Mulberry

Cats need no fruit, so ripe mulberry is at most a tiny taste experience with a little water and fibre.

One or two berries per serving, washed, stemmed and cut small, never at the expense of the main diet and still within about 10% of daily energy intake.

Use fully ripe fruit only, rinse it well, remove the stems and cut it small with no sugar, honey or seasoning.

**Unripe berries and the sap of the leaves and stems irritate the gut**, so do not give them to cats; a large helping loosens the stool, and drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea means calling a vet, since a complete cat food already covers every nutritional need.

Ripe mulberries are juicy and supply dietary fibre plus a little vitamin C, with less sugar than many fruits, so they work as an occasional fruit treat.

Wash and stem them, then offer only a few berries (2-4 for a small dog) within about 10% of daily energy intake, with complete dog food as the main diet.

Pick only fully ripe, dark fruit, rinse it well and pull off the stems; serve whole or halved with no sugar, honey or yoghurt, and skip dried mulberries, jam and juice, which concentrate the sugar.

**Unripe green berries and the milky sap of mulberry leaves and stems can irritate the gut**, so never feed them; the fruit is high in fibre and natural sugar, so a large helping loosens the stool, and persistent vomiting or diarrhoea needs a vet promptly.