Can Cats Drink Coconut Water?

One of the most noble fruits Mother Nature has to offer is the coconut. Most of us can really enjoy coconut water especially and would like our feline friend to join us on the sentiment. However, Can cats drink coconut water? Is coconut water good for cats? The short answer is: Yes, it is generally safe for cats to consume coconut water in small amounts.

There are even some benefits implied for your cat by drinking coconut water. Despite this, a few considerations must be had to avoid any issues.

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Is Coconut Water Good For Cats?

Cats can safely consume coconut water in most cases. Maybe your cat is not a fan of drinking water, so you would be glad to know that you can help your cat’s hydration to be more fun by occasionally giving them coconut water. I must emphasize ‘occasionally’ as coconut water cannot be a direct substitute for their normal water bowl. We’ll come back to the reasons why later.

Balancing a wet & dry diet for your cat can sometimes be challenging. Coconut helps to tackle this issue. By choosing wet food with ingredients such as coconut oil as a replacement for other harmful oils or ingredients such as grain, you will be giving your cat a quality and tasty meal!

The debate of whether coconut water is good or not for our feline friends is comprehensible since this is not a black-or-white matter. Coconut water falls somewhere in the grey zone. Let’s start with the benefits:

• Coconut water contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants: Including Potassium, Vitamin C, magnesium, and sodium, to name a few. Be aware: coconut water is very high in potassium; drinking too much can be detrimental instead of beneficial.
• Helps their immune system: That vitamin boost we just mentioned, contributes to a healthier immune system for your cat.
• Taste!: Regular water can be okay for us, but cats don’t like to drink it, sometimes even leading to dehydration. This is why it’s important to offer them wet food or alternatives such as bone broth to help them stay hydrated. Cats enjoy coconut water because it tastes nutty and salty. Although it contains sugar, a cat’s taste receptors can’t savor sweetness, so if you thought that’s the reason why your cat enjoys drinking coconut water, I’m sorry to tell you it’s not because of the sugar!

BONUS: Did you know that Virgin Coconut Oil can help accelerate the healing process in cats suffering from scabies?

Is Coconut Water Bad For Cats?

We got a glance at the benefits. However, we anticipated that there are some drawbacks to your cat drinking coconut water.

What The Experts Have To Say

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), giving coconut and coconut oil to your cat in small amounts has proven not to be harmful, but they state that the flesh and milk of fresh coconuts do contain oils that can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea to your cat. Remember we said coconut water was high in potassium? the ASPCA reinforces this and does not recommend serving coconut water to your car for this reason.

If you are still unsure whether you should give your cat coconut oil or not, bear in mind it is not necessary for their nutrition if we speak about coconut water as a standalone product. Some foods include coconut oils that are safe and free of the harmful elements.

Can Kittens Drink Coconut Water?

Kittens’ diet has to be very strict and reserved only to drink their mother’s milk for their first weeks. You should NEVER give coconut water to a kitty.

I have found some articles online that recommend it that make me doubt their true knowledge on the subject, as well as their sources. Honestly, I can’t cope with the idea of giving a baby kitten such a controversial drink.

But don’t just take my word for granted; the best thing you can do in most cases is to ask your vet directly.

Can Cats Drink Coconut Water Everyday?

Based on the previous statements, I recommend you not to do so, even if it is a small amount. There is no reason to give your cat coconut water every day. In the end, it will do more harm than good for most kitties.

RELATED: Can Cats Drink Oat Milk?

How To Safely Give Your Cat Coconut Water

The key to serving your cat coconut water is MODERATION. Small amounts are the only way to go to keep your cat healthy.

• Try not to force your cat to drink it; just offer them some fist to see if they like the flavor.
• If they do, try to keep the amounts very low for safety. If they love it, you can occasionally use it as a treat.
• Always be there to supervise. In case anything out of the ordinary happens to your cat, such as diarrhea, you should take your kitty to the vet as soon as you can.
• Avoid giving coconut water to cats with special conditions such as chronic kidney disease. Old cats in general should also not deviate from their usual, balanced diet.

Always go for natural, sugar-free options. This is a great example.

Conclusions

As much as we love coconut water, our cats are better off passing on this one. Even if small amounts aren’t harmful, from a nutritional perspective it’s not so beneficial for them.

What about coconut water’s close relative, coconut milk? We have recently published an article where we explain why coconut milk is not so great for cats.

Despite not being a great drink for them, it’s not toxic either. So if your cat ever drinks too much by accident there should be no trouble if we are talking about a healthy cat.

Have you ever given your cat coconut water for them to taste? Did they like it? Tell us!