Today’s question: Can cats eat bread? Or is bread bad for cats? Bread is one of man’s favorite food items. It’s a pantry staple that has been around for centuries. Since it’s so loved by us people, would it be okay for cats to have some bread as well? What about toasted bread?
1. Can Cats Eat Bread?
The short answer would be yes, it’s safe for cats to eat bread in moderate quantities. In fact, most cats actually love the taste of bread, so there’s a good chance your cat would appreciate the treat.
It is important to note, though, that cats cannot eat all types of bread. For example, garlic and raisin breads are not safe for felines because both garlic and raisins are toxic to cats.
2. Why Your Cat Might Absolutely Love Bread
Not every cat loves bread, but most of them would not turn down the offering. You may notice that your cat wants to eat your muffins, cakes, pizza crust and other baked goods as well.
This is because most types of bread contain yeast and cats love the flavor of yeast! Yeast is used heavily as a flavoring agent in many cat foods and treats. There are even yeast-flavored medications specifically made for cats.
3. Bread Is Okay for Cats, but Only in Small Amounts
Yes, bread is perfectly safe for your cat to eat. But remember, bread is high in complex carbohydrates. Cats do not need to eat carbohydrates for survival, as they are strict carnivores.
Complex carbohydrates are known to contribute to obesity in cats – and their human counterparts. Obesity has many potential complications in cats such as arthritis and diabetes, and it could even lead to premature death. We would not want this to happen to your kitty, so if you would like to share your bread with your cat, please do so in moderation.
No more than 10-15% of your cat’s daily caloric intake should be made of human food.
Cats with sensitive stomachs can have a reaction to any food at any time. If you give your cat bread, and you notice diarrhea, vomiting or reluctance to eat, the practice should be discontinued, and your veterinarian should be consulted.
4. Raw Bread Dough Is Not Safe for Your Feline
Can Cats Eat Bread Dough?
No, bread dough is not safe for cats! Raw yeast or uncooked bread dough should not be given to cats, as it can continue to expand inside the stomach after it is swallowed, and could cause dangerous bloating.
Also, the yeast produces alcohol as a byproduct of fermentation. This alcohol can be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in alcohol poisoning. This could progress to seizures, and even respiratory failure.
If your cat has consumed some uncooked bread dough, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
5. Not All Types of Bread Are Safe for Cats
While it’s safe for your feline friend to eat regular plain bread, not all types of bread are safe for cats. For an example, garlic and raisin breads are two types of bread you should never feed your cat as both garlic and raisins are toxic to cats.
Generally, it would be a good idea to check the ingredients of a bread to make sure it doesn’t contain anything possibly harmful to your cat before giving her a piece.
6. No Bread with Cheese and Butter for Cats!
7. Your Cat Can Eat Toasted Bread, but Skip the Nutella!
Since the invention of sliced bread, toasted bread has only been growing in popularity. It’s one of the easiest and quickest breakfast dishes, yet it tastes really good.
If you are in a hurry to work and don’t have time to eat all the toasted bread you have made, then you might want to give some to your cat. You know that cats can eat regular bread, but what about toasted bread?
The quick answer would be yes, plain toasted bread is safe for cats to eat, just make sure to not give your cat a large amount of toasted bread at once.
However, some of the popular toast toppings are not safe for cats. So, if you have spread something on your toast, then make sure that the topping too is safe for your furry friend, before offering her a piece.
8. The Following Common Toast Toppings Are Not Safe for Cats
- Chocolate spreads like Nutella
As you hopefully already know, chocolate is toxic to cats, so Nutella and other chocolate spreads are off the menu for cats. - Butter
Eating bread with butter is such a natural thing for us humans, but it’s best not to feed bread with butter or toast with butter to your cat. While butter is not exactly toxic to cats, it is still harmful. For cats, butter contains too much fat and calories. - Peanut butter
While peanut butter too is not toxic to cats, it’s best to avoid giving your cat toasted bread with peanut butter. That is because peanut butter too contains a lot of fat and calories, but also an unhealthy amount of salt.
9. No Burned Toast for Your Feline Friend
If you managed to burn the toast, then chances are you are not going to want to eat it yourself. But instead of throwing it away, you might think that it would be a good idea to feed it to your cat, but is burned toast safe for cats? No, it is not!
Burning a bread in the toaster causes the formation of acrylamide, a compound that is dangerous to cats and humans alike. Eating burned toast or other burned food can damage the nerves and cause cancer in both humans and animals.
10. Even Kittens Can Have Some Bread
If your cat is still a kitten, then you might also want to know whether it would be safe for a kitten to have some bread as well. Can kittens eat bread?
The answer is yes, as long as your kitten is already eating other solid foods, it’s okay for her to have some bread as well. Just keep in mind that kittens eat less food than adult cats, so the amount of bread that is okay for a kitten is less than what is okay for an adult cat.
It’s not recommended to feed your kitten more than one or two small pieces of bread. When first feeding your kitten some bread, you also need consider the fact that kittens have sensitive stomachs — it’s recommended to introduce the new food item gradually.
Conclusion on Can Cats Eat Bread
Cats can eat bread safely, so go ahead and try it! Just remember that bread is okay for cats only in moderation, and be sure that your cat is never offered raw bread dough, as serious complications can result.
How does your cat feel about bread? What are some other “human foods” he or she likes to eat? You are welcome to join the discussion in the comments below and let us know!
I’ve just fed my cat a toasted tear and share brioche bun? would this be in the same “cat”agory as toast…or bread? I just don’t know. He’s made an awful mess. Yours sincerely. Peter Field
Did he eat the entire bun? I’d say that ‘s just too much for a cat. But as far as the category is concerned, it doesn’t really matter, toasted or not, bread still is only okay in small amounts.
My cat loves biscuits and would choose them over tuna. We have to keep baked biscuits in a cupboard. If on the counter in a ziplock, she will tear into the bag to get them.