Blueberries for Cats

Blueberries contain colorful plant compounds. Hollywood Elixir brings blueberry fruit powder together with 16 other actives for daily cellular energy and antioxidant support.

By La Petite Labs Editorial 17 min read

As Seen On

Woman cuddling an orange-and-white cat and a silver tabby while holding a Hollywood Elixir box
Hollywood Elixir® Senior Cat Supplement

Contains 50 mg Blueberry Powder

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Contents

Blueberries for cats can be an occasional treat: offer a small amount of plain fruit, cut or mashed, if it suits your cat’s diet. 1

Anthocyanins and other plant compounds give blueberries their scientific interest. 5 The choice between a fruit treat and a supplement depends on the complete food or formula, rather than the word “blueberry” alone.

For daily cellular energy, antioxidant support and healthy aging, Hollywood Elixir combines blueberry fruit powder with 16 other actives. It gives that plant ingredient a place alongside an NAD+ precursor, mitochondrial cofactors and complementary antioxidant ingredients. 13

Plain blueberries can be an optional cat treat. Prepare them simply, consider the individual feeding plan and include all extras in the calorie allowance. Anthocyanins explain the fruit’s color and part of its scientific interest. A food blend and isolated fruit are different choices. Hollywood Elixir includes 50 mg of blueberry fruit powder per full sachet within its 17-active formula for cellular energy, antioxidant support and healthy aging.

A small shared treat can be enough

Cats don’t need fruit to meet their basic nutritional requirements, but they can sometimes enjoy it. Keep the complete cat food as the foundation. 1

If your cat accepts a prepared piece, sharing it can simply be a pleasant moment. You do not need to turn that moment into a daily feeding rule or search for a fruit your cat will reluctantly eat.

A cat that sniffs the berry and walks away has made the decision easy. Offer attention or another familiar activity instead; enjoying time together does not depend on sharing the same food.

Woman kneeling with two long-haired tabby cats while holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a food bowl

Prepare fresh or frozen blueberries plainly

For whole berries, choose fruit that looks intact, smells clean, and has no visible mold. Rinse under running water, use clean hands and utensils, and discard rotten fruit. FDA advises against washing produce with soap or detergent; washing reduces contamination but does not sterilize food. 7

Remove any attached stems and cut or mash the berry into manageable pieces. 1 Frozen plain berries can be thawed until easy to prepare. Check the package so you are using fruit without a sauce or sweetened coating.

Offer the portion where you can see your cat eat it. That is more useful than leaving a round berry to roll around with the expectation that it will eventually be swallowed.

Woman exercising beside a tabby cat, with a Hollywood Elixir box and food bowl on a small table

Count all treats, not just blueberries

WSAVA recommends that all treats together provide no more than 10% of a cat’s daily calories. That is a ceiling for extras, not a target for fruit or 10% of the bowl’s weight. 2

For example, if an individual feeding plan allows 200 kcal daily, 10% is 20 kcal for all treats combined. This is arithmetic, not a calorie prescription for every cat.

For a first taste, offer part of one prepared berry rather than a handful. 1 Include the other extras your cat receives when deciding what belongs in the day’s feeding plan.

Orange-and-white cat reaching toward a woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box while sitting in a chair

A blueberry muffin is a different food

One owner of a 12-year-old cat described trying to keep a blueberry muffin away from an unusually determined pet. They felt guilty about refusing to share and asked whether an older cat could digest a piece. That individual account captures an understandable wish to include a much-loved cat in a small pleasure.

The relevant question is the whole recipe. A muffin, jam or sweetened dessert brings ingredients beyond blueberries; it is not an equivalent way to offer the fruit. Plain fruit is the simpler choice. 1

You can acknowledge the attention without offering your snack. Set aside an appropriate familiar cat treat or spend a moment together. If the cat has already eaten a mixed product and you are unsure about an ingredient, keep the packaging available when asking for advice.

Gray-haired man holding a Hollywood Elixir box while two cats rest beside him in an armchair

Interest in your snack does not mean a human sweet tooth

Cats do not have the usual functional receptor for sugar’s sweet taste. In a genetic study, researchers found that one of the two genes needed for that receptor was an unexpressed pseudogene in cats. The finding explains a sensory difference between cats and people; it does not predict every cat’s response to a particular food. 6

In another owner’s blueberry account, the cat received the coveted berry and then wanted to play with it. That is one cat’s behavior, not a feeding study.

Curiosity, smell or texture may be part of the attraction. Begging alone cannot tell you that your cat needs the food or enjoys its sweetness as you do.

