Cats should not eat ackee. Like most fruits, ackee doesn’t offer any nutritional benefit to cats. And even if it did, this fruit could prove toxic for cats – and, if a cat eats one, they could suffer from things like an upset stomach and, in severe cases, death.
The thing about ackee is that in its unripe state, it could prove lethal to cats and even humans. When it’s ripe, it is apt for human consumption after someone prepares it right. You need to remove its seeds, wash it, and cook it. And even then, cats shouldn’t be anywhere near ackee, just in case.
Simply put, cats should stay away from ackee. If you see your cat about to take a bite, try to prevent that from happening. If it does, call a vet and he will tell you what to do.
Why is ackee bad for cats?
Ackee contains Hypoglycin A, a toxin that, if consumed, can prove fatal. Unripe ackee contains huge amounts of Hypoglycin A, something that can easily kill a human – and can, no doubt, kill a cat too. Ripe ackee, even when prepared, can also prove lethal to cats.
Unripe ackee is bad for everyone, humans included. Men and women alike have prepared ackee to eliminate its toxins and make it apt for human consumption.
When you boil ackee, you dissipate most of Hypoglycin A – but you may not get it all out. A little Hypoglycin A would make a man nauseous but it’s more than enough to kill a cat.
Do cats like ackee?
Most cats dislike fruit because they cannot taste sweet things. Oddly enough, ackee is a fruit – one that’s not sweet but savory instead. It’s often prepared with salt fish, and that will make it enticing for cats. That’s not to say you should let your cat take a bite, though!
Ackee by itself isn’t tasty enough for cats to try. Most cats would probably stay clear from ackee out in the wild. When someone cooks ackee, everything changes.
This fruit is cooked with fish and mixed with a little bit of salt, making it both savory and tasty – and that’s exactly what a cat likes! Because of that, you need to make extra sure you will keep ackee away from your cat after cooking it.
What should I do if my cat eats ackee?
If your cat has eaten unripe ackee, take it to the vet right away with no hesitation. If your cat has eaten cooked ackee, then there’s a chance nothing will happen – but, just in case, get everything ready for a trip to the vet.
Depending on how much Hypoglycin A is in the ackee your cat just ate, symptoms will range from vomiting to seizures to death. You need to determine whether the ackee was fit for human consumption and then figure out if your cat is in danger or not. When in doubt, assume the worst and drive straight to the vet.