In this brief discussion, we’ll answer the question, “can cats eat figs?” we will also discuss if figs are toxic to cats and what to do if your cat eats figs.
Can cats eat figs?
No, cats cannot eat figs. Figs are considered toxic to cats and can be irritating to your cat. Figs can cause many health issues in cats, including diarrhoea, vomiting, and even fatal consequences.
You should also keep your cat away from fig leaves as they can also cause certain health issues in them. Therefore, it is best to keep your cat away from every part of the fig to ensure its safety and health.
Are figs toxic to cats?
Yes. It is commonly known that figs are poisonous to cats, albeit the precise cause is not yet known.
There are two unproven theories explaining why this is the case: one of them postulates that the fig’s particular chemistry may contain an ingredient that renders the fruit completely indigestible for cats, resulting in nausea or digestive problems.
Ficin and psoralen have been reported to irritate cats’ skin, therefore these may also be to blame for some of the issues fig consumption has led to.
Fingonine, another substance found in figs, has the potential to be hazardous, mostly because it inhibits some of the enzyme activity necessary to break down folic acid.
The same is true with psoralen, which is present in many plants, including figs, and which has the ability to block enzymes that are a part of specific metabolic pathways.
Is whole fig poisonous to cats?
The fig fruit itself wouldn’t be toxic or harmful to your cat, but the sap does include toxicity that might irritate the throat of your cat.
Sap has a sticky adhesive property that can seep under your fingernails and cause an allergic reaction in certain people, as anyone who has had sap contact with their skin will attest to.
Sap, a substance that fig trees generate, coats the tree’s leaves and fruits. If your cat licks this coating, whether it is on the figs themselves or other things like furniture, it may cause intestinal irritation, burns to the mouth and oesophagus, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Cats should refrain from consuming any dried figs that have been left unattended on a countertop, as well as the stem or leaves of a fresh fig plant, as the dried fruit may have gone bad.
Can cats eat fig leaves?
No, cats cannot eat fig leaves. Because they contain chemicals that disrupt the central nervous system and result in seizures, figleaves are dangerous to cats if they eat them.
Following consumption of a complete raw fig fruit or fig leaf, cats may develop nausea, vomiting, or anorexia.
Can cats eat fig newtons?
No, cats cannot eat fig newtons. Most people undoubtedly prefer to eat figs in Fig Newtons. Of course, these resemble cookies far more than fruit. Although they are created with fig paste, the ripe fruits that are used to make them don’t have a lot of ficin or psoralen.
But even so, Fig Newtons are bad for your cat. Being obligate carnivores, cats struggle to properly digest carbohydrates.
Fig Newtons are starchy, sweet balls of carbohydrates that are loaded with artificial flavours, wheat flour, baking soda, and other components that aren’t good for your pet’s diet.
What to do if my cat eats figs?
Contact your veterinarian right away if you think your cat may have consumed some fig fruit or plant material.
Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination, which could include bloodwork and other kinds of tests, in addition to looking for sores on the skin and listening to the heart and lungs.
Bring a sample of the plant with you to the vet if at all feasible. It might help your veterinarian make a quicker diagnosis of your cat’s ailment. Your cat may need to be stabilized with medicine, hospitalized for observation, and given IV medication, similar to other types of poisoning.
Your veterinarian may use an inducer to cause vomiting to get rid of any remaining fig plant residue in the cat’s system, depending on the severity of the toxicity. Unless instructed to do so by a veterinarian, never try to make a pet throw up on your own as this can have fatal consequences.
Your cat is likely to fully recover from eating a fig plant because fig poisoning in cats is normally minor or moderate.
However, digestive problems could linger for days after consumption, necessitating a bland diet for your cats like boiled chicken and rice or prescription food and medication.
Conclusion:
We answered the question, “can cats eat figs?” we also discussed if figs are toxic to cats and what to do if your cat eats figs.
References:
https://www.hepper.com/can-cats-eat-figs/
