There are a couple of answers to the question of whether or not cats can eat pineapple, but this one is a little more straightforward than we probably just led you to believe. So, let’s stop confusing you and get to the point.
Can Cats Eat Pineapple?
If your cat has licked a little pineapple or taken a bite and you are worried about their health then don’t be. There is nothing poisonous in the fruit or the leaves and they will be okay barring some freak occurrence. However, if you are here because you have a small, furry family member in front of you staring with big black eyes and demanding a piece of your fruit, then what you should be asking yourself is, Will he eat it?
The answer, in that case, is probably a “no”. They may be greeding from you in hope that you will give them something, but it’s unlikely that they will take any. And even if they do, there is no point in them eating it. Pineapple is very high in sugar and research has suggested that cats can’t even taste sugar. They seem to enjoy fruit because of its water content and its texture, which basically means they are consuming all of that sugar unnecessarily.
Think about it this way, if candy bars tasted like water to you, would you willingly eat them? Unlikely. And it’s the same with your cat. They won’t derive much pleasure from it and it won’t do them any good, so there is no point. If you do want to satisfy those kitty urges with a little fruit then give them watermelon or melon instead. The acidity is lower, the sugar content is not as great and it won’t do them as much harm.
Can Cats Drink Pineapple Juice?
No! You might think it’s a good idea to add a little squirt of pineapple juice to your cat’s water in order to get it to drink more. But while this trick might work with other animals (carrot juice will work with rabbits) it’s not going to work with cats. Not only don’t they drink as much water as other pets, but, as mentioned above, that pineapple juice isn’t going to make much of a difference.
It certainly won’t taste like water, but without the sweetness of the pineapple being detectable, there will be no joy in consuming it and no benefit to adding it to your water.
What About Tinned Pineapple?
We feel like this has to be mentioned just to cover all bases, but tinned pineapple is just as unnecessary as the fresh stuff and it may actually do them more harm. Tinned pineapple tends to be loaded with juice, which means there is more sugar. They also add preservatives and acidity regulators and some of them even coat the pineapple in apple juice (it’s cheaper than pineapple juice) and other juices.
Considering the risks involved with many fruits and the dangers of additives and sugar, this is something you will want to avoid giving to your cat.