A cat eats olives - why and is it harmful?

Everyone knows that a cat is a predator that eats meat in nature. Therefore, when planning a pet’s diet, most owners include protein foods. By the way, contrary to popular belief, a cup of milk is not at all the ideal food for a cat. But some pets surprise their owners with their passion for vegetables and fruits.

Is it possible or not?

In fact, if the animal is breastfed, then there is nothing wrong with the desire to enjoy “non-cat” food at all. Most often these are vegetables. But most pets don't stop there. They try berries and fruits, and some owners are surprised why the cat loves olives. And indeed, this is not at all uncommon. Some people ask for one or two pieces if you open the jar to prepare a salad. Others are ready to turn over the entire festive table just to steal the forbidden fruit from the plate. At the same time, it remains completely unclear why the cat loves olives.

Can a cat like olive oil on its own?

So why do cats love olive oil? If we are talking about oil left after cooking a dish, then most likely it is the smell of food, not oil, that attracts the animal. As for the olives themselves, the “secret” is usually in the brine - it contains substances that attract mustaches.

If a cat likes olive oil on its own, this oddity is as inexplicable as the craving of some cats for green peas or cucumbers. However, in this they are similar to people. As they say, who has what taste - some like melon, and some like watermelon. It’s definitely not worth following the lead of such a gourmet.

Confirmed fact

Not all veterinarians will undertake to put forward their point of view regarding the addiction of furry beauties. But the fact remains a fact, and it is confirmed by many living examples. Such cravings sometimes frighten owners, because they know that not all food from the table can benefit the cat.

For example, she should not be given garlic and onions. They have too strong a taste and smell. Plants of the nightshade family can even be poisonous to cats. Therefore, when asking the question why a cat loves olives, most owners simply want to find out whether this delicacy will harm their furry pet.

Intuition

Animals understand better than us what their bodies need. Therefore, if a pet diligently begs for this or that product, most likely, this is what the body lacks. The reason why cats love olives is that the fluffy beauties simply feel they are a source of nutrients. If you adjust your diet or introduce vitamin supplements into your diet, then most likely this passion will pass.

Olive fruits are useful not only for humans, but also for baleen-striped animals. This is a real storehouse of vitamins, with which you can stay young and beautiful for a long time. In addition, it contains a lot of protein and essential amino acids - everything you need for an active lifestyle. It’s not for nothing that cats show genuine interest in olives.

What about Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids?

Unlike their owners, cats cannot absorb beneficial substances from vegetable oils, including the “magic” Omega-6 and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, by the way, the latter - eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - are practically there No.

These substances, necessary for our domestic predators, are contained only in the fat of marine fish; in addition, it is thanks to animal, and not vegetable fat, that cats receive energy for an active life. So in nature, their goal is to catch a thicker mouse, and not to gnaw on a ripe sunflower.

The answer to the question, is olive oil ok for a cat?,

who eats ready-made food - an even more categorical “no”. Everything an animal needs for a full life is already in the diet. An extra product on the menu will lead to an imbalance and will not contribute to the cat’s health in any way.

The same can be said when discussing whether a kitten can have olive oil. By adding vegetable fat to your baby's first complementary foods, you are not helping him in any way, you can only provoke an upset of the delicate digestive system.

Healthy delicacies

Why cats love olives now becomes clear. Furry pets quite often have kidney problems. And natural olives with pits help avoid the development of urolithiasis. At the same time, this serves as a prevention of gallstones and tartar. Intestinal function also improves.

Cats can eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and berries. Persimmon, watermelon, melon - each owner can continue the list of what his pet likes. That is, they choose what the body needs most at the moment. Cats have much more developed intuition, so they themselves know how to heal. Within reason, you shouldn’t interfere with them; with our restrictions, we often make things worse.

Is it possible to give cats olives?

Animals living in natural conditions eat meat. This is their main diet. The cat is a predator and requires protein to survive. Small rodents, birds, fish, butterflies and even frogs make up their menu. In addition to protein, the body needs vitamins, which the cat receives by eating grass and leaves.

