Apple Cider Vinegar and Cats?

lisamarie12 · Feb 8, 2015

I use Braggs ACV (diluted with water) to wipe down both my cats, at least three times a week, clean their ears, etc.. I've also used it diluted to treat sores my male cat had on his neck, in between his shoulder blades. It not only helped the wounds heal and scab faster, but it also curbed the itch. I don't give them ACV to consume internally, however, I have noticed the food they mostly eat, Primal, uses ACV.

ttobba44 · May 17, 2015

I started giving about 1 tsp. ACV mixed in wet food to my 18 (then 17) y.o. cat on the advise of a vet to help with crystals in her urine. She took it fine, although she seems to turn up her nose at a much larger amount. The urinary issue was resolved (blot clots in her urine).

irina shulkin · Jun 24, 2015

I am glad to find this post, since it is very difficult to find any scientific article on pubmed site. So we are left with our pets health one on one. I prefer natural remedies for me, my family and my pets. Here is what I used to treat a bad smelly mouth- obvious gum and teeth inflammation in my cat. Before he use to come and leak my face in the morning- now- it is too dangerous for me and too smelly ;-) But he begun throwing up while being very healthy, on home made food and some dry food. Recently I have noticed his teeth become yellow and striped... I never cleaned it.. did not know .. So now I am getting a brush, and have begun using variety of home made dressings. One of them worked very well. Here is the recipe: 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar , 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup of a mixed fresh herbs (oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme), 1 large clove of garlic . Blend it well in vitamix. It is excellent salad dressing and I massage it to my cats gums and teeth. They oppose it, but I talk to them gently and they trust me. I made a video. The very next day the smell from my Bagira mouth was as half as much.

angel bells · Jul 23, 2015

I sprayed a solution of water and Apple Cider Vinegar on our cat Mimi. I had a small spray bottle perfect for that. Then she started licking it all off her fur. I believe we have flees somewhere. She has been scratching so much she is covered with scabs. I just purchased diatomaceous earth for 9 dollars at vitacost on line and I will sprinkle that in her litter box and in some corners of the room she sleeps in. I purchased a flee collar that gave me asthma, it is horrible insecticide on those things. I had to take it off and throw it away. It took several hours to stop wheezing. Diatomaceous earth is non toxic and in fact humans use it to rid themselves of parasites and it is used for pets as well. Cats can benefit from a 1/2 teaspoon full a day to de worm and take away parasites of all kinds. It also kills flees and bedbugs and ticks. It has my vote.

angel bells · Jul 23, 2015

Although it is acidic outside of us It becomes alkaline when hitting saliva and digestive juices

become alkaline and this is true for humans as well. If you google Edgar Cayce Remedies. He used Apple Cider Vinegar in every other cure. It is counter intuitive that some things are acidic or alkaline out side of us and change. A good example is sugar. It taste great but will turn acidic in our saliva to the point of removing tooth enamel. My Dad was a dentist. On the rare occasion we ate candy, we had to brush and gargle immediately afterwards.

midnightrose · Aug 23, 2015

I don't know, I'm going to try putting it in the water, my cat loves licking the vinegar off himself when I dab it on him. LOL

fyllis · Aug 29, 2015

Jim Peterford said:
Does anyone know if it's ok to put a little ACV in my kitties food if she has occasional flare ups of pancreatitis and has stomach issues where her gut sounds a little too gurgly and will vomit bile when she has a flare up? I'm at the point where I am doing everything possible and this is the only thing I haven't tried. She is on 2.5mg of Prednisolone every other day, herbal pills for pancreatitis and colon health, I just started putting a little fish oil in her food and my vet recommends 2.5mg of pepcid daily to keep her tummy calm. He said he doesn't know of anyone that uses ACV but he would think that vinegar being as acidic as it is would not be beneficial to add to an acidic stomach. The top post says that ACV neutralizes acidic stomachs, so what is the truth? Anyone with a similar situation here?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is vinegar that is made from the fermented apple cider. It is used to cure many health problems like heartburn, acid reflux, yeast infection (soak your feet in warm water and ACV and it cures/prevents athletes foot and foot odor), lowers blood pressure, prevents skin fungus, natural skin toner, and it also helps with diabetes in that it aides the body in proper production and use of insulin. Do NOT stop taking your insulin! Please, consult with your health care provider if adding AVC as a supplement as it could alter your glucose levels.

