Lemon water or any kind of citrus beverage is healthy and beneficial to humans. It gives us the capacity to fight back the viruses and bacteria that can cause sicknesses like common colds or flu. However, this is not the same scenario for cats and other animals in general. Can cats drink lemon water? The short answer is no.
Unlike humans who have an amazing digestive system that can withstand almost all kinds of food and liquids, cats have a very sensitive system. Their bodies can only ingest certain meals that will benefit them in their daily lives. In this article, you will learn why you should not give lemon water to cats and what should you do when they accidentally drank some.
Will Lemon Water Hurt My Cat?
Absolutely! Lemon water will hurt your cat in all ways possible. Lemons have three components that are very toxic to cats and are the main causes of irritation and other severe medical conditions that may arise. These are limonene, psoralene, and linalool.
The aforementioned elements are used as a few of the ingredients in cleaning agents and are very harmful specifically to cats. One of them can burn the fur or even the skin of your feline when lemon water or juice is poured into them. Another component is also used in pesticides and when your cat drinks this kind of water, it will make their lives miserable unless treated right away.
How Much Lemon Is Toxic to Cats?
Lemon is toxic to cats that even a very small amount of the juice can harm them. The acidity and other characteristics of lemon or lemon water are so concentrated and can cause gastrointestinal issues to your cat. This is now what you want, right? This being said, there are a lot of reasons why you should not give lemon or lemon water to cats (discussed below) so be a responsible cat owner.
Why Lemon Water Is Harmful to My Cat?
Here are the major reasons why lemon water is harmful to your cat at home:
Limonene
This is one of the components in a lemon that gives off the lemony scent that humans love. But, even though it’s safe for us, it does not mean that it is also safe for your cats. Always remember that the smallest drop of this can be lethal and overdose of the same can kill a cat when left untreated by veterinary doctors.
Linalool
Another cause of the citrus scent of lemons is Linalool. Instead of being used as a scent provider, this is also used in insecticides or pesticides and is very toxic to felines. The amazing smell of lemon in lotions is also caused by linalool. But, it’s proven by studies of experts that the same is toxic to cats.
Psoralen
Last but not least, a component that makes lemon water toxic or harmful to your cat is Psoralen. This causes skin sensitivity to your cat and may burn the areas where lemon juice or water is poured. You shall, at all times, prevent your cat from going near any lemon or lemon water to avoid severe injuries.
What Are The Alternatives Can I Give My Cat To Drink?
As a cat owner, you should start giving these to your furry friend instead of lemon water:
Filtered Tap Water
Freshwater is one of the best beverages that you can give to your furry friend at home. First, it’s flavorless and does not contain any other ingredient or component that may harm them. Second, it is easily accessible for you, as the cat owner, to avail of the same because you can use filtered tap water as it is. Just make sure that the same is not mineral water or other processed water. You can also buy cat water but it might affect your monthly budget.
Read also: Can Cats Drink Tap Water?
Coconut Water
Next is coconut juice. Just a precaution, you can’t give coconut water to your adorable cat at home more than once a day and more than one-fourth of a cup. The system of your cat can’t handle too much sugar and might harm them when fed with more than one cup. You can give this as a treat when they didn’t poop nor pee outside their cat litters.
Read more: Can Cats Drink Coconut Water?
Milk
Lastly, instead of lemon water, give milk to your furry friend. This will make sure that their bones are strong and can withstand their daily physical activities like jumping across the room and chasing chewing toys that you purchased for them. You can use any kind of milk like almond milk, goat milk, etc.
What Should I Do if My Cat Drank Lemon Water?
If your cat drank lemon water accidentally, you need to follow certain protocols to ensure their safety. You should not act according to your liking or worse, let your furry friend at home bear all the pain. Below are what you should do when your cat drank lemon water:
Observe Them First
When your cat licked the littlest amount of lemon juice or water, do not panic. What you can do is observe their subsequent actions and state. Do they feel nauseous? Can they walk straight and do their daily routine like playing with cat toys or sitting on your lap whenever you work? You need to calm down and think of the next steps that you might exercise when things get worse.
Do Not Feed Them Anything
If you’re going to avoid anything, it’s feeding your cat even with water. When citric beverages get ingested by cats, their digestive system and even their nervous system will go crazy because of the concentrated liquid. So if you feed them any food or even water, this might cause them to vomit and make their situation worse. Just stay beside them and double-check whether they are whining for help or attention.
Calm Them Down
When cats eat or drink lemon or lemon water, they will go crazy and cry because of the discomfort. As their owner, you need to make sure that they are calm and collected before you go to the vet. Wrap them around their favorite blanket and give them their favorite chewing toys before putting them in their cat carrier. This will make traveling easier and faster because you will not worry about your furry friend crying at the back of the car.
Bring Them to the Nearest Vet Clinic
If you noticed or observed that your cat is not feeling well or is already trying to call your attention because of the excruciating pain, you need to bring them to the nearest vet clinic as soon as possible. One way to ensure the smoothness of emergencies like this is to have the contact number of a 24/7 vet clinic on your phone. The professionals in the clinic will do their best to relieve the pain that your feline experiences.
The last resort that veterinary practitioners will do is to wash the stomach of your cat. This is to make sure that their insides are free from harsh components found in lemon water or lemon juice.
Do Cats Like Lemon Juice?
In general, cats do not like lemon juice or anything similar to the taste and texture of the same. Always remember that the tongue of your feline is very sensitive and they are very picky eaters. This is one of the safeguards you can hold onto because there is only a small probability of them drinking lemon juice. But of course, you need to take action as well.
Conclusion
Can cats drink lemon water? No. You need to prevent them from getting near lemon water and other citrus beverages to ensure their safety. In addition, always consult a vet doctor before giving any kind of food or liquids to your cat. This is to make sure that they are going to be safe and sound.
