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This question may sound bizarre as cats are known to be carnivores; thus, their meal is predominately meat.
Cats require proteins to develop a strong heart, healthy reproductive system, and excellent vision.
But at times, you may find your cat eating unusual things such as melon and other fruits and vegetables
So, the answer is YES! Cats can eat melon and their favourite is Cantaloupe melon.
However, they also eat honeydew melon and watermelon.
But why do cats eat melon? Is it because of the texture? Or is it because of the smell?
Many human foods are not safe for your feline, as they can cause harm if consumed in large quantities.
So, let’s find out why cats eat melons!
First and foremost, there are different types of melons, and none of them is poisonous.
Hence, your cat is safe eating any melon in small quantities.
But it’s more advisable to talk to your vet before giving your cat any new food to ensure it is safe for your cat.
Cats love cantaloupe melons, and there is no precise answer to why.
Nevertheless, unlike cantaloupe melon, honeydew melon and watermelon have a milder taste.
Note that this has not been proven yet if it’s the reason cats love cantaloupe over honeydew and watermelon.
Why Do Cats Love Cantaloupe Melon?
Different scientists have different theories on why cats eat melons.
But it is widely suggested that cats eat cantaloupe melons because of their smell.
Cantaloupe melon contain vapors that have a large number of amino acids.
On the same note, amino acids are the building blocks of protein.
And since amino acids are the key contributors to a melon’s smell, there is a high chance that cantaloupe melon smells like the meat of your cat.
It may explain why cats are crazy about Cantaloupe melon compared to the other two types.
What To Know Before Giving Your Cats Melon?
Whether you want to feed cantaloupe melon or any other type of melon to your cat as a treat, there are a few things that you need to understand before doing so. These are as follows:
- Get rid of any trace of the rind before giving the melon to your cat.
- Eliminate all the seeds from the melon before feeding your cat. The seeds are not safe for your feline and may cause harm.
- Never feed the cat a whole piece of melon; cut it into small pieces for easy eating.
- Don’t include melon in the daily diet. It would be best if you fed your cat the melon once in a while.
Benefits Of Cats Eating Melon
All types of melons are nutritious for your cat.
They contain essential vitamins and minerals to help your feline grow strong and healthy.
Some of the gains of giving melon to your cat include:
- As stated above, it has several essential vitamins and minerals that can benefit your cat. For instance, honeydew is an excellent source of potassium and vitamin. On the other hand, cantaloupe offers vitamin B and potassium, while watermelon is rich in potassium, thiamine, and folate.
- The melon can help create a strong bond between the pet owner and the pet when he/he feeds them the melon.
- It is a way of rewarding your cat by giving it a treat. Every time your cat does something commendable, you can gift them the melon. It will also help create a strong bond between the owner and the pet.
- Vitamins A and C are the most beneficial nutrients of melon. These act as antioxidants, getting rid of free radicals in the body, helping cells work well, and maybe even preventing other diseases.
Is Melon Safe for Cats?
By now, you should be able to tell if cats can eat melon or not! The next question is – are melons safe for your cat? And the answer is – Yes! However, it would help if you fed them in moderation.
Giving them a lot of melon may be dangerous to their health.
Also, it would be best if you fed them occasionally.
However, avoid giving them melon rinds or seeds as they may be poisonous to them.
The rinds of watermelon and cantaloupe may make your cat hurt its digestive system.
Another risk with the rind is that it is often covered in chemicals or pesticides.
Conclusion
If you have a cat at home and are wondering whether to give them melon or not, there is nothing to worry about.
You can feed your cat melon, but just a tiny chunk.
Start with cantaloupe melon, their favorite, and try giving them honeydew melon or watermelon.
Remember, you should not feed them melons regularly as it is not suitable for their health.
Instead, please give it to them as a treat once in a while.
Apart from melon, felines eat other vegetables and fruits, such as peas and pumpkins.
So, you can rotate them in their diet to enjoy different meals.
Finally, even though cats can feed on melon, it is not acceptable to give it to Kittens.
This is because kittens require food rich in proteins so they can grow up to become healthy adults.
Purrfect n’ Pawesome is the brainchild of Amanda, who has been into researching and writing about pets to help other pet parents in nurturing their adorable pets. Currently, she runs Purrfect n’ Pawesome along with her team of experienced and dedicated pet experts. Along with being an awesome writer and entrepreneur, Amanda is a cat mom to two innocently spoiled cats, Balanca and Scruffy.
She has been writing about pet care and nurturing and wants to share her readers’ experiences, learnings, and knowledge.
Over the years, she had the opportunity to work with various pet owners having multiple breeds, and that exposure gave her experience and the lessons of a lifetime.
Her family, her entire universe revolves around her two cats, who give her endless support and inspiration to move ahead with her objectives in life. Amanda is a live example of a balanced approach to all parenthood questions we all face in life.
