Cat owners commonly wonder about the toxicity of various human foods. The question about the safety of different foods increased after learning that certain foods were toxic which yielded a lot of press coverage. The most important toxic foods to cats are onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and excessive amounts of fish.

Exposure to the dangers of various human foods has encouraged pet owners to ask about the safety of foods such as can cats eat watermelon. Learn more about what cats can and can’t eat in this article: The Ultimate Guide to What Cats Can’t Eat.

Can Cats Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is a large fruit round to oblong in shape grown from a plant of the gourd family. It has a thick outer green striped skin and inside contains a red pulp with a very high water content and seeds. There are also “seedless” varieties of watermelon. The long vines and flowering watermelon plant were believed to be originally cultivated from West Africa.

To answer the question, “Can cats eat watermelons?” is, “Yes.” Cats can eat watermelon and some cats do enjoy the crunchy soft texture. Watermelon is a good source of water (watermelon is about 92% water), nitric oxide, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.

Although watermelon is considered safe, any food can cause gastrointestinal upset in cats. What may not bother some cats can cause problems to a different cat.

The Dangers of Watermelons to Cats  

When researching the safety and danger of watermelons for cats, there are a couple of considerations.

1. First is the potential for blockage from the stems, seeds, rind, and leaves. Although uncommon, cats that have exposure to gardens and eat the leaves can develop gastrointestinal upset and potential blockage.
2. Watermelon seeds can also cause gastrointestinal upset and potential blockage in some cats.
3. Lastly, there is an uncommon risk of choking when eating large pieces or in some cases whole large pieces of watermelons. Cats are generally fairly discriminating in their eating habits and this is a rare problem.

Do Cats Need Watermelons?

There is nothing in watermelons that cats require. What cats do need is a high-quality AAFCO approved cat food. Learn more about Nutrition in Cats.

The Safest Way to Give Watermelons to Cats

The safest way to give watermelon to your cat is to offer small pieces of sliced watermelon without the rind and seeds.  You can purchase the unseeded watermelon varieties which are great options. Although safe to give, there are better and generally more appealing treats to give cats.

Additional Articles that May be of Interest About Can Cats Eat Watermelons

• The Ultimate Guide to What Cats Can’t Eat
• Can Cats Eat Shrimp?
• Can Cats Eat Yogurt?
• Can Cats Eat Potatoes?
• Can Cats Eat Cheese?
• Can Cats Eat Chocolate?
• Can Cats Eat Bananas?
• Can Cats Eat Eggs?
• Can Cats Eat Dog Food?
• Can Cats Eat Grapes?
• Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?
• Can Cats Eat Strawberries?
• Instructions for Homemade Cat Treats
• Nutrition for Cats
• Homemade Treats or the Older Cat
• Is Sweetener Toxic to Cats?
• Dangerous Foods: Are They Harmful to Your Cat?
• Is Chewing Gum Toxic to Your Pet?
• Pancreatitis in Cats
• Grape and Raisin Toxicity in Dogs
• The Good and Bad of Rawhides
• Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs
• Peanut Butter Toxicity in Dogs