Can Cats Eat Apricots? NZ Safety Answer
Can cats eat apricots in NZ? Avoid apricots, especially stones, stems and leaves. Cats do not need fruit treats.
Quick answer
Avoid apricots for cats, especially the stone, stem and leaves. Cats do not need apricot as a treat, and stone-fruit scraps can create avoidable risk.
Why
Pet Poison Helpline's toxic food guide groups apricots with stone fruits because stems, pits and leaves can contain cyanide compounds. ASPCA's people-food guidance also warns about fruit pits and seeds for pets. A NZ cat is more likely to encounter apricot in jam, cake, dried fruit mix, lunchbox leftovers or compost than as a useful food.
If your cat ate it
Contact your NZ vet, after-hours emergency clinic, or SPCA for advice.
Safer alternatives
Cats do not need fruit. Safer options are a cat-specific treat, a few pieces of the cat's normal complete food, or vet-approved enrichment food. Avoid fruit stones, pits, stems, leaves, sweetened fruit and desserts.
Related reading
References
- Pet Poison Helpline, Toxic Food Guide for Pets, checked 2026-06-13: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4671_Toxic-Food-Guide-for-Pets-Infographic_FINAL_REVISION.pdf
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, checked 2026-06-13: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
Important notice
*General food-safety information for NZ pet owners, reviewed against ASPCA/VCA guidance (June 2026). For any suspected ingestion or illness, contact a NZ vet, after-hours emergency clinic, or SPCA for advice.*
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