Can cats eat coconut?

Updated 21/09/2023

Coconut: it enriches our curries, smoothes out our hair and sits center stage in summer drinks - safe to say it’s a popular all-rounder in the human world. But can cats eat coconut, or is coconut poisonous to cats? Let’s find out.

Can cats eat coconut?

Is coconut safe for cats, or should our feline friends avoid it? Coconut flesh is safe for cats if it’s shared in its most natural form and only on rare occasions. It’s super important to only treat your kitty with coconut sparingly, as it’s high in fat, and can cause vomiting and diarrhea if they chomp on too much of it. And like with any ‘human’ foods, it’s worth checking in with your vet before feeding it to your cat - that way, you’re sure that it’s safe alongside any health issues your feline friend might have.

Is coconut good for cats?

Coconut flesh contains protein and other nutrients, like iron and manganese, so does that mean it’s a good dinner option for your cat? Not at all - cats are carnivores, so they need to get the majority of their protein from animals, like chicken. And despite coconut’s protein content, there’s a whole lot wrong with feeding your kitty huge amounts of it on a regular basis, which we’ll get into below.

Coconut is an unusual fruit in that it has a seriously high-fat content, which means lots of coconut is bad news for our feline friends. The high-fat content in coconut could cause hyperlipidemia or pancreatitis, as well as obesity - more reasons not to feed your cat coconut too regularly!

Feeding your cat coconut

As you’ll know, coconut can be found in many forms, and not all of them will be safe for your cat. The best way to treat your kitty (if they like the taste) is with freshly shredded coconut. As long as you don’t make a habit of it, small amounts of shredded coconut can be a satisfying snack for our feline friends.

What about other forms of coconut? Let’s start with coconut water - the liquid found in premature green coconuts. This should be avoided at all costs for kitties - it’s seriously high in potassium, so could quickly cause hyperkalemia (unhealthily high levels of potassium in the blood) which can affect the heart. It’s also best to avoid coconut milk - while it doesn’t pose the same health risks for our feline friends, it is seriously high in fat.

One of the best ways to give your kitty the coconut flavor they’re craving is with coconut oil. While we wouldn’t advise feeding it straight, a couple of drops can be added to your cat’s food or homemade treats. And like with anything coconut-based, it’s best to keep this to a minimum due to its high-fat content.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community. 

Foods that are safe for cats

It’s important for any pet parent to get in the know about what cats can and can’t eat. To get you started, here are a few more foods safe for us humans that can be fed to cats.

• Plain cooked meat
• Eggs
• Rice
• Shrimp