Can Cats Eat Watermelon? Yes, a Small Seedless Bite

Why watermelon is safe but pointless for cats

Watermelon flesh is about nine-tenths water, with natural sugar and small amounts of vitamins A and C. None of it is toxic to cats. Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that depend on nutrients found only in animal tissue, so plant foods like watermelon add calories without adding anything a cat requires.

Cats also lack a working taste receptor for sweetness, so the sugary taste that makes watermelon appealing to people means nothing to them. A cat that shows interest is usually responding to the cold, wet texture or simply to what you are eating, which is why many cats sniff it once and walk away.

Rind, seeds and other watermelon cautions

Never give a cat the rind. It is tough, hard to chew with a cat's teeth and can cause vomiting or, in a larger piece, get stuck. Black seeds are a choking hazard for a small animal and should be picked out, and even the pale seeds in seedless melons are best removed for a cat.

Avoid watermelon in any other form: candy, gum, flavored water, sorbet, fruit cocktail or salads with dressing, mint or feta. Some sugar-free products contain xylitol. Do not share watermelon that has sat out in the heat for hours, because cut melon spoils quickly.

How to prepare watermelon for a cat

Cut a cube of red flesh away from the rind, then remove every seed you can see. Dice it into pieces about the size of a pea for an average cat, or mash a little with a fork so your cat can lick it. Serve it plain and cool, but not frozen solid, which can be hard on teeth.

Offer it on a clean saucer away from the cat's food bowl, and take away anything not eaten within half an hour. If your cat turns it down, do not coax. A cat that ignores fruit is behaving exactly as a carnivore should.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

How much watermelon a cat can have

Cornell advises keeping treats to no more than 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories, and Tufts University's Petfoodology team notes a 10 lb cat needs only about 300 calories a day. Tufts lists a third of a cup of diced watermelon as about 15 calories, which is far more than a cat should eat at once.

In practice, two or three pea-sized pieces, or one bite-sized cube, once or twice a week is plenty for an average 8 to 12 lb adult cat. Smaller cats get less. Count it as part of the day's treats, not on top of them.

Kittens, diabetic and overweight cats

Kittens need every calorie to come from food that supports growth, so there is little point offering fruit. If a curious kitten wants to taste a fleck of watermelon, a single tiny piece is unlikely to hurt, but do not make it a habit.

Cats with diabetes should not have watermelon, because the sugar can upset blood glucose control. Overweight cats and cats on a prescription diet for kidney, urinary or gut problems should only have it if their vet agrees. Ask before adding any human food to a sick cat's routine.

Signs it disagreed with them, and when to call a vet

The usual reaction to too much watermelon is soft stool, diarrhea or a single vomit within a few hours, which settles within a day once the fruit stops. Keep fresh water down and feed the normal diet.

Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, if your cat stops eating, hides or seems lethargic, or if they ate a piece of rind and start retching, drooling or straining. A cat that has not eaten for a day needs a vet check sooner than a dog would.

Better treats for cats

The treats cats are designed for are animal-based. A flake of plain cooked chicken or turkey breast, a commercial cat treat, or a little of their usual wet food served from a puzzle feeder all give more than fruit does. For hydration in hot weather, a water fountain or extra wet food works better than melon.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.