Can Cats Drink Lemon Juice – What You Should Know!

If you are a cat owner, you probably have experienced your cat trying to get a bite of your food or a sip of your drink before. Cats are always curious about the things we have, especially if they smell good. While it may be fun to share your food with your cat, it is essential you make sure anything you are offering to them is not toxic for them to ingest. Like lemons, for example, can be very toxic for a cat to ingest. Does it make any difference once it has been juiced? Can cats drink lemon juice?

 Cats cannot drink lemon juice. Lemon is toxic to cats. Lemon juice also contains sugars and can lead cats to suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues.

Lemons are toxic to cats through and through. It does not matter what form the lemon comes in; it will be toxic for them to eat. So if you are ever drinking lemonade near your cat, you must make sure they never get a sip of your drink. Let’s explore why.

Is Lemon Juice Toxic To Cats

Yes, lemon juice is toxic to cats. Lemon juice can cause what is known as lemon poisoning in cats. Depending on your cat’s age and health, lemon poisoning will affect them differently. For an older cat or one with health issues, lemon poisoning can be somewhat scary and could ultimately cause an untimely death for them. Younger cats with fewer health issues will likely bounce back, but this is only as long as you begin treatment as soon as possible.

To ensure treatment begins immediately for your cat, it is most important to know the sign of lemon poisoning so you can act quickly. The symptoms of lemon poisoning are:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Sensitivity to light
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Skin irritation around their mouth and eyes
• Rashes on their skin
• Weakness
• Cold limbs and paws
• Liver failure
• Tremors
• They frequently collapse

If you notice any of these symptoms, you must get your cat to the emergency vet right away. Cats will often hide how much pain they are in, so these symptoms may be difficult to notice at first. If you believe your cat has ingested lemon juice, then closely monitor them for these reactions. Once at the emergency vet, the doctor will be able to use activated charcoal to pump their stomachs of any remaining lemon fragments. Then they will use an IV to give your cat fluid to rehydrate them so they can recover faster.

Do Cats Like Lemon Juice

Fortunately for us, cats do not like lemon juice! You should not have to worry about keeping your cat away from lemon and lemon-scented things because they will likely never be interested in it. Of course, all cats are different, so always err on the side of caution and keep lemon out of their reach in general.

Cats have 200 million scent receptors in their nose, giving them a really strong sense of smell. Something as pungent as a lemon or other citruses is offensive to their noses because of how strong and sour they are. Several viral videos are going around right now of cats being offered lemon and either jumping or running away or gagging at the smell. While it is hilarious to watch our pets react in such a comedic way, it is also reassuring to know that they will instinctually stay away from something that is toxic to them.

Does Lemon Juice Stop Cats From Urinating On Furniture

Lemon juice is a great way to stop cats from urinating on furniture. The smell of lemon very easily repels cats, so any areas that are sprayed with that scent will not be appealing to them.

You do have to be very careful and conscientious about how you spray these areas. First, you will want to dilute the lemon juice, so it is not as strong. Even with it diluted, it will still deter your cat. The dilution helps to make sure your cat won’t inhale too much of the scent and make themselves sick.

You also want to make sure the area you sprayed is fully dry before your cat walks into that space. If they get some on their paws or fur, then they may try to lick it off, and even ingesting this tiny amount of lemon can make them sick.

If lemon juice doesn’t do the trick to stop your cat from urinating where you don’t want them to, then there are other factors for you to consider. Cats use urination as a means of communication, so if they are suddenly peeing somewhere new, they then are probably trying to communicate with you.

They also will use urination as a means of marking their territory. So, if you have more than one cat, you may want to explore different means of training to help them socialize with each other and get along better.

Can Lemon Juice Get Rid Of Fleas On Cats

Lemon juice is one of the most popular ways to get rid of fleas on cats. The citric acid in lemon is what helps to eliminate the fleas from your cat’s go. While it has proven to be very effective, you still must be very careful when using this method.

To prepare:

1. Chop or slice a lemon and add to a pot with two cups of water.
2. Bring this to a boil and allow it to boil for three minutes or so.
3. Once three minutes have passed, remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture sit overnight.

This allows the lemon to steep and get rich in the water. The next day you can either pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray your cat’s fur, or you can use a washcloth to wipe the lemon juice onto your cat’s fur. Repeat every two weeks until the fleas are gone.

It is important to remember to use a light amount on your cat’s fur. They should not be drenched or saturated with lemon juice. If they feel their fur is wet and sticky, they will run away to try and lick it off. If they lick any of this lemon juice, they are immediately at risk for lemon poisoning. Best practice is to get a light layer on their fur and then hang out with them until it air dries completely. This way, you can monitor them to ensure they do not lick any lemon juice.

Things To Consider

Although there are some helpful ways to use lemon juice for your cat, if the idea of it makes you too nervous because of the high risk, then stay away from it completely. There are plenty of other methods to use to help with fleas and deter your cat from urinating on furniture.

If you use store-bought sprays, take a look at the ingredients list before purchasing. It is very common for flea treatments and cat repellents to use lemon in their ingredients. Become an informed pet owner to keep your cat safe!