At home, a person has to take care of the cat’s nutrition. Today there are no problems with balanced cat food. Manufacturers from various companies make food in such a way that they contain all the vitamins necessary for the animal’s body. But natural instinct forces a cat to constantly seek new taste sensations. More than one animal has suffered from curiosity.

Researchers have found that sour taste attracts cats. That's why many of them like canned olives so much. Cats also react sharply to various odors. And the skin of this product contains essential oils that can act as a hallucinogen on a certain animal. This issue has not been fully studied, because not all cats react equally to olives and olive oil. And not everyone even eats it. Although lovers of pampering animals are ready to feed them whole jars of olives. Will this be good for cats?

Olives contain many amino acids that are beneficial for humans, reducing the level of “bad” cholesterol. They are also rich in calcium, magnesium, and iodine. They are a necessary ingredient for a huge number of culinary recipes. But, only for humans! After all, even an adult is not recommended to eat more than ten olives a day. Especially those that are mainly offered to us by sales representatives.

One olive contains a lot of proteins and proteins, fatty acids, as well as, in fact, vitamins: A, C, E... The last two vitamins eliminate free radicals from the cat’s body. In addition, olives contain microelements such as phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium... It is known that olives and their oil are very useful for people. By the way, olive oil is unique because it does not oxidize when heated, that is, it does not form carcinogenic substances.

Eating olives maintains normal cholesterol levels. It is known that cats, like people, suffer from heart disease, and these substances help animals.

The oil has a good effect on the musculoskeletal system (beneficial for the restoration of joints, the formation of bone and cartilage tissue), which is extremely important for cats in their mobility. Vision and metabolism also improve.

Black olives sold in tins are specially processed green olives. After all, even so carefully you can only remove the seed from green fruits. To give softness and a rich black color, olives are treated with a special alkali solution, then with oxygen, and iron gluconate is added to preserve and preserve color. One can of olives contains more of this dietary supplement than the daily requirement required by a person.

Now imagine what kind of shock your cat’s body will receive if you start feeding him black olives.

It should be immediately noted that in canned olives the content of nutrients is halved. They also contain too much salt, which can be harmful to animals.

It’s clear that most often cats beg for what they have – canned olives. However, if the owner notices such a penchant for olives in his cat, then it is better to treat his pet rarely and little, and still, with fresh olives. You can try to treat him with bread and olive oil, but caution and moderation are also important here. Excess oil relaxes the intestines.

You need to understand that the cat asks for canned olives (which the owner most likely has) not from a lack of salt. It is unlikely that a cat wants to eat lemon or almonds, which are often added to olives, or some other exotic filling for a cat. It is logical that you should treat your pet with olives without any unusual additives.

You might think that anchovies (small fish) would be quite suitable for a typical Barsik, but the opposite is true. Olives are stuffed with "fish paste" rather than with actual fish. Sodium derivatives are used as a thickener for this filling, and they can be harmful to your furry pet.

As for the cat playing with olives, it is better to buy him a toy in a specialized store - a mouse or a ball, which will be more fun and safer to play with.

You shouldn’t amuse the Internet and your friends by filming a video with an inappropriately behaving cat who has eaten too much of this product that is unacceptable to him. If olives act like a drug on your animal, stop feeding them. After all, we do not offer spices and heroin to our loved ones.

You can pamper your cat in other ways. Better buy him a toy mouse or a ball with bells. A video of a pet playing happily will evoke only positive emotions in everyone. A piece of meat or carrot given to a cat as a reward will not do any harm. Every owner dreams that his pet lives long and does not suffer from diseases caused by exotic food.

Veterinarians believe that this product can be given to cats, but not often and in small quantities. A cat is a carnivorous animal, and first of all its food should be meat and fish, while vegetables serve only as an addition to the diet.

Your pet should not overuse olives also because they are always purchased by owners in canned form. In addition to useful components, canned fruits also contain preservatives. The brine in which the olives are contained contains salt and vinegar, and they can cause harm to the animal’s body: salt promotes fluid retention, and vinegar irritates the gastric mucosa.

Cats are sometimes very unpredictable creatures. It is generally accepted that the domestic cat, this cute but at the same time ferocious predator, feeds mainly on meat or fish.