Anthocyanins are the pigments that give blueberries their blue-purple color.

Anthocyanins give blueberries their color

Anthocyanins are plant pigments that give ripe berries red, blue and purple colors. Blueberries also contain other polyphenols, including flavonols and proanthocyanidins. Their chemistry helps explain the fruit’s place in antioxidant research. 5

After consumption, these compounds can be transformed by the body and gut microbes. A laboratory antioxidant measurement therefore does not describe the whole process inside an animal.

The major blueberry review draws on human studies and animal or cell models. It is useful for understanding the compounds, while feline feeding research is needed to assess effects in cats. The cat superfoods guide considers the wider food question.

Tabby cat looking up at a Hollywood Elixir sachet held above it, with the product box on a small table

A berry-containing food blend changed blood markers in adult cats

A 2022 conference abstract reported a randomized crossover study in 30 healthy adult cats: 28-day feeding periods and a 14-day washout. The test food added a proprietary antioxidant kibble containing blueberries, cranberries and other ingredients to a maintenance diet. 4

Advanced glycation end-products, malondialdehyde and C-reactive protein were lower—markers associated with glycation, oxidation and inflammation. Food intake and weight were similar.

All authors were affiliated with Blue Buffalo. This early blend finding cannot isolate blueberries’ contribution or establish clinical benefits from fresh fruit.

Hand gently petting an orange-and-white cat beside a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

The kibble study measured ingredients, not cats’ health

A 2025 study analyzed 40 commercial kibbles listing blueberries: 18 cat foods and 22 dog foods. Researchers measured selected phenolic compounds in samples bought from four Canadian stores. Average quercetin in the cat foods was 3.20 micrograms per gram of dry matter. 3

No cats were fed these foods as part of that study. It measured food chemistry, not absorption or health outcomes, and other ingredients could contribute to the detected compounds.

The useful lesson is about labels: seeing “blueberry” does not tell you how much of a particular compound a finished food provides. The analysis also cannot establish that a fruit’s health benefits are necessarily small or that every blueberry-containing food performs the same way.

Man holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a black cat, an orange tabby and a food bowl

Fruit powder and concentrated extract are different preparations

A label may name whole blueberry fruit powder, freeze-dried fruit or a standardized extract. Those descriptions answer different questions. Fruit powder identifies a food-derived ingredient; a standardized extract may also declare the concentration of a selected compound.

Read the amount per portion together with that description. 50 mg of blueberry fruit powder does not mean 50 mg of pure anthocyanins. Hollywood Elixir declares the former, without a separate anthocyanin concentration. 13

The cat vitamins and supplements guide helps place that label information within the complete product choice. Compare the full ingredients and intended use rather than treating every blueberry preparation as interchangeable.

Organic describes production, not a feline health result

USDA organic labeling concerns agricultural practices, permitted substances and certification. It does not establish that a berry will produce a better health outcome in your cat. 8

Choose organic if it matches your purchasing preferences, and use the same careful handling for conventional fruit. Neither label replaces inspection and washing. 7

For an occasional serving, freshness, plain preparation and a suitable portion are the decisions you can act on immediately. There is no need to turn a simple treat into a search for the most impressive package claim.

In a 30-cat study, food containing a berry blend lowered blood markers linked to oxidation and inflammation.

Silver tabby sitting beside a food bowl and a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

DVM Voice: Clinical Vignette of a Common Pattern in Senior Cat Aging

Case provided by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Sasha, a 12-year-old cat, was brought in after her owner noticed increased thirst and urination, lethargy, vomiting, and a generally unkempt appearance. Examination showed weight loss, elevated blood pressure, and reduced vitality.

Diagnostic testing revealed elevated kidney markers, poorly concentrated urine, and protein loss in the urine — findings consistent with chronic kidney disease, one of the most common chronic conditions in senior cats.

Her care required a kidney-focused diet, blood pressure management, targeted supplementation, medication support, and regular monitoring — a necessary plan, but one started after clinical signs were already visible.

Clinical takeaway: Sasha’s case reflects why senior-cat wellness should begin before obvious decline. Earlier monitoring, body-condition tracking, hydration awareness, antioxidant support, and daily cellular resilience may help support quality of life as cats age.

Single-case vignette. Not generalizable. Veterinary diagnosis and monitoring are essential for increased thirst, urination, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, or suspected kidney disease.

Explore Hollywood Elixir Research →
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Let an existing feeding plan guide the extras

WSAVA advises particular care with treats when a cat has a medical condition, dietary sensitivity or veterinary-prescribed diet. The appropriate extras depend on that individual plan. 2

If your cat is already having recurring digestive problems, adding another food may make the feeding history harder to interpret. Note what was offered and eaten rather than repeatedly changing treats in search of an answer.