Always use organic, raw, unpasteurized and unfiltered apple cider vinegar which contains mother otherwise it will lose the natural enzymes during pasteurization and makes it unfit to use for many problem to get perfect solution. So remember to take the right form of ACV for preventing acid reflux.

Braggs ACV can be found at GNC stores and you can order it online. It is very inexpense.

ACV helps break down the fats that cause acid reflux. It also helps to balance the acid production in the stomach or it might help to buffer the acidity level in the stomach because the acetic acid (found in ACV) is a weaker acid then hydrochloric acid (acid that produced by stomach).

Too little acid in the stomach caused by different factors will result the LES valve that periodically flops open causing acid reflux. So drinking ACV supplies the LES valve with the acidity it needs to again function properly. And when taken regularly will improve the digestion and mineral absorption which plays a major role in reducing the acid reflux. It also balances the pH level of LES and stomach for better break down of the food and digestion that prevents acid reflux.

It not only helps for better digestion but also provides an array of vitamins and trace minerals and promote more alkaline environment in the body that helps to destroy harmful bacteria for food to break down and to digest properly.

I take it daily as a preventative. But I mix a teaspoon of AVC with 1/4 teaspoon of Baking Soda in 8 ounces of water (you can mix it in anything - warm or cold).

Baking soda when added to ACV will help to neutralize the acid to just 7.0 or close to it before drinking. Otherwise the acidity will make dentin sensitivity and finally cause enamel erosion. ACV and baking soda when mixed in water will offer all the nutritional benefits of ACV in less acidic form.

Many holistic Vets recommend a daily dosage of:

1 tsp (5 ml) for cats and small dogs (up to 14 lb)
2 tsp (10 ml) for medium dogs (15 to 34 lb)
1 tbsp (15 ml) for large dogs (35 to 84 lb)

Note: Do not feed ACV to pets that have irritation of the intestinal tract lining. Nor should AVC be fed to a pet who is sensitive or allergic to yeast. In these cases it is believed that the vinegar can feed or exacerbate the problem. If you pet has skin allergies or dermatitis, check with your vet before using it! It could exacerbate the condition!

I hope this helped.

siamiam2 · Oct 26, 2015

Couples things Fyllis. W/out diabetes med my feet itched badly. I was scared-nerve damage? I drink the ACV and no more itchy feet nor do they feel hot. Vitamin ?B overload? Also ACV amazingly instant cure. As for Omri? Itchy ears? Baking soda and ACV. I use the cap and can it on his ears with my finger. Instant cure but? There are write-ups that talk about balancing his ph balance and I'm skeptical. I give him a tiny bit mixed with water in the dropper once or twice a week to maintain kidney health but? Ph? How is a cat affected by an improper ph balance? I'm clueless.

fyllis · Oct 26, 2015

siamiam2 said:
Couples things Fyllis. W/out diabetes med my feet itched badly. I was scared-nerve damage? I drink the ACV and no more itchy feet nor do they feel hot. Vitamin ?B overload? Also ACV amazingly instant cure. As for Omri? Itchy ears? Baking soda and ACV. I use the cap and can it on his ears with my finger. Instant cure but? There are write-ups that talk about balancing his ph balance and I'm skeptical. I give him a tiny bit mixed with water in the dropper once or twice a week to maintain kidney health but? Ph? How is a cat affected by an improper ph balance? I'm clueless.

