Choosing the right diet for your Bengal cat is a labor of love. You want to ensure that you are providing the right kind of nutrition that your feline companion needs to fuel their playful nature. Selecting the right food for your Bengal takes a little bit of investigation. Not only is their a plethora of foods on the market but it’s also important to be keenly aware of what your friend can not eat. One such food that should be avoided or at the very least treated with the utmost of caution is cherries.
Bengal cats, generally speaking, don’t care for fruits much in the first place. They lack the receptors to enjoy sweet flavors. While fruits and vegetables typically aren’t harmful to them to consume and many commercial foods include them in their formulations, there are a few fruits in particular that are particularly harmful not only for Bengal cats but other breeds of cats and dogs alike.
Cherries Contain Cyanogenic Glycosides
Cherries, like other pitted fruits like peaches and plums, contain a compound called PRUSSIC ACID, otherwise known as CYANIDE. Each cherry pit contains .17 grams of cyanogenic glycosides, which could potentially kill your beloved pet if they were unfortunate enough to swallow one.
Humans typically avoid eating the seeds and stems of cherries, but even if we were to accidentally ingest one, we are far less sensitive to the toxins than cats are. Interestingly enough, the ripe fruit of the cherry itself is completely non-toxic to Bengal cats. The dangerous poison can mainly be found in 4 primary places of the fruit:
- Stems
- Leaves
- Pits
- Roots
Even though the ripe fruit itself is benign, the unripe fruit is full of this toxin. It may be best to play things safe and AVOID CHERRIES altogether. If you choose to feed your Bengal cat cherries regardless of the potential danger, make sure that you thoroughly remove all the toxic components of the fruit, especially the pit. Some owners vouch that the nutritional content of cherries and the presence of a heaping dose antioxidants makes them a healthy treat when offered with caution and supervision.
Be Aware Of Your Environment
It shouldn’t prove to be too difficult to make sure that you aren’t intentionally feeding your Bengal cat something potentially toxic. Although cyanide poisoning in cats is relatively rare, it typically isn’t a result of their owners intentionally feeding them a treacherous food item. Even though Bengal cats aren’t prone to eating fruit in the first place, their curiosity can lead them into trouble at times. Their noses have an ingrained inquisitiveness that demands satiation.
Be on the alert if you live in an area with cultivated or wild cherry trees, especially if your Bengal cat has access to the outside. Bengal cats like to dig and explore. Coming in contact with roots or compost from cherry trees can be potentially hazardous. Always make sure you prioritize the safety of your pets in their living environments. Curiosity may have killed a cat but that doesn’t have to be your Bengal’s story.
Conclusion
Cherries are also high in sugar which isn’t particularly good for a cat’s digestive tract. The best kind of sweetness that your Bengal cat needs is your attentive love and care. If your Bengal cat does get their paws on a bowl of cherries and you are worried that they may have consumed some of the toxic components, call your vet immediately. There is little reason to stress out too much though, cherry poisoning is exceptionally rare in cats.
