The Surprising Attraction Between Cats and Kiwi Fruit
Recently, I discovered an astonishing secret: there is a type of fruit that has a fatal attraction for cats! Even more surprising, it can trigger all kinds of hilarious and mysterious reactions in our feline friends.
Do cats like kiwi? The scientific name of kiwi is Actinidia chinensis Planch, also known as Chinese gooseberry. It belongs to the Actinidia genus in the Actinidiaceae family, just like matatabi (silver vine). The branches and fruit of the kiwi are rich in actinidine and matatabi lactones, compounds that about 80% of cats are highly sensitive to.
These substances can stimulate cats who feel lazy or have no appetite, boosting their lethargic spirits. Some cats, when smelling or tasting kiwi, may show dazed behavior, roll around, or run back and forth in a playful, quirky manner.
It's important to know which fruits cats cannot eat, but what about kiwi? The good news is that cats can eat kiwi! However, it is recommended that owners feed only small amounts to avoid upsetting their cat's stomach.
Fruit Safety for Cats at Home
I have compiled a common list of fruits found at home, but this is not to encourage feeding fruits to cats! Since fruits often have a strong aroma, cats are naturally curious and may approach them. Understanding the toxicity of fruits is the first step to ensuring safety at home.
Fruits That Can Cause Toxicity in Cats
- Grapes
- Peaches and Plums
- Persimmons
- Lemons
- Citrus Fruits
- Avocados
Fruits That Are Non-Toxic to Cats
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
- Bananas
Cats and Their Diet: Understanding Their Natural Needs
Although some plants can have calming effects or help stimulate digestion in cats, physiologically, cats are obligate carnivores. Their digestive tracts are much shorter than those of humans or herbivores, making them better suited to digest animal-based proteins.
If cats consume too much fiber or starch, these substances might pass through their digestive system before being fully broken down, resulting in stools that are both foul-smelling and voluminous. This is quite different from the stools of cats fed a raw food diet, which tend to be small and odorless.
Ultimately, food that aligns with a cat's natural biological makeup—such as raw diets—is best for their health and wellbeing.