It's best to discuss that with your vet. They can explain to you about pH and how it effects your cat and how vinegar works. If necessary, they will give you proper dosages for your cat. An examination and blood work would be needed to determine what Omri's pH level is.

kathy schmidt · Nov 3, 2015

I can't speak for cats, but I know that in humans, ACV works wonders on heartburn. It seems counter intuitive, but it does help reduce stomach acid.

artiemom · Nov 3, 2015

Irina Shulkin said:
I am glad to find this post, since it is very difficult to find any scientific article on pubmed site. So we are left with our pets health one on one. I prefer natural remedies for me, my family and my pets. Here is what I used to treat a bad smelly mouth- obvious gum and teeth inflammation in my cat. Before he use to come and leak my face in the morning- now- it is too dangerous for me and too smelly ;-) But he begun throwing up while being very healthy, on home made food and some dry food. Recently I have noticed his teeth become yellow and striped... I never cleaned it.. did not know .. So now I am getting a brush, and have begun using variety of home made dressings. One of them worked very well. Here is the recipe: 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar , 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup of a mixed fresh herbs (oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme), 1 large clove of garlic . Blend it well in vitamix. It is excellent salad dressing and I massage it to my cats gums and teeth. They oppose it, but I talk to them gently and they trust me. I made a video. The very next day the smell from my Bagira mouth was as half as much.

I am glad this recipe is helping your kitty. I may be wrong but I was always under the impression that Garlic is toxic to Cats. It is on the Poisonous substance list I have hanging on my refrigerator. I was wondering what others thought.

fyllis · Nov 3, 2015

Whew! I haven't taken chemistry in 25 years, so I won't go into a lot of detail here, LOL

Basically, it has to do with the different types of acid and how they react. Stomach acid is hydrchloric acid, which is termed a 'strong' acid; AVC is acedic acid and is termed a 'weak' acid. It has to do with how they break down in solution and involves protons and a bunch of other scientific blah, blah, blah.

So, the weak acid neutralizes the strong acid. It also triggers (tricks) the body to produce less (strong) acid. Usually, when your body produces an overabundance of acid (which is actually rare) it is because there are too many antacids present. Essentially, over-use of over-the-counter antacids is not a good thing because it causes the body to produce more hydrochloric acid to counter the pH. The acedic acid in vinegar actually slows the production of hydrochloric acid in the body; therefore lessening the need for antacids.

GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a result of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus because the Lower Esophogeal Sphincter (LES) doesn't close all the way or opens too often. Reflux occurs when the upper part of the stomach and the LES move above the diaphram, which normally keeps the acid in the stomach.

If reflux occurs regularly (more than twice a week) the acid can corrode the lining of the esophagus resulting in ulcers and potential ruptures of vessels and death. Oh goody, right?

Several things can cause reflux, including a hiatal hernia, consuming large amounts of food at one sitting, being overweight, eating too close to bedtime (less than 2 hours before laying down), and certain foods such as tomatoes and citrus (acid containing foods), chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, spicey and/or fatty foods. (LOL, that pretty much sums up MY diet!). Drinking alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffienated coffee or tea; smoking, pregnancy, and certain medications can all contribute to causing reflux.

Personally, I use a certified raw organic apple cider vinegar (which contains the “mother”) for 'medicinal purposes made by Bragg and one made by Omega Nutrition (They are cloudy in appearance and can be found at most nutrition stores like GNC). Both are delicious and I can highly recommend them.

I use various other types of vinegar for cooking depending on the dish and the flavor I am going for.

If you’re suffering from severe acid reflux then mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water and drink this for 2 – 3 times a day.

