Can Cats Eat Watermelon and what happens to them if they do?

Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,

Have you ever eaten something and realized your kitty is mad curious about it? I know Walker, in particular, has no boundaries and will climb all over you to get at whatever your eating, while Beau is a bit more subtle watching you afar and jumping at food if it drops.

Humans eat a lot of foods that aren’t the greatest for cats, and some of them can actually be deadly to our furry friends, but is watermelon safe?

Short Answer

Yes! They absolutely can! So don’t be afraid to give your kitty a mini snack here and there.

Benefits of Eating Watermelon

Water Content

So you may already know that cats aren’t huge fans of sweet, and they can’t taste sweet at all! What does draw cats to watermelon is the high water content. You may also know that cats aren’t huge drinkers, but it seems like if the water is in their food (or treats), it is easier to get them hydrated and potentially avoid dehydration, kidney failure or UTIs.

Fibre

We talk about this a lot on our site, as fibre is a key part of a cat’s diet. If your cat is constipated, similar to pumpkin, you may want to try out a watermelon on your little one as both the water and the fibre should help them go… well.. #2!

Extra Vitamins

If your kitty is lacking certain vitamins, or if you’re a fan of pre and probiotics, watermelon could be a great addition into your cat’s nutrition as it is filled with Vitamin A & C. It also comes with magnesium and potassium, which are also part of a cat’s natural healthy diet. Studies have also shown that watermelon can be beneficial for heart health and bone health because of the carotenoid lycopene found inside of it.

Concerns about Eating Watermelon

Seeds

When feeding your kitty watermelon, just be very careful when it comes to seeds. Unfortunately, the seeds have compounds (like cyanide) in them that are dangerous to cats. You can do this with a quick rinse, especially with “seedless” watermelons.

What happens if my cat eats the seeds?

Commonly it leads to diarrhea and vomiting, but in serious cases, it may lead to a blood transfusion. Since our little ones are much smaller than us, they are more vulnerable to cyanide poisoning.

The Rind

Although it doesn’t cause major health risks, the rind might be too hard for your cat to digest, so it’s best to cut it off before feeding.

Diabetes

As with most fruit, you’re going to have to be careful how much watermelon you feed your furry friend. Watermelons should never be fed to cats who already have diabetes and should be fed (while monitoring) if they don’t. This is similar when it comes to all treats you feed a cat, and proportions will vary from cat to cat.

So how much and how often do I feed watermelon?

Only occasionally as a treat. Vets always recommend a maximum of 10% of the cat’s regular diet for treats (watermelon included.) I would also limit watermelon to “a treat when my cat is constipated” or, “we’re having a barbecue and we have some watermelon to treat our little ones with. While it does have great benefits, overfeeding does cause the potential risk of diabetes, which is so common in cats especially from the kibble & wet food they eat.

Other foods you might be curious if cats can or can’t eat:

Nuts/Legumes: Peanuts | Cashews | Pecans
Fruits/Vegetables: Olives | Watermelon  | Bananas
Treats/Liquids: Ice Cream | Almond Milk | Coffee | Soy Milk
Misc. Plants: Roses