Stop offering a new food if it coincides with vomiting, diarrhea or reduced appetite, and seek advice if the change persists. 1 A blueberry is optional; maintaining appropriate food intake matters more than persuading a cat to tolerate it.

Woman leaning toward a fluffy orange cat beside a Hollywood Elixir box and green food bowl

For an older cat, start with the change you have noticed

An older cat’s needs are individual. A question about an occasional berry is different from a concern about weight, appetite, grooming or activity. Age alone does not tell you what caused a change or which supplement to choose.

If your cat is grooming less, give that observation its own attention. Do not expect blueberry treats to explain or resolve it. The guide to supplements for older cats helps organize broader goals around the feeding and care plan.

Once that foundation is in place, daily nutrition for cellular energy and antioxidant support can be a separate, purposeful choice. It does not depend on whether your cat enjoys fruit.

Tabby cat licking its nose beside a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

Hollywood Elixir brings blueberry into a full healthy-aging formula

Hollywood Elixir combines 17 actives for daily cellular energy, antioxidant support and healthy aging. Blueberry fruit powder belongs alongside an NAD+ precursor, mitochondrial cofactors, vitamins, other plant ingredients and ingredients selected for immune health. 13

The full 2.5 g sachet contains 50 mg of Blueberry Fruit Powder. Its place in the formula is part of a broader antioxidant and cellular-energy design. You can choose that prepared combination without assembling separate precursor, vitamin and plant-ingredient products.

The feline berry-blend study used a different food formulation. Neither that study nor a blueberry chemistry assay establishes clinical effects for the finished Hollywood Elixir blend.

All 17 actives and their declared amounts

The current declaration lists these preparations per full 2.5 g sachet. Concentrations belong to the ingredient names: a 2% astaxanthin preparation is not the same as pure astaxanthin, and the B12 preparation is a 1% trituration. 13

  • Astaxanthin 2% (natural): 2 mg
  • Vitamin E, D-alpha Tocopheryl Acid Succinate 1210: 15 IU
  • Beta Glucan, Beta-1,3/1,6-D-Glucan Powder from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: 50 mg
  • Coenzyme Q10 98% (Ubidecarenone): 40 mg
  • Vitamin B12, Methylcobalamin Trit 1% on DCP: 0.25 mg
  • Nicotinamide Riboside Tartrate: 60 mg
  • L-Glutathione Reduced: 50 mg
  • Resveratrol Extract, standardized to 98% from Polygonum cuspidatum: 15 mg
  • Quercetin Dihydrate 95%: 25 mg
  • Reishi Mushroom Powder P.E., standardized to 35% polysaccharides: 25 mg
  • Organic Spirulina Powder: 50 mg
  • Vitamin B3, as Niacin: 2 mg
  • Vitamin B6, as Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate: 1 mg
  • Vitamin B2, as Riboflavin USP: 0.5 mg
  • Blueberry Fruit Powder: 50 mg
  • Whey Protein Isolate 90%: 250 mg
  • Vitamin C, as Ascorbic Acid: 10 mg

Additional ingredients are chicken flavor, chicken liver powder, yeast extract, glycine and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin. See the full Hollywood Elixir ingredient page for the current declaration.

Support the cellular work that turns food into usable energy

Cells use nutrients from food to make usable energy. NAD+/NADH participates in the transfer of electrons through that process. Nicotinamide riboside, or NR, is a precursor cells can use to make NAD+. 9

Inside mitochondria, CoQ carries electrons along the energy-producing chain. Vitamin B2 supplies FMN and FAD, cofactors that help enzymes perform metabolic reactions. 10 11

Hollywood Elixir includes NR tartrate, CoQ10 and B2, alongside B3, B6 and B12. These energy-related ingredients complement its antioxidant and plant ingredients. That is why the complete formula offers more than a way to add blueberry powder to food. 13

See how cells make, use and recycle NAD+ in our NADome and NADomics guide.

Tabby cat sitting at a table with a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

Give antioxidant nutrition more than one ingredient

Antioxidant systems use different molecules and reactions. For example, enzymes use reduced glutathione while processing peroxides, compounds that cells need to manage. 12

Hollywood Elixir includes reduced glutathione, vitamins C and E, astaxanthin, resveratrol and quercetin. Blueberry and spirulina contribute plant ingredients; beta glucan and reishi are selected for immune support, while whey protein isolate adds a protein ingredient. These sit alongside the formula’s energy-related nutrients. 13

For antioxidant nutrition in cats, choose the prepared combination for daily antioxidant care and cellular energy. The complementary ingredients come together in one portion, ready to add to the meal.

