Can cats eat avocado oil? There are many reasons why they should! For centuries, avocado oil has been one of the best-kept health secrets, and in this article, I’ll reveal why.
After I started including avocado oil in my cat’s diet, I saw a big improvement in their health. If you want to start doing the same, you can read through the quick guide below to learn everything you need to know before starting.
IMPORTANT: At stuffaboutcats.com, we regularly consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry experts. However, the information found on stuffaboutcats.com should not be viewed as veterinary advice. We do our best to help you better understand your cats, but the information on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance.
Can Cats Eat Avocado Oil, Flesh, And Skin?
Avocado oil is 100% safe for your cat to eat in moderation. It’s rich in healthy fats and provides many benefits. Avo flesh is just the same.
You should, however, steer away from feeding avocado skin to your cat. The skin of an avo contains persin, which is mildly toxic to cats. Avocado skin is also a choking hazard.
Reasons Why Avocado Oil Is Good For Cats
Adding avocado oil to your cat’s wet food, dripping some over their dry food, or creating snacks that contain it can benefit their overall health. Here’s what avo oil can do for your cat:
1. Provide essential minerals and vitamins
Avocado oil is loaded with minerals and vitamins:
- Minerals – copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc
- Vitamins – A, Bs, C, E, and K
2. Improves heart health
Avocado oil can help prevent the most common heart and cardiovascular diseases amongst felines. It’s rich in potassium which reduces blood pressure.
3. Improves digestive function
If your cat experiences constipation, avocado oil can help relieve this. It’s packed with soluble and insoluble fiber, which is the most effective remedy for bowel incontinence.
4. Contains antioxidants
Antioxidants have several health benefits for cats, and avocado oil is loaded with them! The antioxidants in avo oil reduce the risk of cataracts and inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
5. Lowers cholesterol
Avocado oil does a great job lowering the cholesterol levels in a cats’ body! When cholesterol levels are reduced, your cat has a lower risk of developing cardiovascular conditions.
6. Prevents arthritis
Like us, cats can get arthritis too. Including avocado oil in their diet can help prevent arthritis by promoting bone health.
How To Include Avocado Oil In Your Cat’s Diet?
You can easily add oil to your cat’s diet in several ways! I like experimenting with cat food and treats, so I’ll share some of the easiest and best methods I use to add avo oil to my cats’ diet.
As-is
One of my cats doesn’t mind eating avocado oil as is, and this is the easiest way to serve it.
Over-dry food
Sometimes, I’ll drizzle a bit of avo oil over my cats’ dry food. The food quickly absorbs the oil, and after giving it a mix, all the kibbles are drenched in it.
In wet food
Mixing a tablespoon of avocado oil into your cats’ wet food is another quick and easy way to serve it. If the wet food has a strong taste, your cat won’t even notice the oil is there!
With yogurt
My cats love eating yogurt as a treat. When I want to boost their bodies with avocado oil, I mix some with yogurt in a blender and sometimes even add catmint to enhance the flavor. This combination is one of their favorite snacks!
In foods
I use avocado oil when I make my cats anything else to eat, like fish or meatballs.
How Much Avocado Oil Is Too Much?
If you’re unsure how much avocado oil to give your cat, you can ask your vet. Typically, healthy cats can eat one tablespoon per day, but it’s highly dependent on their weight.
There’s isn’t a set guideline of how much avocado oil is safe for cats to eat, but if you notice any of these signs after feeding them, you’ve probably given too much:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Bloatedness
- Pain (which can be a sign of pancreatitis)
If your cat seems a little uneasy after eating avocado oil for the first time, you don’t need to rush them to the vet in a panic. Most symptoms of intolerance will subside within a day. As long as you keep a close eye on your cat to ensure that they’re not in any pain, stay well hydrated and breathe normally, they’ll be okay.
Avocado Oil Alternatives
If you notice your cat isn’t tolerating avocado oil too well, you can try one of these alternatives:
Olive oil
Olive oil is non-toxic to cats and has an abundance of micronutrients and fatty acids.
Fish oil
Fish oil is extremely healthy for cats and improves their coat and skin condition, and immune system function.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has several benefits for cats. It can help cure itchiness, prevent dry skin conditions, ease allergies, improve overall coat health, strengthen their immune system, and improve bad breath.
In Summary
Avocado oil is packed with good fats, vitamins, and minerals. If you want to add a simple food to your cat’s diet that will improve their overall health and condition, then avo oil is it!
To reduce the risk of any adverse reactions, you should not give your cat more than one tablespoon of avocado oil per day, although a little less per week is recommended.
If you have any more questions about feeding avocado oil to your cats, you can drop them in the comments, and I’ll answer them soon.
Read more about Is Almond Oil Bad For Cats?
How much avocado is toxic to cats?
Avocados are mildly toxic to cats, so you can only feed them small amounts at a time.
Which oil is best for cats?
The best food oil for cats is fish oil. Fish oil is packed with healthy fatty acids.
Can I give my dog avocado oil for constipation?
Avocado oil is non-toxic to dogs and can help treat constipation.
Why is my cat obsessed with avocados?
Avocado has a creamy texture, and besides eating it, cats can enjoy licking it. Cats like things that taste and seem interesting, which may be why your cat wants avocado so much.