Can Cats Eat Bananas?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain fresh banana. The ASPCA lists the edible banana plant as non-toxic to cats, so a nibble is not a cause for alarm. Still, the Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores, which means fruit has no real place in their diet.
What Bananas Offer a Cat
Banana flesh is soft, starchy and fairly high in sugar for a fruit. It also contains some fiber and potassium. A complete cat food already supplies the minerals a cat needs in balanced amounts, so banana does not make up for anything missing. Tufts Petfoodology notes that adult cats have no specific requirement for carbohydrate, and banana is almost all carbohydrate.
Cats probably cannot taste the sweetness either. A 2005 paper in PLOS Genetics found that the gene for one part of the cat's sweet taste receptor is not expressed, so cats likely lack the receptor needed to detect sweetness. Some cats still like the soft, creamy texture.
How Much Bananas Can a Cat Have?
For a 10-pound adult cat with no food allergy and no medical condition, one thin slice or about 1 teaspoon of mashed banana is enough. That comes to 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, and it should take the place of part of the day's food rather than being added on top.
Because banana is sugary and starchy, larger amounts can lead to soft stool or weight gain over time. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should not get banana unless your veterinarian says it is fine. Cats with diabetes in particular often eat diets that limit carbohydrate.
How to Serve It
Peel the banana completely and offer a thin slice cut into small bits, or mash a teaspoon on a plate. Do not give the peel. It is tough and fibrous and hard for a cat to chew or digest.
Avoid banana bread, banana pudding, smoothies, chips and baby food blends. These usually add sugar, butter, milk or other ingredients, and sweetened or dried banana chips are far more concentrated than fresh fruit. The ASPCA also notes that the sweetener xylitol is used in some baked goods and candy.
Give a tiny taste the first time and watch for vomiting or diarrhea over the next day.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before offering banana.
Common Questions
Can cats eat banana peels?
No, keep banana peels away from your cat. The peel is tough, fibrous and hard to digest, and a chewed piece could upset the stomach or be hard to pass. The ASPCA lists the banana plant as non-toxic to cats, so a few chews are not likely to cause poisoning, but throw peels in a covered bin. Call your veterinarian if your cat vomits or stops eating.
Is banana good for cats with diarrhea?
Banana is not a remedy for feline diarrhea. The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that an abrupt change in diet can cause diarrhea for a few days, so adding a new food may make things worse. If diarrhea lasts longer than a day or two and comes with vomiting, poor appetite or lethargy, Cornell advises seeking veterinary care as soon as possible.
Can kittens eat bananas?
Kittens are better off without banana. They need a complete kitten food for growth, and the Cornell Feline Health Center notes that kittens may be at higher risk of diarrhea while their digestive systems adjust to solid food. A lick of plain banana is not a crisis, but there is no reason to offer it on purpose. Talk to your veterinarian before giving a kitten human food.
Can cats with diabetes eat bananas?
Ask your veterinarian before giving banana to a diabetic cat. Banana is mostly sugar and starch, and Tufts Petfoodology notes that reducing dietary carbohydrate can improve diabetic control in cats, though it is not the best approach for every cat. Even a small treat can affect blood sugar in a cat on insulin. Your vet can suggest low-carbohydrate treats that fit the feeding plan instead.
Why is my cat obsessed with bananas?
Some cats are drawn to the soft texture of banana or to the fact that you are eating it. Cats are not after the sweetness, because a 2005 study in PLOS Genetics found that they likely lack a working sweet taste receptor. Other cats react the opposite way and avoid bananas entirely. Either response is normal, and a cat that skips fruit is not missing anything.
Sources
- ASPCA
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding your cat
- WSAVA: Feeding treats to your cat
- PLOS ONE: Info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003
- Tufts Petfoodology: The role of carbohydrate in pet foods
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Diarrhea