Woman cuddling a silver tabby and a cream-colored cat while holding a Hollywood Elixir box

Use the adult portion and review the quality information

Hollywood Elixir’s adult daily directions follow body weight: 14

  • Under 7 lb: half a sachet
  • 7–30 lb: one sachet
  • Over 30 lb: two sachets

Mix into food and serve immediately. The amounts in the ingredient declaration describe a full sachet; the daily portion follows the weight band. Where a prescribed diet limits extras, review the whole formula with the veterinary team.

La Petite Labs states that Hollywood Elixir is made in the USA in a cGMP-compliant, NASC Preferred Supplier facility, with third-party checks for heavy metals and microbial contamination. The public COA lookup provides access to batch-linked reports. These details concern manufacturing and testing. 15

Choose the full formula for daily energy and healthy aging

A plain blueberry can remain an occasional shared treat if it suits your cat. For broader longevity nutrition, choose Hollywood Elixir’s full 17-active formula for cellular energy, antioxidant support and healthy aging. 13

The NAD+ precursor, mitochondrial cofactors and complementary antioxidant ingredients come prepared together for the meal. Blueberry is part of that complete combination, alongside the other 16 actives.

Choose Hollywood Elixir for daily cellular energy and healthy aging. The senior-cat supplement guide puts that choice alongside other goals for an older cat.

Hollywood Elixir combines 17 actives for daily cellular energy, antioxidant support and healthy aging.

Educational content only. This material is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your cat’s specific needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Glossary

  • Anthocyanins: Plant pigments responsible for many red, blue and purple colors in berries.
  • Polyphenols: A broad family of plant compounds that includes anthocyanins and flavonols.
  • Quercetin: A flavonol found in various plants and included separately in Hollywood Elixir.
  • Biomarker: A measured biological characteristic; a change is not automatically a clinical benefit.
  • Crossover study: A design in which participants receive different treatments in successive periods.
  • Washout: A period between treatments intended to reduce carryover effects.
  • Fruit powder: A fruit-derived preparation, distinct from a purified or standardized compound extract.
  • Dry matter: The portion of a food remaining after water is excluded.
  • NAD+/NADH: A cofactor pair involved in cellular energy metabolism.
  • Mitochondria: Cell structures with a central role in producing usable energy.

Related Reading

Aging & Senior Cat Guidance
• Cat Age Calculator: Cat Years to Human Years
• Cat Lifespan by Breed
• Lethargy in Cats
• Senior Cat Not Eating
• Cat Drinking A Lot
• Why Is My Senior Cat Withdrawn?

Healthy Aging Support
• NAD+ for Cats
• NMN for Cats
• Vitamins For Older Cats
• Senior Cat Food
• Longevity Drugs for Cats

References

Numbered references identify the sources used for specific claims. Read the study design, species and evidence boundaries alongside each finding.

