Can Cats Eat Apples?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain fresh apple flesh. The fruit itself is not the concern. The ASPCA lists the apple tree as toxic to cats because its stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, so anything you offer must be free of seeds and core.
What Apples Offer a Cat
Apple flesh is mostly water, sugar and fiber. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients from animal products, and a complete cat food already covers those. A piece of apple gives a cat crunch and novelty, nothing more.
Cats also cannot taste the sweetness. A 2005 study in PLOS Genetics found that the gene for one part of the cat sweet taste receptor is broken. A cat that takes apple is reacting to the texture or the novelty, not to the sugar.
How Much Apples Can a Cat Have?
A 10-pound adult cat with no food allergy and no health problems can have about 1 teaspoon of finely chopped, peeled apple. That is a few calories. WSAVA advises keeping treats under 10% of a cat's daily calories, which works out to about 22 to 25 treat calories a day for an adult cat of roughly 9 to 11 pounds. A teaspoon fits inside that limit and should replace a little of the day's regular food.
More than that can cause soft stool. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should only get apple if your veterinarian agrees.
How to Serve It
Wash the apple, cut a slice away from the core and peel it. Then chop it into pieces smaller than a pea. Peeling makes the piece easier to chew.
The seeds and core are the parts to keep out of reach. The ASPCA says the stems, leaves and seeds of the apple tree release cyanide, and it lists signs such as brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock. A cat is unlikely to crunch through seeds, but a core left on a plate or in an open trash can is an easy target. Throw cores away in a covered bin, and keep cats away from apple tree leaves and twigs.
Do not offer applesauce with added sugar, apple pie, caramel apples or apple juice. These bring sugar, fat or spices and no benefit. Sugar-free products can contain xylitol, which the ASPCA warns about for pets.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before offering apple.
Common Questions
Can cats eat apple seeds?
No. The ASPCA lists apple as toxic to cats because the stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide. One swallowed seed is unlikely to cause trouble, but seeds should never be offered. Remove every seed and the core before sharing any apple, and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if your cat chewed a core.
What should I do if my cat ate an apple core?
Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and say how much your cat ate. The ASPCA notes that apple seeds and stems contain cyanide and lists signs such as brick red gums, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock. Do not try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Can cats eat applesauce?
Plain unsweetened applesauce in a tiny amount, such as half a teaspoon, is unlikely to cause problems, but it offers a cat nothing. Many applesauces contain added sugar or cinnamon, and some sugar-free versions use sweeteners such as xylitol, which the ASPCA warns about for pets. A small piece of fresh peeled apple without seeds is the simpler choice.
Can cats eat apple skin?
A little apple skin will not usually cause trouble, but peeling the piece is a better idea. The skin is tougher to chew and may carry wax or spray residue, so wash the apple and peel the piece you plan to share. Keep the portion to about a teaspoon of chopped flesh for an adult cat, inside its daily treat allowance.
Can kittens eat apples?
It is best not to give apple to kittens. They need a complete kitten food, and new foods can upset a young stomach. If a kitten grabs a small piece of peeled apple flesh, it is unlikely to cause harm, but keep seeds and cores well out of reach, since the ASPCA lists apple seeds and stems as toxic to cats. Ask your veterinarian before offering human food.