium. Thoroughly washing the olives will not reduce their sodium content since the brining process helps imbed the salt into the fruit’s flesh. Cats with medical conditions, such as kidney disease, are particularly vulnerable to dehydration, which can be a consequence of eating with high sodium levels, and should avoid olives altogether. If you ever want to offer your cat a tiny portion of olive, you can dice the fruit up to make it easier to eat and digest. Olives are also high in fat and can lead to obesity if they’re fed to cats too often.

cat licking mouth after eating
Image Credit: mik ulyannikov, Shutterstock

Cats’ Strange Attraction to Olives

Although all cats will not be fascinated by olives or glass jars that hold olives, some felines are attracted to the salty fruit. The reasons for their curiosity have not been confirmed by scientific studies, but some suggest that cats are drawn to green olives because they contain a compound similar to nepetalactone found in catnip. However, cats do not exhibit euphoria after eating olives as they experience after consuming catnip.

Is Olive Oil Safe for Cats?

Olive oil is safe to serve your cat, but like olives, it’s an unnecessary food that’s not essential to the animal’s health. It’s high in fat and can lead to digestive upset. However, a small piece of chicken or fish coated in olive oil is safe to feed most cats as a treat. If you provide olive oil to your feline, try to avoid flavored oils with spices that can irritate the cat’s gastrointestinal system.

olive oil
Image Credit: Mahmoud Asaad, Shutterstock

The Ideal Diet for Cats

Cats have different preferences for the meals they enjoy, but you should always feed your cat a diet that’s appropriate to their age. Some pet food brands claim they’re designed for all life stages, but you should always check the label to gather more information.

Kittens

Young cats develop quickly and require a more calorie-dense diet than adults. Compared to adult cat food, kitten food should have more protein and fat. There are numerous brands that market to kitten owners, but you should avoid discount food loaded with fillers and preservatives. Fillers are not harmful to cats, but they’re not beneficial, and they sometimes take the place of more nutritious ingredients. When you’re shopping for healthy kitten food, look for brands that use meat as the primary ingredient. Brands high in protein and moisture, low in carbohydrates, and supplemented with vitamins and minerals are the best meals for your little feline friend.

Adults

When your cat enters adulthood, you can switch to an adult cat food that’s lower in fat. Cats are strict carnivores and their digestive system is not efficient at processing plant proteins. Cats should be fed cat food made of animal protein, such as chicken, duck, lamb, beef, or fish. Although the protein content, fat levels, and carbohydrate amounts in dry food are much closer to wet food than they were a few decades ago, wet food resembles more closely a cat’s natural diet.

british short hair cat eating
Image Credit: Lilia Solonari, Shutterstock

Seniors

Kidney disease, arthritic joints, and obesity are medical conditions that threaten some vulnerable senior cats. Certain specialized diets can help with these conditions, and you should speak to your vet about the best food options for your senior cat needs.

Diet Recommendations from Veterinarians

After searching for pet foods online, you’ll probably be bombarded with multiple ads from the companies you visited. Pet food manufacturing is a massive, profitable industry that’s highly competitive. Producers will tempt you with clever catchphrases and claims that are often misleading and sometimes factually incorrect. Some of their favorite adjectives include “all-natural,” “premium,” “gluten-free,” “grain-free,” and “nutritionally-balanced.” It’s best to ignore pet food marketing and only concentrate on the ingredients. Most companies have become more transparent about their recipes and sometimes provide detailed information about the ingredients’ sources.

The best way to ensure your feline is eating a healthy diet is to talk to your veterinarian. Your cat’s doctor understands its body better than anyone, and you can rely on vets to give you unbiased advice about a particular brand or food program.

Now that you know what you can safely feed your cat, it’s just as important to find a bowl that supports their health and well-being. With whisker-friendly bowls and a wide tray to catch any spills, our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite option.

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hepper-cat-paw-dividerConclusion

Cats are less likely to beg for food under the dinner table than dogs, but some felines are more curious about human food than others. Relying on protein-rich commercial pet food for your cats is the safest and most nutritional option for your cat, but with regards to treats, you can safely offer your cat an olive every now and then if the pit is removed. Because of olives’ high sodium and fat content, they should only be fed to your pet in moderation.

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Featured Image Credit: Peter H, Pixabay

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