However, it often happens that furry pets surprise and amuse their owners with rather strange tastes and desires. Along with an appetizing piece of meat, birds, little hunters, are not averse to eating raw potatoes or a slice of juicy watermelon. Some cats are wildly delighted by a piece of carrot, melon, pickled cucumber or even banana.

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Why does this happen, and what explains such a cat’s love for this product? It’s all very simple - the fruits of the olive tree contain such an amount of microelements necessary for a cat that it’s impossible to think of anything better. Moreover, often the animal is attracted not so much by the olive itself, but by the liquid in which it was immersed.

If you spill brine, the cat will try to get out in it and then begin to roll around and purr for a long time in the place of the former stain. When it is not possible to get the treasured pickle out of a jar that is too narrow, there are cases when a cat begins to fish the berries out of the jar with its paw, picking it up with its claws and then eating it greedily. What attracts a cat to this exotic fruit?

Olives contain vitamins A, E, C. The pulp of olives contains up to 75 percent of proteins, pectins, fats, sugar, ash substances, as well as essential substances, which are powerful aphrodisiacs and, for unknown reasons, so attractive to cats.

The liquid from olives also contains extractive substances extracted from the fruit during the soaking process. They are what attract cats. Flavoring additives added during canning greatly enhance the already attractive smell, forcing the pet to beg for the treasured product. Decorative rabbits behave cutely and funny when they see olives, and some cats become surprisingly funny when they see this treat!

Olives and olives, this amazing gift of the Mediterranean, do not leave anyone indifferent: some people can’t stand them, while others are made to “shake” at the mere thought. It is also possible that the inappropriate behavior of a cat that has tasted olives is just a natural expression of its emotions. Many owners are amused by this behavior, but do not forget that many products contain preservatives that are harmful to the cat’s body, and therefore, despite the pet’s persistent request, it is better not to give them to him or to give them very rarely. Take care of your furry gourmets!

Olives are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, many vitamins and microelements, but all the benefits of this composition are negated by those contained in the brine:

vinegar and spices - irritate the gastric mucosa and provoke diseases of the digestive system;
salt - causes fluid retention in the body, increases the load on the kidneys and cardiovascular system.

Giving olives to cats is not recommended, because even a single use of them can lead to negative reactions from the gastrointestinal tract: pain, vomiting, inflammation and allergic reactions. The systematic presence of olives in the diet increases the risk of developing urolithiasis and myocardial infarction.

Instead of olives, it is better to give your cat unrefined extra virgin olive oil once a day - a couple of drops, so as not to harm the liver.

Cats greedily eating olives look, of course, very funny, but it’s still not worth experimenting with your pet’s health. The brine in which they are pickled contains salt, vinegar and spices that are harmful to the cat’s body. These components can cause serious harm to animals that already have chronic diseases.

Vitamins A, C and E;
Potassium;
Sodium;
Iron;
Phosphorus;
Vegetable fats;
Cellulose;
Unsaturated fatty acids.

Pet's reaction

It’s easy to understand why a cat loves green olives; they are a source of beneficial substances. But sometimes animals begin to behave somewhat strangely after tasting this delicacy. The cats roll on the floor and rub their faces against the place where the olive lay. That is, they behave as if they had received a dose of drug. They begin to jump around the house and may even bite the owner.

After about 10 minutes, the animal comes to its senses and begins to beg for more. At this point, every owner has a question not only about why the cat loves olives, but also about the reason for this effect. It is often associated with taking valerian. Experiments on different cats give similar results, which allows us to draw certain conclusions. But according to experts, the substances that have an intoxicating effect on animals are not contained in olives, but rather in the brine. Therefore, before giving olives to your pet, you need to familiarize yourself with the composition indicated on the package.

Causes of unusual cravings

By nature, cats are predatory animals. This is why most of the nutrients their bodies need to function must come from food. And since cats are solitary hunters, they try to look for small prey and eat often. These habits allow cats to provide variety in their diet and achieve nutritious nutrition.

