---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat apple?"
description: "Apple and pets: fine in small amounts. What it does, whether the dose matters, and how dogs, cats, rabbits and birds differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/apple/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat apple?

**Apple: Fine in small amounts**

Dogs: Safe · Cats: Safe · Rabbits: In moderation · Birds: In moderation

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | Safe | The flesh is fine. Core and seeds are worth removing, mostly for the choking risk. |
| Cats | Safe | Safe and of no interest to most cats. |
| Rabbits | In moderation | High in sugar. A slice occasionally, seeds removed. |
| Birds | In moderation | Flesh fine, seeds removed — birds are small enough for the seeds to matter. |

## What it actually does

Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, and this gets reported as though an apple core were dangerous. The arithmetic says otherwise for a dog: it would take a very large number of thoroughly chewed seeds to reach a toxic dose, and swallowed whole they mostly pass through intact. The real reason to remove the core is that it is a choking and obstruction hazard. For a budgerigar the sums are different, because the body weight is a hundredth.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Fruit

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Avocado | Toxic | Risky | Risky |
| Banana | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Blueberries and strawberries | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Watermelon and melon | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Cherries, peaches, plums and apricots | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Oranges, lemons and limes | Risky | In moderation | Risky |
| Coconut and coconut oil | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat apple?

Safe. The flesh is fine. Core and seeds are worth removing, mostly for the choking risk.

### Can cats eat apple?

Safe. Safe and of no interest to most cats.

### What does apple actually do?

Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, and this gets reported as though an apple core were dangerous. The arithmetic says otherwise for a dog: it would take a very large number of thoroughly chewed seeds to reach a toxic dose, and swallowed whole they mostly pass through intact. The real reason to remove the core is that it is a choking and obstruction hazard. For a budgerigar the sums are different, because the body weight is a hundredth.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat avocado?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/avocado/)
- [Can pets eat banana?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/banana/)
- [Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/blueberries/)
- [Can pets eat watermelon and melon?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/watermelon/)
- [Can pets eat cherries, peaches, plums and apricots?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cherry/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- Animal Poison Control Center — toxic and non-toxic lists — ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)