Cats have their own tastes and preferences. Many pet owners have noticed that they are lovers of certain foods. While cucumbers and fruits are only consumed by some animals, there are some plant foods that most cats love. And you guessed right - the most common among the mustachioed and fluffy ones are lovers of olives (olives).
So why do cats love olives? Of course, the furry friends themselves cannot yet tell us why they have such a preference. Perhaps in the future people will learn to recognize cats' language and ask them directly. But so far there are several opinions on this matter.
The benefits and harms of olives for cats
Fresh olives are beneficial for cats due to a number of components:
- antioxidants;
- vitamins A, C and E;
- microelements important for health : calcium, sodium, copper, iron.
Fresh fruits contain a lot of substances, but in canned fruits their amount is halved. More often, people buy canned food, so benefit to the cat, and preservatives and salt can be harmful.
And it is important to observe your pet’s behavior after he has been given olives. Some cats behave strangely: they roll around on the floor, rub their faces against the place where the eaten olive lay, and some individuals begin to show aggression and even rush at the owner.
The cause of behavioral changes is isoprenoids, which have a short-term hallucinogenic effect. If a cat experiences a similar reaction, then it is not advisable to give it olives.
Most felines are partial to olives. But this food is unnatural for the animal and in nature cats very rarely eat the fruits of the olive tree. You should treat your pet with such food with caution, or it is better to avoid it altogether. As a reward or treat, it is more useful to give your cat a piece of meat, fish, or special treats from a pet store.
Oil smell
Another theory suggests that the aroma of essential olive oil (or rather the isoprenoids in its composition) is very similar to the smell of cat hormones. In fact, the effect on the animal’s sense of smell is the same as that of valerian. By the way, this is why Mediterranean cats, who have real olive trees in their yards, love to chew the bark and rub against the trunks and branches. In short, they can’t get by on fruits alone. And often after such actions they fall into “love ecstasy”: they purr, climb into their arms, roll on the ground.
But the most pronounced effect will be if they smell the natural essential oil. Although our usual food can also cause excitement in them. Try placing a small drop on the tip of a towel and you may notice your cat rubbing against it.
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.
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.
Why cats love olives: is it possible to give them, are they harmful, what are the benefits?
Cats' preferences often surprise owners. Cats can happily eat mushrooms, fresh or canned vegetables, and other “atypical” foods. And cats’ love for olives has long been noticed by most animal owners.
Wanting to pamper a pet, the owner is ready to feed him a whole jar, naively believing that this is beneficial for the animal. But human food is not always suitable for a cat. Before giving a treat, it’s worth finding out why cats love olives and whether the Mediterranean product will harm the animal.
Why cats love olives
Cats are carnivores by nature, their usual diet is meat. Under natural conditions, cats hunt small rodents, frogs, lizards, and fish. But the body needs vitamins, then cats diversify their menu by eating grass and leaves.
At home, the pet receives the necessary substances with food. But natural instinct forces animals to try new food.
Researchers have discovered the reason why cats love the fruits of the olive tree:
- Smell. The fruit contains isoprenoids; their effect on the cat’s body is similar to the active substances of valerian. When eating or sniffing olives, the areas of the brain responsible for managing emotions are stimulated. But, unlike valerian, the euphoria from olives lasts 10-15 minutes and does not harm the animal’s body.
- Taste. Brine and canned olive berries have a pleasant sour taste that cats like.
Interesting: cats react not only to olives, but also to olive oil, as well as to dishes that contain it. Some animals even react to creams with this ingredient: they begin to lick the skin of the owner’s hands and rub their faces.
Is it possible to give your pet canned olives?
Raw olives (olives) are safe and healthy. But the owner buys a can of canned food and, enjoying the product himself, shares it with the cat.
Canned fruits are not toxic; your pet’s health may suffer due to the fact that they contain:
- Salt. Excess salty foods will lead to fluid retention, edema and increased stress on the kidneys.
- Preservatives. Acetic acid is used with the addition of other components for long-term storage. Vinegar irritates the gastric mucosa, causing disruption of the digestive tract.
- Flavors. May cause the development of allergies.
