Is Adding Olive Oil to Adult Cat Food Harmful?

Olive oil is one of the most medicinal oils in the world, and not just for people. Pets, too, can benefit from olive oil in their diets. For adult cats olive oil can even be used to clean ears. Be sure to consult a veterinarian before trying any home remedies.

  1. Control Shedding

    • All mammals shed, but excessive shedding can be a nuisance for cat owners or guests with allergies. Rubbing some olive oil into your hands and then rubbing your hands all over your cat is one way to use olive oil to control shedding. But another way is to add a little extra virgin olive oil to your cat's food. Olive oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote healthy coats and reduce shedding in cats. Add no more than 1/2 teaspoon to your cat's meal.

    Reduce Hair Balls

    • Because cats are fastidious groomers, they ingest a lot of their own fur. This, of course, leads to hair balls, which can cause cats to gag and even vomit. The resulting mess is more than unsightly, it can be disruptive to your cat's digestive system. Add up to 1/2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to your cat's food and you should see a marked reduction in the amount and frequency of hair balls she produces.

    Soothe Constipation

    • When a cat is constipated, the bowels absorb the moisture from the feces, making it even tougher for the cat to eliminate. Olive oil stimulates bowel movement and moisturizes the feces in adult cats, and your cat should be able to eliminate within a few hours of ingesting the oil. For a one-day treatment, add 1/2 to 1 full tablespoon of olive oil -- or 5 to 10 drops, if you use a dropper -- to your cat's food.

    Be Aware

    • If given in the proper amounts, olive oil has no side effects for cats, but take care not to feed your cat too much. Excess amounts of olive oil can cause diarrhea in adult cats. Also, never feed a cat more than 2 teaspoons of olive oil per day for more than one week. Prolonged use may draw vitamin A from her body.