All these factors influenced the development of the animal's taste buds. Already by smell, an animal can determine whether its body needs the kind of food that is in front of it. It is known for sure that sour taste and smell are very attractive to cats. And although reliable reasons why cats love olives have not been established, these preferences are generally considered to be a consequence of such factors:

The presence of acid and bitterness in the taste and smell of the olive;
The presence of a large amount of essential oils in the olive peel, which can act as hallucinogens on some cats.

It is because of the presence of essential oils that many cats react to olives as if they were valerian. Some pets develop temporary loss of spatial orientation or increased sexual desire.

At home, cats do not need food. In addition, food manufacturers provide pet food with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. However, natural hunting instincts and curiosity are another reason why a cat is interested in food such as olives. Having received a treat, cats can simply kick it around the floor like a ball. And animals that are not particularly fond of the smell and taste of these fruits will simply ignore them.

Very often, your pet is not interested in the olives themselves, but in the marinade in which they are found. And in order to steal the treasured jar of liquid, they are ready to jump onto the table. And then, having got it, the cat will roll for a long time on the floor where the brine was spilled. And he will definitely try to reach the very bottom of the jar, trying to lick out the remaining liquid. The reasons for this behavior lie in the large number of preservatives in this brine, as well as the extract of the fruits themselves. Thanks to this, the smell from the liquid is in most cases stronger than from the olive itself.

Benefits and harms

What should an owner do if a cat loves olives? Is it possible to give or is it better to protect the fragile health of the handsome furry? This also depends on the quality of the product. A cat is a highly specialized predator, so many nutrients are not synthesized in its body and must necessarily come from outside. Each time she prefers to catch something new to make her diet more varied. And so that the animal can understand what food is most necessary for it, taste buds have developed a special sensitivity. And first of all, they are designed to recognize the necessary amino acids. It is known that sour taste is attractive to cats. Perhaps this is what explains the love for green olives.

Cats have an increased reaction to certain components of the plant, such as essential oils. Some of them act as hallucinogens, others put the animal into a state of excitement. Cats also have specific intolerance to certain substances. Therefore, it is very difficult to say unequivocally what is causing the reaction to olives. We can only guess.

Canned olives and black olives contain salt. Even if the brine does not contain any chemicals, this preservative is still present in it in sufficiently large quantities. Salt causes fluid retention in the body, which puts stress on the cardiovascular and urinary systems. Domestic cats, despite everything, remained descendants of their wild ancestors. They are adapted to go without water for a long time by increasing the concentration of urine. This creates the precondition for the formation of stones. Additional salt in the diet can make this problem worse. Therefore, regular eating of salted olives is contraindicated for cats and is not harmless.

Why cats love olives

Quite normal. Cats simply don’t have enough vitamins, as my veterinarian friend told me.
Nothing helped - I bought anything (from food to vitamins) - to this day he steals raw potatoes... The secret of a cat's love for olives lies in:

the sour taste of the fruits themselves and the brine, rich in preservatives;
the smell of essential oils, which, like valerian, has a narcotic effect on the nervous system, causes hallucinations, impairs coordination and increases sexual desire;
the opportunity to chase fragrant berries across the floor.

The cat's instinct always tells the animal which foods contain substances that are beneficial for him. Olives contain large amounts of substances such as:

vitamins A, E, C;
fatty acid;
trace elements (potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, sulfur, calcium, iodine).

All these components are necessary for the cat's body. They are fully contained in raw fruits; in canned fruits, as a result of processing, their amount is halved. Modern cat food contains a balanced set of everything a pet needs. Cats are always looking for something new: they are attracted to the sour taste, which is why animals like canned fruits so much.

The shape of the olive resembles a ball, and the pet happily rolls it on the floor before eating it. This is another reason why cats are interested in the fruits of the olive tree.

Cats show great interest in the bark of the olive tree. In countries where these trees grow, cats often rub against the tree and fall into a state reminiscent of the effect of valerian on them. Animals also often eat the bark itself.

Cats show no less interest in olive oil and in dishes that contain this oil. If oil is spilled on the floor, the cat begins to roll around in this place. Sometimes the pet begins to lick the owner’s hands if he has smeared olive cream on them.

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