By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Cats are not big fruit eaters, but a playful cat will happily bat an apple core across the floor and chew on it. Owners then find the seeds missing and remember hearing that apple seeds contain cyanide. That is true, and it is worth taking seriously, but the amount in a few seeds is small. Understanding why helps you decide when to relax and when to call your vet.
Key takeaways
- Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide when the seed is crushed or chewed.
- One or two whole seeds swallowed by accident are unlikely to poison a healthy cat.
- Chewed seeds, many seeds, or seeds plus stems and leaves raise the risk.
- Apple cores and stems can also cause choking or gut irritation.
- Plain apple flesh in a tiny amount is not toxic, but cats gain nothing nutritionally from it.
- Related: apple seeds and dogs, dried apples and cats.
Why apple seeds contain cyanide
Apple seeds, like the pits of cherries, apricots, peaches and plums, contain cyanogenic glycosides. In apples the main one is amygdalin. When the seed coat is broken and the contents mix with enzymes and stomach fluids, amygdalin can break down and release hydrogen cyanide.
Cyanide stops cells from using oxygen. In large enough amounts, this affects the brain and heart first.
The seed coat is tough, so a seed swallowed whole often passes through without releasing much. Chewing changes that. Cats do chew, but rarely enough to crush many seeds.
How much is a problem?
There is no precise threshold for cats, and every cat is different. As a rough guide, the amount of amygdalin in the seeds of a single apple is low compared with the amount that would be needed to cause serious cyanide poisoning in an average adult cat. Small kittens, very small cats, and cats with existing heart, lung or blood disorders have less margin.
Rather than doing maths at home, focus on what was eaten (whole seeds, chewed seeds, core, stems, leaves) and how your cat is behaving. Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 if you are unsure.
Other risks from apple cores
Choking. A core is tough and fibrous, and pieces can lodge in a cat's throat.
Gut upset. Cats are obligate carnivores. Plant fibre and fruit sugars can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
Stems and leaves. These also contain cyanogenic compounds. Cats that chew on apple tree prunings or leaves in the garden are a separate concern.
Pesticide residues. Unwashed apples may carry residues on the skin. This is a minor issue but another reason not to share.
Signs of cyanide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning is uncommon in cats from apple seeds, but it acts quickly. Signs can appear within minutes to a couple of hours:
- Bright red gums
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid or laboured breathing, gasping
- Drooling
- Wobbliness, weakness or collapse
- Tremors or seizures
Milder, more common signs after eating a core include:
- Gagging or retching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Reduced appetite
What to do if your cat ate apple seeds
- Take away the rest of the apple and core.
- Count roughly how many seeds are missing and check whether they were chewed.
- Watch your cat closely for the next few hours, especially breathing and gum colour.
- Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline if many seeds were chewed, if leaves or stems were eaten, or if your cat is a kitten.
- Do not induce vomiting at home. Salt and hydrogen peroxide can seriously harm cats.
When it is an emergency
Go to an emergency vet immediately if your cat has trouble breathing, bright red or very pale gums, collapses, wobbles or has a seizure. Also seek urgent help if your cat is choking or pawing frantically at its mouth.
How vets treat it
If your cat is showing signs, the vet will stabilise breathing first, often with oxygen. Specific cyanide antidotes exist and are used in hospital when the clinical picture fits. For a cat that swallowed seeds recently and is well, the vet may simply monitor or decide on gut decontamination in the clinic. For a stuck core or ongoing vomiting, examination and sometimes imaging may be needed.
Safer treats for cats
Cats do best on a complete cat food. If you like offering treats:
- Small pieces of plain cooked chicken or fish
- Commercial cat treats, within the daily calorie allowance
- Freeze-dried meat treats
- Cat grass for nibbling, grown indoors
Keep fruit bowls and compost bins covered so cores do not become toys.
FAQ
My cat swallowed one apple seed. Is that dangerous?
One whole seed is very unlikely to harm a healthy adult cat. Keep an eye on your cat and call your vet if you see any unusual signs.
Can cats eat apple flesh?
A tiny piece of peeled apple flesh is not toxic, but most cats are not interested and gain nothing from it. Cats also cannot taste sweetness the way we do.
Is apple juice safe for cats?
Not recommended. It is sugary and may contain additives. See apple juice and cats.
Are other fruit pits riskier than apple seeds?
Yes. Apricot, peach, plum and cherry pits contain more cyanogenic compounds and are big enough to block the gut. See cherry pits and cats.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has been chewing on an apple core and you are not sure how worried to be, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you assess the risk and decide on next steps. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Cyanide poisoning in animals.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and non-toxic plants: Apple.
- Bolarinwa IF, et al. Amygdalin content of seeds, kernels and food products commercially available in the UK. Food Chemistry, 2014.
- Li X, et al. Pseudogenization of a sweet-receptor gene accounts for cats' indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics, 2005.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.