Veterinarians allow the consumption of 1-2 canned olives if the cat shows persistent interest in the product. But not often, so as not to harm your health.
Important: Olives are often sold stuffed. But lemon, almonds, fish paste (anchovies) with additional preservatives and thickeners are unnatural food for a cat
It is safer to give dark, unstuffed ones.
The benefits and harms of olives for cats
Fresh olives are beneficial for cats due to a number of components:
- antioxidants;
- vitamins A, C and E;
- microelements important for health: calcium, sodium, copper, iron.
Fresh fruits contain a lot of substances, but in canned fruits their amount is halved. More often, people buy canned food, so they are of little benefit to the cat, and preservatives and salt can be harmful.
And it is important to observe your pet’s behavior after he has been given olives. Some cats behave strangely: they roll around on the floor, rub their faces against the place where the eaten olive lay, and some individuals begin to show aggression and even rush at the owner
The cause of behavioral changes is isoprenoids, which have a short-term hallucinogenic effect. If a cat experiences a similar reaction, then it is not advisable to give it olives.
Most felines are partial to olives. But this food is unnatural for the animal and in nature cats very rarely eat the fruits of the olive tree
You should treat your pet with such food with caution, or it is better to avoid it altogether. As a reward or treat, it is more beneficial to give your cat a piece of meat, fish or special treats from a pet store.
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.
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.
Taste of oil
Cats, as a rule, do not take very well to plant foods. And it is poorly absorbed in their body. But, when pickled, olives release a lot of oil, which is somewhat reminiscent of animal fat. This is why cats prefer pickled fruits rather than fresh ones. And even more often, cats prefer aromatic brine. Sometimes owners find their pets in the trash bin licking the can. This could be the most dangerous thing. Firstly, as we will learn below, brine is not recommended for cats, and secondly, the sharp edges of the jar and its shape can be dangerous for a pet.
Is it healthy to give your cat olives?
Olives themselves are a healthy product, they contain a lot of vitamins B, E and A, fatty acids and microelements (iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, etc.) Therefore, eating raw olives is beneficial for everyone, and animals and people. Unless the body has an individual intolerance.
But pickling “kills” the beneficial substances and reduces their amount by almost three times. In addition, the marinade itself contains three very dangerous products for cats: salt, vinegar and monosodium glutamate (the flavor enhancer of olives). It also contains preservatives. Why is this harmful? Salt retains fluid in the body, vinegar greatly irritates the mucous membranes and can even lead to a pronounced allergic-type reaction. Well, monosodium glutamate and preservatives in general are substances that are not beneficial for all living beings, even for the microorganisms that they destroy in jars. Therefore, brine is the most harmful. Because it is in it that the concentration of these components is greatest.
Another important point is the difference between black olives and olives. Why do we have two names? Most likely, only because it happened historically. Contrary to popular belief and two different names in the Russian version, these fruits are produced by one tree. Color only indicates their degree of maturity. Green ones are unripe, and black ones are ripe. Olives comes from the word “oil”, which is made from ripe fruits. That’s why the dark ones were called “olives.” And in other languages they are simply called green and black olives. But preserving ripe olives is a troublesome task, because real ripe fruits are soft and do not hold their shape well. Therefore, manufacturers simply add alkali, oxygen, iron gluconate and preservatives to green fruits. We think that we are eating healthier ripened fruits, but in reality they are just colored green ones. So, of course, for a cat, black colored fruits will also be even more harmful than their green brothers.
Well, if we take, for example, fruits produced and packaged in Greece, which have a short shelf life, then they may not contain preservatives and glutamate. This product will be more useful for the owner and less dangerous for the pet.
But olive oil is a completely different useful matter. It can help digestion, makes the coat fluffier and softer, in general, it is completely present in the pet’s diet. But to avoid frustration, the amount should be small. Add it to your cat's food a couple of times a month, half a teaspoon. Keep in mind that not all pets love him. Therefore, if your furry friend refuses such a supplement, then this is not an option for him.
