Cats hate orange pigment, which is found in some kinds of coral.
Since they’re so resistant to color, painting their mere shade won’t make much of a personal statement. However, they can come up with a great marketing idea that shows your enthusiasm for this beloved species.
So, why do cats hate oranges? There are many reasons why cats hate orange slices.
The first reason is texture. Cats have rough tongues and mouths that make it difficult to eat oranges.
Cats also have a low tolerance for sweetness, which oranges have in large quantities. Finally, oranges have a high fiber content, which cats can’t digest well.
For these reasons, it’s safe to assume that cats won’t like eating oranges.
Contents
What is an Orange Fruit?
The orange is a fruit of considerable culinary value.
It is Chinese-native and is believed to have originated 2,500 years ago! It is a fruit borne in the trees of the citrus family Rutacea.
Fruits of this family have three segments, which are joined together by fibers that are soft in nature.
The orange fruit has a smooth external skin composed of wax and pulpy internal material called pulp. The pulp of the orange fruit is segmented into three.
Why Do Cats Hate Oranges?
When a house is infested with cats, it’s usually because the owners feed them oranges. Oranges seem to be one of the common foods that cats do not like.
Other common foods cats do not like include grapes, onions, and asparagus. Why do cats dislike oranges?
Cats dislike oranges because citrus fruits contain a lot of citric acid, which is harmful to cats. The citric acid in oranges can also damage your teeth.
The strong smell also irritates cats, especially cats that are sensitive to smells. Cats also do not like the texture of oranges; they are rough and abrasive on cat tongues.
Cats also have specific enzymes that help with digestion. They consume these enzymes when eating fruit so that they don’t experience indigestion.
However, when cats eat citrus fruits, the enzymes destroy the fruit’s enzymes.
This results in the cat not digesting the food properly and experiencing indigestion.
Cat owners should avoid giving their cats citrus fruits or at least ensure that the cats only eat the fruit in moderation.
Cats can also develop citrus fruit allergies; therefore, if your cat has allergies, avoid feeding it oranges.
Can You Use Oranges to Deter Cats?
Most cats detest being near oranges, and this makes them ideal to deter your cat from going into your garden or your home.
As a result, orange-scented items, such as scented candles or orange peel, will help to keep away stray cats and unwanted guests in your home.
The simplest way to do this is to put orange peel in places where you don’t want your cat to go.
Another approach is to make an orange-scented spray to deter your feline friend from coming into your house.
Is Orange Toxic to Cats?
The essential oils in the peel of an orange can be toxic to a cat if ingested in large amounts.
Humans like eating oranges, and they do no harm to us. However, the same cannot be said for animals.
They are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, which make them beneficial to humans. However, they can be harmful to animals if not consumed in moderation.
In the case of a cat consuming too much vitamin C, it can develop a condition known as hypervitaminosis A, or vitamin-A toxicity.
Citrus fruits contain essential oils that can irritate a cat’s digestive system and make it vomit, have diarrhea, lose its appetite, drink too much, lose weight, and feel sad.
Because the oils cannot be digested by the body, they pass through the digestive tract and get excreted through the cat’s urine or feces.
When a cat is exposed to too many oils, its body gets too full, and the toxins start to build up in its tissues.
This is why oranges can be poisonous to your pet cat.
What If My Cat Eats an Orange?
No matter how much of an attention seeker your cat is, you should never allow it to eat citrus peels or foods containing them.
They may suggest that a few pieces are OK to eat. However, you shouldn’t encourage this behavior since it can lead to serious health problems for your pet.
Remember that oranges are harmful, so it is best to avoid them altogether.
What Happens if a Cat Eats an Orange?
If your cat eats an orange peel or something with citrus oils in it, it can upset its stomach and make the lining of its stomach sore.
They will first display symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
Not only did they consume the peel of the fruit, but they also drank orange juice from the glass you left on the table.
Your cat may get sluggish or depressed and start losing weight as a result of consuming too much vitamin C.
If they eat too much, the poisons in their bodies can accumulate in their tissues, causing liver and kidney damage.
Does Orange Peel Stop Cats Scratching?
If you lay an orange peel near where your cat scratches the furniture, it may deter them from doing so.
However, since they often dispose of their waste outside of the house, it is unlikely to be effective in preventing scratching on furniture and other surfaces indoors.
However, this does not eliminate the chances of your cat ingesting a peel if you feed it to them.
Aside from orange peel, citrus spray is the other major source of toxins in cats.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Oranges?
Final Words
Cats eat mostly meat and fish, so they don’t need to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
Cats dislike fruits, particularly oranges and other citrus fruits.
Oranges are disliked by cats not because they contain Vitamin C but because of the bitter flavor of the rind and the oil content found in them.
Cats have heightened senses that are larger than ours, so if a fragrance is strong to us, it is even stronger to them.
