Can You Share Olives With Your Cat?

Don't be surprised if you open a can of olives and your cat comes running. You might be wondering: "Can cats eat olives?" but the answer to that question is not that simple. Although olives are not toxic to cats, you will still have to take precautions if you decide to offer them to your cat.

All cats are different, and while some cats will absolutely go crazy about olives, others could have no interest in them; either way, you should know all the benefits and health risks connected to olives if you decide to feed your cat with some. Let's start.

Can cats eat olives?

Generally speaking, yes – cats can eat olives, but you must understand how much you can give to your cat not to cause her any health issues. Olives are high in sodium, and if your cat ingests more than the normal amount, she could end up with gastrointestinal problems.

Although they are not toxic, cats shouldn't eat olives too often since they contain empty calories and since your cat will not have nutritional benefits from eating them.

Why do cats like olives?

As we said earlier, some cats will go crazy about olives, while others will not seem interested in them. It is known that green olives contain a compound called nepetalactone. This compound is usually found in catnip, and we all know the connection between cats and catnip. If you are not sure about what we are talking about, make sure to check this article – What Does Catnip Do to Cats?

Some cats will like the taste, while others can just see olives as a toy they could play with. Every cat is different, and there is no way of telling how your cat will react until you present olives to her.

Can olives be bad for cats?

If they are not given properly to your cat, olives can cause some health issues. The first and most important thing is to understand how many olives you can give to your cat.

If your cat somehow ingests more than the recommended amount, she could experience gastrointestinal upset, including

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Tremors
loss of appetite
constipation.

Also, many olives can be found with different spices, and you must know that the only way you can give your cat some olives is plain. With every additional spice, there is a higher probability that your cat will end up with stomach problems.

Additionally, pits found in olives pose a choking hazard for your cat. Make sure that you always remove the pit from the olive, so you can prevent choking.

olives

Sodium poisoning

Since olives contain a lot of sodium content, you must ensure that your cat doesn't ingest too many olives. Otherwise, she could end up with sodium poisoning.

This is an extremely dangerous state, and believe us when we say that you don't want your cat to go through poisoning.

If your cat somehow managed to ingest more olives, you must watch for symptoms of sodium poisoning, and they include:

Collapsing
Tremors
Excessive thirst
Loss of appetite
Seizures
Constant urination
Dehydration

If you notice any of these symptoms, you must contact your vet immediately and ask for further steps. Most vets will recommend that you bring your cat to the clinic.

Can cats eat olive oil?

Yes, cats can eat olive oil in small amounts; otherwise, your cat will have gastrointestinal problems. You can add one tablespoon of olive oil to their regular kibble for extra flavor and to boost their immune system.

Olive oil can benefit your cat, but only if fed in moderation. If you want to be completely sure that you offer your cat the best olive oil, always choose extra virgin oil because it will not be treated with chemicals and is less acidic.

olive oil

How many olives can cats eat?

To start, you must ensure that your cat will want and will love olives. Offer your cat only a small piece of olive to test this out. If your cat seems to enjoy olives and she doesn't have any bad reaction to them, you can safely give olives to your cat in the future.

If you are determined to feed olives to your cat regularly, offer your cat less than one olive a couple of times a week. That way, you can ensure that your cat will not have any stomach problems while getting all the benefits olives offers.

Also, make sure that olives are plain and that they are not containing any additional spices. Always remove the pit from the olive before giving them to your cat.

World Cat Finder Team

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