Instead of a total
What general conclusion can be drawn? Our olives are more of a delicacy. Eating such canned food all the time is bad even for the owners. So such fruits can be eaten in small quantities and not every day. If your cats steal a couple of olives for the holiday, there is no need to panic. They may also be more attracted to their shape, which can be easily played with. It is simply necessary to give him more clean water with which he can quench his thirst.
But you shouldn’t feed your pet every marinade and salt contained in the brine. The brine itself must be poured out immediately and not upset the cat. And in general, you should pamper yourself with more expensive fruits that do not contain:
- preservatives,
- monosodium glutamate,
- a lot of salt.
They are healthier for both the owner and safer for the cat.
The situation is completely different with fresh fruits and olive oil. These products will definitely benefit your cat. But you shouldn’t give them to your cat too often, so as not to cause diarrhea.
Is it worth giving your pet olives?
A cat, as a predator by nature, must eat meat and fish. It is this food that makes up the main part of the animal’s diet. It is more natural for your pet to get vitamins from vegetables. And if they are deficient, the deficiency should be replenished not by giving the cat olives, but with the help of special vitamin complexes for animals.
When treating a cat with pickle juice or allowing it to eat olives, the owner must understand that the cat may get more discomfort than pleasure from such exotic food. Almost always, after the animal’s euphoria from tastes and smells passes, the following pathologies arise:
- Spasms in the stomach and intestines;
- Headache;
- Nausea.
But even after experiencing all the unpleasant consequences of such food, cats’ love for olives will not go away. The pet will suffer and, knowing why it feels bad, will still continue to consume these fruits. This happens because the cat acts on the principle - if it’s impossible, but you really want to, then you can.
And since the main task of the owner is to take care of the health of his pet, you should not give the animal food that is obviously harmful to it. If you cannot do without such a treat, it is better to can the olives yourself, or choose products that contain green fruits with seeds. In this case, the beneficial properties remain in the berries as much as possible, without turning into the marinade. And before treating your pet, the bone must be removed. Raw olives should not be offered to animals. In this form they are absolutely unsuitable for food.
When your cat eats regularly and receives a balanced diet every day, eating olives can lead to an overabundance of vitamins and minerals. This condition can be much more dangerous than nutritional deficiency. Therefore, it is worth remembering that the maximum daily amount of fruit consumed by an adult should not exceed 10 small berries. And if a cat eats olives, the maximum allowable amount of fruit for him is 1-2 pieces per day.
Of course, each owner decides for himself what to feed his pet. However, if your cat has an uncontrollable love for olives, it is worth offering the animal a safe alternative in the form of olive oil. But you shouldn’t just pour it into your pet’s bowl. A large amount of this product has a relaxing effect on the intestines, and the cat can get a severe stomach upset, and along with this, dehydration. You can lightly grease a small piece of bread, boiled carrot or fish with oil. The cat will not only enjoy this treat, but also benefit it.
Cats are unique pets that can be affectionate or capricious, active or lazy, incredibly charming or wild. But in any case, they become real members of the family and acquire their own habits. And one of them is the love of food from the master’s table. For example, many cats run as fast as they can when they smell the aroma of olives or olives. Is it possible to treat them with such a delicacy and will such food harm your furry friends?
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.
On a note
There are many known cases when a cat jumped onto a festive table and turned everything upside down in pursuit of an olive. Olives are mainly in a marinade, so it is necessary not to give them to your pet very often, since they are a canned product, and the vitamin content in them is colossal for the body of cats and humans.
We already know that this is due to the high content of vitamins and nutrients in olives; this product not only has a good effect on the cat, but also on humans. If you eat a few olives every day, you can completely forget about many diseases, remaining young and beautiful.
If you eat 20 olives with pits in a month, you can avoid kidney and bladder stones, gallstones and dental stones will not form. The functioning of the intestines will improve like clockwork. Cats can eat turnips, radishes, radishes. Cats go as crazy from canned sweet corn as from olives.
Persimmons, watermelons, melon, eggplant caviar - these are all delicacies for our cats. Many cats themselves choose which vegetable they need, especially if they are sick with something, since cats have a much more developed intuition than humans. Therefore, the cat knows what it needs to heal. There is no need to prevent this and forbid the cat to feast on this or that vegetable.
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.