  1. Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP; reviewed by Jennifer Coates, DVM. Can Cats Eat Blueberries? 2025Evidence boundary: Veterinary guidance on plain blueberry treats, preparation and individual dietary suitability.↩ 1 · ↩ 2 · ↩ 3 · ↩ 4 · ↩ 5 · ↩ 6 · ↩ 7 · ↩ 8 · ↩ 9 · ↩ 10
  2. WSAVA Nutrition Committee. Feeding treats to your cat. 2024Evidence boundary: Feline treat guidance covering calorie limits and individual medical feeding plans.↩ 1 · ↩ 2 · ↩ 3 · ↩ 4 · ↩ 5
  3. Kosmal PAL, Dilger RN, Bauer L, Saunders-Blades J, Shoveller AK. A “berry” small inclusion: 40 types of commercial dog and cat kibble with added blueberries provide low levels of quercetin, free phenolics, and alkali-labile phenolics. 2025· DOI 10.1093/jas/skaf258Evidence boundary: A laboratory analysis of selected phenolic compounds in 40 commercial cat and dog kibbles.↩
  4. Panasevich M, Daristotle L, Lin CY, Frantz N. 126 Antioxidant-Containing Kibble Supplemented to Adult Cats Elicited Improvements in Antioxidant Outcomes and C-Reactive Protein. 2022· DOI 10.1093/jas/skac247.113Evidence boundary: A conference report of a berry-containing antioxidant food blend tested in 30 healthy adult cats.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  5. Kalt W, Cassidy A, Howard LR, Krikorian R, Stull AJ, Tremblay F, Zamora-Ros R. Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins. 2020· DOI 10.1093/advances/nmz065Evidence boundary: A review of blueberry composition and human, animal-model and cell research.↩ 1 · ↩ 2 · ↩ 3
  6. Li X, Li W, Wang H, Cao J, Maehashi K, Huang L, Bachmanov AA, Reed DR, Legrand-Defretin V, Beauchamp GK, Brand JG. Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar. 2005· DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003Evidence boundary: Genetic research on the feline sweet-taste receptor and cats’ different response to sugar.↩
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely. n.d.Evidence boundary: General food-handling guidance for selecting, washing and preparing produce.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  8. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Labeling Organic Products. n.d.Evidence boundary: USDA information on organic production and labeling requirements.↩
  9. Rachel S Fletcher, Joanna Ratajczak, Craig L Doig, Lucy A Oakey, Rebecca Callingham, Gabriella Da Silva Xavier, Antje Garten, Yasir S Elhassan, Philip Redpath, Marie E Migaud, Andrew Philp, Charles Brenner, Carles Canto, Gareth G Lavery. Nicotinamide riboside kinases display redundancy in mediating nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside metabolism in skeletal muscle cells. 2017· DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2017.05.011Evidence boundary: Mouse muscle-cell research describing NR metabolism and NAD+ synthesis.↩
  10. Reactome. Complex I oxidises NADH to NAD+, reduces CoQ to CoQH2. n.d.Evidence boundary: A curated pathway describing mitochondrial electron transfer from NADH to CoQ.↩
  11. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Riboflavin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2022Evidence boundary: NIH information on riboflavin and its FMN/FAD cofactor roles.↩
  12. Reactome. Detoxification of Reactive Oxygen Species. n.d.Evidence boundary: Curated pathways describing reactive-oxygen handling and glutathione-dependent reactions.↩
  13. La Petite Labs. Hollywood Elixir®: current ingredient declaration. n.d.Evidence boundary: The manufacturer’s complete Hollywood Elixir declaration, including all 17 preparations and amounts.↩ 1 · ↩ 2 · ↩ 3 · ↩ 4 · ↩ 5 · ↩ 6 · ↩ 7 · ↩ 8
  14. La Petite Labs. Hollywood Elixir® Longevity System: serving and purchase options. n.d.Evidence boundary: Current manufacturer adult portions and directions for mixing with food.↩
  15. La Petite Labs. Publicly verified lab results and COA Lookup. n.d.Evidence boundary: Manufacturer information on facility standards, contaminant testing and batch-report access.↩

FAQ

Are blueberries safe for cats as an occasional treat?

Plain, prepared blueberries can suit many cats as an occasional treat. Stop if digestion changes. 1

What benefits do blueberries for cats realistically offer?

They provide plant compounds. A feline food-blend study found positive blood-marker changes, not an isolated-blueberry effect. 4 5

How many blueberries can I give my cat safely?

Start with part of one prepared berry, not a handful. 1 Keep all treats together within 10% of daily calories, or the individual limit set for your cat. That ceiling is not a blueberry dose. 2

Are blueberries okay for senior cats with slower digestion?

Consider the individual cat’s health and feeding plan rather than assuming every senior digests food more slowly. A prescribed diet or dietary sensitivity can change which treats are appropriate. 2

Should I choose fresh or frozen blueberries for cats?

Either plain form can work. Thaw frozen fruit until it is easy to cut or mash. Avoid sweetened coatings or sauces. 1

What is a blueberries supplement for cats, exactly?

It may contain fruit powder or another blueberry preparation. Read the actual form and amount. Hollywood Elixir declares 50 mg of blueberry fruit powder per full 2.5 g sachet within a 17-active formula; that is not 50 mg of pure anthocyanins. 13

Can blueberries interact with my cat’s medications?

A food label cannot settle an individual medication question. Give the veterinary team the exact fruit product or supplement declaration and the intended amount, especially when a medical feeding plan already limits extras. 2

Are blueberries better than other fruits for cats?

Fruit is optional. If a plain blueberry suits your cat, it can remain that occasional choice; there is no need to build a fruit menu. 1

Orange-and-white cat beside a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

Discover LPL-01: How This Fits Into a Larger Feline Longevity System

Aging in cats unfolds quietly. It’s not driven by a single failure, but by gradual shifts across interconnected systems — cellular energy, oxidative balance, immune tone, and tissue integrity — each influencing the others over time.

This article explores one layer of that system. To understand what actually shapes long-term health, you need to step back and look at how these layers interact.

Start with the underlying science:

Keep exploring

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