Hey Catties,

I have a new kitten, Nina-Louise, who is just under 4 months and won't leave me alone when I'm eating fruit.

I thought if I gave her a good sniff she'd see that it was something she didn't want and then naturally leave me alone.

To my surprise she has already consumed nectarine, nectarine juice, pineapple and pineapple juice.

I cannot find anything anywhere saying that it is bad for a cat to eat fruit. Mostly I have just read that they don't tend to go for it. If they do go for sweets, like chocolate and such, it is either because of people interfering with cat breeding or because cat owners have taught their cats to like it and eat it.

My question is not whether or not people think it is wrong to feed my cat from my plate if I so choose, but rather whether or not it is bad for a cat to eat fruit, period. Anyone else got cats who eat fruit? And if so, do yours appear healthy?

I'd say as a rule of thumb - if the cat sh-ts normally after fruit, don't worry.

Chocolate is possibly poisonous - certainly is for dogs.
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/nutr...latetoxici.htm

We had a gorgeous white-haired cat called Twiggy who absolutely loved fruit! She pooped outside so I can't tell you if eating fruit upset her tummy. My sister still has a picture of her devouring a slice of watermelon. I don't recall her throwing up after eating fruit. I think in moderation it should be ok. Check with your vet.

Hey Sunshine!

Well, I've got to take her back to the vet anyway for the second series of vaccinations, so I will ask then (and post the answer for anyone interested in what my vet has to say on the matter).

I think the thumb rule is, if they like it and the poo normaly after it, it can't be that bad for them. After all they need vitamins too

Our cats (all 4 of them) are just totally mad about Marmite at the moment. They are gagging for it. Whenever I have it, I almost have to lock myself in a room

Evolver, the marmite is probably popular due to the high salt content.

I read somewhere that cats can't digest fruit, so I guess a little bit shouldn't harm them, as long as they were getting everything else they needed in their diets. Animals such as dogs definitely need meat in their diet (I think cats as well). The family of an ex of mine were vegetarians and decided to do the same for their dog. They fed it a diet of wheatgrass juice. It died a week later.

So as long as the cat is getting is other stuff, then the fruit shouldn't harm him, but would I know I'm not a vet. To spice this thread up I've included a link to the world's fattest cat [boreme.com]. It's really quite impressive and worth a look.

I read similar.
Cats are carniviores - they may like fruit, but need meat.

Dogs are omnivores and can be veggie, but be careful.

Some info for those interested:
How to:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5339_dog-vegetarian-diet.html
Sensible:
http://www.vnv.org.au/Articles/Dogs&Cats.htm
Caution:
http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk...rian_diets.htm
http://happypets.addr.com/vegpets.htm
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/catfood.html
Propaganda:
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/dogfood1.html
http://www.ivu.org/faq/animals.html

That poor baby! He looks like his joints are killing him!

I will follow my horror with a cute story.

Today Nina-Louise was snuggling up to me for a kissie...I thought, "oh how sweet! I love you, too!" Then I remembered I'd just eaten a nectarine.

That's the hardest part about being a vegetarian and an animal owner. I don't eat meat for (in part) moral reasons - so it is very difficult for me to feed the cats meat. But they need it to survive, they're carnivores. But I make the husband do the actual dishing out of the stuff, the smell gags me.

My parents had a cat that weighed in well over 20 pounds (and about 18 or so when he was thin) and who loved melon. Particularly just plain cantelope - he'd "attack" anyone who had some!

He also turned out to be diabetic, but I am not so sure there was any connection to it.

had two siamese, one loved green veggies particularly broccoli and peas, the other is mad about mango. The pea eater lived to be 15 but died of feline aids, the mango eater is still on her throne at 15, so i guess it's not dangerous.

not neccessarily, my ex neighbours dog is vegetarian as she has a stomach problem and was put on a vegetarian diet by the vet, she's still doing well at 14!!