I love nature so much, and that is why I don’t joke with my garden. I plant both flowers like creeping jenny and mugwort and fruits like guava and herbs alike. Given that I have restless cats and dogs, I ensure to keep the garden and entire house as safe as possible.
Raspberry plants, leaves, or fruits are not listed as toxic by the ASPCA, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a caveat. Raspberries, their leaves, and plants are high in fiber, according to the NCBI. Allowing your cat to overindulge will lead to possible GI upset and other problems that will be discussed in the later part of the article.
Can cats eat raspberries?
Yes, cats can safely eat some raspberries, but like every other fruit, they should be fed in moderation and as a treat. Although raspberries contain fiber, sodium, potassium, and protein, your cat can get these nutrients in appropriate amounts from their quality dry kibbles or wet foods.
Raspberries have a high sugar content, and if fed constantly to your cat, you’re placing it at risk of developing diabetes. The ASPCA highlights that excessive sugar intake can cause your cat’s pancreas to be inflamed.
Also, raspberries contain a natural sugar alcohol that is extracted and used as a sweetener and is known as xylitol, which can be toxic to cats. Which is why you should tread with caution.
Most cats may not have a liking for raspberries as their aroma isn’t as alluring, and cats lack the receptors to taste sweet things, so they may not appreciate the suggested taste. But if your cat is like mine and enjoys snacking on raspberries, like acai berries and blueberries, raspberries should be treated as a treat and shouldn’t exceed 10% of your cat’s daily food intake.
Can cats eat raspberry leaves?
As I highlighted in the abstract of this article, it is very important to take into consideration the health of your pets when buying or planting a plant in your garden or yard.
We have seen cases of cats curiosity making them nibble on things that are not good for them out of curiosity. If the raspberry leaves are readily available, your cats will nibble on them. But is this safe?
Just like blueberry leaves, your cat can eat fresh raspberry leaves that are free from pesticide residues without any serious toxicity. However, if they eat too much, they will likely suffer a stomach upset.
Most of our gardens are sprayed with pesticides and repellents to keep certain types of unwanted guests and pests, like snakes, away, and these pesticides could be harmful to your cat if ingested alongside the raspberry leaves.
Can I use raspberry leaves to treat my cat’s infection?
If raspberry leaves are made available to cats in a proper and appropriate amount, they could provide lots of health benefits to your cat, like helping your cat during pregnancy by strengthening the muscles of the uterus in preparation for having a kitten. It also helps in balancing the hormones of your cat and also for phantom pregnancy, but it has not been researched to be effective against cat infection.
Are raspberry plants toxic to cats?
No, raspberry plants are not toxic to cats. The raspberry plant is a perennial and belongs to the genus Rubus. It bears fruits that your cat can safely enjoy.
Though raspberry plants do not contain any harmful toxins, you should not allow your cat to ingest their stems, as it could cause gastrointestinal issues.
In a case where your cat eats some part of the plant, there is nothing to worry about; symptoms should resolve on their own, except if it’s a plant that was treated with pesticides, in which case the case may be entirely different.
How to Keep Cats Away From Raspberry Plants
Once your raspberry plants are pesticide-treated, you need to keep your cat away from them in order to preserve their health. Here are some ways you could restrain your cat from accessing your raspberry plants:
- You should explore the use of pine cones or prickly yard trimmings to create a protective barrier by placing them around your raspberry plants.
- You can also consider installing chicken wire or fencing around your raspberry plants (it’s best to use the plastic ones, but you can use any).
- Far more sustainable in the long run, planting rue around your raspberry plants will keep your cat away. Rue is a bitter-tasting herb with a very strong scent. I use it a lot to restrict my cats’ access to certain plants I don’t want them to have access to.
Can cats eat raspberry seed oil?
Another variation of the raspberry plant is the raspberry oil extract. Ellagic acid is found in raspberry plants, and most of it is obtained from the seeds of raspberries. Research shows that ellagic acid can help fight cancer and also possesses other great health benefits.
Unlike most other fruits, which your cat shouldn’t be eating for their seeds, your cat can actually eat and digest raspberry seeds. They could also have the seed oil in moderation without any problems.
Raspberry seed oil is effective in preventing stomach ulcers and also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation properties. It is also great for reducing glucose levels in diabetic cats, and the ellagic acid also boosts the function of your cat’s liver. This great benefit makes the seed oil a great addition to your cat’s diet.
How to feed your cat raspberries
It is best to consult with your vet or your cat’s health history before you introduce certain treats or fruits into their diets to avoid placing your beloved cat in an uncomfortable position.
You don’t have to remove the seeds; just cut the raspberries into bits and serve them to your cat while ensuring they are not constituting more than 10% of your cat’s daily food intake. As for the oil, you could just add a spoon to your cat’s meal, and that should do.
Other berry plants that are safe for cats
- Blueberry plants
- Huckleberry plants
- Strawberry plants
Final Thoughts
Raspberry plants and leaves are safe for cats to nibble on, provided they are free from contaminants like pesticides. Raspberries have a greater advantage over other fruits; a cat could equally eat their seeds and even benefit from them, but you should be aware that they have a high sugar content and should be fed to your cat in moderation.
