If your pet kitty nibbles curiously on a cucumber, that's not a problem – or is it? In this handy cat guide, you can find out whether cats are allowed to eat cucumbers.

As cucumbers consist of around 95% water, it makes sense to consider offering the vegetable as a snack to cats, who are usually lazy drinkers.

Generally speaking, cats are allowed to eat cucumbers if they do so in moderation.

Even though cucumber is not poisonous to cats, care should be taken when feeding it.

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If a cat eats too much cucumber, this can lead to digestive problems.

Cats are also pure carnivores and are theoretically not dependent on plant-based foods.

You should therefore consider carefully beforehand whether it makes sense to give your cat a cucumber to eat.

It can be beneficial for cats to eat cucumbers, but eating cucumbers also carries some risks that should not be underestimated.

Fluid intake

If a cat is drinking too little, water-rich snacks such as cucumber can help to cover the water requirement. However, you should not give the animal too much cucumber. The fact that the cat is drinking too little can also be a sign of illness, which is why a visit to the vet is advisable.

Few calories

Cucumbers are considered to be very low in calories and contain neither fat nor sugar. If you have an overweight cat, you can offer it a small piece of peeled cucumber as a treat.

Nutrients

Cucumbers provide small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, and potassium, which can have a positive effect on your kitty's health. If your kitty is eating high-quality food, there is no need to give it additional nutrients.

Digestive problems

As cats are actually pure carnivores, their bodies are not designed to digest plant-based substances. If cats eat large quantities of cucumber, this can lead to diarrhea and other digestive problems. Particularly sensitive cats cannot tolerate cucumber at all.

Peel

The peel of commercially available cucumbers may contain pesticides or other chemicals, which is why it is advisable to give your cat only peeled cucumbers, if at all.

Method of preparation

In contrast to fresh and unprocessed cucumbers, pickled cucumbers and the like can be poisonous for cats. Particularly problematic are the spices they contain, such as salt, onion, or garlic powder, which cats should not eat under any circumstances.

If you want to test whether your cat likes cucumber, you should only choose really fresh, good quality cucumbers.

Wash, peel, and cut the cucumber into small pieces beforehand. To start with, it is advisable to offer your cat just a small piece of cucumber to see how it and its digestive system react to it.

If your kitty likes and tolerates cucumber, you can sometimes offer it a small piece without the peel. Cucumber should not become a permanent part of your cat's diet.

Although cucumbers are not poisonous for cats, they are not really that good for them either. As pure carnivores, cats can only digest plant foods in small quantities.

Cats do not need any additional nutrients if they are fed high-quality food, so cucumbers would just be for fun – if done safely!