Now what do we do? Change our lifestyle and diet? Or do we treat the symptoms with ACV and hope for the best?

siamiam2 · Nov 3, 2015

Each cat is so different. I can only use the smallest amt. with mine and it sends him right to the litter box. A blessing though given the kidney problems he had. Once a week is all he needs and I wish I'd known about it last year. Wish I wasn't so isolated. He was constipated last yr too and I bought xlax. All that needed was a change of food. But there was an issue with that so we were between foods and now bbck to Friskies and no constipation. On the human side? Given the refusal to allow me diabetes med. it's kinda a lifesaver. Nerve damage is averted. My feet don't itch nor get hot even though my sugar is still sky hig. Works wonders for vitamin imbalance too. When my B is too high it brings it back to level but doesn't do same for potassium. I don't know of anyone with diabetes and a proper eati plan whos sugar gets sky high after meals but again...im too isolated to know. Through no fault of my own.

daniel625 · Jan 21, 2016

Well, that's definitely encouraging!

My cat is 17, going on 18, and he has had crystals too. If this worked for your cat, I will try it on mine. I'll probably give him just a teaspoon in his water to start off and see how he reacts to it.

missy rogers · Mar 21, 2016

I would be very wary and cautious about ever mixing baking soda and vinegar. When baking soda and vinegar are combined there is a reaction. Baking soda in large doses can be toxic to a cat as well. It is okay to take a small amount lets say an eighth of a teaspoon to clean your cats teeth with, but I would never mix any form of vinegar and baking soda for myself or for a cat. Fortunately Apple Cider Vinegar is not an acidic vinegar. But I would stop combining them immediately. Please read this link . http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/vinegarvolcano.html

mani · Mar 21, 2016

Hello @Missy Rogers and welcome to TCS!

This is a relatively old thread and you may not get a lot of response. Perhaps you may like to come and introduce yourself in our New Cats on the Block forum?

By the way, I use vinegar and bicarb for cleaning.. it's pretty good!

mylilly · May 15, 2016

I have found Apple Cider Vinegar is the only thing that has helped my cat with her chronic upper respiratory issues. I had to slowly get her used to it.

Start with:

1 tsp. ACV Diluted in 8 ounces of filtered water
(Get a 1ML syringe from your vet or medical supply store to suction up solution and give to your cat.)
Give 3 times a day.)

suction up into syringe to the 1ML mark and hold your cat and slowly push the solution into the side of your cats mouth. Becareful not to choke your kitty by giving it too fast.

If your kitty starts improving but seems to need more after one week, up the does to 2 tsp ACV to 8 ounces of filtered water 3 times a day for the next week. Be patient, it can take up to 3 days to start seeing improvement.

I wouldn't do any more then 4 tsp. in 8 ounces of water because then it's too strong for the kitty and causes them to foam at the mouth.

Good luck to all the cat owners that have a kitty with chronic upper respiratory issues that won't go away with regular vet care. ACV is the only thing that is helping my kitty. I have been giving this to her for a month and a half now. If I stop giving it to her, she gets really sick again so I just stay with 4 tsp in 8 ounces water in a syringe 3 times a day. I always make a fresh cup every time I dose her. It's not as effective if I use the same cup until gone so, I go through a bottle every week or week and a half. Still cheaper than a vet bill I guess.

bandc · May 19, 2016

I am glad I am reading this article. I have two healthy kittens. Should I add ACV to their drinking water? If so, how much ACV for a cup of water?

cattilac · Aug 19, 2016

I have 11 cats and put a few drops of vinegar in their water every time I get them fresh water. I don't put enough in that they can taste or smell it. It keeps them healthy and I have noticed that I don't have to use flea meds on them as much as when I did not put ACV in their drinking water.

0ona · Nov 10, 2016

Hi Irina,

Net sources warn that garlic is toxic to cats and dogs:

Garlic and Dogs, Garlic and Cats - Pet Poison Helpline
www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/garlic/
Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are in the Allium family, and are poisonous to both dogs and cats if the dose is right. Garlic is considered to be about five times as toxic as onions for cats and dogs. ... While minute amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large ingestions can be very toxic.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Cats?

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