Can Cats Eat Dried Mango? (A Taste Of The Tropics)

There is something very refreshing about eating a nice cold juicy mango on a warm day to quench your thirst.

Mangos taste great, rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. You can also make great tasting desserts and ice cream from mango fruit.

There is also dried mango that makes for a yummy snack when you feel like mangoes but doesn’t want the hassle of cutting it up.

That being said, can cats eat dried mango as an occasional treat?

Cats can eat mangoes as an occasional treat. But cats should not be eating dried mango due to the high sugar content and added preservatives. These ingredients are not part of a cat’s diet and can cause health problems.

Let’s take a closer look at why cats should not be eating dried mango and what is considered a good diet for cats

How Are Dried Mangos Made?

The manufacturing process for dried mangos isn’t very complex. Fresh mangos are brought to the manufacturing plant to be washed and sliced up.

In order to dry the mangos quickly and evenly, warm air is used to remove the moisture from the cut mangos.

This process is rather long that can take up to 12 hours. This is to ensure that all the moisture is removed from the mango or they might start to rot in the packaging.

Think of it as mango jerky.

Once the mangos are properly dried up, some manufacturers will add sugar to sweeten them up.

A preservative called sodium metabisulfite is added to extend the shelf life of the product.

Is Mango Toxic To Cats?

Fresh mango by itself isn’t toxic to cats. Mangos are healthy and provide essential nutrients for humans but that does not make them good for cats as well.

If your cat really likes the taste and smell of the fruit, a few small bits every now and then is fine for your cat.

Do be careful when you wish to give your cat exotic fruits. It would be better to read up more on the fruit to see what it contains before giving it to your cat.

Do not overfeed your cat on fresh mangos or it can lead to nausea and an upset stomach. Cats do not have the enzymes to digest fruits and vegetables.

Similarly, there are some cat owners that feed their cats unseasoned/unsalted roasted seaweed for its health benefits.

But stay away from seaweed snacks which can be bad for cats.

Is Dried Mango Toxic To Cats?

In general, if your feline friend happens to take a bite of a piece of dried mango, I doubt anything bad will happen to your cat.

But for pet owners that have been feeding their cat dried mango on a regular basis, you need to stop doing that.

Too Much Sugar

Mango as a fruit is already high in sugar due to its natural sweetness. Some dried mangos come with added sugar making them 30% sweeter.

Too much sugar is bad for cats. Their bodies can’t handle the sugar and this can lead to feline obesity, diabetes and tooth problems.

That is why you were told to not consume too much candy or sodas as a kid.

For cats with feline diabetes, snacks like donuts and dried mango need to be avoided at all costs.

They can cause your cat’s blood sugar to spike and lead to ketoacidosis which can be fatal to cats.

Added Preservatives

For the longest time, cats have been hunting fresh prey for food. They do not really feed on carcases and spoilt meat.

Dried mango contains sodium metabisulfite which is a preservative that enables the product to last longer.

Such chemical compounds are not good for cats and can build up in their bodies and cause affect their immune system and organs in the long run.

Another popular snack that cats should not be eating is licorice. It can contain many added ingredients than can be toxic to cats.

There are many commercial pet foods that use preservatives as well so make to read the ingredient labels just to be sure about what you are feeding your cat.

What Should Cats Eat?

A cat’s diet is a lot more simple as compared to a dog’s.

Cats are obligate carnovires.

This means that cats eat meat for sustenance. They do not need any form of carbohydrates and plant matter for essential nutrients.

In fact, cats have lost the ability to taste sweetness and digest carbs and sole;y depend on a protein-rich diet.

You should be feeding your cat a diet that consists of animal meat. Stay away from dry food as it is really bad for cats.

Feed your cat good quality wet cat food or a raw meat diet.

I understand that there are many conflicting articles about feeding your cat a raw diet. But it was this diet that saved my cat from FELV.

You are what you eat and it applies to our pets too.

Try not to feed your cat any human foods as snacks if possible.

A lot of our food may seem safe for cats on the surface but seasoning or marinades that contain pepper, spices, garlic or onion are toxic to cats.

Can I Feed My Cat Dried Fruit?

Personally, I would not feed my cat any dried food and never had. These products contain too much sugar and added chemicals that aren’t even good for humans in the long run.

Please avoid feeding your cat any citrus fruits or other fruits like grapes. Such fruits are very toxic to cats and can cause health problems even in small quantities.

Can Cats Have Mango Juice?

I always tell my family, if you want to have a fruit, eat the fruit and not drink the juice.

The juicing process strips the fruit of most of its fiber, minerals and vitamins. What you get in the cup is just flavored sugar water.

Furthermore, fruit juice has a higher concentration of sugar as compared to eating the actual fruit.

You might be letting your cat consume more sugar than fruit this way.

Stick to the actual fresh fruit.

Can Cats Eat Mango Yoghurt?

If your cat likes some dairy as a treat, some yogurt is fine. I would advise against feeding your cat mango yogurt as it contains artificial flavoring.

Normal plain greek yogurt or pot set yogurt works better.

Remember to not give your cat too many dairy products as most cats as lactose intolerant. They can’t digest the lactose and this can cause a stomach upset in cats. .

Can Cats Eat Mango Sorbet?

The main difference between sorbet and ice-cream is that sorbet is dairy-free as compared to cream.

That seems like good news to all humans and pets that suffer from lactose intolerance.

But, the downside is that sorbet contains more sugar than ice-cream.

So it still comes down to the same best practices when feeding your cat mango sorbet. Go easy on the amount and frequency due to the high sugar content and ingredients used.

Conclusion

Truth be told, there are no real benefits for cats to eat fruits at all. On paper, it might seem great but in reality, your cat’s body is struggling to digest all these non-essentials.

What your furry friend needs is a good and healthy diet consisting of pure animal protein. This will help to ensure that your cat’s health is well taken care of in the years to come.

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