Care & Healthy Living
Can Cats Eat Blackberries? Safety, Serving Size, and Risks
Cats can usually eat a tiny piece of plain blackberry, but they do not need fruit. Learn how to offer it safely and which berry products to avoid.
By Dr. Isabella Miao
Yes, most healthy cats can eat a tiny piece of plain, ripe blackberry. Blackberries are not considered a normal toxin for cats, but they are also unnecessary. Cats are obligate carnivores and get their essential nutrition from complete, balanced cat food, not fruit.
How much blackberry can a cat have?
There is no nutritional need or official serving size for blackberries in cats. If you want to offer one, start with a piece about the size of a pea. A larger cat that tolerates it could have one small berry cut into pieces on an occasional basis.
Wash the berry, remove any stem or leaf, and serve it plain. Cutting it reduces the choking risk. Treats of all kinds should stay below about 10% of a cat's daily calories so they do not unbalance the main diet.
Why not give a whole bowl?
Too much fruit can cause vomiting, gas, or diarrhea because a cat's digestive system is not designed around plant foods. Blackberries also contain natural sugar. A cat with diabetes, obesity, a sensitive stomach, or a prescription diet should not receive fruit without veterinary advice.
Blackberry foods to avoid
Do not share blackberry jam, syrup, pie, yogurt, ice cream, or sweetened smoothies. These products can be high in sugar and fat and may contain other unsafe ingredients. “Sugar-free” foods are especially risky if they contain xylitol. Alcoholic blackberry drinks and chocolate-covered fruit are also off limits.
Wild berries create another problem: not every dark berry is a blackberry. Do not let a cat eat an unknown garden or roadside plant, and avoid fruit that may have been sprayed with pesticides.
What if my cat ate blackberries?
A cat that ate one or two plain berries and feels normal can usually be watched at home. Provide fresh water and skip other new treats that day.
Call a veterinarian if there is repeated vomiting, persistent diarrhea, marked tiredness, abdominal pain, coughing or choking, or refusal to eat. Contact a pet poison service when the berries were part of a product containing chocolate, alcohol, xylitol, raisins, or another questionable ingredient.
Do cats benefit from blackberry vitamins?
Blackberries contain fiber and plant nutrients, but that does not make them a useful supplement for a cat. A complete cat food is formulated to provide taurine, animal protein, vitamins, minerals, and essential fats in the right balance. Adding fruit cannot correct a poor diet and may reduce how much balanced food the cat eats.
Safer ways to treat a cat
The easiest treat is a small portion of the cat's usual food. Tiny pieces of plain cooked chicken or turkey can also work for many healthy cats. Avoid seasoning, skin, bones, sauces, and large portions.
Bottom line
A small piece of plain blackberry is usually safe, but it should remain an occasional taste rather than a health food. If your cat ignores it, that is normal; cats do not need fruit to have a balanced diet.
Source
