Can Cats Eat Dates?

It is not recommended for cats to eat dates.

Coming from the flowering plant called date palm, dates are sweet tasting fruits that can be eaten fresh, dried, or stuffed with fillings. They are also chopped and used for bread and pastries, or turned into cubes and paste.

Unlike grapes, sultanas, and raisins, dates are not listed as poisonous for cats. However, eating dates may cause health issues for your feline pet. Dates are known for their laxative effect, so too much of the fruit may wreak havoc on your cat’s digestive system. Vomiting, passing loose stools, and digestive discomfort are symptoms that may manifest after she eats too many dates.

Dates are also high in sugar, which do not provide any nutritional value for your cat. Allowing her to eat dates regularly may cause weight gain, hypertension, and dental problems. The unpitted variety may also become a choking hazard if it gets stuck in her throat.

What to do if your cat accidentally eats dates: Find out how many pieces she ate and observe her closely for the next 24 hours. A tiny piece may not affect her, but more than two pieces may trigger stomach-related problems. For glazed or pitted dates, review the nutrition label to find out all the ingredients used to make it. Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are high in fat, so they shouldn’t be fed to your cat.

In summary: Though it may be tempting to feed your cat dates, doing so may cause more harm than good as they do not help meet your cat’s daily nutritional requirements. Aside from this fruit being high in sugar, it is packed with calories that go over what your cat needs in a day. Instead of giving her dates, discover other fruits and vegetables you can safely feed to your pet cat through our “can cats eat” blog category.